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In this passage, Paul is responding to critics and false teachers who had thrown accusations at him, of which, that he lived and operated by worldly standards. The strongholds that he talks about (arguments and every pretension) are conclusions, or rationalizations (rational-lies?) that start in the mind and then are worked out in life as action directed at repelling the knowledge of God.
This sounds like something we today call denial. We believe the lies, they become part of us and we live them out, thinking we are not sinning! Can anyone relate? What areas of your life has the Holy Spirit been convicting you about that you have been resisting? Are you using the weapons of the world to combat the conviction of God almighty? Our culture is all about minimizing righteous thinking and lifting up the needs of the individual. It’s got to make us feel good! So, instead of responding to the prompting of our loving God (which might be painful, take some work, time, and dedication), we look horizontal for something easy, pleasurable, something to make us feel good.
How can we fight against these rationalizations that start in the mind and fool us into wrong thinking and sinful behaviors? How do we take captive (like a prisoner of war) every thought and make it obey Christ? Essentially, to be taken captive, we have to surrender do we not? We allow our minds to be controlled by Him and not ourselves. Surrender involves a heart that wants to please God and bring glory to Him in everything we think and do. It is not about bringing glory to ourselves by saying and doing the “right” things to look like we are living a life for Him, as this brings us back to the “rational-lies” syndrome or denial (sin). “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:7-10 [emphases mine] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12 [emphases mine]
We only fool ourselves in denial. God knows our every thought, and eventually, our actions that come from these strongholds bear fruit that is seen by others. If we were to obey the wisdom and precepts that God desires and has freely given us, we could save ourselves the embarrassment and shame that comes with that fruit. So walk forward in confidence knowing;
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Vertical focus—not horizontal!
