Onward, Christian Soldiers

Today’s post is a follow-up to the topic I started here and here.

Last week, I referred to John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost, which describes Satan and his followers as fallen angels—beings with special powers and abilities, including immortality, large stature, and wings to fly with. In the poem, the war Satan launched against God was a physical one that resulted in him being literally hurled down to a lake of actual fire and brimstone.

In Mormon theology, however, angels are not essentially different from human souls. Generally speaking, “angel” is a term for someone who performs work or delivers a message on God’s behalf. Angels may either be spirits or resurrected beings. During the War in Heaven in particular, Satan and his followers were spirits who originally had been intended to come to earth and receive mortal bodies like the rest of us ... until they rebelled. And why did they rebel?

“John the Revelator described a great war in heaven. The issue was moral agency, as it is today.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Faith of Our Father,” April 2008 General Conference)

The whole thing was about the freedom to choose and then accept the consequences of those choices. As I wrote in an earlier post, “They refused to accept Jesus Christ as the Savior, arguing that salvation should be automatic to anyone who went through mortal life.” But how exactly did Satan war against God?

“This war in heaven was not a war of bloodshed. It was a war of conflicting ideas—the beginning of contention.” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Canker of Contention,” April 1989 General Conference)

It was a war of ideas. The weapons used to fight it were argument, contention, persuasion, debate, and testimony. The aggressors saw God’s love for his children as a vulnerability, so that’s where they directed their attacks. Unable to physically force anyone to follow him, Satan became a master persuader. His tactics may have ranged from outright intimidation to appeals to principle, loyalty, trust, and fairness. He told the truth when it came in handy, but lied readily if it suited his purpose. Perhaps he said things like:

• If Father really loved us, he wouldn’t allow us to suffer or risk our damnation.
• If you cared about your brothers and sisters, you’d want to guarantee their exaltation.
• You must think you’re better than the rest of us, that you won’t be the one to fall.
• You should trust my age, education, and experience—I know better than you.
• Father wants to take our freedom to choose a different path to salvation.

Whatever his arguments, Satan was bound to lose. After being cast out of heaven and losing the chance to ever have a mortal body, he and his followers determined to continue the war on earth. How do they do this?

“That same battle continues today in the conflict between right and wrong and between the gospel and false principles.” (M. Russell Ballard, “Duties, Rewards, and Risks,” October 1989 General Conference)

It’s the same thing all over again. A physical element has been added, as those in the grips of Satan’s influence can commit great violence in pursuit of their goals. But the war continues to be about agency (control), and it continues to be fought by contentious arguments similar to those that may have been used during our pre-mortal existence. Things like:

• If God existed, he wouldn’t allow bad things to happen to good people.
• If you loved me, you’d accept me as I am and quit preaching.
• You’re judgmental and you think you’re better than me.
• I’m more educated and experienced than you. I know belief in God is delusional.
• I can do whatever I want to be happy. It’s my life and nobody’s going to control me.

And on and on. The only thing left for us is to either lose faith and succumb, or to do the same thing we did in the pre-existence to defeat Satan the first time.

“... there is only one way to win the war against Satan, and that is to win it in the same way it was won in the beginning. When victory was finally achieved in the War in Heaven, a loud voice was heard to declare: ‘Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. … For they [referring to Michael and his angels] have overcome him [referring to the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; for they loved not their own lives, but kept the testimony even unto death’ (JST Rev. 12:9, 11). Do not miss the significance of this declaration. Satan was overcome in the beginning by (1) faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, (2) testimony of Him that was steadfastly kept to the very end, and (3) consecration of oneself to the Lord and His work. If this was the means for defeating him in the beginning, you can be sure that this is the one sure way to defeat him now.” (James J. Hamula, “Winning the War Against Evil,” October 2008 General Conference)

So onward, Christian soldiers. Do your best to bravely wield your weapon of testimony. And remember, this is a defensive war. We’re not out to destroy our brothers and sisters, but to rescue them. Beware any man or woman who preaches that, to win power and respect in God’s kingdom, you should wage war.

***

Today’s poem is actually hymn text written to the tune of “There Is a Green Hill Far Away.” The first verse especially has some unique Mormon doctrine in it. The relevant scripture references are listed at the end.

Sacrifice

When Adam offered sacrifice,
God blessed him for his faith.
He taught him of a Savior who
Was full of truth and grace.

When Jesus offered sacrifice,
He conquered Adam’s Fall.
He gave his life to make his grace
Sufficient for us all.

Today, we offer sacrifice
Of contrite, broken hearts.
Remembering the Savior’s gift,
We vow to give our part.

Scripture references: Moses 5:6-7; Ether 12:27; 3 Nephi 9:20