We Dare Not Underestimate Evil’s Extent and Power

When you hear the word “evil,” what immediately comes to your mind? Images of someone in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork? The promo for a newly released film, or perhaps a horror novel, promising a tale of “unspeakable evil”? A recent news report about some heinous crime? 

Back in 1966, author Truman Capote became a literary sensation with his self-described “non-fiction novel,” In Cold Blood, about the 1959 murders of four members of a Kansas family. The fact his work centered around actual, horrific events, not the result of a vivid imagination, made it even more disturbing – and riveting.

 

My friend Sondra Umberger has recently published a trilogy of novels, Unraveled–Rewoven (www.connectingToChrist.com). Similar to In Cold Blood, they’re based on true events. Since she’s a Christian counselor, not a professional writer, it would be unfair to compare Umberger’s writing with Capote’s book. However, the story she unfolds is as compelling, alarming – and frightening.

 

Her novels revolve around four characters: Catherine, a young woman plagued by recurring nightmares she can’t explain; Marion, a Christian counselor who helps Catherine dig deeply into repressed memories to uncover the root of the nightmares – horrific secrets of her “lost years”; Catie, Catherine’s nickname from childhood, when she became the victim of evil beyond imagining; and Hunter, the dashing church leader who becomes Catherine’s husband, bringing a terrible secret of his own into the relationship. 

 

Topics explored in Unraveled–Rewoven are not the stuff of casual dinner conversations. But they’re real issues, far more pervasive in our society, and the world, than most of us could ever fathom: child abuse, mental cruelty, satanic ritual abuse, pornography addiction, human trafficking.

 

If this three-book saga were the product of the dark imaginings of horror meisters like Stephen King, Anne Rice, H.P. Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe, it would be troubling enough. But this fictionalized account, fashioned from true, traumatic events experienced by real people, shatters one’s complacency, along with the notion that our world is inhabited by people who are all “basically good.”

 

Writing in an unusual “braided” style, Umberger has interwoven the stories of the four main characters in a manner that’s at first unexpected, then captivating. She deftly shifts from one to another, weaving them tightly and inseparably together like strands of someone’s braided hair. 

 

Slowly, with the help of Marion and others, Catherine begins to recover erased memories of her childhood years between the ages of 6 and 9, forging a path toward recovery and healing. She also must deal with discovering Hunter is addicted to pornography, a vice he initially denies, but eventually acknowledges as he initiates a process for finding freedom and release from its evil grip.

 

It might be inaccurate to describe the trilogy’s climax as a “happy ending,” but it does underscore the redemptive and healing powers of Jesus Christ, how pain from the past and besetting sins of the present need not be permanent. And how God can still use evil deeds in accomplishing His ultimate purposes.

 

As the reader emerges from this sinister story line, the question arises: If the realm of the demonic can have such impact on the lives of just the handful of people described, what’s the extent of evil that infests every area of life? As we painfully observe the chaos around us, what sinister forces are working “behind the curtain”?

 

In the Old Testament book of Job, the afflicted main character bemoans, “Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness” (Job 30:26). And in 1 Peter 5:8, the apostle warns, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Evil can manifest itself at any moment, in many ways.

 

Jesus Christ confronted and challenged evil in myriad forms during His earthly ministry – being tempted directly by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4); casting out demons on many occasions; and facing evil opposition from disbelieving religious leaders fearful of His influence, which led to His crucifixion. Our culture seeks to dismiss or minimize the actual presence of evil, but the Scriptures speak much of its insidious power.

 

Archibald G. Brown, a minister and associate of Charles Spurgeon, stated, “The existence of the devil is so clearly taught in the Bible that to doubt it is to doubt the Bible itself.” It’s been observed, “The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

 

At the same time, we need a balanced perspective. In his cleverly satirical novel, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves (the devils) are equally pleased by both errors….”

 

We must be vigilantly aware of the presence of evil and oppose it in every way we can, but should focus even more on becoming agents for God’s good. John Newton, a one-time slave trader whose conversion inspired his hymn, “Amazing Grace,” commented, “Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way to escape from it, and with this I begin and end.”

 

In James 4:7 we find this admonition: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Similarly, the psalmist urges us to “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).

 

This battle between good and evil has existed since the first days of creation, and it’s one we can never win in our own strength. As Ephesians 6:12 declares, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

The passage proceeds to describe “the full armor of God” – “the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-18). It’s notable that most of these items are defensive in nature; only the Word of God – the sword of the Spirit – is used in taking the offensive.

 

One additional piece of armor, prayer, must not be overlooked or underestimated. The esteemed apostle Paul knew this well, writing in the next verse, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” Jesus, after delivering a boy from demon possession, explained to His incredulous disciples,“This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer" (Mark 9:29).

 

At times this spiritual battle seems overwhelming, tempting us to fall into despair. But the Lord’s victory has already been won. In Revelation 20:10 we read, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” 

The Problematic Promise of Prosperity

Who is not in favor of prosperity? No one I know. Singer Sophie Tucker once said, “I’ve been rich, and I’ve been poor, and rich is better.” Even if we can’t relate to the rich part, if given a choice none of us would opt for poor. At the very least, it’s nice to have a few dollars still in the bank when the next paycheck arrives.

