New Weapons

Makestraightpaths.com examines the teachings of the religious group variously known as “the Family,” “The Family International,” the “Children of God,” or the “Family of Love,” and evaluates these teachings from a Christian perspective.

This page is one of a series examining the position of the Bible in Family theology.

New Weapons

Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12

The Christian life is not always easy. There are often problems to resolve, temptations to resist, and difficulties to deal with, at home, in the church, in the world and within oneself.

Most Christians believe that believers struggle against these problems until the day when they actually arrive in Heaven. Also, most believe that Christians themselves play an active role in the conflict, whether the problem or sin is located within themselves, in their church, or in the larger society.

Over time, the Family has developed a number of unique teachings concerning this spiritual conflict. One of these unique doctrines is the belief that Jesus has given Family members a set of ‘new weapons’ with which they may wage spiritual war against the devil. These ‘new weapons’ are generally unavailable to non-Family Christians due to the exclusive nature of the gift.

Family Doctrine

Family teaching regarding the ‘new weapons’ goes like this:

The Bible says that Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare.
This war is fought against the devil and his demons, against wicked people motivated by the devil, and against human sins of the flesh.
The Bible frequently draws parallels between literal weapons and the spiritual resources at Christians’ disposal as, for example, in the famous ‘armour of God’ passage in Ephesians chapter six, and as in Hebrews 4:12, where the Word of God is described as a sword.
Therefore, God has equipped Christians with spiritual weapons in order that they may fight the devil.
However, we are now living in the ‘time of the end,’ a period of history graphically described in the Bible in Matthew 24 and other places.
One of the symptoms of the ‘time of the end’ is that evil has grown “worse and worse” (2 Timothy 3:13). In other words, the devil’s attacks have grown stronger.
Therefore, it seems logical that the Lord would need to upgrade the spiritual weapons with which Christians are to fight the devil: the battles are more serious than before and the devil’s weapons are more potent, so Christians need stronger weapons than before.
According to Family ‘prophecies,’ this weapons upgrade has indeed occurred.
The Family teaches that there are a number of ‘new weapons’ available for Family members to use in their battle against the devil.
Presumably non-Family Christians would be able to use these same weapons, but they don’t know about them, not being in the Family. Plus, in general non-Family Christians don’t believe ‘prophecies’ published by the Family. Therefore, they cannot access these weapons, not having the faith for them.
The new weapons given to the Family are specifically named as the Keys of the Kingdom, prophecy and the Loving Jesus Revelation.
The Family teaches that these ‘new weapons’ are actual spiritual entities, that they are indeed weapons in a literal (not merely metaphorical) sense, although they exist in the spiritual dimension.
If Family members use these ‘new weapons,’ they will have extra power to fight the devil. If they don’t use them, they won’t be strong enough; things won’t go as well as they would.
Numerous official Family publications promise that tremendous miracles will occur as Family members learn how to use these ‘new weapons.’ They are not merely new techniques of prayer and worship, these ‘new weapons’ are said to become the conduit for mighty miracles performed by Family members.
The Family teaches that these miracles will accomplish several purposes, including these:
- They will assist in the preaching of the Gospel.
- They will defeat the devil’s attacks on Family members.
- They will hinder the antichrist’s plans for world domination.
- They will vindicate the Family itself, proving to the world and to the churches that the Family is not a cult, but instead is special in God’s eyes.

Comments

Now, there are several introductory points that need to be made.

First, the Bible indeed talks about spiritual warfare, picturing the devil as God’s enemy, and mankind’s nemesis. There are also various resources and tactics mentioned in the Bible that God gives to Christians in order that they do not fall prey to the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NASU).

Second, many churches also believe that these are the ‘times of the end.’ This point is not without controversy: Jesus made it clear that nobody would know when He would return, yet He also warned His followers to be aware of various signs that would precede this event. This page does not examine the questions raised by the use of biblical prophecies predicting the ‘end times.’

Third, this page does not analyse the Family doctrines of the Keys of the Kingdom, the Loving Jesus Revelation or their use of prophecy. Please click on the links here to go to pages on this site that discuss these Family teachings.

