It doesn’t take long to recognize that people are fascinated with the supernatural. Just the other day, I was looking through Netflix and one of the things that caught my attention were the number of shows dedicated to the supernatural. You have movies like The Exorcist, Paranormal Activity, or even the Blair Witch. That is of course except for those in the church. According to a 2009 study completed by the Barna Group of those identifying as “evangelical” Christians, only 60% of those surveyed believed in the existence of a literal Devil. As I read those words, I was quickly reminded of something I read years ago in CS Lewis’ book the Screwtape Letters.
In that book, Lewis imagines a conversation between two demons on how to best influence a person away from Christ. It’s here that Wormwood so shrewdly identifies one of Satan’s great strategies. He says,
“The fact that we devils are predominantly comic figures in the modern imagination will help you. If hehas any faint suspicion of your existence…suggest to him a picture of something in red tights and persuade him that any reasonable person couldn’t believe in something like that.”
Yet, again and again the Scriptures warn us about the very real identity of one who would seek to distract and draw us away from God’s work in our lives. In 1 Peter 5:8, we’re reminded
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
He’s encouraging us to live wisely and intentionally, recognizing that there is a very real enemy that we will face in this journey of following Jesus. So what does that look like?
So what does warfare look like?
For a great many people when they think of spiritual warfare what comes to mind are shadowy figures out of paranormal activity or someone throwing up pea soup. While I am convinced that the demonic can sometimes manifest in supernatural ways, I believe Satan’s primary tactic is far more subtle.
It’s interesting to me that the two most common names to refer to Satan in Scripture are the “deciever” and the “accuser.” That’s not an accident. Satan’s two primary strategies are to deceive people about the truth and to accuse both the character of God and His people.
You see that strategy all the way back at the creation of humanity in the Garden of Eden. God creates Adam and Eve and He puts them in this ideallic paradise. He provides for them everything that they need and tells them that they can eat of everything the garden has to offer except for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warns that if they eat of it, they will die. In Genesis 3, the evil one comes to tempt Eve. He says to her in verse 4-5,
“But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Do you see the deceit and accusation there? He’s saying look Eve, God isn’t looking out for your best. God really isn’t faithful. If anyone is going to have your back, its got to be you. Reach out, take the fruit and eat. As he accuses the character of God, sin suddenly becomes more enticing and we are tempted to stray.
This week it really struck me that Satan works to create a kind of “diabolical anxiety.” It’s an anxious uncertainty that God isn’t really that good or that our failures are beyond his ability to redeem. When he can get us walking down that path, calling into question the authority of God’s word. We are sitting ducks. So, it raises the question.
How do we fight?
The biggest mistake that we can make is to think that this battle is about us. Fighting spiritual warfare begins in accepting what has already been done for us. For the apostle Paul, his hope in confronting the dark strategies of hell, is found in the fact that Christ has already won the victory.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 Paul writes,
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
The Lord is faithful! Paul is saying that no matter the attack, no matter the strategy, God’s faithfulness will always trump the attack of the evil one. Again remember that one of Satan’s primary strategies is to accuse the character of God. He’ll question, “Is God faithful?” “What if God doesn’t show up?” “What if you’ve wandered beyond the reach of God?” In the midst of it all, our hope is found in the faithfulness of God.
So how do we fight then?
We pursue Jesus as He pursues us. Spiritual Warfare is learning to put on what we’ve already been given in Christ. I’m convinced that we what we call the “spiritual armor” in Ephesians 6 is really about clothing ourselves with Christ. Its about allowing the reality of Christ’s love and compassion to protect our mind, heart, and feet. Its about allowing him to lead us into a place of unconditional surrender and absolute trust because he’s faithful.
Today, where are you in the midst of the battle? Where is Satan blinding you from the amazing faithfulness of God and his love? Today, may we pursue a deepening life with Jesus; may we stand firm as we seek and follow him with our lives.