Serial Threats

An article posted in today’s National Review Online
(FEBRUARY 27, 2014 12:00 AM / Ukraine and Our Useless Outrage / The history of Obama’s foreign-policy posturing bodes ill for the future of Ukraine / By Victor Davis Hanson) that grabbed my political attention. After reading the very well written article that slams the current administrations failure to produce – I was drawn to a spiritual dynamic.

In the article, Mr. Victor Davis Hanson refers to Obama as a man who makes “serial threats” but obviously cannot follow through or chooses not to follow through his threats with force or aggressive action to dissuade our enemies abroad. I don’t want to get into a tit for tat here about Obama – wouldn’t do any good. I will however share some thoughts on the idea of being someone who makes “serial threats” and doesn’t back them up.

I see a spiritual analogy here. I am always impressed with believers who are busy making “decrees and declarations” against the devil. I hear them as they engage “spiritual warfare” for purposes that for the most part may not even be Biblically based. Oh, excuse me. I shouldn’t mention that our prayer lives and our actual engagement of spiritual warfare should certainly be structured in the Word. Heaven forbid I step on the toes of those who are hyper war minded in some type of spiritual realm that doesn’t exist in the first place. I digress.

You have probably come across those religious/spiritual serial threat people in your faith walk. They, like our current political administration, talk a good talk but can’t walk the walk. You eventually stop paying attention to the threats. You accept anything they say as “crying wolf” and totally ignore what they say (sort of like what Putin is doing now in relationship to you know who). Here is some of what I’m referring to:
If Satan comes at me one more time I’m going to…
I am going to tithe my income regardless of what the enemy does to me or my family!
I am going to fast until I hear from God!
I refuse to give in to temptation ever again!
I forgive the person who offended me but they better never hurt me again.
I think you get the idea. We make a lot of spiritual threats that don’t normally hold any weight. I wonder if Satan and his cache of demons on call think of the church today as Putin does America and it’s current presidential team?

Threats. Here is what James said about our ability to make “serial threats”:
James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

Oh, I get it now! When we speak something and don’t back up it we will fall under judgment. Interesting! Isn’t that what’s happening in our political arena with Russia and the Ukraine? Isn’t that what we deal with when believers say one thing and do another?

I’m just thinkin’ on paper tonight.