Before Katniss Everdeen stepped back into the arena for the 75th Hunger Games, Haymitch Abernathy offered her one final word of advice. While in the arena, the games forced its “contestants” (called “tributes” in the book) to battle each other to the death – for the entertainment of the Capital along with a means to control its citizens in the districts. In order to survive, tributes build temporary alliances. Katniss needed an alliance because she had a target on her back. As the popular tribute, too many in the arena saw her as the threat. As the face of a movement to challenge the capital’s reign of terror, President Snow saw her as a threat. So before stepping into the arena, Haymitch reminded her, “Remember who the real enemy is.”
In the arena disorienting the tributes is part of the Games itself. The game-makers ensure unexpected dangers keep the competition interesting. While only one will survive the games, formed alliances are not just essential for survival but clearly brings trust issues with it. Then there is the danger of simply surviving the elements; they are called The Hunger Games for a reason. All of that begs for her to remember who the real enemy is.
We’re living in our own arena. No, it’s not a battle to the death for the last man standing. But it is a battle. Sometimes we are the players and other times we’re being played. So we always need reminded as to be who the enemy really is.
In Paul’s famous military metaphor (Eph. 6:10-18) he takes his readers through the Armor of God images. Belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword/Sprit of the word of God. While we’re less aware, the original audience were well aware of the imagery Paul uses. The focus is not on modeling the belt, breastplate, fitted feet, shield, helmet and sword, as we have often done. The focus is on the character of the “soldier” who models truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Spirit/word of God. Too often we have allowed the soldier image to drive the message instead of the character qualities that define the soldier, which ends us distorting who the real enemy is.
The posture of the soldier is never in the offensive position, but the defensive position. The soldier does not look for a fight, any more than a shepherd looks to fight the wolf or the bear. But if the battle comes to him, he is more than able to defend himself by standing his ground (mentioned three times). Note that the shield’s role is to extinguish the flaming arrows, to protect oneself from attack, and that Paul never authorizes “weaponizing” the sword. In fact, the only offensive posture mentioned in the passage is to pray, and Paul tells us to pray five times in verses 18-20. Because understanding the position helps clarify who the enemy is.
You are not my enemy, and I am not yours. As Paul clearly states, the struggle is not in the physical sense, though it may take form in the physical sense. The struggle is real and its source is the devil (v. 11; 1 Pet. 5:8). He implements his schemes through rulers, people in power, and evil spiritual forces that are at work (v. 12). Structures and systems assembled by the society, including the State, with the purpose to dominate, destroy and dehumanize people is the means for the devil to achieve his evil schemes. That’s why we are called to peacefully stand against evil systematically woven throughout our society. Since we’re not enemies, but allies, and as we are called to take our stand, we remember who the real enemy is.
During the games, Katniss became disoriented. Other tributes carried out an attack on her and her alliances. While under attack, her own allies looked to be turning on each other. Chaos was controlling the moment. In the confusion, Katniss drew her bow. Ready to defend herself, Finnick Odair entered her sights. He raised his hands, pleading, to stop her from killing him. She paused, trying to assess the situation properly. He called out using Haymitch’s own words, “Katniss! Remember who the real enemy is!” Sometimes, when we’re ready to turn on each other, we need that same reminder.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e., only God is glorified!)