In the business world, prosperity is of paramount importance. It’s reflected in the “bottom line,” measuring whether a company is profitable and how well it’s serving its shareholders. Regularly the media report on economic indicators, showing whether our country as a whole is prospering. Presidents are evaluated in part by the flows and ebbs of U.S. prosperity during their terms.

Prosperity is a concern even for non-profits, including churches. If contributions aren’t sufficient, not only to cover expenses but also to empower organizations in pursuit of their respective missions, potential beneficiaries of their services will suffer.

So prosperity’s always a good thing, right? Not necessarily. In fact, if we’re not careful, prosperity can distract us, even steer us down the wrong road.

Do you have a hold on your things --
or do they have a hold on you?

C.S. Lewis, a one-time atheist who became an ardent Christian apologist and author of beloved books on faith for both adults and children, came to that conclusion. In The Screwtape Letters, Lewis observed: “Prosperity knits a man to the World. He feels that he is ‘finding his place in it,’ while really it is finding its place in him. His increasing reputation, his widening circle of acquaintances, his sense of importance, the growing pressure of absorbing and agreeable work, build up in him a sense of being really at home in earth.”

The Bible describes followers of Jesus as “aliens and strangers” on earth (Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11), but prosperity has a way of making us feel right at home – and reluctant to leave. In addition, having all of our needs met as well as many of our wants can greatly diminish our sense of dependence on God.

Perhaps this is why the writer of the next to last chapter in Proverbs declared, “…give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:8-9).

In the 1960s, Americans were settling into the post-World War II economic boom, beginning an unprecedented era of material prosperity. About the same time, judicial edicts and legislation were being formulated that essentially declared our exalted nation no longer needed God. Seems the writer in Proverbs might have been right. Coincidence – or direct correlation?

Jesus did not oppose prosperity outright, but offered these words of warning: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Three verses later He declared, “You cannot serve both God and money.”

Does this mean we should err on the side of caution by taking vows of poverty or practicing lives of self-denial? This might be the Lord’s call for some, but for most of us it’s more a matter of being diligent to maintain a proper perspective about God, ourselves and our stuff. We find the guideline for this in the Old Testament book of Joshua, where God is providing instructions to the man who has just replaced Moses as the leader of the huge, wandering band of Israelites:

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).

If we strive to keep God foremost in our lives, focusing on His truths and principles, we can succeed in avoiding the trap of letting our material possessions become idols and mini-gods in our daily lives. True prosperity, we’re told, is living according to God’s “owner’s manual” and becoming everything He intended for us to be. Whether that means hefty savings accounts and residences fit for Better Homes & Gardens and HGTV, or just having the satisfaction of paying the bills every month, what matters is being “prosperous and successful” from His point of view.

What is prosperity to you? As Jesus would say, it depends on where your treasure is.

Blessing . . . Or Curse?

Often during important political elections, key issues are raised and debated. Perhaps the most common is described simply by a phrase we’ve often seen: “It’s the economy, stupid!” The world can be tumbling around us, but as long as we’re doing well financially, all’s well. Conversely, many things may be going right in society, but if we’re confronting inflation, high interest rates, or other fiscal maladies, panic typically ensues.

Sometimes too much of a good thing is...too much of a good thing.

For those who would propose the United States is a “Christian nation,” one of the evidences they submit is our history of economic prosperity. We still have the poor among us, but even many of our disenfranchised have earthly possessions that the “wealthiest” people in some Third World nations would envy. So we conclude, solely on the basis of material goods, that “the Lord has really blessed us.”

I sometimes wonder about that. I’m like everyone else – I’d like to have a little extra at the end of each paycheck, but prosperity can be as much a curse as it is a blessing.

In C.S. Lewis’s book, The Screwtape Letters, in which a demon offers advice to an apprentice, Lewis makes this observation: “Prosperity knits a man to the World. He feels that he is ‘finding his place in it,’ while really it is finding its place in him. His increasing reputation, his widening circle of acquaintances, his sense of importance, the growing pressure of absorbing and agreeable work build up in him a sense of being really at home in earth.”

That’s a lot to chew on, but I think the late Mr. Lewis was onto something.  I’ve often heard it said that some of the happiest people in the world are poor. That’s not an endorsement of poverty, nor a justification for anyone who believes they don’t have a responsibility to help the less fortunate in some way. But think about it – poor people aren’t worried about what the stock market does today. They don’t have to install costly security systems on their homes. Many don’t have to consider how buying a new car will affect their insurance premiums. They don’t need safes to protect their valuables.

They may have other worries, but they don’t have to worry about preserving their “stuff.”

And as C.S. Lewis suggests, if our prosperity gives us the “sense of being really at home in earth,” we can easily forget about the eternal home Jesus promised to all who have received him. The apostle John expressed it clearly when he wrote, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Jesus stated it another way: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13).

I believe one primary purpose for the trials we experience in life, financial setbacks and hardships among them, is to serve as a reminder that no matter how we enjoy it, the world is not our home. The apostle Paul didn’t mince words when he wrote, “…many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:18-20).

If someone were to judge you according to your attitude toward your possessions, the level of prosperity you currently experience, would they conclude your citizenship is in heaven – or in this world? That’s a question we might not like, but it’s worth an honest answer.