Fourth, neither does this page quote from or analyse the Family publications that promote the ‘new weapons.’ The reason for this is simple: the Christian faith is wholly based on the Word of God in the Bible. Every valid Christian teaching must have its basis in the Bible. If there is a teaching which is not supported by the Bible, then that teaching is wrong. Therefore when analysing a doctrine, the Bible is always the first place to look. If the Bible teaches that the doctrine is true, then we may continue to examine further. If the Bible excludes the possibility of such a teaching then we may disregard it.

Fifth, the Family’s teaching on new weapons may be succinctly summarised thus: Contemporary Christians need more spiritual weapons than before. Therefore, if the Bible indicates that this statement may be true, then Christians should indeed seek the Lord for extra, new spiritual weapons with which they may fight the devil. If, however, the Bible says that this is not true, then all Family teaching regarding the new weapons should be discarded.

There are two key passages in the New Testament in which the analogy of spiritual weaponry is used, Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12. This page analyses these scriptures in light of the Family’s teaching on the ‘new weapons.’ In particular, we shall be looking at these two passages in order to determine whether they allow the possibility of new, spiritual, literal weapons being given to Christians at some time after the Bible was finished.

The questions we want to answer are:

Are there literal, spiritual weapons available to Christians?
Does the Bible admit the possibility of more spiritual weapons, or more spiritual power being given to Christians than those which are actually mentioned in the Bible?

Hebrews 4:12

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. NASU

This verse is located at the end of a passage beginning with Hebrews chapter 4 verse 1 and ending at verse 13. In order to understand the meaning of this verse, it is necessary to learn its place within the context of the book of Hebrews as well as within this particular passage of 13 verses.

The book of Hebrews

The book of Hebrews was written by an unknown author to some unknown recipients. It is assumed that the recipients were of Hebrew origin because the book repeatedly refers to Jewish religious customs, the Old Testament and numerous Jewish historical figures.

Among other theological themes, the book of Hebrews demonstrates the superiority of Jesus Christ – in comparison to the angels, in comparison to Moses, as a high priest, in his ministry, in the privileges the believer may obtain, and in the behavioural outcomes of the believer. It is possible that, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the author was addressing a heresy that was creeping into the church in which the role of Jesus was downplayed. Of course, without Jesus as the high priest of salvation, there could be no salvation at all, so the writer urges his readers to be sure not to neglect Him.

Hebrews chapter four

Hebrews 4:1-13

1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

“as I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “and god rested on the seventh day from all his works”; 5 and again in this passage, “they shall not enter my rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

“today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

NASU

In chapter three, the author of Hebrews has been discussing a passage from the book of Psalms. This chapter is the continuation of his exposition, containing a call, a warning and a promise.

Psalm 95:7-11

7 For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you would hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

9 “When your fathers tested Me,

They tried Me, though they had seen My work.

10 “For forty years I loathed that generation,

And said they are a people who err in their heart,

And they do not know My ways.

11 “Therefore I swore in My anger,

Truly they shall not enter into My rest.”

NASU

The writer of Hebrews applies this passage from the Psalms to Jesus, warning that there was a distinct possibility that some of his readers were not truly saved.

A key expression in the passage is the word “rest,” metaphorically signifying “the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which he has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended” (NT:2663, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). In Psalm 95:11, the word ‘rest’ refers to God’s promise to Israel of the physical land they would receive as an inheritance. The word ‘rest’ for the ancient Israelites meant that they had received the promised land, which from that time onwards belonged to them. The writer of Hebrews applies this same passage to Christian believers’ spiritual rest in the Lord. For believers, ‘rest’ means that they have received the promised salvation, and no longer need to engage in fruitless attempts to earn the favour of God. True believers accept relief from empty works through faith in Christ. Therefore, ‘rest’ is a metaphor for salvation in Christ.

Hebrews chapter three urges the readers to be faithful and obedient that they may be able to enter this rest, and chapter four warns that those who do not believe God cannot obtain it.

Hebrews 4:1 urges the readers to “fear” (NASU), “be careful” (NIV), “be wary” (NET) in case they do not receive the promised rest (salvation).

