Believers in the devil, some of whom call themselves Christian, think the creature has dominion over the earth. This Sunday’s Gospel proves it is not a Christian/Christ-like belief. Jesus says, “now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” If errant christians accept it is a reference to Satan being driven out by Jesus, then the devil has no dominion. If they still believe the devil does rule on here on earth, they usually explain that rule happens through nonbelievers who oppose them. Believers in the devil also believe their deity commissions them, as believers, to be an army of earthly warriors fighting against the earthly forces of Satan. They thus receive as a godly commission the rule, intent to conquer, and practice of fighting anyone who opposes them – interpreting opponents as of the devil. Opposition to self-titled christians is, for them, proof they are contending with a nonbeliever, someone in league with the devil. These misguided warriors are thus veterans of many a holy war and eager future soldiers of perpetual holy war.
Belief in a devil against whom holy heroes must wage eternal war is widespread. The belief stems from the religion of Militarism and influences if not rules over institutional christianity. Consider Dominionism. Dominionists imagine God as a ruling warrior deity who has commissioned them to rule over the U.S. Believers are therefore on a crusade to return America to its supposed Biblical foundations. To do this they must take control of its institutions. Dominionists believe these institutions are currently under the control of Satan and nonbelievers. Thus, Wisconsin ruler Scott Walker, raised in his father’s Dominionist church, said this past week that he fights off nonbeliever opponents such as union laborers, who he compares to ISIS, by reciting Romans 16:20 believing his god “will soon crush Satan under your feet.” There are additional Dominionists who rule and, like Walker, are seeking to do so as president. They are Ted Cruz who agrees with his Dominionist father that “Satan is in charge of the U.S. government”; also Rick Santorum, who asserts he is fighting Satan in “a spiritual war (for America)”; and Rick Perry who proclaimed in his presidential prayer rally that “Satan runs across the world with his … untruths. … One … is that people of faith should not be involved in the public arena.” Dominionists are not only involved in the public arena; they believe they are divinely ordained to rule that public arena. They believe they are called to rule in family government, church government, and so too in civil government. So it is that approximately 10,000 men who are pastors of churches were invited, and about 1,000 of them are currently being groomed, to run in local, state, and national elections in 2016. (See American Renewal Project and WallBuilders.) Make no mistake, these men are intending and planning domination. The Southern Poverty Law Center is just one of the groups keeping an eye on such non-Christian individuals and organizations that aspire to rule over this world.
When Jesus drove the devil out of this world he was driving out Militarism and its various manifestations, like Dominionism. He was driving out its elements of rule over others, a disposition toward conquest, and acting violently. Militarism and its elements appear in many forms; hate speech, discrimination, harmful policies and practices, even full out war with enemies, foreign and domestic. We might be tempted to respond to Dominionists from their same dominating manner. Jesus shows observers another way. We can best transform Militarists through communion, love, and creative healing power.
Prayer: Dear Spirit, help us to demonstrate integrity when dealing with rulers.
Question: Once we identify Militarists by their tactics what loving and creative approaches can help heal them?
March 22, 2015 Gospel John 12:20-33 Fifth Sunday of Lent