Blaming the Devil

The devil made me do it. That is of the devil. Don’t fall into the devil’s snares! We do an awful lot of blaming the devil in ways that are completely unjustified.

Generally, blaming the devil has just been an easy way to rationalize a gut reaction against what we don't understand, makes us uncomfortable, or possibly fear. In the 1600s, women who could swim were witches and thus of the devil. Through the 1800s, people who were left-handed were sinister (siniestra = left) and thus of the devil.

Galileo was seen as doing the devil's magic when bending light with glass lenses, making objects appear unnaturally clear. Rhythmic music was of the devil at one point. (Gregorian chants, anyone?) Only music written in 3/4 time was holy, as it spoke of the Trinity. Music in 3/4 time was of the devil, because people danced the waltz, in which partners touched hands. Rock music was of the devil; women wearing pants was of the devil; make-up was of the devil; reading and writing were of the devil; jazz, rap, screaming guitars, vaccines, medicines, electricity, and email have all been blamed on the devil.

Jesus tells us there is no reason to fear the devil. James says the devil is unnecessary in relation to our temptations, as they actually come from our own desires. When our focus is on God, we need not worry about the devil, evil spirits, etc. "...The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1st John 4:4)

Planes, trains, and automobiles have all been deemed of the devil, right along with movies, radio, television, the internet, and email. It is just fear-mongering, and "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us." - 1st John 4:18-19

Rather than worry about new technologies being of the devil, new forms of artistic expression being of the devil, the differences among the great diversity of human life being of the devil, we have the option to take a very different approach. We can approach life not out of fear, but out of trust in God and God’s marvelous provision. We can approach God’s world with the eyes of wonder and amazement at just how diverse and intricate and interdependent is this world of humanity and the environment in which we exist.

People are not of the devil. They are God’s creation. They are claimed as children of God. The diversity among us is not of the devil, it is of God’s design. Difference is beautiful. Divergence invokes marvel. Contrast awakens us to new possibilities. None of that need frighten us, especially those who trust in the goodness of God. Under the greatness of God’s love, all that fear can be set aside as simply irrelevant. On the other hand, sometimes we just like to blame the devil for our own actions and initiatives. If we want to be honest with ourselves, a failure to love and accept others is “of the devil,” in that it is in opposition to God’s declared will. It’s not that “the devil makes us do it.” It is rather that we align ourselves as enemies of God. That is what that Greek term, diabolos, means—adversary.



— ©Copyright 2024, Christopher B. Harbin 



http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/

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