The Full Armour of God
One of my training rectors issued me the challenge to paint the full armour of God when I was in my year of discernment many years ago. I have not managed to put acrylic to canvas yet, still pondering how to express the protection I experience and feel in my faith, as well as the strength that I draw from Christ in living day-to-day.
I have been somewhat cautious in using the traditional imagery of a medieval knights garb which usually comes to my mind when thinking of swords and shields and helmets and breastplates. Or the more accurate one that the writer of Ephesians might have had in mind - a roman warrior with 'Lorica segmentata'; golden plate, round bronze shield and short steel sword called a 'Gladius', with leather sandals strapped to below the knee and a helmet with a red crest atop - would have been a familiar sight for those under Roman rule and occupation.
Ephesians 6.11-18
11 Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 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. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
The artwork I created from my most recent Padlet journey alongside our Digital Faith Artists | Ministry has given me new food for thought as I see the part that nature plays in equipping me for ministry and service alongside creation. This is the image that is featured in this blog post, with a lot of flowers surrounding and adorning the sheild of faith, alongside the scriptures. Good to reflect on as we approach this years Season of Creation.
The relationship I have with this passage is not just as a somewhat cautious artist, but I often find myself referring to the full armour of God in pastoral conversations. It is incredibly comforting to think of armour we can put on when we are feeling wounded or challenged by the things that hurt us in our lives.
When things go wrong in relationships, when we are ailing physically, when we are challenged by the injustice of the things happening around us, or when we are trying to stand up for Christ but not feeling confident -
What better way to be equipped than to get dressed with God's strength to keep going and give it our all?
I regularly make use of a particular song in preparing myself for the hard things that I am called to do in God's service, and often share it with others in the hope that it might help them also to take heart and feel confidence in Christ.
Head to Toe (The Armor of God Song) sung by Christy Nockels has stunning lyrics:
Little one, be strong In the power in the Lord
And let the keeper of the stars keep Your heart forevermore
Even though you might be small It is in you, His kingdom reigns
And from your mouth, the Lord has made A fountain for His praise
And with His righteousness, across your chest Salvation for your head
The belt of truth, around you now With the shield of faith in hand
And with His peace, upon your feet Everywhere you go His word will be the sword you keep
Your covered head to toe Your covered head to toe
Oh, the night is quickly fading And the day will soon break in
And with the dawn, the Lord will give The grace you need to stand
And turn your worries into songs Put on your covering of light
And you will long outlast the darkness 'Cause He's with you in this fight
And with His righteousness, across your chest Salvation for your head
The belt of truth, around you now With the shield of faith in hand
And with His peace, upon your feet Everywhere you go
His word will be the sword you keep Your covered head to toe
Your covered head to toe
And with His peace, upon your feet Everywhere you go
His word will be the sword you keep Your covered head to toe
I am reminded of the Loricas (songs/prayers of protection) which many heroes of faith have composed. One which we have celebrated at HHO is the Lorica of Holy Hermit Gildas the Wise. Recorded as part of a sermon reflecting on this body prayer for protection, this is now a audio resource we can make use of whenever we have need of it. The video features below.
These songs celebrate for me the all encompassing love of God in Christ, our saviour, friend and guide. And that it is God's love that covers us, guards and keeps us and makes us strong in the face of any difficulty.
So maybe the full armour of God is actually the full amour of God?
Amour - A definition:
amour (noun)
a love affair or lover, especially one that is secret:
Origin
Middle English (originally in the sense ‘love, affection’): via Old French from Latin amor ‘love’. The current sense dates from the late 16th century.
That sits well with me. God is the lover and protector of my soul.
The only part of this definition that doesn't perhaps work is that it references secrecy - the intimacy of this can be true, but it is not a secret the way that God loves me. Nor is it a secret the way that God loves you, dear reader. And we are supposed to talk about the love of God.
God's love for us and the way it transforms us, to love God, love creation and love one another is no secret!
To end this blog, I especially appreciated the poem from Rev. Steve this week. One of our beloved guest preachers, Steve often speaks to me in the poetry he sends to my inbox from Unfolding Light – Daily Reflections and Worship Resources.
I commend this poem, and Steve's new book (Unfolding Light: Poems - Kindle edition by Steve Garnaas-Holmes) to you for your own devotions:
Put on the whole armor of God… —Ephesians 6.11
The armor of God is distinctly not-armor:
a renunciation of might,
of power and force,
a radical commitment to non-violence.
It’s gentleness instead of fighting,
service rather than superiority,
listening instead of yelling,
love instead of self-protection.
You don’t just renounce guns.
You renounce bullying,
aggression, making fun of others.
You set aside the shield of cynicism,
the helmet of acceptability,
the sword of being right.
For the sake of healing
you accept vulnerability, embrace risk,
and stand with those who hurt.
To put on the armor of God
is not for the faint-hearted.
It’s to trust that love
and utter dependence on the grace of God
will keep you whole.
For it will.
It will.
May Christ equip and empower us all with the full amour of God!