SLACKENED BOWSTRINGS

During the “Cold War” a word became very familiar to those aware of the rising and falling tensions between the two world superpowers, the United States and Russia. The Cold War lasted from the late 1940’s to the end of 1991 when communism finally collapsed in Russia. A word that was heard frequently during this time was “détente,” which is a French word meaning “relaxation of tension.” Reaching back even farther in history, it means “to slacken the bowstrings.”

In ancient times when bows and arrows were primary instruments of warfare, in order to preserve the strength of their bows, archers slackened their bowstrings when they were traveling or not fighting. Also, as a sign of the cessation of hostilities, the archers on opposing sides would slacken their bowstrings to indicate that the fighting was over. This is “détente.”

I believe that as we draw closer to the end of time, there will be more frequent calls for peace and harmony between the various religious communities of the world. We will be assaulted with statements such as, “Can’t we all just get along? After all, there are many roads to God, and Christianity is just one of them.” The call will be for followers of Jesus Christ to stop asserting, “He is the only way to God,” and it will be phrased in the terminology of détente. In the call for harmony, followers of Christ will be told to not say anything about practices they consider wrong—e.g., same sex marriage, homosexuality, or immorality of any kind. Christians will be told to “chill, relax and get along with the world.”

Some Christians will be seduced by this kind of talk and will unwittingly join forces with the wrong people. Already in parts of the Church, we see the spirit of compromise and complacency taking root. There are many churches where sin is never talked about, ever! There is no talk of the devil or his ferocious appetite to destroy people; there is no talk of eternal damnation; there is no talk about the right and wrong way to live (what used to be referred to as holiness). There is little or no talk about the way evil (sin) ravages a life and leaves it broken and sick. Instead, all the talk tends to be self-centered, about me, about how I can improve myself, how I can make myself into a better person. 

When there are slackened bowstrings in the Church, no standards are being held up that assist people in making good decisions to live by. We don’t talk much about living righteously any more. One of the weaknesses of over-emphasizing the grace message is that the responsibility for righteous living has been undermined and responsibility is not being taught.

We are never to extend détente to the devil and his forces!

Why am I so adamant about this? Because the devil never has and never will extend détente to you! It doesn’t matter what the devil or the world system says about their desire to be at peace with the Church (and all of us who are His followers); everything they say about this is nothing but a lie!

John 8:44 is a very revealing description of the devil’s tactic of never telling the truth. Jesus said to a group of people He was teaching: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (NIV).

The devil’s first language, his native tongue, is lying; he is a liar from start to finish. Therefore, we are never to extend détente to the devil; we must never slacken our bowstrings!

Writing to the church in Asia Minor that was in a time of heavy persecution, the apostle Peter challenges them, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NKJV).

The picture presented in these verses is very clear, I think.

The words “be sober” present the idea of “being under control mentally and not panicking.”

To “be vigilant” means we are to “be awake and watchful.” No slackened bowstrings here!

“Your adversary” means the devil is like a hostile opponent in a lawsuit, one who will not play by the rules but will use slander, accusations, lies, and dirty tricks to achieve what he wants.

“Resist him, steadfast in the faith.” We are to be very alert but we also are to use the weapons of our warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are to aggressively oppose our adversary!

Peter is saying, “Heads up! No need to panic but a great need to be alert and aware. We cannot afford to let down our guard and become complacent.”

No slackened bowstrings!

Not now, not ever!