The Church and The Devil

The Church and The Devil

In a compelling Bible teaching delivered at Founded in Truth Fellowship, the speaker, Matthew Vander Els, delves into the subtle and often overlooked strategies of the devil as they relate to the church and individual believers. Drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis's insightful work, "The Screwtape Letters," the teaching illuminates how spiritual warfare can take place not just in obvious places of sin but within the very walls of our faith communities.

The core message revolves around the idea that the devil's primary aim is not necessarily to sever a believer's connection with God outright. Instead, the more insidious tactic is to encourage a superficial faith, where individuals maintain the outward appearances of Christianity – attending church, praying, and being part of a fellowship – while simultaneously cultivating a "parallel life" that subtly serves worldly desires and is far from genuine devotion to God. This creates a dangerous illusion of spiritual security within the church, even as one's heart and actions drift away from true discipleship.

It's crucial to understand that this influence doesn't always originate from leadership within the church. Rather, it can often begin with individual members who fall into these traps, and like a contagion, it can spread within the community if others are not discerning in their faith. Everyone is susceptible to the devil's schemes, regardless of their position or tenure in the church.

One of the initial pieces of advice from the elder demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, as presented in Lewis's book, is to distract the new believer's worship and prayer. This involves shifting the focus of prayer from a direct connection with God to a "composite object" – an imagined version of God based on personal preferences, cultural influences, or even physical objects within the prayer space. By encouraging believers to fixate on these self-created images, the devil aims to prevent them from truly encountering God as He is.

Idolatry within the context of Christian practice is another significant danger highlighted. While using objects or symbols in worship isn't inherently wrong, the problem arises when these things become the focal point of devotion rather than tools that lead us to God. Whether it's elevating the Bible itself to an object of worship instead of a guide to a relationship with God, or attributing magical powers to religious items, these diversions can subtly replace genuine faith with a focus on the created rather than the Creator. This can lead to a form of pride and arrogance, where one's identity becomes rooted in external religious practices rather than an internal transformation by God's Spirit.

The teaching also addresses the peril of allowing secular ideologies, such as extreme patriotism or pacifism, to take precedence over one's Christian faith. While these causes may have merit, the devil can exploit them by enticing believers to prioritize them above their allegiance to God's kingdom. In such cases, faith becomes merely a means to achieve a worldly end, and the focus shifts from God's eternal purposes to temporal pursuits. The events of September 11, 2001, are used as a poignant example of how nationalistic fervor can sometimes overshadow a believer's primary identity as a citizen of heaven. The question posed is whether one was a patriot because they were a Christian, with their faith informing their response, or a Christian because being patriotic was the perceived righteous stance. This subtle shift in allegiance can significantly dilute the impact of a believer's witness to the world.

Furthermore, the devil seeks to create factions and divisions within the church community. This can manifest as a sense of spiritual elitism, where certain groups or individuals believe they possess a superior understanding of God's truth, leading to judgment and isolation from the wider body of Christ. The tendency to form exclusive cliques that are more concerned with their internal cohesion than with reaching out to the lost directly contradicts the inclusive nature of the Gospel. Similarly, becoming fixated on novel or trendy interpretations of Christianity ("Christianity and...") can be a trap, diverting focus from the foundational truths of the faith and fostering a sense of superiority based on these distinctions. This can lead to believers defining themselves by what they are against rather than by their identity in Yeshua.

The teaching strongly emphasizes the indispensable role of community in a believer's life. True fellowship involves more than just attending services; it requires active participation, commitment, accountability, and a willingness to share one's life with other believers. Just as God Himself exists in community (the Trinity), believers are called into a divine community of love and justice. The Great Commission to "make disciples" (matheteuo in Greek) implies a journey of learning and growing together within this community, actively demonstrating God's love to the world. Refusing to fully commit to a local body of believers can stunt one's spiritual growth and hinder their ability to fulfill God's purposes. A healthy church community is one that is sold out to Yeshua, recognizing Him as the ultimate revelation of God and building each other up in that faith.

In conclusion, the teaching serves as a powerful reminder to be vigilant against the devil's subtle tactics. True spiritual growth and resilience come from a genuine, heartfelt devotion to God, expressed through active participation in a loving and accountable community of believers. It requires a constant examination of our motives and a commitment to keeping our allegiance firmly rooted in the Kingdom of God above all else.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Examine your prayer life: Are you focusing on a genuine connection with God, or are your prayers directed towards a vague or self-constructed image?
• Evaluate your engagement with religious practices and objects: Do these things draw you closer to God, or have they become ends in themselves? Is your identity rooted in Christ or in external observances?
• Reflect on your priorities: Do secular causes or ideologies ever overshadow your commitment to your faith? Is your faith informing your engagement with the world, or is your worldview shaping your faith?
• Assess your attitude towards other believers and churches: Do you harbor feelings of superiority or division? Are you actively contributing to the unity and mission of the broader Christian community?
• Be wary of the allure of novelty in faith: Are you constantly chasing new Christian trends, or are you grounded in the core truths of the Gospel?
• Commit fully to a local church community: Are you actively participating, serving, and being accountable to other believers? Are you contributing your time, energy, and resources?
• Focus on making disciples: Are you actively sharing the love of Yeshua with those around you through your words and actions, inviting them into the community of faith?
• Continuously check your motives: Are your actions driven by a desire to honor God and serve others, or by selfish ambition or the pursuit of worldly approval?

References

Bible Verses

• 1 Peter 5:8
• 1 Peter 5:9
• Philippians 3:20

Books and Resources

• Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
• The Bible

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