Acknowledging the Supernatural Realm

There is great power made available to the Christian in order that we may pray for our authorities, in order that a climate for practicing our faith can be maintained. That is taught in 1st Timothy chapter 2, which states:
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The returns are in, for the most part, and America has elected a new President.  There's a new makeup in the U.S. Senate, and the balance of power in the U.S. House appears to be heading in the same direction as the last two years.  These authorities we have elected have a tremendous responsibility, and we have to pray for them.

While political leaders can do quite a bit, we still have to remember what 1st Timothy 2 has to say about the fruit of our prayers - that is that we can be free to live in a manner that honors God, to practice our faith. 

We also recognize that the moral tone of our nation is ideally set not by politicians, although they can create a political climate, and should ideally be passing laws that help to support our freedom to live out our faith.  But, there are spiritual forces at work in our nation today, and the Church should never ignore the challenges in that arena, because they are foundational for the right functioning of our country. 

It's interesting how people in high, influential positions are talking about God these days.  I have mentioned in the past people like Elon Musk, Jordan Peterson, and Russell Brand.  Even Donald Trump has stated that he believes that God has spared his life and appointed him to save our nation.  

One of the truly interesting and influential people in our cultural consciousness is a man who just days ago recounted a profound spiritual experience he had - and not in a positive way.  He related in an interview clip posted on X, according to The Western Journal, that was attacked in his bed on night, as he says, "by a demon...Or by something unseen that left claw marks on my sides — they’re still there.” The story says that this man "said he woke up confused and couldn’t breathe, feeling as though he would suffocate."

He also noted, "And I sleep on my side, so I wasn’t clawing myself...I don’t have long nails, and they didn’t fit my hands anyway.”

He said that he knew that "I knew it was spiritual, immediately..." This led to, as the article notes, "an intense desire to read the Bible."

The interview was conducted by John Heers, and it was promoting a documentary called, Christianities?: Journey to the Heart of the Faith.  The incident happened about a year and a half ago.  The interviewee was...Tucker Carlson.  He said, according to the Western Journal article, regarding the Bible. 

“I spent a year and a half reading it, then I started re-reading it, and it was just a transformative experience for me, but I’m not holding myself out as someone from who you could get Theological advice because I’m not. I don’t know, I don’t understand any of it..."

Just last week, The Christian Post published an article that said:

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson confirmed to The Christian Post that he believes he was attacked by a demonic spirit in his bed while he was still employed at the network.

"Ephesians 6 is real," Carlson told The Christian Post, referencing the chapter in the New Testament that teaches mankind is engaged in warfare "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Carlson also told CP that the alleged demonic attack that left him bloodied took place on Feb. 20, 2023, two months before he was unceremoniously fired from Fox News, though he added that God "wins in the end."

Well, maybe you have some healthy skepticism about the encounter.  And that's OK - the Bible teaches us we should test the spirits.  But, it also instructs us about the nature of evil, which is something that Tucker Carlson has apparently experienced and is talking about.  And, he is encouraging people to turn to God.  A Daily Citizen article from last year noted that just before he was let go by Fox News...

Carlson gave an important speech at The Heritage Foundation in which he described the spiritual battle being waged in America today.

Carlson noted that the main cultural debates we’re having today – over abortion, transgenderism, sexual indoctrination for kids – are not normal political topics. Rather, they’re primarily spiritual fights.

Tucker said:

There is no way to assess, say, the transgender movement with [a political] mindset. Policies papers don’t account for it at all. You have people who are saying, “I have an idea, let’s castrate the next generation. Let’s sexually mutilate children.”

I’m sorry, that’s not a political debate. What? That has nothing to do with politics. What’s the outcome we’re desiring here? An androgenous population? Are we arguing for that?

The article continued:

Tucker went on to discuss abortion, noting the difference between the “safe, legal and rare” mantra the Left used a decade ago, and the new rhetoric: abortion is a positive good.

He said:

If you say, “I think abortion is always bad” or “Well, I think sometimes it’s necessary,” that’s a debate I’m familiar with. But if you’re telling me that abortion is a positive good? What are you saying? Well, you’re arguing for child sacrifice … There’s no policy goal entwined with that. No, that’s a theological phenomenon (emphasis added).

Tucker then drove home his point, saying:

None of this make sense in conventional political terms. … When people … decide that the goal is to destroy things, destruction for its own sake, “Hey let’s tear it down,” what you’re watching is not a political movement. It’s evil.

It was pointed out on my program not long ago that so many of these issues, including what Carlson was discussing, are spiritual issues that have been dragged into the political arena.  Then you have those that say that certain issues have been "politicized" and Christian influencers, including pastors, tell their adherents they should stay out of politics, which mutes the moral voice of the Church in speaking Biblical truth to the culture.  

We have to recognize the spiritual underpinnings of the cultural challenges we face.  We have to call the taking of life as evil, as the Bible does - and that includes the unborn.  Even if you adopt the inferior position that a fetus is a "potential life," you still have to reckon with the fact you are supporting a pre-emptive strike against that "blob of tissue's" right to live.  But, the humanity of the unborn child in the womb has been overshadowed by the concept of so-called "reproductive rights," i.e., the government shouldn't tell a woman what to do with her own body.  But, what about the body of the unborn child whom she is carrying?  This is a concept that is rooted in evil, in a godless viewpoint that ignores the sanctity of life. 

People like Tucker and Elon, Russell and Jordan, and others are talking about concepts of good and evil.  With the possible exception of Russell Brand, they are not sharing a gospel message; they don't speak about salvation through Christ all that much - not evangelical, in my understanding.  But, they are introducing important viewpoints on our world today, and they have become important allies in the mission of the Church in being salt and light.

Evil is real - but greater is He who is in us that He who is in the world.  So, as Carlson says, God "wins."  God wins!  There are spiritual forces that are aligned with Almighty God and there are forces operating in this world today who are aligned with the devil and are attempting to bring down the work of God. Many may not have seen supernatural manifestations to the level that Carlson claims - but some have.  But, we cannot ignore the spiritual dynamics at work in our world, and armed with the truth of the Word, we can take the necessary, prayerful steps to resist him.