Considering the subject matter of my last post, I find it quite irresistible not to say something about this issue. This entry might very well be considered a companion piece of the former post. It is somewhat a curious matter, this day in age where depictions of Satan and his cohorts are somehow still considered “cutting edge.” Truth be told, it has become nothing more than a stereotypical performance trope which all manner of artists have displayed as a background or partnership with their art. Sam Smith is but only a recent example . Instead of being groundbreaking or interesting has only shown himself to be foolish. (I decline to show images both because I am assured you have already seen similar things, and, well, why?)
The banality of this display is made evident in the wide range of artists who have depicted such things, some more explicitly than others. We think back to the 70s and 80s with the likes of AC/DC whose horned homage still dons tee-shirts being sold to this very day. We think of, more recently, Billie Eilish who has depicted herself as anti oil-covered fallen angel. We can point to Ke$ha who has purportedly made comments about having “sexy time” with ghosts and whose videos are loaded in satanic imagery.
Further back, we may recall the tales of the great blues artists of old selling their souls at a crossroads in Mississippi for musical talent, such as is told of Robert Johnson and Tommy Johnson. Though regarded as myth Robert Johnson did write at least a few songs about it and the tale persists to this day. It has been a sentiment parroted by the likes of Jack Black and Tenacious D, as well as Bob Dylan. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin was a well-known practitioner of the occult, even going as far as buying the Boleskine house, the former home of infamous occultist Aleister Crowley on the shores of Loch Ness, which was eventually gutted by fire and awaiting restoration at last check. This is just to name a few.
Yet, this we might be stretching our examples a bit, since there is a great difference between influence, and slight allusions, to explicit depictions. The devil is featured on Tenacious D’s album cover, and others are just as explicit and still others guided in symbolism and metaphor. Even in the cases of those who have revealed they “sold their soul,” it is sometimes hard to tell with what sincerity they mean it, if it is some metaphor, or a complete ruse. Certainly, Sam Smith does not view metaphor as nearly a stupid enough course of action to take at the Grammy’s. Apparently, the stupidity was still unsatisfactory and he sought to double-down with his Brit Awards outfit pictured at the beginning of this entry.
The Christian should be wary of taking too much offense at this kind of foolishness, and as I have wrote before I think we can approach this is a logical way which exceeds the boundaries of religion, belief, and goes to pure logic. This is the approach I suggest we take when rebuking these things, the logical one. We recall Christ’s prayer and His words, “…they know not what they do.” This is the case with Sam Smith and others, for it is not of a religious knowledge they are ignorant of, but in their zeal to mock God and celebrate evil, they don’t know what it entails, or what is its eventual logical end. It is time we reveal to them what they actually do.
Whenever these things occur in the future, and they will by some foolish person thinking they are trampling on sensibilities, we should point out their flawed logic. At risk of repeating myself, here is where all this is faulty, and how these satanic performers might be corrected of their ways, for what they do, when logically taken to its end, I would hope, and assume, would even disgust them.
In a sense, the people who depict Satan and worship him onstage are more logically foolish than those spiritual satanists, who, by the way, weren’t impressed with Sam Smith’s exhibition. I’d imagine it is quite difficult to disappoint the God-hating crowd with a God-hating performance, but somehow Sam Smith managed. Like it or not Satan, even if he doesn’t exist, impresses upon one a certain definition, that being, Satan is the source of all evil and the personification or anthropomorphism, if you prefer, of the ultimate evil. It’s obvious many who take pride in bringing Satan onstage are just trying to mock or rebel against God, which a person can do for in this sense God is quite libertarian. Unfortunately for them, they haven’t thought through this enough.
Whether you believe Satan is a spiritual concept with no extant reality, or you believe he is a force which can tempt man to do horrible deeds, in a way, it scarcely matters because despite which side you take Satan is a logical concept, insomuch as Satan is a valid concept, or cogent being. Even if you don’t believe in the reality of Satan, you know what is meant when someone says the name or word “Satan.” The fact this is understood implies a certain defintion.
Conceptually, even if Satan doesn’t exist outside the mind, he exists within it and has the defining characteristic of being the “source of all evil.” Yes, Satan rebelled against God which is a fact that might draw people to the concept, but it goes beyond this. Being the source of evil is where people like Sam Smith get in some logical trouble.
