Evil on Display

Believers in Christ have access to spiritual sensitivity and discernment that enable us navigate through this world and recognize spiritual forces that are at work. In 2nd Corinthians 10, Paul writes:
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.

In John chapter 10, Jesus described the work of our spiritual enemy, who has come to "steal, kill, and destroy."  He has come to bring us abundant life, as He taught.  The spiritual conflict is real, and we have to recognize who, ultimately, the true enemy is - that enemy wants to deflect attention and cause us to look at people and to drive wedges in between us.  We have to recognize that there are forces aligned against - and for - the purpose of the Kingdom of God. 

+++++

As he concludes the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul reminds us that there is more at play than what we experience with our senses, writing:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The devil is not just something that filmmakers or authors have conjured up, a creepy character in a horror movie.  We recognize that evil is real, the devil is real, and he is at work powerfully and pervasively in the world today.

A high-profile actor in a movie franchise has decided to take off the gloves and call out this enemy.  A Relevant Magazine story reports:

Fast and Furious star Tyrese Gibson is warning Christians that the world is trying to “promote the devil.”

In the middle of promoting Fast X, Gibson took a moment to call out people who are trying to “normalize the devil.”

“As much as I’m supposed to be promoting this movie and talking about my album, I just feel like we’re in competition right now because they are trying to normalize the devil,” Gibson said. “The devil is on the main stage at award shows and in every video and signs and symbols.

And, he devoted some time to speak directly to Christians, saying:

“We need to stop treating our relationship with Jesus like the little buddy that you talk to before you go to bed at night,” he said. “Be more vocal about all the things that God means to us, and all of the things that God has brought us through. There’s been a lot of moments that you didn’t post about, but yet you know how did God decide to get you through this.”

The article notes that the actor in 2015, "opened up about how his faith has helped him stay focused on the important things while navigating fame." He wrote: “Fame is one of the biggest unspoken addictions...Validation is a men’s and women’s silent killer… When you love yourself deep within, when you fall in love with Jesus and you’re completely submerged in Christ, your heart and soul is fulfilled independent of what’s in your bank account and where you are on the charts.”

Gibson is also a singer, and a Movieguide article included some content from some of his Instagram posts, including this nugget:

“Every show while I’m singing I’m praying, when I lift my hands I am thanking the Lord Jesus Christ for the God given stage of influence he has given me…. I fear no man…. I walk IN my truth and IN my life’s purpose everyday…. I am clear that God is my SOURCE, and people and things are just resources…. God IS my source…. And, I want for nothing cause I have it ALL cause I have Jesus…. #Amen”

He doesn't express himself in the way I would, but Tyrese Gibson has certainly brought clarity to the issue of good vs. evil. In fact, there are reports out there that he has taken Hollywood to task, saying that it is full of "Satanic pedophiles."  One might say that is redundant.  

We don't need to shrink back from calling evil what it is.  In an age of moral relativism, clarity is so very important.  We can classify what is good in God's eyes with what isn't.  And, it is certainly not a matter of the Bible somehow being unclear about the truth of God - we water it down and try to make something cloudy out of what is clear, gray where it is black and white.  

The fact is, there is evil in the world today - and it is prevalent.  We face the temptation in our own lives - to choose evil or good, the world's ways or God's ways.  We have the power and wisdom available to us in order to reject temptation, to resist the power of the enemy.  But, do we have the will?  Will we do what is necessary, by any means necessary, to reject sin and to reflect the presence of our Savior?