ABOUT THE DEVILS

In his preface to The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis made the following observation:

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves (the devils) are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.   

Since I am a preacher and since I am striving to look at Scripture with fresh eyes, I have taken some interest recently in the devil (and the host of other spiritual beings). It's definitely not unhealthy and hopefully not excessive.

I believe it's necessary because the vast majority of Christians in the U.S. grow up on the materialist side of Lewis' equation: disbelieving in "devils".

It was true of my own background. I saw enough in Haiti to be cured of a strictly materialistic view of reality. 

I am making some progress in bringing some balance to my own understanding of the spirit realm. I need to give it much more thought and study, but for now, off the top of my head, here are some things that can be said with some certainty about the Bible's portrayal of spiritual beings:

• They exist.
• They are usually invisible to human eyes, but can assume material form.
• They seem to have free will - Some serve God and others oppose His will and work.
• Those opposed to God will pay a price in the end.
• There seems to be some sort of hierarchy among them.
• They have some sway with humans, for better or for worse.
• They are all lesser than the Most High God. They are His creation.
• There is no specific definition of demons as being fallen angels.

What is not currently clear to me:

• The scope of their authority - and why they have authority at all.
• The extent of their power over human actions and world events.
• Whether the "serpent" in the Garden of Eden was the head honcho or just a run of the mill evil spirit. And why does he appear to Eve as a talking serpent?

I have been reading Michael Heiser's book Unseen Realm and it's very interesting. He brings to the surface some stuff in the Bible which tends to get glossed over:

• The Old Testament contains some "divine council" language - as if Yahweh oversees a court in heaven filled with various spiritual beings.
• The fall of Adam and Eve was only one of three important rebellions against God. The second was when the "Sons of God" came to the earth to interbreed with human women, producing the Nephilim right before the flood (Genesis 6). (That's some weird stuff!) The third rebellion was the building of the Tower of Babel. Each of these three rebellions had significant repercussions for subsequent life on earth. 
• In the book of Job, satan is not a proper name, but a job description: accuser or challenger. 

There is much to consider!