People usually avoid this logical conclusion by picking and choosing what they think the devil is responsible for, regarding evil, and what he is not responsible for. In essence, they put limits on the evil Satan relishes in and exhibits. It is much like saying, yes, Satan might be for lying, stealing when necessary, but Satan surely doesn’t stand for murder. He doesn’t stand for horrible things like rape, and abuses towards children, and animal cruelty. In this they essentially and illogically say, “Satan is better than that.” This contradicts because if Satan is the source of evil, then he can’t be better than anything else because it implies something is more evil than Satan, but this goes against the concept regardless of religiosity.
A person might be able to argue the only record we have of Satan is the Bible and just because the Bible says as much, it doesn’t follow this is the case. The issue with this excuse, let’s call it what it is, rests in the fact they are using the term Satan and the imagery used in the Bible, employing the concept where they deem it fit or desirable, and they become unable to separate themselves from the Bible so quickly.
Consider it is not only the ultimate evil being and his attendees which are depicted in these displays, but accompanying fire, brimstone, smoke, and tormented souls. All these are the very same concepts found in the Bible and, if you are not a believer in literal hell, it is not the case it can be removed from the Bible, for even to the hell denier, it must be admitted it comes from Biblical depictions, or perhaps, at times, works which expanded on what is told in the Bible, such as Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dante’s Divine Comedy.
There is quite the paradox between using the Scripture to mock it or deny it, especially while using concept of Satan or demons. We are quite right in responding by rolling our eyes at such attempts at offense to traditional sensibilities, as if we were still living in a Puritan age and never encountered such “artistic displays.” There are a couple things worth remembering though. One, we remember when these things occur, God is quite capable of defending Himself. He will be glorified. Second, we must not forget to pray for people such as Sam Smith. “…They know not what they do.”
Approach the subject logically and anyone from a practicing satanist to a person who claims such but is not spiritual, to a person making the devil hand gesture at a rock concert, to someone who wears horns, to someone depicting hell on stage, all must fall under the weight of the logical concept of Satan. Even these people will ultimately admit to some great evil beyond their view of what is morally permissible, and if they have such a position, whatever it may be, then there they fail to really capture what Satan is and despite mocking God, reveal a self-mockery which is inescapable.
I would suggest a good starting point in showing their fallacy is finding a place of agreement concerning something absolutely evil. I hope all men would have the capacity to determine within their worldview something non-permissible and detestable. Even if you have to go to a extreme to find this agreement, any person who says “so-and-so is wrong,” has a stance which is not consistent with Satan or satanic symbolism. In fact, it is quite at odds.
The moment an individual who engaging in satanic symbolism says “this is wrong,” they find themselves at odds with Satan himself. For, the concept of ultimate evil which Satan personifies allows for all things evil. If someone’s conception of evil, says something is not permissible, then it attempts to mix a degree of good in with ultimate evil (Satan), and ultimate evil cannot have any degree of good, for it doesn’t meet the characteristics of such an evil.
Contradicting yourself is worse enough, but it is even worse to give glory to such a being and his character. Contradiction isn’t the worst thing, for glory to the ultimate evil is far worse, whether intended or not. These are the two true logical ends we find ourselves at. One, the foolish self-contradiction. Two, glorifying ultimate evil. It is not enough for one to deny they are praising ultimate evil, for it exists in the depiction of the concept alone.
Religious arguments will always apply directly and only to the believers, but logical arguments are applicable to everyone. Of course, it is the case these both have validity, but logic in this way can be said to have a wider scope. This is why we should present the logical argument in opposition to this boring trash, rather than try to produce any religious argumentation.
What ever the case, its possible we all approach the scriptures individually and maybe some are convicted about reading over the word of God with more of a stone-like countenance, but I ask why? If we do laugh and there is humor in the world, then it follows that it had to originate with God as did everything (
Thus, during your devotional time, if you find something particularly amusing, don’t be afraid to laugh, for the Scriptures tell us that laughter is a manifestation of joy (Psalm 126:2). The Bible wasn’t meant to be a burden on us, as it can honestly feel like due to the spiritual battle and war against the self in particular times of conviction. Rather, we are told that the yolk is light and to take great joy in God’s word (Jeremiah 15:16). Indeed, it is difficult to read about the crucifixion, for the events are brutal, but paradoxically it’s difficult not to smile when one thinks on Christ going through all the suffering He did for us that we may be saved by what He accomplished, and then appearing to His disciples alive and victorious! Amen!
This isn’t the case with God, when something strikes us as humorous when reading the word, one also needs to remember to reflect on the meaning and purpose of that particular which brought us to laughter. Again, this this verse is a great example and tells us a few things.
Brandon Devotional 