Sermon: 11th October 2020

The Armour of God

Gospel Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17

Dear Community of Christians,

The Apostle Paul points out in clear terms that we are not in a battle with earthly powers of flesh and blood, but with spiritual beings, powerful in the course of time.

Shouldn't we first ask ourselves, what kind of imagination about such spiritual beings do we really have? Is it clear, that they are not beings we can see in a shape of physical matter? 

Nevertheless, they are acting with strong power. And there is the shocking fact, we are, each of us, their instruments which they need to achieve their goals. How does this work? The influence of the adversary is part of our human being in the form of our unclear thinking, our diffused feelings, and our egoistic wishes. Those weaknesses can be perfectly used by adversarial impulses we are not conscious of. But as long as we wrestle with some of our weaknesses to overcome it, even to develop them further for the good, the adversaries cannot do too much harm towards our spiritual being. In addition, if we try to stand in our “I am” and our responsible actions through our moral qualities, we are less vulnerable. 

But in the moment when the image of the human being is brought down to the level of a machine which is operating by external forces, with numbers and figures, as some scientists want us to think, that this is the right way towards the future in which Ahriman has easily plays with us. 

Rudolf Steiner once described the last third part of the 20th century in a letter and wrote:
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“Ahriman sits in a grotto under the earth. He numbers, calculates and counts with the greatest intensity. Michael is standing behind him with a sword in his hand, while Ahriman is in the grotto below earth, calculating and counting and trying to solve everything in his own way through organization - with a terrifying intellectual power. Michael gives him time. Michael knows that in the end he will reap the rewards.”

We now live in the 21st century and part of the prophecy has found its fulfillment. We can see how numbers and statistics speak the main language, guiding the world. 
But now it is up to us, to make our contribution with real courage as Christians, morally responsible people in the best sense of the word. Then the archangel Michael will bring light, light through every single human being who follows his guidance.

Rev. Ute Koenig

The Man in Armour by Rembrandt van Rijn