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Do you believe in the devil? Most progressive Christians likely will find that to be a strange question. We live in a largely disenchanted world. Angels and demons, spiritual beings, etc. don't mesh with our scientific worldview. And yet, perhaps we're missing something.
I am a fan (if I can use that word) of Richard Beck's writings. I've read several books, read his blog, and have had the pleasure of hearing him speak and speaking with him (thanks to my friends at Rochester College). Beck is a psychologist (and professor of psychology) and observer of culture. He has a keen theological mind and understanding of the Bible. He is Church of Christ by background, but has an ecumenical spirit. All in all, I find him to be a refreshing voice for our time.
In Reviving Old Scratch Beck invites us to reconsider the importance of spiritual warfare. Writing for "doubters and the disenchanted," he invites us to reconsider our dismissal of Satan (Old Scratch). He was himself a doubter of such things until he was reintroduced to the concept while teaching a bible study for of group of men in prison. They seemed to see an aspect of the world that Beck had not paid attention. As he thought about the one the prisoners called Old Scratch, he discovered that his own commitment to social justice was missing a key element. Yes, a social commitment was important, but it didn't go deep enough. His efforts weren't getting to the root of things. He needed to engage the spiritual dimension in a way he hadn't.
There is much in this book that parallels the work of Walter Wink. He may not reference Wink on every page, but like Wink he has come to understand the true nature of the powers and principalities. He has come to understand the true systemic nature of evil that corrupts even the best systems. So he calls for us to re-enchant our world by looking at the world differently. It's not that there's a demon under every rock, but recognizing the spiritual power of evil.
Central to Beck's message, and one that I find rather compelling, is that a
"purely political vision of spiritual warfare is inadequate and often dangerous" (p. xvi). That is because, as he lays out in the book, when we engage in political warfare we tend to demonize people -- the ones we believe are causing problems for us or those we support. With that in mind he reintroduces us to the devil, or better "Old Scratch."
I believe that this book will open many eyes to new ways of thinking about the world and our place in it. Beck doesn't dissuade us from engaging social justice or even political action, but he does call on us to open our eyes to the spiritual dimensions of such a work. He reminds us that central to our work is an understanding of our allegiance. He reminds us that we are all tempted by idolatry, whether it is the idol of nation or some other idol. I appreciated his analogy of economics and exorcism. Economics is spiritual. It speaks to what we value.
This is a must read. A book for the ages. It's thoughtful, provocative, challenging. If one believes, as do I, in the spiritual realm (I wrote a book on spiritual gifts after all -- [b:Unfettered Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening|18108582|Unfettered Spirit Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening|Robert D. Cornwall|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371848598s/18108582.jpg|25430991]), then we need to consider the full range of what that means. Beck does an excellent job of reacquainting us with that realm.
I am a fan (if I can use that word) of Richard Beck's writings. I've read several books, read his blog, and have had the pleasure of hearing him speak and speaking with him (thanks to my friends at Rochester College). Beck is a psychologist (and professor of psychology) and observer of culture. He has a keen theological mind and understanding of the Bible. He is Church of Christ by background, but has an ecumenical spirit. All in all, I find him to be a refreshing voice for our time.
In Reviving Old Scratch Beck invites us to reconsider the importance of spiritual warfare. Writing for "doubters and the disenchanted," he invites us to reconsider our dismissal of Satan (Old Scratch). He was himself a doubter of such things until he was reintroduced to the concept while teaching a bible study for of group of men in prison. They seemed to see an aspect of the world that Beck had not paid attention. As he thought about the one the prisoners called Old Scratch, he discovered that his own commitment to social justice was missing a key element. Yes, a social commitment was important, but it didn't go deep enough. His efforts weren't getting to the root of things. He needed to engage the spiritual dimension in a way he hadn't.
There is much in this book that parallels the work of Walter Wink. He may not reference Wink on every page, but like Wink he has come to understand the true nature of the powers and principalities. He has come to understand the true systemic nature of evil that corrupts even the best systems. So he calls for us to re-enchant our world by looking at the world differently. It's not that there's a demon under every rock, but recognizing the spiritual power of evil.
Central to Beck's message, and one that I find rather compelling, is that a
"purely political vision of spiritual warfare is inadequate and often dangerous" (p. xvi). That is because, as he lays out in the book, when we engage in political warfare we tend to demonize people -- the ones we believe are causing problems for us or those we support. With that in mind he reintroduces us to the devil, or better "Old Scratch."
I believe that this book will open many eyes to new ways of thinking about the world and our place in it. Beck doesn't dissuade us from engaging social justice or even political action, but he does call on us to open our eyes to the spiritual dimensions of such a work. He reminds us that central to our work is an understanding of our allegiance. He reminds us that we are all tempted by idolatry, whether it is the idol of nation or some other idol. I appreciated his analogy of economics and exorcism. Economics is spiritual. It speaks to what we value.
This is a must read. A book for the ages. It's thoughtful, provocative, challenging. If one believes, as do I, in the spiritual realm (I wrote a book on spiritual gifts after all -- [b:Unfettered Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening|18108582|Unfettered Spirit Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening|Robert D. Cornwall|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371848598s/18108582.jpg|25430991]), then we need to consider the full range of what that means. Beck does an excellent job of reacquainting us with that realm.