It’s hard to forget the power of that scene near the end of “The Godfather.” Michael, serving as godfather for his sister’s firstborn, renounces Satan — just as his hitmen are carrying out murders of revenge on the heads of the other crime families. The juxtapostion of religious symbol and bloodshed is jarring.
But what a statement. The good that’s in us; the bad that is lurking.
Does that give us some perspective on these battles in the Middle East that won’t end?
Or, perhaps more importantly, does it offer any insight into yourself?
As someone has said, in baptism the “old man” is buried — but he refuses to drown.
Yes, and it seems Satan knows what buttons to push. I can look back over time and see that I continue to struggle against the same temptations, over and over. But I also see growth through the Spirit and God’s grace.
What I struggle with may not be what my best friend struggles with, and vice versa. But I think one thing Satan tries to do to all of us is steal our joy.
Right, Mike. And unfortunately, our tendency is to attempt to drown the “flesh” ourself. Paul encourages us to invite the Spirit to war against our flesh. Sin is in our neuro system, flowing through us as a result of structural evil turning us into pathetic slaves. If we try to fight it head on we will look like the slavish Paul under Torah in Ro. 7. Sanctification is primarily the Spirit’s work requiring our humility and focused cooperation. The bad is lurking, but the Spirit can and will hunt it down and kill it. If by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body . . . we will live! There’s hope, but it’s mixed with the tension of struggle, many defeats, and sinful tendencies that are weaved so deeply into our being in the first few years of our lives that it takes the Spirit the rest of our time on earth to unravel the knot.
Come quickly Lord. Come.
Wow, those are such powerful words. It puts into perspective things I’ve felt. The old man is buried, but he won’t drown. That’s soooo true. And it’s like Ben said, it’s because we attempt to drown him ourselves and keep the Spirit from doing it for us.
As far as the Middle East….”Dear God in heaven, not our will, but yours.”
What a lesson for us. We renounce Satan and his works and at the same time denounce brethren for whom Christ died over issues that Jesus never addressed. We renounce Satan and his works and at the same time announce that we are the one true church because we, supposedly, have perfect understanding of everything ever written in the Holy Writ. We renounce Satan and his works and pounce on a brother or sister when they stumble and fall.
Mike,
I think it all starts when Michael, at his sister’s wedding, speaks about his family to his decidedly-blonde girlfriend: “I’m not like them.” Eventually, he goes way beyond the worst of them. Vito had honor. Michael comes to have nothing of God.
Part of “thinking you stand” involves looking down on those who have fallen. That always precedes a fall, usually to a lower place.
Mike,
It seems to me that we never really come clean on this. We are always busy hiding the bad from ourselves and from others. We have to quit hiding and admit our sins. If we say we do not sin - the truth is not in us. Someone once said that it is through our weaknesses (sins) that His glory is revealed. Not my glory but God’s glory!
I think you once quoted Henri Nouwen in this blog -
”When suddenly you seem to lose all you thought you had gained, do not despair. Your healing is not a straight line. You must expect setbacks and regressions. Don’t say to yourself, ‘All is lost. I have to start all over again.’ This is not true. What you have gained, you have gained.”
I love that passage….I am on a road and it’s not an easy road - but as long as I am honest with myself, with others and with God - I am moving forward.
On the war thoughts have you seen Barbara Brown Taylor’s article from the Kansas City Star:
http://pixyurl.com/tdzfi
I like the quote from the reformation, not sure if Calvin or Luther or other: Satan will do anything he can to keep us from praying, even if it’s adjusting a window shade.
Peace.
Satan seeks those who are not already with him. Why? Because he is insatiable and always wants more. This means us.
“There is strong shadow where there is much light”
–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(I dunno who that is - but it was on a planner page and I love it!)