Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is a Christian concept in which human beings are caught in an eternal battle between the forces of good and evil. The idea is based on the belief that Satan and his demons are real entities able to interfere in humankind’s daily existence. Adherents of the spiritual warfare movement believe Satanic attacks come in a variety of forms, such as physical and mental illnesses, crises of faith or morals, temptations to sin, and demonic possessions. While different Christian philosophies advocate various defensive strategies against evil forces, some of the most common are prayer, calling out God’s name, and remaining steadfast in the Christian faith.

Christian Concept of Demons

The concept of supernatural beings impacting human lives can be found among the earliest historical religions and is common in almost all the world’s faiths. Accounts of malevolent spirits can be traced back to the daevas of Persian Zoroastrianism—one of the oldest known religions—and the nārakas, or "creatures of hell," found in India’s Jainism. The modern word demon has its roots in the ancient Greek daimōn, which originally had a more neutral definition of "supernatural being."

The Christian belief in demons comes from the Bible, where demons were considered "fallen angels" who had aligned with Satan in a war against God. According to the Bible, Satan was once a great being in heaven but grew too prideful and rose to challenge God. The armies of heaven, led by the archangel Michael, fought the forces of Satan and eventually triumphed. Satan and his followers were stripped of their angelic beauty and cast out of heaven into the fiery realm of hell. Since that time, Satan and his demons have maintained their hatred of God and have tried to corrupt and destroy what God created—especially humans, whom God made in his own image.

While the Bible mentions only a few of Satan’s demonic followers by name, medieval scholars devised a hierarchy of demons, each assigned a specific function in hell or a role in the temptation of humans on Earth. Over the centuries, humankind has also viewed demons as the cause of sudden death, plague, famine, wars, and other tragedies.

Origins and Overview

The origins of spiritual warfare are difficult to trace because the idea of a battle between good and evil is found in many historical faiths and interpreted in many ways. Some religious leaders believe the modern view of spiritual warfare developed from the Holiness and Pentecostal movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These were fundamentalist Protestant movements in which followers believed in personal righteousness and God’s ability to communicate with his followers through supernatural signs.

Proponents of spiritual warfare see the battle with evil forces as a non-physical conflict meant to harm the human soul. The attacks can be waged in various ways. Most often, Satan or a demon will try to tempt Christians into sin or distract them from their faith. This can be done by instilling doubt in the power of God, exposing people to others who belittle or question their beliefs, or placing them in potentially sinful situations. Some Christians believe these attacks are constant, and demonic forces are always assailing their souls. Others warn of attributing every thought and misfortune to demonic meddling, saying Satan and his minions are not all-powerful and can only be in one place at any one time. They advise Christians to be knowledgeable of Satan’s tactics so that they are aware when evil is present.

At other times, evil spirits are said to inflict physical or mental illness on Christians either as a punishment or way to erode their faith. Demonic possession has even been reported in extreme cases, although not every Christian faith accepts possession as a form of spiritual warfare. Some cite biblical passages of Jesus expelling demons from the afflicted as evidence that possession is possible. Others claim that since Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit, demons can only tempt the faithful but cannot dwell within them.

Religious leaders advise Christians to defend themselves in the spiritual conflict with Satan’s forces in many different ways. Some take a more specific approach and advocate that believers fast and anoint themselves with holy oil to prove their dedication. However, most strategies to winning the battle are more practical. Prayer is considered the most powerful method for repelling Satan and his followers. Praying helps refocus Christians’ minds on God, and the words in prayers are believed to drive demons away. Faiths such as Catholicism suggest using a rosary for prayer to help focus the mind and plead for intercession. Some caution that these prayers should always be addressed to God and never to the evil forces. Speaking to Satan or demons, they maintain, only increases the likelihood of being deceived by them.

Invoking the name of God or Jesus is also considered a very strong weapon, as is relying on the symbols of Christianity such as the cross or referring to the blood of Jesus. Since Satan is said to use fear as a way to distract believers, Christians are also advised to stay strong in their faith and remember God’s greatness to help them remain fearless when confronted with evil. Utilizing a bible or reciting scripture is also encouraged as a weapon against evil.

Bibliography

Benkovic, Johnnette S.S. The Rosary: Your Weapon for Spiritual Warfare. Servant, 2017.

Brown, Matt. "Standing Strong Through Spiritual Warfare." Think Eternity, 19 June 2024, thinke.org/blog/spiritual-warfare. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025. 

Sherman, Dean. Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian. Youth With a Mission Publishing: Seattle, 1990. Print.

Towns, Dr. Elmer. "Demons in the Bible—Different Types and How They Attack." Biblesprout.com, 2015, www.biblesprout.com/articles/hell/demons/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

"What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Warfare?" Gotquestions.org, www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-warfare.html. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.