Verse 2 draws a parallel between ancient Israel and believers: both heard the word of God’s promise regarding ‘rest.’ However both may be refused the blessing due to unbelief.

Verse 3 quotes Psalm 95:11 and points out that this place of rest was actually ready to enter.

Verse 4 quotes Genesis 2:2, proving that the place of rest – both for ancient Israel and for Christian believers – has already been created.

Verse 5 returns to Psalm 95.

Verse 6 says that the ‘rest’ is available to be entered, but people are shut out through unbelief.

Verse 7 quotes Psalm 95:7-8, saying that God has again moved in history, appointing another opportunity to enter his rest, although this time it is a spiritual rest. The time to enter this rest is now! “God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today” (Heb 4:7 NLT).

Verse 8 reminds the Hebrews that even after the Israelites had entered the promised land under the captaincy of Joshua, God still spoke of a ‘rest’ that could be obtained.

Verse 9 uses a different word for ‘rest,’ specifically referring to the rest from work that was ordained on the Sabbath day.

Verse 10 explains that as the Sabbath day was ordained in commemoration of the fact that God ‘rested’ from his works on the seventh day, so too believers who are truly saved may also rest from their works. A true believer does not have to earn his salvation through self-works.

Verse 11 exhorts the readers to take this lesson to heart so that they do not make the same mistake of unbelief as the ancient Israelites did, and so be refused entry into the promised rest.

Verse 12 warns that there is no fooling God. His word is able to discern true belief and disobedient pretence. Nobody will enter God’s rest without true faith, but it is only God’s word that can measure the presence of real belief or inner disobedience.

Verse 13 says that all people are accountable to God. All will have to answer to Him for their actions, their faith, or their lack of faith. God knows every heart, every soul, every person. He will demand an account as to what each person did with His invitation of rest.

Hebrews 4:12

In the first place, the general topic of Hebrews 4:12 has nothing to do with spiritual weaponry. Rather, it is talking about the unlimited power of the Word of God to discern between true faith and disobedient disbelief. That is, the Word of God is certainly extremely powerful, but this power is directed towards people’s hearts to search out disobedient disbelief or true faith. God will search every person; everyone will be laid exposed and naked before Him, and there will be no possibility of deceiving God. Some people may be very good at deceiving other people, but God cannot be fooled.

Second, the analogy of the word of God as a sword in this passage is used to describe a mighty weapon in the hands of God directed at people’s hearts, not a spiritual weapon in the hands of a Christian who wants to attack the devil.

Third, the theme of this passage is salvation. The purpose of the Word of God in this verse is that His people may enter God’s rest, that is, that they may be saved.

Fourth, the ‘Word of God’ here is the Holy Scriptures, which contain God’s message of salvation. Specifically in the book of Hebrews, it is the Old Testament combined with the Gospel about Jesus Christ. It is the Old Testament plus the message of salvation in Jesus. For Christians today, the ‘Word of God’ is the Old and New Testaments, the Bible. There is no suggestion in the passage that the ‘Word of God’ may be extended to anything else, and certainly not to new spiritual weapons allegedly bestowed at a later date.

Conclusion

There is absolutely nothing in this passage to justify the use of Hebrews 4:12 as support for the Family’s teachings about ‘new weapons.’ To the contrary, the passage exalts the Word of God as recorded in the Bible as supremely powerful, from which nothing can hide. Nothing is more powerful than the Word of God in the Bible, and therefore, any ‘new weapons’ that Christians attempt to use are actually inferior to the Bible.

Ephesians 6:17

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. NASU

At first glance, this verse appears to describe the Word of God as an offensive weapon in the hands of a believer. However, as before, it is important to draw out the meaning of the verse within its context in the book of Ephesians, as well as in the passage where it is located.

The book of Ephesians

Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison (Eph 6:20) in Rome. It was sent via Tychicus, who may have also brought with him from Rome the letter to the Colossians. It was written to the believers in the city of Ephesus, and possibly also to other churches in the immediate area.

