In the Bible, we are repeatedly told to “stand firm” against evil. In fact, for Paul it’s basically a mantra that he repeats eight different times in his letters!

In the original Greek, the term is stékó, and it means to hold one’s ground, maintain a position, be steadfast, remain upright, persist, persevere, and don’t give up.

This Greek concept is a military idea, and it refers to holding one’s position and fortifying it against the threat of attack and imminent danger.

A bulwark is a wall, a rampart, or an embankment that is raised and enforced in order to DEFEND a position.

So, if we are to defend our position with a bulwark, what is the position? And what is our bulwark?

As Christians, we DO hold a position in this world. Our position is the kingdom of God that is advancing on earth, taking ground from the evil one and the powers of darkness.

And when we take ground, we NEVER give it up. We hold it. We also raise a flag there and claim it all for our heavenly King.

After all Jesus promised us that He would build His kingdom on the earth and that it would always advance and never retreat (Matthew 16:18).

This means that the ground we’ve taken for Christ MUST be defended, and it must be protected with a strong bulwark.

Without a bulwark, the kingdom is left defenseless and made vulnerable to attack and danger. So then, what is the kingdom’s bulwark?

It’s US. It’s believers like you and me who are enlisted soldiers in God’s army, entrusted with the responsibility to always “stand firm.”

This means that our bulwark is “standing up.” It’s also speaking up. It’s speaking truth and defending it against those who threaten it.

Christians must take a stand in the world against evil and not just in their churches and Bible studies. They must stand up in society and in the public square.

And, if churches won’t do it, then we need Christian ministries like FACT to do it. Family Action Council of Tennessee was formed 20 years ago to be the BULWARK against evil in Tennessee — to take, hold, and defend Kingdom ground here in our state.

The kingdom of God is advancing in Tennessee and not just in our homes and churches. It’s also advancing in our schools, our businesses, and our government.

The kingdom is everywhere, and it’s eternal. It cannot be stopped, and it will never cede ground to anyone, anywhere. And neither should we.