In the massive wave of Islamist terrorism that is plaguing our world, we see an old Biblical truth painfully clear—there are dark powers, spiritual forces of evil, sweeping the globe. Paul summed up our situation well in his letter to the Ephesians: “Our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

In ancient times, the “spiritual forces of evil” were often thought of as personal spiritual entities—“evil spirits.” Today the “powers of darkness” are often envisioned in more impersonal terms—as powers of evil that arise out of the collective sinfulness of human beings. But however you envision the “forces of evil,” it is plain—when looking at the strength, the influence, and the sheer evil of radical Islamist terrorism—that we are dealing today with an overarching power of evil that far transcends the wickedness of a few individuals; we are confronting, as Paul says, “powers of this present darkness.”

The answer to that power of evil is Jesus Christ. Christ answers evil on every level—

• Christ enables us to withstand evil. Christ empowers us to resist evil influences and hold firm in our faith.
• Christ breaks the power of evil by answering human sin. Although we can talk about an overarching power of evil, such evil arises out of, and is nurtured by, human sinfulness. Christ frees us from sin by reconciling us to God, and so breaks the hold that evil otherwise has on human beings
• Christ will ultimately triumph over all evil. Evil may rage, but Christ is on the throne; we can have the assurance that good will finally triumph over evil.

Biblical concepts about “powers of evil” can help us to understand what is happening right now in world terrorism. Terrorists are people who feel resentment, rage, and hatred toward others, and who are lured by a movement that promises them revenge and power. To use the language of the Star Wars epic, they have been seduced by and have gone over to “the Dark Side.” They have given themselves over to the power of evil in the desire to give vent to their hate and achieve personal glory. Their movement uses the language and symbols of Islam, but they have profoundly twisted the whole religion, so that they are not really worshipping God, but are pursuing their own self-gain. Fueled by human sinfulness, the radical Islamist movement has become a force of pure evil.

But evil cannot stand in the face of Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in Christ, we can stand firm in faith, we can find deliverance from sin and evil in our own lives, and we can find—in spite of the headlines—real hope for the world.

Sunday’s Scripture Readings:
John 3:17–21
Ephesians 6:12–13

Related posts:

The Cross Brings Victory The Dark Side in Today’s World How to Be Happy When the World Gives You Grief How the Cross Changes the World