The Devices of Satan
by Joe R. Price
Satan is real, and he is our adversary. He is the god of this world, a deceiver, and the accuser of both God and men (II Corinthians 4:4; I Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9). He has legions of servants doing his bidding; men and women who appear righteous, but who serve darkness (II Corinthians 11:14-15).
These ministers of Satan are not only found outside the body of Christ; they are also in the church of Christ. These people serve their god “Satan” by teaching false doctrines (II Peter 2:1-3; Jude 4). They serve the devil by rejecting the word of God and hindering those who advance the truth (III John 9-10). They serve Satan by accommodating and excusing immorality instead of rebuking it (Ephesians 5:8-11).
It is foolish to think Satan has somehow vanished from the modern scene. Oh, no. It is his very nature to present himself as reasonable, fashionable, wise, and caring (see Genesis 3:1-5). This is also true of his servants; they are the “caring” ones, the “reasonable” ones, the “loving” ones; “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). Remember, the word of God is right and we must conform to it in all things – regardless of what the agents of Satan say and do (Colossians 3:17; I Peter 3:13-17).
The devil’s tactics are recognizable today. Even as brethren drift away from the truth, Satan is very adept at convincing them they have not moved at all; it is others who have become “extreme” and “intolerant.” The subject could be the role of women in the church. It could be the subject of immodest dress, participating in the modern dance, or accepting social drinking. It could be unscriptural worship or the social gospel. It could be error on divorce and remarriage. Or, it could be broadening fellowship to accept those who teach error on these subjects as well as those who’s teaching and practice comforts and accepts those in error (by the misuse of Romans 14).
Brethren who endorse sin and compromise with those who teach error use Satan’s methods to silence Scriptural objections. “If we do not like the message, let us kill the messenger,” is the thinking of some. We must not be ignorant of these devices of the devil (II Corinthians 2:11).
Marginalize him. “He is difficult that way” or, “he can be extreme at times” may be said to discount Scriptural warnings against error. Perhaps it is true, but the evidence ought to be heard before making and accepting such charges (John 7:51). By what standard is the man measured to be “extreme,” “radical,” or “difficult”? Jesus and His apostles would fall into this category by using unholy measurements (cf. Matthew 11:16-19). When faithful brethren who preach and live the whole counsel of God are demonized as extreme, something is terribly wrong (II Timothy 4:2-4). In order to survive, those who compromise truth, must marginalize the one who warns others of them and their error (consider the treatment of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 20:7-10). With that accomplished, they have an unobstructed path to advance error (Isaiah 30:11).
Beloved brethren, we must not marginalize those who call us to walk in the old paths (Jeremiah 6:16-17). Satan wants you to fear being called “extreme.” He wants to silence your voice for truth. He wants to use you to silence others. Do not fall for his sinful scheme!
Ostracize him. Once a person is marginalized, it is easier to isolate him and ignore him. Many brethren have moved away from an aggressive defense of the truth and open rebuke of error (Jude 3). They have moved on, saying, “Peace, peace! when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14-15). To advance their peace policy of positivism, those who sound the battle cry against error must be excluded and ignored. Make no mistake, the spirit of Diotrephes is alive and well today, refusing to receive “workers for the truth” while at the same time accepting and advancing compromisers and false teachers (3 John 8-10). As did their namesake, these raise false accusations and insinuations against the godly in an effort to discredit, demoralize, and eliminate the threat they pose to their (the devil’s) agenda.
Neutralize him. This was unsuccessfully tried against Paul: “For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible” (II Corinthians 10:10). Enemies of the faith try to neutralize the force and influence of the truth by attacking and neutralizing the messengers of the truth. Jesus said it would be so (John 15:18-25; 16:1-4). Do not be discouraged when it happens to you.
If you intend to follow Christ whatever the cost, please consider this: Do you have the faith and courage to examine yourself to see whether you have used or are using these tactics of Satan against others (II Corinthians 13:5)? We will never please God by using the devices of Satan (II Corinthians 5:9-11).