The Bible says that there is no peace for the wicked. It is also true that there is no peace for the righteous, for the two are ever in conflict with each other. For this reason we refer to the church on earth as the church militant. It is ever at war with evil in the world. Jesus once said, "I have not come to bring peace but a sword ..." Paul thinks of a Christian as a soldier who is to put on "the whole armor of God" that he may stand up against the principalities and powers of the world. Among our favorite hymns are "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before" and "The Son of God goes forth to war a kingly crown to gain."

Every true Christian has enemies, at least one. Whenever a person stands up for truth and righteousness, the forces of ev…