LIFE ON THE ‘D’ LIST: DEVIL

Matthew 4: 1-11

Do you remember hearing the story of the Minneapolis couple that decided to visit Florida to thaw out during a particularly cold northern winter? They planned to stay in the same hotel where they had spent their honeymoon twenty years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. The husband, therefore, left Minneapolis and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife planned to fly down the following day. The husband checked into the Florida hotel. There was a computer in his room and free wi-fi, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. The trouble was that when he was typing in his wife’s e-mail address, he accidentally left out one letter. He pushed “send” and away it went. Meanwhile somewhere in Houston, a widow just returned from her husband’s funeral. He had been a minister and passed away due to a heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail that night since she was expecting to hear from relatives and friends. But after she read her first message, she screamed and fainted. Her son ran in and found his mother on the floor. After helping her regain her composure, he looked at her computer screen. This is what it said:

To: My loving wife

Subject: I’ve arrived

Date: February 24

“I know you’re surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now, and you’re allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones! I’ve just arrived and have been checking in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival here tomorrow! Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine, but boy, it sure is hot down here!”

When we hear the word “Devil” these days some people are terrified and others amused. To some the devil is the terrifying power of evil, the one opposed to God with powers to tempt, persuade, and corrupt. For others the idea of the devil is quaint and they believe that it belongs in literature rather than in the conversations of intelligent people. Yet people flocked to and were terrified by Hollywood’s depictions of the devil in films like “The Exorcist” and “The Omen.” And in 1995 author Anne Rice surprised the publishing world by changing the course of her regular novels and writing “Memnoch the Devil.” Ten years ago, the “Left Behind” series brought the idea of a devil, or an antichrist, (though they are not always the same thing) back into public conversations. In our day and age there are a variety of views concerning the devil. Some people to this day try to stay away from the number 666 because Revelation 13 says it is the number of the beast that some name as the antichrist. At the nearest Chinese restaurant to my home, the order I regularly place adds up to a bill of $6.66. “6-6-6!” the cashier calls out each time for all to hear! The first time I heard it I was tempted to order an extra egg roll just to change the total. But I decided I was not going to let a number, even that number, change my eating habits! I am not afraid of three sixes; I have had three sixes in my social security number since the day I was born. These days I am also not afraid of the devil, although I do believe in evil. When I was a teenager I let Hollywood scare the wits out of me with devil movies. But as I have grown I have read about sociopathic people who certainly seem as if they could be possessed by a demon or that a devil inhabits their body. You may even have read, as I have, of accounts when an exorcism has drastically changed a person. And I understand that the Vatican still employs an exorcist. As much as I have not only read about, but seen people who seemed possessed, I have also watched people change rapidly or over time with the proper treatment. Once about seven years ago I was bringing some food items to Halifax Urban Ministries. It was nearly time for the group meal and I heard a stir. I looked around and a man was staggering toward us, motioning wildly. His eyes were wide open, making him look fearsome. His lips were cracked and he seemed out of control. As he neared us in the crowd, a man from the dining area came out quickly with a cup of orange juice in his hand. He managed to gently but firmly hold the cup to the man’s mouth until he drank. He held him close until his spasms stopped, and his eyes focused once again. The man went limp, exhausted. Seeing me and other visitors who looked very unnerved, he explained. “Diabetic; the man is diabetic but when you live on the streets and food is so infrequent, it brings on diabetic shock. He’ll now be sweaty and weak, but he’ll recover … until the next time he has to go too long without food.” Some who act like they are demon possessed are just in need of good therapy, or good medication, or even a glass of juice. As our counselors today will attest, others who are troubled can change with good therapy and good prayer.

