LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

THE ADVERSARY: THE CHRISTIAN VERSUS DEMON ACTIVITY BY MARK L. BUBECK A READING REFLECTION

A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. KENNEDY ADARKWA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE COURSE EVAN 670

LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

BY ELKE SPELIOPOULOS

DOWNINGTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 ABOUT THE AUTHOR............................................................................................................. 1 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 2 EVALUATION AND CRITIQUE .............................................................................................. 5 PERSONAL APPLICATION ..................................................................................................... 7 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................... 8 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 9

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INTRODUCTION Not typically the topic of polite Christian conversation, spiritual warfare is a topic that the Bible is most definitely not silent on in its sixty-six books. In the English Standard Version, there are forty-nine mentions of Satan, seventy-six references to demon(s), and seven occurrences of evil spirit(s). It seems fair to say that this is a topic that God did not intend to gloss over. His children should take note of the adversary and need to be equipped for the battle. Mark Bubeck picks up on the topic of spiritual warfare in his book The Adversary: The Christian Versus Demon Activity, written in 1975. In his book, he offers a biblical description of who Satan and the demons are, why the believer should educate himself, what the various facets of spiritual warfare look like, and which prayer and other tools the believer has at his hands. Bubeck wants the reader to emerge from the pages of his book with a newfound confidence of their place and status as a child of God through Jesus, but also with a newly sharpened awareness of the wiles of the devil around him. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark I. Bubeck founded and is president emeritus of the International Center For Biblical Counseling, Inc. He served as a pastor for over 40 years and has written numerous books on the topic of spiritual warfare: The Adversary, Overcoming the Adversary, The Rise of Fallen Angels, and Raising Lambs Among Wolves: How to Protect Your Children from Evil.1 Dr. Bubeck is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. He received his D.Min. from Talbot Theological Seminary, and he also holds a diploma in Theology from Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary. He and his wife, Anita, make their home in Sun City, Arizona.2
Cross Life Books, About Mark I. Bubeck, http://crosslifebooks.com/authors_author.php?authorid=17 (accessed February 19, 2012). Moody Publishers, Authors: Mark Bubeck, http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_authorDetail.aspx?id=41798&aid=857 (accessed February 19, 2012).
2 1

SUMMARY The Adversary: The Christian Versus Demon Activity is broken into twelve chapters. It takes the reader from a broader understanding of spiritual warfare and the nuancing between warfare with the flesh, with the world, or with spiritual forces, to tools, tactics, and prayers to be fully engaged in spiritual warfare. The first chapter, The Biblical Perspective of Warfare delivers an introduction to spiritual warfare, in which Bubeck reminds the reader that his emphasis in spiritual warfare must be upon a biblical, doctrinal approach to the subject.3 He effectively uses the lyrics of Martin Luthers hymn A Mighty Fortress to show that the spiritual battle is one the Reformer was very familiar with as well. In chapter two, Warfare with the Flesh, Bubeck takes his readers deep into the list of sins of the flesh, which Galatians 5 describes. The list ranging from adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, and hatred to variance or quarreling, emulations or jealousy, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings , murders, drunkenness, and reveling is looked at in greater detail and gives the reader a good understanding of which aspects of the flesh he needs to learn to differentiate from the more concrete topic of spiritual warfare. Bubeck makes it clear that not all issues the believer faces are caused by demonic activity. He offers a corrective course of honesty, prayer and a renewed filling with the Holy Spirit. Here, Bubeck offers an outline how this filling with the Holy Spirit can be a continuous experience through confession of sin and expressing a desire to be filled. Bubeck offers an exemplary prayer. The third chapter, Warfare with the World, Bubeck discusses the topic of worldliness, which, while it is related of course to the rule of the prince of this age, it is not directly spiritual warfare. Bubeck writes, Worldliness is a matter of heart attitude.The world has specific ways
3

Mark I. Bubeck, The Adversary: The Christian Versus Demon Activity (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers,

1975), 21.

in which it tempts the believer to sin and disobey Gods will.4 Again, Bubeck offers a prayer to counter worldliness at the conclusion of the chapter. Chapter four, The Sword of the Spirit Is Still the Word, constitutes a rather meaty chapter in the sense that it looks into Scripture to define who Satan is, his original state, his rebellion and fall, his titles and names, his awesome power, his sphere of activity, his strategy of work, and his destiny. Bubeck concludes with relevant passages from Scripture that ensure the reader understands that the victory for him has already been won through Christ. This chapter is one that will probably take the reader some time to work through in order to look up all the biblical references in detail. The fifth chapter, Facing Satans Kingdom, provides the reader with the org structure of Satans forces of darkness. From the first level of principalities to the second level of powers, the third level of rulers of darkness, and the final level of wicked spirits,5 Bubeck makes it clear to the reader that this is a formidable force. In order to tackle this army, the believer must put on his spiritual armor, which Bubeck describes from Pauls writings in Ephesians 6. Bubeck concludes the chapter with a prayer to accompany the putting on of spiritual armor. Understand and Dont Be Afraid is the title of the sixth chapter. Bubeck writes that Satan will use various strategies against the believer. He will cause believers to act independently of God, especially during times of decision. He will tempt the believer to lie or to believe his lie. He will battle the believer through hardships and even physical assault. Bubeck cites the example of Job here. Satan will also tempt the believer to be filled with pride. After listing some of Satans strategies, Bubeck describes various levels of spiritual warfare: demonic oppression, demonic obsession, and demonic possession. He states that no believer can be under
4 5

