God could easily manipulate people. But He doesn’t, because His approach isn’t “reprogramming through brainwashing,” but rather relying on the free will and reciprocal love of humankind. This is in stark contrast to Satan. He coerces and forces, manipulates, deceives, and lies. It is particularly dangerous to be convinced that the adversary is incapable of influencing people’s thinking.
Adversary underestimated
The adversary is supposedly incapable of instilling any thoughts in human beings. This assumption, however—and this is no longer self-evident—presupposes belief in, or rather knowledge of, the existence of “the ancient serpent, the devil, Satan, and the dragon” described in the Bible. Even the “theologians” of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) hold the view, and teach it as such, that Satan does not exist at all, but is merely a metaphor for “evil,” varying depending on the era and culture (Info).
The erroneous assumption that Satan does not exist carries the considerable risk of attributing many adverse, yet also very tempting, moments solely to “fate” or “karma,” and treating them as temporary, relatively inconsequential phenomena. Ultimately, one’s fate would lie entirely in one’s own hands, since one is one’s own law and must always listen to “one’s own heart,” always believe in oneself, and remain true to oneself (Info).
Close the hatches
Already “quite advanced” are the notions that one doesn’t need to compare what one hears, reads, sees, or “felt truths” with the Word of God, and, even more extreme, that a guilty conscience, which causes one negative feelings, can only be the devil’s doing. Furthermore, and this is not uncommon, it’s claimed that God would personally inform one if one were wrong about anything. Such lofty yet utterly blind phrases regularly emerge from the circles of so-called charismatic evangelicals, and increasingly from the ranks of Baptists. This is not only a massive and consequential error, but it also very suspiciously touches upon Isaiah 5:20:
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!“
For it is the guilty conscience, the “inner voice,” that tells us that carrying out or completing a tempting or highly desirable action is simply wrong. This guilty conscience, which can become particularly loud when it involves transgressing God’s commandment, is nothing other than the work of the Holy Spirit. To simply turn the tables and assume it is the “voice of evil” is an example of the offense of “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (see Info). As Jesus Christ himself warned, every sin can be forgiven, but not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31).
God’s outstretched arm was deflected
The saving hand of God, who never coerces or forces, is simply rejected. Thus, God does not simply pull the godless from their sinful ways, but rather tries to guide them to recognize this for themselves, repent, and turn to their Heavenly Father. Often enough, rejecting the Holy Spirit, that is, ignoring one’s own guilty conscience, leads to the Spirit of God departing forever and irreversibly. No good can come to such a person anymore. They are completely at the mercy of their fallen nature. They themselves will rejoice in this, for they listen to their own hearts. “Sin, God? Oh, please, leave me alone with that!”
This person will never turn away from this path, for they have no intention of repenting on the paths of our Creator, but rather want to do their own thing. Human beings fundamentally possess a good heart, and this simply needs to be nurtured. One can be “good” by nature (Info).
Since the Garden of Eden this danger
Being influenced by Satan’s promptings is not a modern phenomenon. Paul already warned against the tricks of the adversary and the possible consequences (2 Corinthians 11:3):
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.“
“Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:28). To test? How, and what standard? Nothing other than the Word of God, that is, the Bible, or the Gospel. But this is regularly dismissed as unnecessary, because “God will personally tell you if you are wrong.” A literal vicious cycle! Satan will appear as “goodness,” tempting, giving a good feeling. Paul also warned about this, for the devil will act “like an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:19-20
Bible verses from King James Version
