Today I received a very nice gift, pictured to the left there. The picture is not great, but it is, in fact, a plush puppet of the devil. Old Scratch, El Diablo, Beelzebul, Lucifer. He has half closed eyes (several people have mentioned he looked stoned), a sweet black cape, and an awesome goatee.
I first saw him in a Christian book store (which is a store that sells Christian books, but not necessarily a book store run in obedience to Christ, if you know what I mean.) I annoyed my wife for a good half hour, following her around the store saying things with him like "Let's go to Las Vegas!" and "Wouldn't you like to try some marijuana?" (My devil voice, by the by, sounds sort of like an English butler and sort of like Stewie from Family Guy - I hate that show, just so you know.)
I resisted the urge to purchase him outright, because I didn't need a devil puppet. But if someone gives me a devil puppet, by golly I'll take him.
Two things you should know.
1) I love puppets. Puppets may be the most fun kind of toy. I have never used them to evangelize children, which I can only assume was original intent of Muppet Satan, but I have known and loved people who have used puppets as a ministry tool. Me, I just think they're fun. When I was a college minister and stressed out undergrads came into my office, we would make paper bag puppets of Biblical characters for relaxation. One time I made a Moses and my friend Jennifer made the Burning Bush. That made for some fun performances.
2) I believe in the devil. As with the angels, the Bible is spare on details about demons in general and the devil in particular, but they are in there a lot. I believe there are spiritual forces which stand in opposition to the will of God being accomplished on earth.
I do not believe that Christians can be possessed - the Holy Spirit is all over that. There are three beings in the whole Bible who have direct contact with the devil - God, Jesus, and the archangel Michael (four if you count Judas), just to put it in perspective. I do not believe demons cause microphones to short out in church services or parking places to be filled up when you are in a hurry. If I were the devil (I'm not), and I were trying to mount a rebellion against God, Christ, and all His people, I would not fiddle around with microphones and parking places. I'd go for the jugular and probably try to foster and instigate racism, poverty, and gross misrepresentation of Jesus and the Gospel. But maybe that's just me.
So if I believe in the devil, why I am excited to have a partially cute devil puppet?
Martin Luther, please explain:
"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to the texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn."
And from Thomas More:
"The devil, that proud spirit, cannot bear to be mocked."
So, as the Apostle Paul said, "Be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."
And as that great modern poet put it, "If the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack."
P.S. Don't ever do a Google image search on "devil puppet." You'll get half a screen of plush devil puppets, and half of screen of Black Metal band websites.
