Dear friend,

My heart is burdened today over a carefully hidden sin that is affecting our world, our nations, and our cities. It is called superficial Christianity. Many Christians today don’t live as if they are soldiers of Jesus Christ, even though the Bible tells us that we are to fight the good fight of our faith (1 Tim 6:12). And we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12).

These days, our churches are plagued with superficial Christians who have no understanding of spiritual warfare. Oh, they have religion; the Bible speaks of those who have a form of godliness, but deny its power. They have been infected with a mild form of Christianity but have never caught the real disease. But lest we be deceived, the truth is, we are in a real, fight-to-the-death spiritual battle, between good and evil. And it doesn’t matter at all whether you want to be in a battle–you are in one, whether you admit it or not. Superficial Christians do not grasp the fact that they are already victims of this battle, victims rather than the victors God ordained.

We must remember that as Christians, we are fighting together, and just as soldiers depend on each other to defeat the enemy’s strategy, we must protect each others' backs. Satan is real; he never gives up his cunning and crafty pursuit of us. The Bible tells us that he deceived Eve by his craftiness (2 Cor. 11:3). From the time of the fall, Satan has had a deliberate, willful plan to defeat us and to hinder us from glorifying God. The Bible tells us that Satan comes as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). He seeks to blind us and thwart us in living out God’s purpose and plan for our lives, drawing us away from God—which is always his ultimate goal. He seeks to get us off track and out of the will of God for our lives; his attacks are part of an intentional and well-designed program intended to bring harm: physical, mental, economic, relational or spiritual. We need to be ready for potential battle at all times; dressed, armed and ready to go–that’s what the Bible means when it tells us to be soldiers of the cross.

The real difference between superficial Christians and authentic Christians is their battle gear. Authentic Christians dress and arm themselves everyday, preparing for potential battle, while superficial Christians wait until the enemy strikes, and then can't understand what hit them.

It is unwise to think that just because everything is fine today, everything will automatically be fine tomorrow. Satan never gives up trying to defeat Christians, but is always looking for our blind side, awaiting our weakest moment. The Bible tells us that we must be sober because our enemy is walking around like a roaring lion seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Spiritual warfare brings burdens on individuals, families, communities, cities, nations, and places of business, which is why we need to lift each other up in prayer. Sharing one another’s burden is not an option; it is a requirement that comes directly from Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us to “bear one another’s burden and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). And right now, the island of Jamaica and its churches desperately need “burden bearers.” I realize it’s hard to think about bearing someone else’s burden when we have problems of our own. All nations struggle with overwhelming problems, which is the reason Jesus Christ commanded us to preach the gospel to all nations (Matt. 28:19). The purpose of Jesus Christ’s command is to make disciples and obedient soldiers all around the world to give Him glory. Sharing burdens is not an option for us; it’s a command from our Commanding General. One of the best ways to lighten your own load is to “stand in the gap” for someone else!

Precious friends, this is in my heart. I’m asking you to “stand in the gap” for Jamaica and its churches. With this burden, God instructed me to pray according to the prayer the Prophet Daniel prayed (Daniel 9:4-19). When strategizing regarding how to defeat their enemy,  soldiers have to corporately and individually follow the plan to achieve victory over their enemy. The Bible tells us that our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God pulling down strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). God’s strategy for His soldiers is to put on His whole armor. Taking the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6).

Fellow soldiers of Christ, let us be obedient, using the sword of the Word He has put in our hands (Daniel 9:4-19). We cannot defeat the devil by human intellect or force of personality. Defeating Satan is the work of Jesus Christ alone, and that work has been accomplished on the cross. When authentic Christians pick up the Word of God and actively speak it to their enemy, they experience a renewed awareness of the Holy Spirit working on their behalf. With the Holy Spirit’s presence and power, authentic Christians are not going to fall victim to Satan’s attacks.

My fellow Jamaicans, when anyone shares gossip regarding our island, please let that gossip stop with you, and challenge them to join you in “standing in the gap” for Jamaica. Jesus Christ bore all of our sin, rebellion, and heartache. Christ was the greatest burden-bearer who ever lived. If Christ did all that for us, how can we possibly say, “I’m too busy to bear someone else’s burden?”

I hope you will pay special attention to the hurts of your fellow “soldiers in Christ.” I know Christ will honor your obedience; when you share your neighbor’s burden, you will experience relief from your own burdens as well. For as long as you are an authentic Christian, you are a part of the Body of Christ, and you are not alone.

Terrence Boothe