One final identity Christians hold is that of soldier of Christ. This identity reflects their involvement in spiritual warfare and the fight against the Enemy. It is a reminder that Christians are to advance the kingdom of God, that hard times are inevitable, and that believers must remain focused on Christ. Paul overtly uses this identity in his second letter to Timothy. “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). Likewise, Paul writes to the church in Corinth:
I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete (2 Corinthians 10:2-6).
Why is it so important to understand the warfare aspect of being a believer? Paul explains to Timothy. “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith” (1 Timothy 1:18-19). As soldiers in the war against evil, Christians are on the front lines and can expect to be attacked by Satan and his demons. Often this attack is on a person’s identity in Christ itself. Thus it is of the utmost importance for the Christian to understand his or her Christian self-concept.