Ephesus itself had a turbulent history as a centre of Christian faith. Christianity had to compete with the worship of Artemis (Diana), as well as various heresies brought in by false teachers. The epistles to Timothy contain counsel from Paul to Timothy who at that time was leading the church in Ephesus, advising him how to deal with false teachers and troublemakers. Later, believers in Ephesus were rebuked by Jesus in the book of Revelations for having lost their ‘first love’ (Rev 2:1-7).

The book of Ephesians, as in Paul’s letter to the Romans, begins with theological themes and then moves to more practical issues. The book discusses, among other themes, the blessings and riches believers have in Christ, the unity of Gentiles and Jews within the church, and the church as a living organism, rather than merely a religious organisation.

Practical matters include divine plans and assistance for the church, and the balance between authority and submission between believers.

The believer’s warfare and armour

Eph 6:10-20

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

NASU

This passage dealing with the armour of God (Eph 6:10-17) is one of the last sections in Ephesians. It is followed only by a call for prayer (6:18-20), often included in the ‘armour of God’ passage, and the closing benedictions (6:21-24).

Paul warns that despite the riches believers have in Christ, an easy path does not lie ahead. He urges his readers to “be strong” (6:10), to “stand firm” (three times – 6:11,13,14), and to “be on the alert” (6:18). Therefore, due to the difficulty of the “struggle” (6:12) facing Christians, God has provided a means by which they may come through victorious.

What is the armour?

In the first place, the language used in this passage is metaphorical. Paul uses the analogy of a Roman soldier’s armour to illustrate some spiritual truths. Therefore, when Paul likens ‘truth’ to a protective belt, he does not mean that there is a literal spiritual entity which may be fastened around one’s waist in order to defend against attacks to the Christian’s belly! Neither are there spiritual shoes which magically assist in the propagation of the Gospel.

Certainly Paul is declaring that there is inherent power in the truth and Gospel of God, but he does not indicate that ‘truth’ or ‘righteousness’ are individual spiritual entities which may be used or manipulated by believers.

Rather, he is continuing his theme of the great riches and blessings that God has provided to believers in Christ. He has already listed numerous wonderful blessings available to believers, and here are yet more blessings, that is, the strength to be able to withstand the devil’s attacks. Taking an image with which his readers were familiar, he illustrates various ways believers will be able to endure their struggles.

Second, the principles illustrated by the pieces of armour actually point to Jesus Christ himself. How can believers “put on” truth or righteousness (6:14)? Only by “putting on” Jesus. How can believers put on salvation? Quite simply, believers cannot do anything to obtain salvation; salvation is a gift from God. Therefore, when Paul tells his readers to “put on” the armour, he is actually telling them to put on Christ.

As a matter of fact, he made a similar analogy in his letter to the Romans. In chapter 13, he exhorted his readers to “lay aside” evil deeds and “put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12). He does not indicate that the armour is a spiritual entity composed of light, but rather he uses the analogy of armour to illustrate the contrast between good and evil. In the next verse, he describes exactly what constitutes evil deeds, including the sin of “sexual promiscuity,” (Romans 13:13), and then he returns to his figurative illustration of the Christian ‘putting on’ that which will enable him to stand strong:

Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. NASU

Taken as a whole, the armour of God metaphorically illustrates Jesus Christ himself.

You can see this is highly figurative language. These are not entities in themselves, but are symbols of something real. In order to understand them we must look behind the figures to the reality. We have a clue to the significance of this armor in what I have already pointed out. The armor is the way to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. The armor is nothing more than a symbolic description of the Lord himself. The armor is Christ, and what he is prepared to be, and to do, in and to each one of us. When Paul speaks of these various pieces, he is speaking of Christ and how we are to regard him, how we are to lay hold of him as our defense against the stratagems of the devil. It is not merely Christ available to us, but Christ actually appropriated. (Ray Stedman, Defense Against Defeat, Part 1).

Third, the armour is not something that Christians manufacture themselves. Strength is “in the Lord” and “in His might” (6:10); the armour is “of God” (6:11,13). In other words, this mighty defence comes from God. Christians appropriate God’s power by “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 13:14), but their protection does not come from their own efforts.

