The Powers that Be

A friend of mine recently pointed something out that I think Christians (especially in the West) are good to remember. And that is when we are speaking out against false ideas and wicked practices, we aren't just getting into an intellectual engagement. We are confronting spiritual forces of darkness. We would be naive to think we are simply trying to convince stubborn people. There exists a very real and serious spiritual opposition to the kingdom of God. Jesus confronted it in his time, and we should expect to confront it in ours (Luke 11:20).

I remember when I was a student at Princeton seminary, the idea that Satan was a real person, or that demons were at work in the world wasn't just considered incorrect, it was so laughable by professors to not even be seriously considered.

And yet, for the vast majority of the world, and for the vast history of the world, the fact that there exist supernatural forces was not a point a contention. It was a given fact about reality.

In the West, demons may not employ the same methods they do in the East. But that doesn't necessarily mean they are any less at work, hence Paul's words that our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil. 

The good news is that Christ dealt the decisive blow to the powers that be on the cross.