If I Were the Devil (How the Enemy Advances)
Jan 20, 2019 19:00:45 GMT -5
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Post by Daniel on Jan 20, 2019 19:00:45 GMT -5
If I Were the Devil (How the Enemy Advances)
By David Fiorazo on January 17, 2019
This is how the enemy advances – book excerpt from Redefining Truth (2017).
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him; 1 Peter 5:8
Growing up in the 1970s, my dad used to turn on the AM radio every morning in the kitchen as we all sat down to eat breakfast, and one of the programs we listened to was Paul Harvey. (1918 – 2009) Elected to the National Association of Broadcasters National Radio Hall of Fame, Harvey had also been named Commentator of the Year and American of the Year.
Paul Harvey often pointed to biblical values, morality, and seemed to discern and foretell specific threats to America’s Christian heritage. He seemed to understand the spiritual dynamic in play as the satanic assault on God and family would gradually infect every aspect of our culture. More prophetic than we like to admit, the following text is from his 1965 radio broadcast:
“If I were the devil … if I were the prince of darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness, and I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree—Thee.
So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first—I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”. And the old, I would teach to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’
And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors on how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.
If I were the devil I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war that themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.
If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, and neglect to discipline emotions—just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography—soon I could evict God from the courthouse, and then the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money.
If I were the devil I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him; 1 Peter 5:8
Growing up in the 1970s, my dad used to turn on the AM radio every morning in the kitchen as we all sat down to eat breakfast, and one of the programs we listened to was Paul Harvey. (1918 – 2009) Elected to the National Association of Broadcasters National Radio Hall of Fame, Harvey had also been named Commentator of the Year and American of the Year.
Paul Harvey often pointed to biblical values, morality, and seemed to discern and foretell specific threats to America’s Christian heritage. He seemed to understand the spiritual dynamic in play as the satanic assault on God and family would gradually infect every aspect of our culture. More prophetic than we like to admit, the following text is from his 1965 radio broadcast:
“If I were the devil … if I were the prince of darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness, and I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree—Thee.
So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first—I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”. And the old, I would teach to pray after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’
And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors on how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.
If I were the devil I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war that themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.
If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, and neglect to discipline emotions—just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography—soon I could evict God from the courthouse, and then the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money.
If I were the devil I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. What do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would question against extremes and hard work, and Patriotism, and moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.
In other words, if I were to devil, I’d keep on doing what he’s doing.
Paul Harvey, good day.”
Though this 1965 commentary was ahead of its time, it is a vivid description of how the father of lies works to deceive people. He plots and plans, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and he will use and abuse anyone gullible or wicked enough to do his dirty work.
In other words, if I were to devil, I’d keep on doing what he’s doing.
Paul Harvey, good day.”
Though this 1965 commentary was ahead of its time, it is a vivid description of how the father of lies works to deceive people. He plots and plans, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and he will use and abuse anyone gullible or wicked enough to do his dirty work.
continued..