What does 1 John 5:19 actually say?
In my last post, we explored the subject of Satan and demons and showed from Holy Scripture that they are real.
In the previous posts in this series (1st post. 2nd post) we also have seen that the reality of evil spirit beings is neither trivial nor cooky, because Holy Scripture also says, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Let that sink in. Does it say a few bizarre satanists in fringe cults are under the power of the evil one? Does it say a portion of the world is under the power of the evil one? No, Scripture says “the whole world” is under the power of Satan.
How can Satan influence a world he cannot be seen in?
What could that possibly mean? For starters it must mean that Satan is exerting his power deceptively, through some people, and through some organizations, because no one can see Satan, who is a spirit. And few people would acknowledge that the whole world lies under his power. Most people would label that idea as superstitious, as exaggerated, as a conspiracy theory, or as paranoid.
But according to Scripture this is cold, hard, fact. And those who do not believe it are destined to be harmed by Satan, because his goal is to ruin the lives of humans created in God’s image.
So, assuming the above is true, how do you live in this fallen world without coming under the influence of the evil one and his demons?
Why Satan works indirectly rather than openly
For illustration purposes, imagine a small town in Nebraska where both adults and children happily eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains for breakfast. There is one resident, however, who eats boxed cereal containing enormous amounts of sugar, salt, and artificial preservatives. Sadly, he is not content with harming his own health. He wants to get rich by converting his neighbors from eating health food to instead eating junk food.
His plan is to start a breakfast cereal business that transforms the eating habits of every man, woman, and child in his town. That is a tall order, but he knows how to do it. Of course he will not start an ad campaign with slogans like, “Be happy; eat junk food!” Or, “Help me retire rich; buy my cereals!”
Instead he will transform the eating habits of his neighbors through subtle, indirect influences. He will hire songwriters to create popular music with lyrics that repeat the benefit of eating convenient, boxed cereal. Before long, everyone will be humming the lines of “Boxed cereal is better than broccoli, better than broccoli, better than broccoli.”
He will hire the most beautiful influencers in town to start touting his cereals on social media.
He will produce movies whose attractive stars eat boxed cereal and mock those who eat wisely.
You get the idea. The bad guy in this story influences people in subtle, pleasurable, indirect ways, not through a logical argument or direct appeal.
In the same way, Satan exerts his influence in our world. You come under the influence of Satan in many of the popular, commonplace things of our culture. Through some popular music, movies, Youtube videos, and TV shows. Through some newscasters. And through some public school curricula, college professors, and religious leaders. Through some companies and some of the arts. Through some books, magazines, websites, newspapers, and entertainment of all types.
How worldviews are formed through culture
What we get from all these sources and more are words and ideas, beliefs about what is morally right and wrong, beliefs about whether God exists and, if so, what is his nature and character, beliefs about evolution and creation, beliefs about the future of the world, beliefs about the reliability of the Bible. It comes winsomely, through people you admire and respect, who have already accepted the narrative.
All these beliefs comprise your worldview, your philosophy about reality. That is where Satan is always hard at work to lead people away from what Holy Scripture says. And the end result is, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).
In my next post, we will explore how to escape the evil one’s influence in the world.