If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
(Colossians 3:1–2)
(Part 2 of our Easter Reflections. See part 1 here)
There’s a strange incident that happens in Acts 16. Paul and his companions are proclaiming the Gospel in Philippi when they bump into a slave-woman who is possessed by a “spirit by which she predicted the future” (v 16). The woman starts following the evangelists about. She makes a nuisance of herself by continually shouting that “these men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved” (v 17). Eventually, Paul becomes so annoyed by these antics that he orders the spirit to depart “in the name of Jesus Christ” (v 18). The spirit immediately leaves the woman, which infuriates the slaveowners who had profited by her soothsaying.
There are so many mysteries about this passage. Why does the spirit want to tell everybody the truth about the evangelists? How does it know the future? And what kind of spirit is it? – Luke describes it as a “puthon“, which might correspond to a mythic dragon-spirit reputed to speak through the oracle at Delphi. But what does that mean? Does the myth have a core of truth?
Interest & Dread
Mostly, I simply find these details intriguing – in the same way, I am intrigued by glimpses of angelic hierarchies in Daniel 10:20–21, or piqued by the mysterious healing pool of John 5:7. I like the fact that the Bible gives us hints of a bigger cosmos than mortal eyes can see.
But for many Christians, the interest is far more serious. A brief Google search to investigate “puthon spirit” brings up thousands of hits from earnest believers who believe we need to know all about this unseen entity so we can defeat its plans. And of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many Christians reflexively look toward the spirit realm when they encounter illness, disability, psychological trouble or misfortune.
At first blush, the Bible seems to support this way of thinking. Scripture shows us cases where Satan afflicts a believer (2Cor 12:7), frustrates plans (1Thess 2:18), and instigates persecution (Rev 2:10). It says that the whole Christian life is lived as a struggle against rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12). It says that and that Satan is prowling about like lion (1Pet 5:8), and that the whole world is under his control (1John 5:19).
And yet despite all this, the Bible doesn’t show much interest in the details of these spiritual foes. The final peculiarity of that incident at Philippi is that Paul almost ignores the spirit. He allows the woman to trail around after him for “many days” and seems to act only out of annoyance. This reveals a very different attitude from the approach of those modern Christians who hold forth about the strategies and weaknesses of the puthon spirit and who go on spiritual warfare rambles in the search of spiritual strongholds. Paul just isn’t that interested. Why not?
The Christian Cosmos
The answer is that Paul has a very different vision of the cosmos. In contrast to the pagan mind which fixates on what’s happening in the lower heavens, Paul’s Christian mind is preoccupied with Christ and his victorious reign far above them.
First, Paul knows that Christ has disarmed and defeated the powers and authorities. In Colossians 2:13–15 he shows the connection between Christ’s death and our freedom:
God made alive together with [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the [spiritual] rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Satan is the accuser (Rev 12:10); the one who holds the power of death (Heb 2:14). But death is a punishment for sin that only applies in the context of law (Rom 5:12–13; 1Cor 15:56; ). So by “cancelling” that debt – “nailing it to the cross … in him” – Jesus robbed Satan and his cronies of their power. Christians do not need to fear Satan ever again.
Second, Paul knows that Christ rules from a plane that is incomparably higher than that of the spiritual entities. In Ephesians 1:20-21 Paul describes how God,
…raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Christ’s resurrection and ascension have altered the Cosmos decisively. The Bible is clear that both spiritual entities and Jesus influence the lives of Christians. But Christ’s influence is of a completely different and transcendent kind. It is he and not they who has been given all authority in heaven and earth (Matt 28:18).
Spiritual Warfare
Paul says that this exaltation of Christ above the spiritual authorities was an act of power for “us who believe” (v 19). He says that Christ’s glorification is a gift “to the church,” (v 22). With this vision of the world, it’s no surprise to discover that Paul’s advice on how to respond to spiritual warfare is almost entirely focused on Christ and his church.
- He warns us not to give the devil an opportunity by letting anger disrupt fellowship or mutual edification (Eph 4:25-26).
- He advises Timothy to be careful in selecting leaders to avoid the devil’s trap – which involves disgrace for the church (1Tim 3:7) – and to persist in the gentle instruction of those who have been deceived by the devil (2Tim 2:25-26).
- His advice on dealing with the devil’s schemes in Ephesians 6:10–18 is all to do with ordinary Christian living: pursuit of truth and righteousness, gospel-readiness, trust in Jesus, a firm grasp of Scripture, and prayer (vv 14-18). These are how we become “strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (v 10).
Christ beneath us, Christ above us
We saw last week that the cross of Christ is the great cure for morbid introspection. Because God surrendered his Son we can trust that he will work good for us through every circumstance. His love and forgiveness are the deepest truths shaping our lives.
This week we see that same Gospel is the antidote to spiritual superstition too. As we lift our eyes we see Christ far above the middle-managers and tyrants of the spiritual realms. They may still trouble us – we might even need to confront them directly now and then (c.f. Acts 16:18). But they’re a spent force. The keys to life and history are now in the hands of the real Lord of heaven and we belong to him.
What great truths to remember this Easter.
Photo: Lukas Budimaier; Unsplash
