(For those coming from our newsletter, go to the paragraph below titled: Mobility)
Last year, Breck Wheelock—co-author of GTI’s biblical worldview series—published a profound book on the spiritual armor of God from Ephesians, chapter six. Allow me to say that in my 45 years as a Christian I have never read such an understandable and practical exposition on this most inciteful passage dealing with the spiritual warfare we are transported into once we are saved.
(See Breck’s 2nd interview on this book by international journalist, author and TV host Alex Newman on this subject featured below).
Here is a short sample of Breck’s insights regarding the war boots (the gospel of peace):
“Stand therefore, having shod the feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace.” (Eph. 6:15)
Perhaps no other shoes in history are as symbolic of the expansion of an empire as the famed caligae (singular, caliga)—the marching boots that were worn by all ranks of Roman soldiers up to and including centurions. The underside of the caliga shoe was reinforced with iron hobnails hammered into the soles so as to provide the shoes with superior traction, which afforded two advantages: greater stability and greater mobility.
The Soldier’s Hobnails Are Like the Gospel Truths We Learn to Apply Everywhere in Life
Like the hobnails that were hammered into the soles of the Roman soldier’s war boots, each truth that we glean from the gospel (the Word of God) becomes another hobnail that is hammered into our soul, so as to give us better traction and stability.
The cleated design of the caliga was meant to increase friction with the shoe and the ground, which in turn would increase the Roman soldier’s stability when pushing against an enemy. Thus, it was the frictional surface interaction between the hobnails and the earthly terrain that gave the Roman soldier his advantage.
Accordingly, both the amount and the positioning of the hobnails were important. If the sole of the caliga contained only a few hobnails, there would be little frictional surface interaction, which would not provide much stability.
Moreover, the hobnails would need to be evenly distributed so that the pressure at all points would be uniform. Hence, the most effective caligae would be those that contained ample hobnails that were evenly distributed, thereby maximizing the Roman soldier’s stability.
Similarly, as Christian soldiers, we need to have ample understanding of the gospel—many hobnails of gospel truth hammered into our soul—if we are to maximize our stability. Moreover, our understanding needs to be evenly distributed, which is to say, we need to understand how to apply the gospel to every aspect of life.
The hobnails (truths) of the gospel are meant to increase our frictional surface interaction with the world. Frictional contact between the gospel and the world is not optional; indeed, it is obligatory if we are to be steady and stable.
Thus, whatever the terrain might be—political, sociological, economical, educational, historical, etc.—we need to have ample gospel hobnails in place if we are to stand our ground and not lose our footing.
We need to be able to apply the Word of God (the gospel) to politics, sociology, economics, education, history, etc.
In common parlance, we need to have a biblical worldview.
Mobility: Mobilizing the Gospel to Crush Satan Under Our Hobnailed Feet
The hobnails of the caligae were not merely intended to help the Roman soldier’s feet remain riveted to the ground while pushing against an enemy during combat (stability). They were also meant to help the soldier’s feet push off the ground, making it easier for him to maneuver while marching (mobility).
Similarly, the hobnails of our war boots (the truths of the gospel) are not merely intended to help us avoid being taken in by the schemes of the enemy so that we would stand our ground (stability). They are also meant to help us go out and take down the schemes of the enemy so that we would take new ground (mobility) (2 Cor. 10:4-5).
We are not to be defensive-minded only; we are also to go on the offensive. We are not only to keep from being conformed to this world, we are to proactively seek to reform this world according to the gospel of peace. We are not only to earnestly contend for the faith; we are also to earnestly extend the faith. We are not only to know the truth, but to make the truth known.
Therefore, as soldiers for Christ, we are to be mobile. We are to proclaim the gospel of peace wherever our feet take us, always keeping in mind that the gospel is more than just proclaiming the message of salvation to those who are lost; it is a way of life, as we see very clearly in Philippians 1:27-28:
Let your manner of life [wherever you go, whatever you do—this speaks of mobility] be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm [this speaks of stability] in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.
The gospel is to be our manner of life, it is to affect all of our conduct; i.e., it is to permeate all of our thinking, speech, and actions. In keeping with Paul’s military motif, the gospel is our marching orders (our worldview), and the war boots are the means whereby we put these marching orders into action (proclaim our worldview in every sphere of life).
Therefore, let us march as a unified army of light, as the church militant.
The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light
(Rom. 13:12).
As we carry out our marching orders to disciple all the nations, teaching them to observe all that Christ commands, let us always march worthily of this glorious gospel of peace, knowing that…
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your [hobnailed] feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (Rom. 16:20).
(This article is extracted from the book "Be Strong in the Lord - A Tactical Guide to Spiritual Warfare." by Breck Wheelock) CLICK HERE to order from GTI.