The Old Satanic Foe

A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious;
he breaks the cruel oppressor's rod and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might he arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal. - "A Mighty Fortress" by Martin Luther

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21 NIV)

If you follow this blog with any regularity, you have surely picked up that my spiritual views lean toward liberal, progressive, post-modern, emergent.  I simply believe that God is way, way bigger than any box we humans can try to put him in.

But unlike many others that hold to this brand of Christianity, I do believe in a real evil presence in this world.  I don't think it looks like a creature in red pajamas with a pointy tail and a pitch fork, but I believe there are demons and devils of a sort.  I believe you can walk into a place and actually feel whether it is dominated by angels or demons.  And I think the answer to that depends wholly on our own hearts.  

Every conflict gives us the opportunity to be more receptive to either good or evil.  Even though we know it is better to love those who oppose us, it is still usually our first impulse to fight back... to take  an eye for an eye.  The evil forces love this.  But when we love our enemies those demons become weak and fall away.  Conflicts are resolved.  People begin to listen to one another.

It takes a lot of help from the angels to meet anger and hatred with love and compassion.  Our hearts have to be open to hear their guidance.  Our faith that Jesus' way is the right way must be strong.  But it works... over and over and over again.

"The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe" but God has sworn to be with us and to help us in this world.  We need only seek that help and believe.

Father,
Wherever we meet evil, help us to listen for your guidance.  Help us to overcome evil with good, anger with kindness, hatred with love.  Fill our homes, schools and workplaces today with your holy angels and open our hearts to their voices.  Amen.

Joys:  Emma's first day at church and the thrill of showing off my newest grandbaby; a great time with friends Friday; good books to read