Gird Your Loins With Truth?

When Paul wrote, "having your loins girt about with truth" (Eph 6:14, KJV), what was he really trying to tell us? Yes, Jesus said He is 'the truth', but there is more to consider in what Paul is saying. First one must understand the literal meaning of this phrase before advancing into the spiritual meaning.

THE LITERAL MEANING:

Mainstream Christian views on this passage often agree that Paul was in prison and looking at a Roman soldier's uniform when writing this letter to the Ephesians. When Paul mentions, "having your loins girt about with truth" (Eph 6:14, KJV), he is referring to our protecting the pelvic region of the body (which is very vulnerable). This action was common practice for most of the people living in this era, not just the Roman soldiers.

To gird your loins during the Roman Era meant to draw-up and tie your lower garment between your legs as to increase your mobility and agility. This prevented the loose ends of the tunic from becoming snagged on something or entangled with your feet which would cause you to stumble or fall down when moving about quickly.

How to gird your loins:

This was accomplished by pulling up the fabric of the knee-length tunic so the length in front stopped at your upper thigh, and collecting the excess material in your front. (You pull the material forward so the back of your tunic is snug against your backside.) Next, you tuck the extra front material down between your legs and gather it behind you. At this point, you collect half of the material behind you evenly on each side of your back (left and right). The final step involves wrapping each side of the material around your waist and tying it together in front.

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING:

So one part of what Paul is trying to tell people is, "to secure anything that will cause us to stumble or fall down when moving about quickly in the Christian daily battle". We should always be spiritually sharp, alert and ready to respond with spiritual mobility and spiritual agility.

With this understanding, we can now examine the things that cause Christians to stumble or fall down in their Christian walk (or faith). A specific list of these things does not exist, however the Bible provides insight into this area starting in the Book of Genesis and ending with Revelation (basically the whole Bible).

Instead of discussing a list of things that make Christians fall, let's instead examine where the battleground is found. With this knowledge, we can be better prepared to "stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Eph 6:11).

So where is this battleground? The answer can be found within I Peter 1:13-16 (KJV).

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'."
I Peter 1:13-16 (KJV)

Peter is discussing the same thing Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6:14. Both men are trying to help Christians understand the importance of being spiritually mobile and spiritually agile in order to protect, guard, and defend your most vulnerable areas of personal weakness (the old sin nature, temptations, and areas you struggle in daily). The key point in "having your loins girt about with truth" is for Christians to surround or wrap our minds in God's truth and the scriptures (not our own humanistic or personal truth).

I DON'T GET IT:

Understanding that the spiritual battleground for the Christian is found within the mind is critical. You can't fight a battle if you don't know where it is. Control of the thoughts we think to ourselves (self-talk) is where the most fierce spiritual battles occur… and the average Christian doesn't even know it. This is even more true for the non-Christian who is oblivious to the war.

Famed Christian author C.S. Lewis has an entire book dealing with this subject, The Screwtape Letters (a must-read for Christians). The book tells the story of how an older and wiser demon (Screwtape) mentors and coaches his nephew in the art of 'wining human souls for hell'. Screwtape gives tips on how best to prevent 'the enemy' (God, angels, and Christians) from influencing the minds and thoughts of humans. This is the only battleground of interest for demons. It must be controlled to prevent human souls from finding God.

On page two of this book, Screwtape is discussing a particular battle that once occurred for a human's mind and thought. He had been working twenty years on an atheist to keep him from finding God's truth, forgiveness and salvation. The battle begins when the atheist starts thinking about something that will eventually lead him to find God. Here is the account, as written by Screwtape: (NOTE: Remember the 'enemy' mentioned below is either God or His angels.)

"I once had a patient, a sound atheist, who used to read in the British Museum. One day, as he sat reading, I saw a train of thought in his mind beginning to go the wrong way. The Enemy, of course, was at his elbow in a moment. Before I knew where I was I saw my twenty years' work beginning to totter. If I had lost my head and begun to attempt a defense by argument, I should have been undone. But I was not such a fool. I struck instantly at the part of the man which I had best under my control, and suggested that it was just about time he had some lunch. The enemy presumably made the countersuggestion (you know how one can never quite overhear what He says to them?) that this [thought] was more important than lunch. At least I think that must have been His line, for when I said, "Quite. In fact much too important to tackle at the end of the morning," the patient brightened up considerably; and by the time I had added "Much better come back after lunch and go into it with a fresh mind," he was already halfway to the door. Once he was in the street the battle was won. I showed him a newsboy shouting the midday paper, and a No. 73 bus going past, and before he reached the bottom of the steps I had got into him an unalterable conviction that, whatever odd ideas might come into a man's head when he was shut up alone with his books, a healthy dose of "real life" (by which he meant the bus and the newsboy) was enough to show him that all "that sort of thing" just couldn't be true."
The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis

Notice how redirection of thought and distraction were used to destroy the good thought path and any thoughts of God's truth. How often are you in a great meaningful conversation with someone and just as you are getting ready to make your key biblical point, the phone rings, a waiter comes to take your order, or someone interrupts to ask you a perfectly innocent question? Look for this happening to your meaningful conversations, and you will see it occur all too often. Open your eyes to the battle and realize you are a victim of spiritual warfare, and the battle is for the mind and thoughts of humans.

Next time this occurs to you, stop and focus heavily on your key point. Keep repeating it in your mind so you don't forget, and as soon as the interruption is over, immediately bring the conversation back up and share your key thoughts... "As I was saying…".

Okay, so now you are feeling battle-ready, and you have on the full armor of God. Let's ask ourselves a question. When does a sin begin? Is it when we have a sinful thought enter our mind, or when we choose to continue thinking on this thought. The answers lies within the differences between temptation and sin. We have no control over the temptations the devil puts in our minds. Our response to temptation is either to redirect our thoughts to scripture or praise God (the best choices), or to carry the temptation into a daydream and fantasize about it (sin).

Keep a favorite Bible verse or gospel hymn close at heart. When tempted, start saying the verse or singing the hymn in your mind. The devil cannot stand for God to be praised, glorified or worshiped because the devil wants these things for himself. The devil will flee the battle as you praise, glorify or worship God.

Remember the battle is ongoing, but Christ has already won the victory through His death and resurrection. Satan and his demons don't acknowledge Jesus' victory and will continue to fight for the mind and soul of mankind until Judgement Day.

Find additional commentary on Sword Of The Spirit.

Resources:

• Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition (King James Version)
• The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis, Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Random House, Inc.

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