Recently, a music awards show was in the news for a provocative performance. In this performance, Satan was portrayed in an appealing and celebratory fashion. Whether or not the performers meant to make a statement about their religious beliefs or simply poke fun at Christian convictions, the shameless messaging is revealing. It is interesting how some who do not even believe that Satan exists will glorify him and masquerade as if he is “cool” or worthy of praise. (It should go without saying that those who portray Satan as such do not have our best interests in mind and should not be applauded or esteemed by Christians).
While the motivation for such performances is not explicitly given, it is always worth remembering that Satan is not what a godless culture makes him out to be. He is not a hip, cutting-edge revolutionary bringing liberation and freedom for the oppressed. He is an enslaver who captures the unsuspecting to do his bidding (Acts 26:18; 2 Tim. 2:26). He is a cruel master who promises what he can’t deliver and lures us with what we desire (2 Pet. 2:19). There is nothing glorious about the devil. Satan is not cool.
He Is a Murderer and a Liar
Satan is not a misunderstood anti-hero who is here to save the day. Those who view him as such have been deceived by him. The Son of God tells us the truth about the devil’s identity: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44 ESV).
Satan has been lying since the beginning (Gen. 3:4) and is working to deceive the whole world (Rev. 12:9). His goal is “only to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn. 10:10). This isn’t cool or glorious or worthy of celebration. It is heartbreaking and painful. The devil is an enemy to all that is good or right or pure. Unholiness is not something to celebrate, it is something to repent of (Heb. 12:14-17).
He Is a Defeated Foe
Satan and God are not destined for an eternal struggle. They are not engaged in a chess match that might end in a draw. We cannot choose to be “team Satan” and maybe squeak out a victory. Satan may be having a heyday, but we already know how the story ends. The Son of God is destroying the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8). When Satan struggles against God and His people, he is “defeated,” “thrown down,” and “conquered” (Rev. 12:8-11). Jesus has destroyed him through His death and resurrection (Heb. 2:14-16) and Satan “knows that his time is short!” (Rev. 12:12).
A godless, biblically ignorant culture likes to portray Satan as if he is the lord of the dead or the king of hell. Satan will not be reigning over anybody in hell. Gehenna will not be a party for Satan and his buddies. Satan will not be torturing anybody or dulling out any punishment. He will be tortured and punished. Satan will not have a good time in hell, and neither will those who follow him there. The Bible tells us of Satan’s end, and it is not glorious: “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever… And if anyone’s name was not found in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10, 15).
We Are Not Impressed or Afraid
As Christians, we do not have to be impressed with the cheap deceptions of our adversary; nor do we have to be afraid of his spiritual rebellion. We must always remember that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor. 11:14; 2:11). Likewise, we have no need to be afraid of him or those who seek to glorify him. He is a defeated foe who is conquered by the blood of the lamb (Rev. 12:11). We can resist him by remaining firm in the faith and he will flee from us (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).
We must love those who are enamored with Satan and are doing his will. We must strive to do whatever we can to help them repent: “save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 23). Our goal is to correct God’s opponents with gentleness so that “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:25-26). Satan is not worth celebrating, but salvation is.
Is Satan Cool?
Recently, a music awards show was in the news for a provocative performance. In this performance, Satan was portrayed in an appealing and celebratory fashion. Whether or not the performers meant to make a statement about their religious beliefs or simply poke fun at Christian convictions, the shameless messaging is revealing. It is interesting how some who do not even believe that Satan exists will glorify him and masquerade as if he is “cool” or worthy of praise. (It should go without saying that those who portray Satan as such do not have our best interests in mind and should not be applauded or esteemed by Christians).
While the motivation for such performances is not explicitly given, it is always worth remembering that Satan is not what a godless culture makes him out to be. He is not a hip, cutting-edge revolutionary bringing liberation and freedom for the oppressed. He is an enslaver who captures the unsuspecting to do his bidding (Acts 26:18; 2 Tim. 2:26). He is a cruel master who promises what he can’t deliver and lures us with what we desire (2 Pet. 2:19). There is nothing glorious about the devil. Satan is not cool.
He Is a Murderer and a Liar
Satan is not a misunderstood anti-hero who is here to save the day. Those who view him as such have been deceived by him. The Son of God tells us the truth about the devil’s identity: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44 ESV).
Satan has been lying since the beginning (Gen. 3:4) and is working to deceive the whole world (Rev. 12:9). His goal is “only to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn. 10:10). This isn’t cool or glorious or worthy of celebration. It is heartbreaking and painful. The devil is an enemy to all that is good or right or pure. Unholiness is not something to celebrate, it is something to repent of (Heb. 12:14-17).
He Is a Defeated Foe
Satan and God are not destined for an eternal struggle. They are not engaged in a chess match that might end in a draw. We cannot choose to be “team Satan” and maybe squeak out a victory. Satan may be having a heyday, but we already know how the story ends. The Son of God is destroying the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8). When Satan struggles against God and His people, he is “defeated,” “thrown down,” and “conquered” (Rev. 12:8-11). Jesus has destroyed him through His death and resurrection (Heb. 2:14-16) and Satan “knows that his time is short!” (Rev. 12:12).
A godless, biblically ignorant culture likes to portray Satan as if he is the lord of the dead or the king of hell. Satan will not be reigning over anybody in hell. Gehenna will not be a party for Satan and his buddies. Satan will not be torturing anybody or dulling out any punishment. He will be tortured and punished. Satan will not have a good time in hell, and neither will those who follow him there. The Bible tells us of Satan’s end, and it is not glorious: “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever… And if anyone’s name was not found in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10, 15).
We Are Not Impressed or Afraid
As Christians, we do not have to be impressed with the cheap deceptions of our adversary; nor do we have to be afraid of his spiritual rebellion. We must always remember that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor. 11:14; 2:11). Likewise, we have no need to be afraid of him or those who seek to glorify him. He is a defeated foe who is conquered by the blood of the lamb (Rev. 12:11). We can resist him by remaining firm in the faith and he will flee from us (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).
We must love those who are enamored with Satan and are doing his will. We must strive to do whatever we can to help them repent: “save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 23). Our goal is to correct God’s opponents with gentleness so that “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:25-26). Satan is not worth celebrating, but salvation is.