Much is both preached from the world's media and even within the pulpit's of our
churches that belittles the character and methods of Satan, the Father of Lies. The devil
is a powerful opponent, worthy of six thousand years of battle for men's souls, an
antagonist not to be taken lightly. To thus prepare ourselves for the direction of his
attack it is at times a useful exercise, though perhaps disturbing, to place oneself in
Satan's shoes and consider the act of leading the saints astray.
What would you do if you were the Devil? Those in the world are yours. They are
already condemned and without the saving power of Christ and have no choice but to serve
their lusts. They are a small matter to you - give them adequate lusts to follow, and they
will hang themselves. Your true enemy is the church, and those within are whom you seek to
devour.
Christians are a pesky things though, persecute them and they just become stronger,
kill them and guarantee their salvation. Besides, it is their souls you want, the physical
body just serves as an apt medium whereby to condemn the soul. So, you must lead them
astray - condemn their soul before God that he may give them to you disgusted by what they
have made of themselves.
The church is ready for you, however. At least they are ready to fight whatever they
think is you. As I write this, we have just reached the conclusion of another disheartening
election, one where the conservatives went liberal, and the liberals went conservative in
efforts to invade the other's territory and make away with their members. How much more
shall the master of propaganda play that game? The most naive politician knows his
portrayal by the media is everything. Do we not think the devil himself has shaped his own
image? So then, let them fight air, let them put your name on a figure in a red suit with
horns, let them say that you can only tell lies, and blame everything evil on you. Hey, you
may even be able to get them blame things that God causes to happen, on their little
red-tailed character.
Clearly the Bible does point out that you are the Father of lies, and there is no truth
in you (John 8:44), but make sure they only think about the physical interpretation of that
lest they realize that that what you may say could be very real in the physical while
simultaneously being an abject lie in the spiritual. Remember, that was you very first
trick - still proud of that one - you told Eve she wouldn't die in the day she ate of it,
and she didn't - Gotchya!!!
OK, now that you've got yourself well defined in their eyes, step outside the mold and
hit them where they aren't looking for you. How about as a minister of righteousness, or as
an angel of light? Well, all right, Paul already said that you'd try this (II Co.
11:13-15), so some of them are expecting you elsewhere. (Actually, the new testament is
full of warnings of false prophets within the church - you're going to have to get them to
stop reading that book!) Getting in won't be hard as long, as they have given in to
"tolerance". Do a couple good deeds (Remember, they think anything good can't be from you!)
and they'll call you a brother.
So, now that you're in, what'll you do? If you preach outright sin, the kinds that
would sufficiently gross God out, they will recognize you (At least if you start with
that.). Christians aren't all dulled to sin. The power of Christ, and a good conscience
are not to be taken lightly. Two important points, if the sin is such that they may
recognize it - even after they have done it - the power of Christ's blood is available to
them on asking (And to think you arranged the spilling of it! The master of tricks,
tricked! (Ps. 35:8)) and thus forgiveness for the sin you worked so hard to achieve.
Second, if they have any doubt in their mind as to the directions you are pointing them,
they now have the power of communicating direct with God. They don't even need you when it
comes right down to it. This is serious, because if their conscience is not all seared, the
Spirit of God within them will warn them, for it is he that teaches them (I Jn. 2:27, John
14:26, 16:13). You must stop this communication at all costs, or all your attempts will in
vain.
Over and over scripture calls them to seek God. Hebrews says "Man must come to God..."
(Heb. 11:6), James says "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God..." (Jas. 1:5) - so you
can't even get them on ignorance. The prophets came not calling men to themselves, but
pointing them to God, and Jesus came calling plainly and clearly "Follow me." You have to
know that scripture, if read with the intention of finding God, is going to be no friend to
your cause.
It would be vanity to tell them to just forget the whole God thing, those are the
atheists and you've already got them. These are the people who are looking for God, to whom
most of them God has revealed himself in a very real way. You can't get them to ignore him,
but perhaps you can replace him. What do people go to God for? Yes, perhaps you can get
them to serve something they think is him, but is not, something that can give them answers
like God could and a sense of eternal security. But above all else, don't let them go to
the source!
You see, when they hit those tough questions in their life or doctrine, they have two
places they can go - to man or to God. Man is intuitively easier, not only does he often
give more direct answers, but they don't have to consider the state of their souls before
they ask. But what if you can be both, give them a man to ask and tell them he is
representing God. They would be truly impressed.
The problem is, most any man you give them is going to slip up at some point or other,
and your whole image of God is shot. Perhaps, if you structure this a little deeper - use
your patented hierarchy system - they won't be so able to see the frailty of humanity and
get more of an awe at the way each person can get all the answers. Plus, you may not have
the opportunity to control a single man for every new believer you want to work with. This
way you can operate here and there on different levels of the hierarchy (concentrating on
the top, of course.), and don't have to worry about all cases. You've got them going
somewhere other than God and that's what counts.
Now you have control, you are God to them and may preach what you like - but what would
that be? You still are going to have problems preaching outright sin. Even the simple
conscience of man will pick up on it. You might, at best, be able to get some of the
insiders to go off the deep end, but that is no method for getting new converts that might
go towards God otherwise.
The answer is actually really simple. You just go back to your favorite game.
Pointing Christians toward the physical. Don't let them see what is important to God. God
only really cares about the heart, and spiritual matters - the only things that can truly
change the body. But teach them to change the body directly, to pay attention to the things
they need to do, the people they need to convert, the works they need to do for God (you!).
Then, you have but to redefine religion to your qualifications, and any representation
of God on earth is measured by your standard. Where is your church? (The physical
building, of course!) Who is your leader? (A physical man, or course!) What is your
creed? (A piece of paper.) To be a religion they will have to adopt the physical
definitions you have placed over the spiritual truths.
Humans are so gullible, so ready to see only the physical, easily falling for the first
temptation of Christ. You say "See, you're hungry, and you can make your own food, do it."
And unlike Christ who recognized the spiritual level and the true source for his spiritual
food, they readily accept your new source - themselves. The world is yours (physically),
you know where it's going, and as many as you can get to hold onto the carnal side, even in
their service to "God", will go with it.
Friends, what is most disconcerting about this is that while planning the cunnings of
the Deceiver we have derived several of the prominent variations of Christianity today, and
to some extent most of organized players in the religion. Do not be deceived, the Devil is
no fool, as cunning as we can get, he will be more so. It is good to be fed by those
around, to seek advice from godly counsel, to seek fellowship with the brethren around us
and to do good deeds. But if they become our sustenance, if they become a replacement for
our true food from God, then we are right where the devil intends us to be.
"... for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall
be according to their works."
(II Co. 11:14-15)