What do you think about the devil? Is the devil a powerful tempter? Is the devil male, female, or non-gendered? Others recall that the devil has been thought of as the king of the underworld in some literature, and as a fallen angel as well. Some enlightened people consider the devil as an antiquated scapegoat as in “the devil made me do it” comment. Some think there is no such thing as the devil at all. And yet there have been, and still our, powerful examples of evil in the world; evil in nations could be seen during world wars, during the reign of ruthless dictators, and even in the demented lives of certain families. It is hard to forget that after Dr. Scott Peck enchanted the reading public with his best-selling book THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED, he followed it with the deeply disturbing case studies of what he called “human evil” in PEOPLE OF THE LIE.” In his subchapter called “Does the Devil Exist,” he wrote: “Having come over the years to believe in a benign spirit, or God, and a belief in the reality of human evil, I was left facing an obvious intellectual question: Is there such a thing as evil spirit? Namely, the devil; I thought not.” [Touchstone Books, 1983, p. 182.] He then goes on to say that he had never really seen any cases that could be called demon or devil possession, so as a psychiatrist, he decided to look for a case. After letting the word out that he was looking, he got two referrals of cases that simply were psychiatric disorders in his judgment. But then, he said, in his estimation the third case he got was the real thing. He chose not to describe it in detail, nor will I. But he concluded that, though rare, therapists, clergy, and others have recounted cases that he decided were actual demon possession. Today, however, hear this: some in the world have an unnatural fear of the devil that changes the direction of their travel, the price of an order of Chinese food, or the quantity of light they leave on at night, and it makes them constantly look over their shoulder for the tempter; the evil one. If you do that, you are making that force—whoever or whatever you may call it—into a power so strong that, like a god, it has the power to alter the course of your life in often destructive and debilitating means. But there is good news to preach from Christian pulpits on the subjects of devil and demon: God is infinitely stronger! Therapy is wonderfully effective! And prayer connects you to the power source of the Savior! The Savior who said “Get thee behind me, Satan!” also casts out demons and takes away their ability to speak. (Mark 1: 34) He also gave his disciples the power to cast out demons (Mark 16: 17). The Bible says that there are demons; and Jesus identified them only to subdue them. Genesis names a serpent with an understandable voice that knocked human beings out of heaven-sent bliss: the same tempter is still embodied even today. Human beings could not out-fox the tempter, nor turn a deaf ear to the temptations in Genesis 3. But where is there a record of one who thwarted Satan the tempter at every turn? One place is in Matthew, chapter four. In order to prepare himself for the ministry before him, and knowing it would lead him through valleys of the shadow of death even unto a cross, Jesus—perhaps in a dream, or maybe in a vision, or some would say in a physical way—tangles with the tempter. He is denying himself in preparation for his work; his ancestors including prophets, had done this before, but he did it to extreme perfection: forty days … and forty nights. During some period of that agonizing desert time of pure focus, a voice—or a being—began to taunt and tempt him. Like predator animals that wait for their prey to grow weak or tired before devouring them, Satan chose what he though was a worn-down Jesus. He first tempted him to use his power to make himself food, something that was well within his power to do; Jesus turned away from door number one. He then took him to the top of the temple in the Holy City; there he tested the promises of God telling Jesus to jump, Satan wanted him to test God’s eternally protecting powers. But Jesus would not choose door number two. Finally Satan took him to a high mountain, showing him all the countries in sight, and said if Jesus would worship him, Satan would give him all the lands. But Jesus stood firm. Friends Jesus is stronger than any tempter if you let him live in you. Jesus is brighter than any power of darkness that seeks to get a hold of you if you will claim him. This is the right one, not only to have on your side, but to have in your life.

Look at the top of your bulletin today. Part of Martin Luther’s most famous hymn includes these words:

“And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us; we will not fear for God has willed his truth to triumph through us.” That is the good news for today! It is the good news from Christian pulpits! Let the publishing world and the movie industry make their money peddling demons. But never let them unseat your trust in the unwavering power of God in Christ. Read the Biblical accounts; there is no place where evil wins; the love of God, the redemption of God, and the grace of God are part of your spiritual tool belt for the living of these days. You are equipped! You are loved! And you are claimed by the one and only God who will not let you go.

Jeffrey A. Sumner March 13, 2011