Hello
Do I really believe in the devil? Yes. I do. I believe that our heavenly Father is good and just and loving. So, for me, this world does not make sense unless something is fighting against him. I think there has to be an active intelligence opposing our loving Father and trying to hinder his work.
Jesus referred to this active, intelligent, opposition on more than one occasion (For example: Luke 10:18-19; Mark 4:15; John 14:30). For him the devil is a real entity.
Let me tell you how I came to write these articles on “How does the devil attack the church?”. I belong to a small church community, and our Sunday services are very informal. Some years ago I was scheduled to speak and, after prayer, I decided to speak on “How does the devil attack the church?”. Our members are always happy to try new things in our services, and I decided to start with a role play in which I played the part of the devil, and I asked everyone else at church that day to play the parts of my very best strategic thinkers and policy advisors. The time in which the role play was set was just after Pentecost and the question was what we, the diabolical host, were going to do about Jesus’ followers. I made a brief introduction outlining the roller coaster of emotions I (the devil) had had in the previous few weeks. My fear as Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, my joy as he was arrested and executed, my absolute terror when he rose from the dead, and my relief when he ascended, leaving his followers on their own – I wasn’t worried about what they might achieve without him. Then, suddenly, the Holy Spirit started working in them. Peter preached an astonishingly effective sermon and thousands of people believed that Jesus was alive and that he was the Messiah. Something had to be done – which was why I was calling the meeting. “You” I said to the congregation, “are the best strategic thinkers I’ve got. I want some effective strategies. How are we going to cripple this movement now and in the future?”
The congregation got right into it and ideas flowed. I was expecting/hoping they would come up with three strategies, ‘Division’, ‘Persecution’ and ‘Making the Church an institution’ (because I’d built the rest of my talk around those three). However, the members of our little church are a thoughtful and creative bunch and they came up with more ideas than I expected. Other people have contributed thoughts since. Those ideas and thoughts form the basis of the articles in this category.
(Incidentally… One of the best moments in the role play – certainly the noisiest moment – came towards the end when one of our godly sisters raised her hand and said “Actually, Boss, I don’t think we’ve got much of a problem. All we need do is make sure the men stay in charge.”)
Please let me know what you think about these articles. Leave a comment or email me. peter@followtheteachingsofjesus.com
May our loving Father bless us, strengthen us and “deliver us from the evil one”.
Peter O
Related Articles
“How does the devil attack the church? Answer 1 – Division.”
“How does the devil attack the church? Answer 2 – Persecution.”
“How does the devil attack the church? Answer 3 – By making the church an institution.”
“How does the devil attack the church? Answer 4 – Distraction.”
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