Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day, the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them an overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
If we resist the devil by faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think to resist him by the using of Christ's name, or his works, as a spell or charm, Satan will prevail against us -M. Henry
This concept has been running through my mind for quite some time now. Surprisingly enough, it has taken a fair amount of time for me to dig this passage up and consider it, within its proper context.
What does this passage mean to me? What are its implications for the 21st century church? Why is such a concept constantly knocking at my door?
I am constantly grieving the lack of sincerity within the church, as well as rejoicing when I find any whisper of honesty amongst these same people at any given time. Oh, how truly tragic is it to recently hear of so many "spiritual" men leaving their wife, after decades of marriage, supposedly because the love was never there in the first place, and was instead a simple product of social standing. It has been such a plague of sorrow to hear of people abandoning any pursuit of Truth, because they never meant to look for it in the first place, but simply went along with what was presented before them for the sake of convenience. My heart carries an overwhelming burden for some of my dearest friends who come from the pastor-families, which often bring along secrecy at any cost, for the sake of saving face and... "saving souls," as if any human had to ultimately do with the eternal well-being of anyone else. I have watched and experienced the pain of those who choose such ill-fated secrecy, and much like those who claim the name of God, but do not trust in the liberating work of salvation, they are proverbially beaten and bloodied, while often destroying the lives of others, in the process.
There is no beauty in this. There is joy. I do not see Truth in this. There can be no future, if we continue to try and hide our short-comings and imperfections from the reality of the situation, with this "great suit of fig-leaves" that we've made for ourselves.
Much like Gestalt Theory, which have root in some of the Theological findings of Immanuel Kant, true change only comes about when we take on full acceptance of what is, as opposed to what should be. When we surrender to the way things actually are, we finally allow ourselves to be who we are. We are moved by love. We then begin the undeniable and impenetrable process of being restored to back to what we were created to be. Let us find comfort in sincerity and openness. Let us be liberated by forgiveness, and let us shun any dishonesty or shame that keeps us from such liberation. I put hope in the idea that it is here that we find ourselves. It is here that we can begin to see see Truth.
