Battle Formations!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make 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 world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God…”

-Ephesians 6:10-13

There’s a toxic and destructive trend in many churches today. It’s rooted in the “stuff” of the world and its patterns that Scripture commands us NOT to be conformed to (Rom 12:1-2). The end result is an impotent and lukewarm culture of infants who act like entitled consumers rather than mature soldiers fully equipped for the battle.

It’s not uncommon for church leaders to be openly chastised by these entitled consumers. They will readily throw tantrums and depart from Christian fellowship stating emphatically that someone made them “feel like a soldier rather than a beloved church member,” as if spiritual discipline and loving community were somehow opposites. Well, here’s the irony — the Apostle Paul repeatedly used battle imagery and language! In his epistle to the Colossians, Paul rejoiced in perceiving their τάξις (taxis), a word steeped with rich military connotations, denoting a structured, disciplined, and battle-ready formation!

Paul wasn’t delighted because the Colossians had the warmest coffee hour or the most affirming safe place. He was rejoicing because their church life reflected God’s divine order — a unified, disciplined body that stood firm against the deceptive nonsense of the world. In fact, taxis is exactly the kind of order you’d expect from an army preparing for battle, not a cowardly crowd gathered around for a sin-affirming group therapy session.

1. Taxis: God’s Blueprint for His Church

The word taxis doesn’t suggest cold rigidity but rather a deliberate, functional, structured, and effective harmony, much like a well-ordered battalion. Every soldier knows their role. There’s cohesion, discipline, and unity — all in service of a greater mission.

In Colossians 2:5, Paul praises the saints in Colossae for living out a church life that reflects this divine order — standing firm in their faith and resisting the seductive pull of hollow worldly philosophies. Their spiritual life wasn’t dictated by personal feelings, emotions, or subjective experiences but was firmly rooted in the objective reality of Christ Jesus.

And here’s where it gets interesting: this taxis isn’t just about internal church harmony. It’s about being battle-ready against the onslaught of cultural lies — the “philosophy and empty deceit” Paul warns about in Colossians 2:8.

2. Stoicheia: The Hollow Philosophies That Deceive the World

Paul contrasts the good order of the Colossians with the stoicheia (στοιχεῖα) — the “elemental spirits” or “basic principles” of the world (Colossians 2:8). These stoicheia represent the world’s operating systems — the shallow, hollow, and toxic philosophies that try to pass as wisdom but ultimately lead to death.

Modern examples:

•Toxic empathy that coddles sin instead of confronting it.

•Subjective truth that says, “You do you”while leading people off a spiritual cliff.

•Self-help spirituality that replaces repentance with self-affirmation.

The stoicheia (stuff of the world) feeds off self-centered emotions, affirming people in their sin rather than calling them to holiness. It prioritizes self-expression over self-denial. And worst of all, it infiltrates churches, creating spaces where feelings are elevated above truth, and subjective experiences are treated as more authoritative than Scripture.

3. Toxic Empathy: Romans 1:32 in Action

Paul, in Romans 1:32, gives a chilling description of the human heart’s depravity: “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

This is toxic empathy in action. It’s not enough for people to revel in their rebellion against God — they want company in their sin. They seek affirmationand validation, drawing others into their depravity so they can feel justified. It’s the emotional equivalent of “misery loves company” — but with eternal consequences.

Churches influenced by toxic empathy shift from preaching repentance to offering emotional validation. Sin is no longer confronted; it’s understood and accepted. Holiness is no longer pursued; it’s redefined as being “authentic” to yourself.

4. The Colossian Contrast: Gospel-Centered Order vs. Worldly Chaos

Paul’s delight in the Colossians’ taxis is deeply significant. Their good order was a sign they were standing firm against the onslaught of deceptive philosophies. Their church life wasn’t dictated by feelings but by faith in Christ. They weren’t a community of religious consumers; they were a spiritual battalion, aligned in formation, resisting the pull of a world hellbent on dragging them into chaos.

This stands in stark contrast to many modern churches where stoicheia runs rampant:

•Worship becomes a concert of emotions, not a gathering of the saints.

•Sermons turn into TED Talks focused on self-empowerment, not Gospel truth.

•Fellowship devolves into group therapy sessions that coddle sin instead of confronting it.

But true Gospel-community— the kind Paul praises — is ordered, disciplined, and rooted in Christ. It doesn’t cater to emotions but calls people to die to self. It doesn’t affirm sin but exposes it with love and grace. It doesn’t drift with cultural trends but stands firm, like soldiers ready for battle.

5. So, Should Church Feel Like a Military Camp?

Yes — in the best possible sense.

The Church is the Body of Christ, but it’s also His army (2 Timothy 2:3-4). We’re called to be good soldiers, enduring hardship, staying in formation, and remaining faithful to our mission. That doesn’t mean we lack compassion — but our compassion is rooted in truth, not in the world’s toxic empathy that leads to death.

So if someone says, “You made me feel like a soldier,” don’t take it as an insult — it’s a compliment. Because in God’s divine taxis, every faithful follower of King Jesus has a role, every gift is used, and the Church moves forward in coordinated unity against the Gates of Hell!

Conclusion: Choose Order Over Chaos

The world thrives on chaos, dressed up as freedom. But Christ calls His Church to order, rooted in truth, and aligned under His Lordship.

So here’s the question:

•Is your church defined by taxis— God’s good order — where believers are disciplined, united, and battle-ready?

•Or has it given into the stoicheia— the hollow philosophies of the world — where emotions, self-affirmation, and toxic empathy rule?

Paul REJOICED in perceiving the Colossians standing in order— like soldiers in formation. Would he say the same about us?

Let’s serve together in churches that reflect God’s divine taxis— battle-ready, truth-filled, and rooted in the unshakable reality of Christ.

Blessings & love,

-Kevin M. Kelley

Senior Pastor

BigIslandChristianChurch.com