The purpose of the armour

Before he actually describes the various items of armour, Paul introduces the topic in verses 10-12. In verse 11, he describes the general purpose of the armour: “so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:11 NASU). Again in verse 13, Christians take the armour to “resist” and “stand firm” (Eph 6:13).

In other words, the general purpose is defensive, not offensive. It might be noted that when Paul mentions the “sword” in verse 17 – often cited as the only offensive weapon in the list – he uses a Greek word that means either a “large knife” or a “short sword” (NT:3162 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). That is, Paul chooses a weapon that is more defensive than offensive.

The whole armour

Two times, Paul describes his list as comprising the “full armour” (Eph 6:11,13). There is a Greek word that Paul uses in these two verses which is a combination of the words for ‘full’ and ‘armour.’ The combined word means “wholly armed, in full armor” (NT:3833 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon); “among the Greeks the panoplia was the complete equipment used by heavily armed infantry” (NT:3833 Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words).

This armour is complete. When the Christian “puts on” this armour, he or she is fully protected against the devil. Omit a piece that is mentioned here and there will be a weakness. Take it all and one is covered by the strength of the Lord’s might (Eph 6:10).

Therefore, in order to be fully protected, a Christian must be covered by truth and righteousness (6:14), the “the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (6:15 NIV), faith (6:16), salvation and the Word of God (6:17). If believers are covered by all these things, they are fully protected.

Application for the Family

First, the passage clearly indicates that there is no need for any further armour than that which is listed here. As pointed out above, the armour described in this passage is already complete. God has already provided all that believers need for spiritual protection, whether of an offensive or defensive nature. Further, as this armour is complete, any later additions to the list can only be detrimental. That is, God fashions that which is perfect. Anything that is added to God’s perfection necessarily falls short of that perfection. The Family’s attempts to add to the armour actually will only subtract from it, leaving Family members spiritually vulnerable.

Second, the armour is not dependant on circumstances. That is, God gives the full armour in order that believers may be wholly protected against the devil’s attacks, whenever and however they may come. God does not provide partial armour when the battles are mild and full armour during heavy struggles. Therefore, there is no basis to the Family’s logic that when the devil attacks more, God will give extra weaponry. The armour is already complete.

Third, there is a solid case to made that the Family’s spiritual armour is in fact incomplete. The passage urges Christians to “put on the full armour” that they might stand strong. In other words, if certain elements are lacking, the believer will not be fully protected. In the Family’s case, the first two items in the list appear to have been compromised. “Truth” from a Christian’s perspective is the knowledge of God as revealed in the Bible, but in general, the Family does not know biblical truth. Family members do not study and reverence the Bible as they should, instead giving ultimate authority to official Family publications. The Bible leaves no room for doubt on this topic. If any other writings are exalted above the Bible, then those writings are automatically untrue. Family publications are indeed exalted above the Bible in the way that they are used to stand in judgement of what the Bible actually says. Further, “righteousness” is also lacking in the Family. Romans 13:13, mentioned above, refers to “sexual promiscuity” as being spiritually opposed to God’s armour. The sin of sexual promiscuity is rife throughout the Family, and is officially promoted by Family leadership, yet the Bible says that it is one of the “deeds of darkness” (Romans 13:12).

Therefore, Family members do not have the full armour of God, as they are lacking in the first two crucial elements. In fact, this may be why Family leadership began promoting ‘new weapons,’ being aware that something was missing. Without truth or righteousness, believers are unprotected spiritually.

Fourth, Ephesians 6:17 likens the Word of God to a sword. However, the Family has redefined the meaning of the “Word of God” to include their own writings, something that is totally incompatible with biblical teaching. Therefore, Family members who hold to the teaching that official Family publications may also be considered the ‘Word of God’ do not actually have the “sword of the spirit” at all.

Conclusion

The Bible leaves no room for fanciful and imaginative “new weapons” to be granted to believers. God has already fully equipped believers.

The Family, far from being spiritually stronger due to their “new weapons” are actually spiritually vulnerable and unprotected. Family members should take this warning seriously, and as a matter of urgency do all they can to “put on the full armour of God.”