The Dark Side

By Cheryl Botkins, LPC

The dark side…something many of us Christians don’t address, want to think about or even acknowledge at times. The enemy has no problem with you “ignoring” him, it allows him space to keep on doing his work.

Coming from a conference, I gained more understanding of spiritual warfare through traumas and emotions. This continues to create mixed emotions in me. I’m angry with the Enemy and the subtle attacks and the obvious ones too. I’m frustrated with Christians (and myself) for not recognizing it, at times not even standing up for protection in Christ, or blatantly inviting. I’m sad for the hurt and heavy for others (and myself) of the bondage that occurs in this space. I'm joyous and at peace in knowing God is biggest and the source of healing and protection through Christ. I feel humbly bold and confident in facing the Enemy through Christ.

A couple of thoughts come to mind. One is the awareness of our power through Christ to overcome these bindings and we have this over the Enemy. “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, ESV)

Second, a lack of awareness of the prevalence of other forms of Enemy warfare practices and what they are about. Simple agreements to help us “feel” better encapsulate us into unhealthy patterns, many time unaware of the depth of our strongholds. Others that are more obvious like Wicca, witchcraft, occults, and worshiping gods, nature and other spiritual forms to get results. Wicca specifically is growing in teens as a source of connection to nature, no absolutes, provides power and freedom with ‘no rules.’  So what can you do as a Christ follower or concerned person?

1.      Pray. Whether you have a direct connection to a teen in your life or not…pray for our teens in our church and community and at large. Pray that Jesus will expose to them the unhealth of this practice and He will provide another person to help them move from the Enemy’s hands and into Christ’s love.

2.      If you are a parent-educate yourself! Focus on the Family has several articles in parenting teens through spiritual warfare and other spiritual practices.

3.      Grow in your awareness and confidence of defeating the Enemy’s attacks in your life and others’ with the power of Jesus and our Helper, the Holy Spirit. It is promised when we put on the whole armor of God…”that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic power over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)

My heart desires a release of wrongful worship, a wholeness for all in Christ Jesus over the Enemy’s temptations of empty lies and half-truths. 

Many Blessings, Cheryl