Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This has not ever been one of my favorite passages.  For the reason why, you need look no further than this: a Sunday school coloring page of the "whole armor of God."  (link here:  http://www.kidssundayschool.com/1070/gradeschool/put-on-the-full-armor-of-god.php)

There's just something not right to me to be giving children a coloring page of a Roman warrior - who was likely to use that sword as a weapon of violence against the occupied people - as part of a lesson about God.

It makes me realize that perhaps we have many outdated images and understandings of God that no longer work for our 21st century lives of faith.  For Paul and the first century Christians, this image of the armor of God was understandable as a subversive dismantling (maybe) of the Roman soldiers who occupied their land.

Even while I may bemoan this warrior like imagery of God, we nevertheless still do understand it, don't we?  God protects us - much like a soldier dresses for battle, so we put on Christ to protect us and prepare us for our lives.  And I'll admit: knowing that God is still giving me the strength I need to withstand assaults from any side, is comforting.

There are, however, other images I'd like better.  Yet it is perhaps important to remember that no image or metaphor for God is complete.  They all ultimately fall short, whether it is this warlike image or whether it is Jesus as the mother hen. In the end, God is bigger than any of our words or images can conjure.

And that perhaps is itself ultimately the most comforting thing of all.  That I cannot define God simply in my own terms.

God of all, thank you for images that help bring me closer to you, but remind me always to remember that you are far more than any image my mind can come up with.  Amen.