The church is at war. Even though we aren’t digging bomb shelters, rationing supplies, or stocking ammunition, the war is raging. Whether we’re aware of it or not, we are part of this battle. It is a spiritual battle, and far more serious than any kind of nuclear combat or world war. There are ten major fronts to this battle, and we must be aware of these dangers so we can better participate in the battle and the advance of Christianity.

1. The distraction of materialism. Possessions have the potential to pry our hearts away from Jesus. Things turn into idols. Money becomes an object of worship. The love of stuff, even though it’s cloaked in Christian behavior, is a devilish distraction to the cause of Christ.
2. The syncretism of false religion. Heresy is all around us. The New Testament writers warned the first century church to beware of idols and to resist false teachers. Those commands apply today. When we begin to give in to the ideology of Eastern mysticism, for example, or to dismiss biblical passages because of their supposed cultural irrelevance, we begin to attack our own faith.
3. The appeal of emergent theology. Although its heyday seems to have passed, the emergent trend has a fixed place in contemporary pseudochristianity. The problem with emergent theology is that it is a false theology. It removes the primacy of God’s Word, and elevates an experiential, man-focused, synergistic approach to religion that does disservice to the truth.
4. The reliance on reason. We still live in the Age of Reason. It is so easy, even for Christians, to rely on our thinking, and to begin shoving the Bible aside. This may not look like outright atheism, but in effect, it dismisses scriptural revelation and upholds human intellect as the source of truth.
5. The lack of theological training. Christians need to know what they believe and why they believe it. Obviously, it’s not necessary that every Christian needs to enroll in seminary or to take Bible classes. What we need instead is solid teaching from our pulpits, not the pabulum of self-help tips and self-esteem techniques. Christians should be unafraid to ask the hard questions; leaders must give them solid answers.
6. The neglect of key doctrine. Lacking theological training leads to neglecting key doctrine. The Christian faith is founded upon doctrine, and doctrine is important. When pastors and leaders try to come up with some savvy form of “relevance,” they are also tempted to slide on doctrine. If the substitutionary atonement isn’t palatable to our generation, then why push it? or preach it? or believe it? — so goes the thinking. Doctrine does not depend on relevance for verification. It depends on the Bible. To neglect it is to hold a false gospel.
7. The fear of alternative religions. Other religions are growing. Islam, for example, is no longer a regional religion; it claims millions of adherents across the globe. The rise of non-Christian faiths can be intimidating. It is necessary to be aware and to be on our guard, but Christians must not fear. The New Testament is replete with references to reject fear. Our God is greater than the gods touted by false religions. There’s no competition. Fear will cripple our mission, and cause us to cower in timidity instead of advancing with boldness (1 John 4:18).
8. The love of the world. Just as John warns us to love the world (1 John 2:15), he commands us to love the brethren (1 John 3:10, 23; 4:7). When our love for the world grows, our love for believers fades. Loving the world means leaving our faith. Loving the world means leaving the love of the Father (1 John 2:15). There is a lot in the world that may be appealing (1 John 2:16), but there is a greater, more powerful, more fulfilling, and genuine love to which we must run.
9. The abandonment of mission. In Christian warfare, there has never been a call to retreat. But from the looks of it, Christians all across the globe are retreating from the battle. Failing to share our faith with neighbors or coworkers is to retreat. Dismissing God’s call to make disciples in every nation is to retreat. When we abandon mission, we engage in navel-gazing. We participate in church civil war. When our burden for the lost lessens, so does our passion for the gospel and our love for Jesus.
10. The dependence upon tradition. Many churches are caught in the trap of tradition. Not all tradition is bad, but when tradition trumps Scripture, then we have problems. Traditionalism blindly upholds past preferences as the imperative for a new day. The resurgence of ancient tradition in modern churches (e.g., reverence of icons, burning incense, etc.) may have the feel of religion, but can easily disintegrate into experiential emptiness. Other churches may cling to the tradition of decades ago, thinking that they must force modern nonbelievers into a “Christian” mold that has no biblical basis. This is the danger of traditionalism — a subtle lifting up of man’s religious invention as opposed to God’s supreme revelation.

This list of ten dangers can seem foreboding and dismal. But the Christian faith is not a morose doomsday approach to life. There is more good news than there is bad. The good news is that Jesus has promised victory. He will reign. The day will come when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Until then, Christians must be aware of the dangers that we face, and oppose them by the grace and in the strength of Jesus. Stand therefore, for the day will come when we stand around the throne with millions upon millions of others, and proclaim, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13)!