Bewitched

Bewitched

Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary

Scripture Text: Galatians 3:1 and Romans 12:14-21

Series: Comments on Galatians

Today's Scripture Jigsaw

Recently, polls showed that roughly 90 percent of Americans believe in God. What god they believe in is another matter. Of those same American “believers,” less than half of them believe in the existence of an embodiment of evil — what you might name Satan. C. S. Lewis wrote that there are “two equal and opposite errors” about the devil. One is to not believe that he exists. The second mistake is to believe he exists but to have an “excessive and unhealthy interest” in him. Lewis concluded that the devil is as equally pleased whichever way you think of him. 

One of the ways we are bewitched by these errors about evil is by thinking we can do something to fix the problem. Indeed, this notion is beyond foolishness or even witchcraft. Granted, we may (and should) overcome some evils by doing good deeds. For example, we can overcome thirst and disease by supporting water projects in developing countries. We can conquer hunger by feeding people. We can even prevail over some acts of brutality with kindness. In fact, we can overcome any single evil by not repaying that evil act with an additional evil deed. But we can never overcome evil. To think that we can do something definitive about evil, even the wickedness in our own lives, is to set ourselves up as gods. For only God can do something about the existence of evil. This he has done by sending his own precious Son into the world. Jesus has overcome the world and with it, the evil that was within you. Take heart and know the peace who is Jesus (John 16:33).

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