The Existence of Spiritual Evil

The reality of the demonic

It never ceases to amaze me how utterly ignorant and uninformed many Christians are when it comes to the reality of spiritual evil.

Despite the fact that the Bible clearly reveals the existence of a dark spiritual realm under the control of Satan and his fallen angels who are better known as demons, many Christians either profess total ignorance of that realm or they deny that it even exists.

The apostle Paul certainly knew that it existed. He was well aware of Satan and he was quite familiar with the devil's schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:11) Paul understood that Satan's goal was and is to prevent the salvation of every human being on the planet. And Paul frequently encountered interference from the devil during his travels throughout the ancient gentile world.

Here's what Paul wrote to the early church at Ephesus regarding evil: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Paul didn't call the early church to go to war against the devil. Rather, he alerted the church to the reality that this evil realm not only existed but had literally spread its rotten influence via its lies and deception throughout the entire world. 

And just as in Paul's time, you can find that same evil firmly embedded throughout the world today in education, religion, popular culture, science, entertainment, politics, the media, the arts, sports etc. 

In science and education, evil manifests in Darwin's theory of evolution that denies God by offering a purely natural and completely bogus theory for the existence of life on earth. Darwin's theory is so bad and unworkable that anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of DNA and microbiology should be able to understand how impractical the theory is.

However, the theory has long been taught as truth because it denies God. Without God, there is no moral accountability and ultimately no sin. Thus, without God, there's no hell and no judgment after death. The fact that Darwin's theory lives on is further proof of the existence of evil in the heavenly realms.

In religion, evil manifests in creeds that either deny that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah and the Son of God (Islam, Rabbinic Judaism); deny that Christ died for all sinners on the cross (Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Christian Science) or deny that salvation is gained strictly by faith in Christ's death on the cross for all sin and His resurrection from the dead. (Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism)

And in the media, arts, sports, entertainment and popular culture, evil exists in the utter depravity that is advanced and celebrated. 

Alcoholism, drug use, sexual promiscuity and perversion, greed, selfishness, paganism, debauchery and the violent inner-city gang culture resplendent with body piercings, lascivious clothing and tattoos are proudly promoted by many people in these fields. And young, impressionable minds are contaminated by these types of values that are touted as hip and cool. 

Certainly, the devil can't violate anyone's free will by forcing them to either follow a false religion or believe lies that are taught as scientific truth. But he can coerce folks through deception, persecution and force. And he has an army of fallen human beings who willingly or unknowingly do his bidding. 

If what remains of the Christian church on earth really wants to regain its influence in the world again, then it's going to have to acknowledge the existence of spiritual evil. I recommend that Christians read Ephesians 6 and read it very closely. 

The church isn't going to overcome evil at the ballot box. Nor is the church going to overcome evil by compromising with it. Rather, the church needs to confront evil head on if it wants to change the culture that's headed into the moral and spiritual abyss.

But in order for that to happen, the church needs to recognize evil and recognize where it's coming from.