CSA Images/Getty Images
**NOTE: As the current series of essays, “The Devil Loves,” progresses, be prepared for more challenging content. Be prepared to consider how insidious the darkness that wishes to overcome God’s creation works in exceptionally sneaky ways. Be prepared to find out that many of the things you love and hold dear, the Devil also loves and endeavors to use to his favor. Be warned - the road that leads to the Cross is not an easy one. It never has been.
The church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is His new creation,
by water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her
to be His holy bride;
with His own blood He bought her,
and for her life He died.
Samuel John Stone, 1866
For most Christians, “the church” is a place to go on Sunday mornings to hear a good sermon and experience fellowship with a family of faith. There is a broader meaning for the term when we refer to “The Church",” capital T, capital C. The Church is the sum total of all the Christ-believing faithful people of the world, in aggregate, regardless of denomination, tradition, or cultural differences in secular life. The Church was commissioned by the risen Jesus to preach the Good News to the whole world, baptizing and serving in Christ’s name. Christians the world over cite the Day of Pentecost, as recounted in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, as the ‘birth’ of The Church. The Church is described as the ‘Bride of Christ’ by Jesus in his Revelation to the Apostle John at Patmos. The consummation of this marriage is to be the culmination of all human history, the new creation promised of God.
If there’s one sure way to get the Devil’s attention, it’s for Jesus to make his feelings known about something. As soon as Jesus professes his love for a thing, the Devil begins the attack, as slow and sneaky and subtle and tempting as possible. If there’s one thing Jesus loves more than anything else we’ve examined so far in this essay series on ‘The Devil Loves,’ it’s The Church. And just as you might have guessed, that makes The Church a prime target for the Devil.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Ephesians 2: 1-2, NIV
The problem for The Church in avoiding the Devil’s advances is that it is not simply a place where people go once a week, but rather The Church is people. People, as we know, are beset with sin. Temptations of the body, the mind, and the spirit prevent even one member of The Church from being worthy to be Christ’s bride. Yet, as a whole, we are indeed the The Church, Christ’s chosen partner. While marriage is an institution built on love, mutual respect, and shared values, it is often a relationship of compromise and concession, allowing for the shortcomings of each partner to be forgiven in return for the good gifts each shares within the union. Some shortcomings are easier to overlook, while others are much more difficult to encounter. I’m grateful my wife can overlook my snoring, and thankful she is nearly perfect in every way (I’m banking on her reading this).
There is one sin so despicable and so damaging to the core of a marriage that it often surpasses the ability of the partner to forgive: infidelity. The Devil loves The Church like a stranger who loves another man’s wife. Though the stranger is a tall, dark, handsome temptation, the stranger is not interested in the woman’s real well-being. The thrill of a secret life and the excitement of the pleasures of the flesh mask the objectification and gross self-centeredness, the true fruits of such an affair. The stranger only wants what the stranger should not have. The woman is tempted by the allure of physical attraction and the attention she feels she lacks at home. In much the same way, the Devil loves The Church in the moments of passion, hidden in darkness. The Devil loves with lies, feigned attention, reckless behavior, emotional carelessness. The Devil loves to be the distraction, to steal the attention away from God in Christ. And the truth is, the people of the church who are themselves (ourselves) entirely depraved and dead in sin are all too happy to be swept off their feet by the lies and the attention from the Devil.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 8: 3-11, NIV
The evils of adultery are second to none in the amount of hurt and pain caused to individuals and the destruction of families and communities effected. Though the Devil certainly desires hurt and pain and destruction for us all, his love of the church is even more insidious than his love of literal adultery. It’s not enough for the Devil to destroy one relationship or one family or even one small community through the tragedy of a broken marriage. The Devil seeks to be the mistress to The Church, the one alluring us away from God in Christ, the bridegroom. The Devil loves The Church because he’s welcomed into the fellowship. He’s introduced at committee meetings. He’s even been allowed to preach on Sundays while he sets fire to relationships within The Church all week long. The Church has become very friendly to the Devil. The one place that should be home and comfort for Jesus, the Church’s partner in life and in love has become a haven for The Enemy.
I’ve witnessed the destruction firsthand. Pastors who lie to congregations. Elders who abuse their position for personal gain. Sexual misconduct, harmful language, careless comments. Ideas which would promote Christ’s kingdom shot down in meetings for fear of budget constraints, leaders lacking faith. I’ve heard even more examples from others, and I’m sure you could add your own. Don’t be offended by the title of this essay, or the assertion that the Devil is welcomed in as an attractive mistress by The Church. Be offended that it’s true, and we sinful Christians continue to allow it - no - promote it. Stand up for the preservation of right relationship, for the sanctity of the holy union between Christ and his Church.
The amazing grace of Jesus is that even while we were (and still are) sinners, he forgave us and died for us. Knowing that his bride is unfaithful, Jesus calls her to come back home and redeem the relationship with forgiveness and love, something a human husband or wife would be hard-pressed to offer when so wronged. If this essay stings, if it hits too close to home, if it reminds you of a part of your own life you’d rather forget, please don’t read it as if it were salt in a wound. Read this as one who truly knows the depth of human failure, hurt, pain, and brokenness from which Jesus is able to redeem us each and all.
Apart from Christ, The Church is incomplete. Apart from God’s love for us, we are dead. Apart from Jesus’ forgiveness, and his atoning sacrifice, we are lost. Thanks be to God that despite the wickedness of the Devil, Jesus continues to show his grace to his Church, his Bride. May we live to be worthy, and to show our gratitude for his grace and love.
J.D.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2: 4-7, NIV