SERE Part 2: Evasion
In SERE Part 1: Survival Training, I included a description of the birth of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training. If you haven’t read that article, I encourage you to take a look at the first half, at least. SERE training is possibly the most demanding school the military has to offer. The indication from measuring the stress levels of students during the SERE course shows that this training is more stressful than having major surgery and twice as stressful as military skydiving (Source: Dr. C.A. Morgan III and Maj. Gary Hazlett, from "Special Warfare" magazine).
The SERE course includes a section on Evading the enemy. Students are taught how to leverage even limited strength in hand-to-hand combat, and students learn how to be extracted from rough terrain by helicopter. I read an article from an Army Chaplain who had this to say about the Evasion section of SERE:
It is important to stay claim while attempting to evade captors. It is easy to panic. You must stop and think about what your are going to do before acting. Soldiers need to learn the importance of patiently waiting for the right moment to act. Carefully thinking through a course of action will pay great dividends.This writer is speaking specifically about evading a natural enemy and avoiding a natural captivity. Interestingly, his comments about patience are perfectly applicable in the spiritual sense as well. Did you realize that the New Testament contains specific orders about evading our spiritual enemy? “Fleeing” is among our spiritual responsibilities but just like “survival training,” we go almost totally unequipped. When was the last time you heard a message that taught you how to run for your life?
Air Force Captain Scott O’Grady successfully evaded Serbian troops for six days in war-torn Bosnia. His commander noted that O’Grady’s ability to "maintain his cool" played a key role in this achievement. O’Grady moved slowly and carefully while avoiding hostile troops, never venturing more than two miles from the spot where he initially landed (Quote taken from: CPT Daniel Minjares).
Joseph and Mary were told to evade Herod and flee to Egypt while Jesus was still young. Jesus later tells his disciples to “flee to another city” if they face persecution. He also says that in the last days those who are in Judea should “flee to the mountains.” In John 10, Jesus says that sheep evade the stranger by fleeing from his voice.
Paul writes about it too.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 – Flee sexual immorality
- 1 Corinthians 10:14 – Flee idolatry
- 1 Timothy 6:11 – Flee the love of money
- 2 Timothy 2:22 – Flee youthful lusts
I don’t think that any of these things are “worse” than any of the other troubles we might encounter, but they are different. US Special Operations Forces are among the very best in the world. Even alone, a special operator is a potent force, but in some cases, the only way to avoid being captured is to evade the enemy, instead of engaging him. This could be why the Lord wants us to run, instead of fight in some spiritual situations. If you attempt to “take on” sexual immorality or idolatry you won’t win – you’ll only make yourself easier to capture. Can you apply this to your life? Have you been drawn into struggles that you can’t seem to get out of… Periods of apparent freedom only to be sucked back in? That’s captivity.
There’s a difference between bondage and captivity. If you’re in bondage your hands and feet are tied – you can’t move at all, no position gives you rest and you have no control over your own life. In captivity, you have a small degree of freedom. You can move about a small part of a “prison camp,” and you can make some small decisions throughout your day. But if you begin to push the boundaries of that confinement, your captor will force you back under his control. Captivity is deceptive because the way to get a sense of relief is to fall into a pattern of complete compliance, submitting to the will of your captor. Instead of resisting or trying to escape, you begin to think, “Fine! I’ll just play along instead of making things worse for myself.”
We learn the skills of evasion in order to avoid captivity. I don’t think the New Testament list of “things to flee” is comprehensive in the sense that these are the only things we need to look out for in order to avoid capture. If we tune our ears to the voice of the Spirit, I think we’ll often hear the Lord saying, “Run! Don’t even get involved in this!” I want to build on the practical side of Evasion in a podcast, but here are some things to take with you:
Don’t Act On Fear
One key tactic for evading the enemy is to refuse to act based on his fear-filled lies. Like the Army Chaplain wrote above, think carefully about each move before making it. Don’t become reactive, making snap decisions based on your fearful thoughts of what might happen.
Make Use Of True Patience
In Luke 21:19 Jesus says, “But by your patience possess your souls.” Patience is not tolerance. Patience is not passivity. Patience is power, the power over your own soul. Patience is the Holy Spirit within you exerting influence over your thoughts, emotions and desires.
Navigate Your Way To An Extraction Point
By avoiding fear and by making use of the Holy Spirit-patience within you, you should be able to avoid capture, but you’re still not out of enemy territory. Get to a place where you’ll find help. Find someone that you can have a “James 5:16” relationship with – confess to one another, not in order to receive forgiveness, but in order to receive prayer and support.
I hope you’ll tune in to the podcast at www.sfgpodcast.com.
Peace.
SJB
Scott Bane
Post a Comment
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments