Tonight, we reconvene to our discussion of Richard Beck’s book Reviving Old Scratch: Demons and the Devil for Doubters and the Disenchanted. Please read Chapter 13, “The Lucifer Effect,” and Chapter 14, “The One Who Holds the Power of Death.”
The Power of Death: (pp. 145-50)
The writer of Hebrews states that through his death, Christ “might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.” Heb. 2:14-15. As I quoted from Martin Luther’s Commentary on Galatians in my sermon this week at Messiah, Satan’s power over us comes from his ability to accuse us of breaking the law, and within this accusation, is the threat of the wrath of God, the loss of our salvation, and the present reality of death and hell. Satan’s ultimate power, as Beck writes, does not come from the temptations of sex, money, and power, but from his power to make us fear death, which leads us into a place of selfishness and violence, i.e. hell. This fear drives us into sin.
But the Resurrection of Jesus, as Martin Luther says, gives us victory over the law, sin, death, and hell, so that although they may accuse us, that cannot drive us to despair. Beck talks about the Harrowing of Hell, which is the belief that Christ destroyed the gates of hell and freed us from the power and fear of death. See, Ps. 24:7-10. Spiritual warfare is the battle that we constantly fight between our fear of death and our faith that Christ has conquered the same.
The Power of Scarcity: (pp. 151-56)
Beck writes that the modern manifestation of the power of the fear of death is the power of the fear of not having or being enough. It is the power of scarcity. In our modern society, we often feel that we never have enough – enough time, enough energy, enough money, or enough safety. (And if you think you have enough, watch one of the 24-hour news channels and they’ll assure you that you don’t.) We all suffer, as Henri Nouwen wrote, from the temptation to be relevant, the temptation to be spectacular, and the temptation to be powerful. Even when we help others, the temptation is there for us to be the center of attention –“Look at the good work that I am doing!”
Like the power of death, the power of scarcity causes us to look inward and to be self-focused. The power of scarcity causes us to withdraw from loving others and focus solely on our own interests.
Defeating the Powers: (pp. 157-60)
Beck writes that the antidote to the fear of scarcity and the fear of death is prayer and worship. The foundation of prayer and worship is gratitude, joy, and grace, which leads to an experience of abundance. The fear of scarcity, of not being enough or having enough, is defeated by the experience of abundance. As we turn from seeing what we lack to seeing what we have, so too does our love turn from seeing only ourselves to seeing others. Gratitude is how we exorcise our demons of scarcity.
Dinner is at 6. The menu is July 4th a la Kim Perl. Discussion about 6:45. Compline at 8. Hope to see you here!
When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” C.K. Chesterton