By Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura
Review by Sarah Elizabeth Farish
Spiritual warfare is not a topic often discussed at evangelical dinner tables. Yet the outside world has jumped on the theological concept of spiritual warfare as an opportunity to commercialize the demonic through horror films and television shows. Say the words “spiritual warfare” and opinions tend to polarize between those two camps: those who sensationalize the supernatural to a maximum and those who downplay the reality of spiritual warfare to a minimum.
Pastors Robert Ventura and Brian Borgman from Rhode Island and Nevada, respectively, seek to find that delicate balance when discussing spiritual warfare. Once again, we’re often presented with two options regarding spiritual warfare: either ignore it or go over the top. But if neither approach is biblical, what are we as believers to do?
Put on the Full Armor
The format of Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective is clear and simple. Borgman and Ventura first define spiritual warfare and then describe in detail the implications of each piece of armor from Ephesians 6:10-20. The result for the reader is that as the book continues, spiritual warfare becomes less of a scary or confusing topic and more a of practical and crucial part of our everyday lives as Christians.
A theme that recurs throughout the book is the “already, and not yet.” When thinking about spiritual warfare we must recall that the battle is already won. Satan was decisively conquered in the ultimate act of spiritual warfare, the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Nevertheless, the battle still wages on every day as we war against our sinful flesh.
Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura. Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014. 124 pp. $13.00.
Read more at http://thegospelcoalition.org//article/spiritual-warfare-a-biblical-and-balanced-perspective
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