The Embattled Bride

 Christianity and the Clash of Kingdoms

by Bill Spanjer Jr.

As the Christian church, we are the “Bride of Christ.” But as we await our coming bridegroom, we find ourselves under assault by his enemies and ours. Since man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, it was told that there would be hostility between the people of God and the “offspring of the Serpent.” Jesus told his disciples to expect as much, when he said, “the servant is not greater than his master. If they hated me, they will hate you, if they persecuted me they will persecute you.” Being the Bride of Christ is a beautiful privilege, but it is also a call to arms, spiritual arms, a call to put on the full armor of God and to prepare for spiritual battle. It is a call to suffer with Christ and for Christ. In this five-week class we will consider the details and implications of that call, as we seek to be the faithful bride of Christ in the 21st century.