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Strategic level spiritual warfare

A modern mythology?

Sidetracked by 'warfare'?

STRATEGIC LEVEL SPIRITUAL WARFARE: A modern mythology?
By Michael S.B. Reid
Xulon Press, USA. 348 pages
ISBN 1 591604 58 3

The author, Michael Reid, points out that the perception of spiritual warfare within the Christian world has been skewed by the skilful promotion of what has come to be known as Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare [SLSW], so closely associated with the 'Third Wave' movement. The most eloquent protagonist of SLSW has been Peter Wagner, whose publications have changed the thinking of large numbers of Christians of the present generation.

Promoters of SLSW see it as a necessary prelude to the work of evangelism. Once the battle in the heavenlies has been won, all Christians have to do is move in and engage in a spiritual mopping-up operation, reaping vast numbers of converts in specific geographical zones. Reid ably exposes this thinking as being entirely fallacious and as having no biblical moorings, regarding it as founded upon a biased evaluation of experience and anecdotal data. However, his main point is that SLSW has provided a sidetrack, drawing people away from the proclamation of the gospel message and from the eternal truths of Scripture.

In addition to its crucial message, which is essentially a trumpet call to return to Scripture as the basis for Christian ministry, this book provides many illuminating insights, both historical and theological, which make it essential reading for anyone concerned about evangelism and spiritual warfare.

This book was originally produced as a thesis, for which its author was awarded the Doctorate of Ministry at Oral Roberts University (ORU). This explains its lengthy subtitle, 'A detailed evaluation of the biblical, theological and historical bases of spiritual warfare in contemporary thought', and the inclusion of the large statistical section (pages169-256) illustrating the practical nature of the thesis. The book was put out rapidly in this form to meet the advanced demand for it. However, a second edition is planned which (thankfully) will omit this section and many typographical errors will be amended.

The author is the pastor and founder of Peniel Church, an independent Pentecostal church in Pilgrims Hatch, Essex. Originating in the 1970s with a series of informal home Bible studies, the Fellowship rapidly increased in size, necessitating a series of relocations before moving to its present site. Associated projects are a thriving school, Peniel Academy, and Peniel College of Higher Education. Reid has links with healing evangelist T.L. Osborn and was closely associated with late 'Archbishop' Benson Idahosa. He is also an Associate Regent of ORU, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a founder member of Global Gospel Fellowship (an International Fellowship for Miracle Ministries Worldwide). Despite the overall success of Peniel, it has intriguingly received little publicity in the UK Christian press.

Congratulations to the author for taking up the cudgels in the cause of Truth. Highly recommended!

Mike Taylor