True Evil and Religious Divisions by Pastor Walter Snyder Q: I am struggling with my faith. There are several small reasons for, however, my greatest problem concerns true evil and supernatural events. I have never seen or felt a supernatural event in my life, but they are referenced in the Bible. Also, I feel like I have never seen any true evil. I know about the terror attacks and everything, but I'm talking about black magic or a demon of some sort which are also referred to in the Bible. I guess what I want to ask is, do any of these things happen in today's times? If so, why haven't I personally encountered them? However, do not mistake this as me wanting to see true evil. A: I'm glad you included the final sentence; many people are curious and end up getting deeper into various problems than they should have. This can include the areas of "supernatural" events. I know what you mean---even genocide, mass murder, brutal rapes, and the like are "human" sins. Still, for each of these, as for any other sinful activities, evil is involved. The difference is that we normally see an expression of evil which only hints at the Evil One ultimately behind all types wickedness. Perhaps we don't see many expressions of direct demonic activity for several reasons. We know from Scripture that Satan is bound until the End Times; this likely includes other demonic beings, as well. In other words, God intentionally restricts their activities. We also remember that the Tempter uses whatever works best in order to deceive, delude, and destroy us. In times and among cultures where spirit activity is generally acknowledged, he would be more likely to use possession and the like to hold people in his grasp. Among more rational and science-minded people, one of the worst things Satan could do is cause numerous folk to start considering the possibility that the devil is for real---and thus, perhaps, also God. Still, these events do occasionally happen even among "civilized" societies. I've brushed up against some of the edges and have friends and family members who've been involved in more direct encounters---normally as pastors working with people or dwellings suffering demonic assaults. I pray that you never have a closer encounter than present and that your family and friends are similarly protected by our Lord, for the direct attacks of Satan and his minions are more horrible than most can imagine. Q: Why does religion divide mankind when it is supposed to bring us closer together? A: Religion divides mankind because mankind is already divided. This is why Christ spoke in several places of bringing a sword, of kindling a fire, and of dividing even families. The truth claims of various religions by-and-large exclude the claims of other religions and Christianity excludes all of them. If it is true that Jesus is the only means of salvation and eternal life, as Scripture states numerous times, including John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,'" and Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Your question also assumes that all division is bad. Removing rotten fruit from a bag or diseased tissue from a person give good examples of necessary division. Christianity established creeds for similar reasons: They remove "rotten fruit" even as they are a "preservative" for true Christians. Yet God's Word not only divides Christians from non-Christians and even various believers because of their misinterpretations. The Word also cuts into each believer, separating truth from lie in each of our hearts and minds: "The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)" The division Christ works among us is an ongoing spiritual cleansing, purifying our hearts and removing external pollutants of false doctrine. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe." Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2003 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.