The Subtle but Deadly Strategy of Satan to Destroy the Church

By joshuainfantado on July 2, 2024

I want to share with you a quote I read by John MacArthur:

'Satan is most effective in the church when he comes not as an open enemy but as a false friend: not when he persecutes the church, but when he joins it; not when he attacks the pulpit, but when he stands in it.'

In the realm of spiritual warfare, Satan's tactics often veer away from outright aggression and instead cloak themselves in subtlety and deception. As Matthew 7:15 warns us, 'Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.' This caution extends beyond mere prophets to anyone who poses as a friend of the church while inwardly serving ulterior motives.

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The apostle Paul underscores this danger in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, describing how Satan masquerades as an angel of light, and his agents as ministers of righteousness. Here lies Satan's craftiness—not in direct confrontation, but in infiltration. He doesn't always attack the church head-on; rather, he infiltrates it, subtly perverting its teachings and undermining its unity.

Galatians 2:4-5 recounts a similar infiltration, where false brethren snuck in to spy on the freedom found in Christ, aiming to bring believers back into bondage. This scenario mirrors today's church environment, where deceptive influences may not be immediately recognizable but seek to distort the gospel and disrupt the body of Christ.

Satan's strategy is effective because it capitalizes on trust and familiarity. He doesn't always stand against the pulpit but sometimes stands in it, spreading doctrines that distort the truth rather than proclaiming it. His ministers, as Paul warns, are adept at appearing righteous while leading astray those who are not vigilant.

As believers, we must heed these warnings. We must be discerning, testing every spirit as 1 John 4:1 advises, and holding fast to the teachings passed down from the apostles. Satan's tactics haven't changed; they've only become more refined. Therefore, let us remain steadfast in the truth, guarding against the subtle deceptions that threaten to undermine the faith and unity of the church.