If I were Satan . . .
I would focus on the churches. I would get members to demand their own preferences. I would urge them to complain about the length of the pastor’s sermons and the color of the carpet. I would set member against member to fight over the right worship style. And I would make the business meeting the time where the most carnal members spoke and fight and destroyed.
If I were Satan . . .
I would encourage church members to avoid high levels of commitment. I would remind them that they are there to get their needs met. I would whisper to them that they shouldn’t be involved in ministry, because that’s why they pay the pastor and staff. And I would urge them to fight one another over tertiary and minor doctrinal issues. I would encourage Christians to identify themselves by their tertiary doctrinal stand and to exclude anyone else who does not match their precise standards.
If I were Satan . . .
I would let the leaders know that it’s okay to minimize and avoid the truths of God’s Word. I would encourage them to preach less Bible and deal with more relevant issues. I would make certain that small groups barely dealt with Scripture, but instead spent most of their time talking about sports, gossip, and politics. I would suggest that members do not need to spend time in the Bible on their own; a thirty minute sermon each week is sufficient time.
If I were Satan . . .
I would make certain church members understood that evangelism is not relevant in today’s society. I would tempt leaders to stay away from urging members to be engaged in gospel sharing lest they offend someone. I would dissuade everyone in the church to think about hell. It’s really better to keep it at as an abstract concept rather contemplating the eternal consequences of rejecting Christ. And I would tell church leaders to send their called pastors and missionaries to seminaries where evangelism is an afterthought.
If I were Satan . . .
I would whisper to Christians in the church not to think about abortion. It is politically incorrect and unpopular to broach the subject. I would tell them not to focus on the reality that over one million babies are killed each year in the United States alone. I would make sure they didn’t know that, in the time of a one-hour worship service in church, more than 130 babies were killed in the United States. I would let them know that it’s okay not to dwell on the greatest slaughter of humanity in the history of our nation.
If I were Satan . . .
I would keep church members so busy that they wouldn’t have time to pray. I would make certain that the leaders are discouraged from ever mentioning prayer as a priority in their congregations. I would assure the members that a brief time of prayer during a brief worship service is sufficient for the totality of their prayer lives. I would indeed do all I could to keep people from prayer, because it’s such a threat to me and my power.
If I were Satan . . .
And if I could do all these things, I am sure I would see churches across America void of power. I would see most churches in both spiritual and numerical decline. I would see Christian fighting Christian. I would see apathy, discouragement, dropout, and disillusionment. And I would look over the landscape of American churches, and I would see all of my victories. Then I would roar with pleasure at the new church order I see, and I would declare:
“It is good.”
“Indeed, it is very good.”
EXCELLENT! I am sharing on FB, tweeting, and emailing my friends. Bless you for blessing ME! Past time for all pew sitters to stand up.
TK
Excellent…the 2012 Elections verify this mindset!
This post is a reminder to us all that our most faithful attender at church is Satan himself. He certainly would have preferrred to have our souls, but since our salvation took that option off the table for him, he spends his efforts trying to capture our influence and reputations. So God warns us, “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 HCSB)
Dr. Rainer, thank you for your posting – it was very refreshing to know that leadership at the highest levels within the SBC are completely in tune with the war that rages for the souls of man and how Satan’s craftiest method of paralyzing the Body of Christ is inner dissension through his infiltration of our ranks.
I have re-posted it and plan to have my chairman of deacons read it from the pulpit during AM worship tomorrow. May God continue to use you mightily for His Kingdom and your fellow brothers in Mississippi will continue to pray for wisdom and protection for you and your family and the staff of Lifeway.
this is one of the most timely assessments I’ve seen. Thank you!!!
Thank you, Thom, again!!! What a difficult-to-hear but need-to-own word. Thank you for your courageous stand…consistantly!!! I appreciate you!
And if I were Satan, I’d make sure Christians continually read stuff like this to make them feel lousy about the job they’re doing, take their focus off the redemptive work of Christ, and guilt them into doing a better job for Christ
If I were Satan…
.
I’d discourage Christians from speaking the Gospel to each other. Fill their heads with the notion that the Gospel message is just for unbelievers. Make sure Christians only motivate each other with the Law – keep their focus on what *they* are and are not doing, so they lose sight of what *Christ* has done.
Because while the problems listed are real, and deserve attention, attention itself will solve *nothing* without the life-giving words of the Gospel. Because our good works flow from our relationship with Christ, and if our works are lacking – as they most certainly are – the solution is *not* to do more and better works, but to rather have our relationship with Christ strengthened. And the way God *strengthens* our relationship with Him is the same way He *created* it in the first place: through Christ’s atoning death on the cross. The Gospel message isn’t just about getting saved, being brought to life – we also *live* by the Gospel, every step of every day. We aren’t just saved by relying on Christ’s works instead of ours – we also *live* by relying on Christ’s works instead of our own.
The Gospel is for Christians, too
Cogent for sure!
Amen Sara.
If I were Jesus , satan would be on lock- down, the church would be in heaven, and the tribulation would be taking place.
Repent! The kingdom of Jesus Christ is at hand. Perhaps the rapture might occur while you are reading this post. Be ready dear ones. Jesus is coming soon!
bro.ed; Phil.2:5
This looks like it could be a template for The Screwtape Letters – Vol.2
Thank you for your comments. I wish had interacted with each of you. Some of you lauded my blog. Others of you disagreed with my approach. All are welcome here.
Sara, Amanda.. Why would being challenged cause you to feel “lousy”? To be challenged to be better. To be confronted with some real issues inside our churches today and be made more aware of them…so we can work on fixing them. I don’t understand “feeling lousy”.
We all have work to do to be better Christians… But praise be to God that Romans 5:8 is still in the bible.. if you don’t know the reference, look it up.
Sharing. Well said. Needs to be considered by all. Speaks to immediate issues needing consideration.
Thom,
Thanks so much for your creative look at a stark reality. The Enemy is alive and well, and on the attack at every level. Churches are where he likes to wreak havoc big time. This is certainly a reminder of how we as leaders in the church need to humble ourselves, gear up, mount up, wake up, rise up, and pray against his flaming arrows against us.
C’mon, church…don’t let Satan have the victory!
Weak, Sarah.