Ibid., 49. Ibid., 72-73.

demonic possession, at least not in the way an unbeliever can be. Bubeck closes the chapter reminding the reader that the victory is already there in Christ. In the seventh chapter, Theres Still a Place for Objective Doctrine, Bubeck introduces the reader to the concept of doctrinal praying, which he defines as the practice of praying or applying the objective, absolute truths of the Word of God as the hope and basis of resolving our prayer burden.6 A large part of this chapter entails a doctrinal prayer, which Bubeck recommends to the reader. Chapter eight, Aggressive Prayer Wins Again, is heavily infused with concrete examples of prayers. Bubeck relays several stories that make it clear that in spiritual warfare, the believer cannot cease to pray aggressively for the outcomes. Bubeck cites the examples of Nehemiah, Daniel, Abraham and Paul as men who prayed intently and aggressively for the Lord to change outcomes.7 Chapter nine, Bold Confrontation May Be Needed, is a chapter that focuses on the dos and donts of spiritual warfare. Bubeck offers the example of his daughters demon-caused fears and pains. Through this example, he suggests several tactics in how to actually execute an encounter with demonic forces, among them again putting on the full armor of God and realizing that the demon may even attempt to cause harm to the person. In the tenth chapter, Challenging Satans Hindrance for Revival, Bubeck discusses the impact of spiritual warfare in the area of revivals. He closes the chapter with a warfare prayer for revival. Chapter eleven, Tools for Warfare, includes practical prayers by Victor Matthews, one for a daily affirmation of faith, and the other a warfare prayer that is to be used when working
6 7

Ibid., 95. Ibid., 113.

with people with demonic afflictions. Bubeck cautions that often a person battling spiritual warfare will notice that the person they are working with under demonic influence cannot read this prayer at all or only with great difficulty. Bubeck also offers a list of evidence of demonic affliction he has observed. Finally he suggests a renunciation and affirmation agreement that is to be signed by a person in whose family might run, what he calls, a blood lines of demonic affliction and possession.8 He also includes a renunciation and affirmation parents of adopted children might make. Finally, in chapter twelve, Bubeck discusses Warfare Through Our Oneness Together. He reminds the reader that his book is not intended to cause division in the body, but rather that it should be seen as a necessary tool as the time of the return of the Lord nears, and the body of Christ will be exposed to more demonic activity. EVALUATION AND CRITIQUE Bubecks book starts out well by giving the reader an understanding of what Scripture says about the nature of Satan. What is missing from the listing of biblical passages, however, is a critical look at how he uses some of the more commonly cited passages of Satans origin and his fall, e.g. Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. These passages are applied somewhat uncritically here. The use of the term Lucifer, which comes from the Vulgate, is not the name of Satan in Scripture. Achtemeyer writes, The English word Lucifer comes from the Latin for light bearer. In Isa. 14:12, the King of Babylon, in an apparent reference to Canaanite mythology, is tauntingly called Day Star, son of Dawn because he has fallen from his lofty but temporary position of power. In the Christian church, this passage from Isaiah came to be connected with Jesus saying in Luke 10:18: I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Thus the connection was made (erroneously) between Lucifer and Satan, and Lucifer was popularly understood as another name for Satan.9
8 9

Ibid., 148.

Paul J. Achtemeier, Publishers Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, harper's bible dictionary, 1st ed. (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 582.

In addition, the referenced passages cannot simply be one-to-one applied to Satan. The referent in Isaiah is the King of Babylon; the one in Ezekiel 28 is the King of Tyre. The somewhat unquestioned and non-differentiated use of these passages puts to question Bubecks academic insight.10 Nevertheless, Bubecks list is helpful, especially to those readers who may not be firm on their Scripture knowledge and who can thus build up their understanding. Bubecks writing is often sensationalized in the stories that he chooses, and the impact he knows his stories will have on a post-The Exorcist reader. This movie was released two years prior to the release of this book, and many readers will have had this movie experience in mind reading his book. This is unnecessary as spiritual warfare is real, based on biblical statement, yet this is never sensationalized, and Christ is always show victorious. One of the praise-worthy parts of this book are Bubecks clear pointing back to the truth of Scripture and to the battle already having been won through the crucifixion, burial, resurrection and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, this is offset with Bubecks almost counter-acting focus on demonic influences even on believers, as several of his stories showcase. While he denies demon possession of a believer to be possible, he does not preclude demon oppression. In particular in the story of his daughter11, Bubeck blurs the line between what the difference between demon possession and demon oppression are. The reader is left confused and even bewildered as it leaves a bit of consternation that what Bubeck describes (or worse) might befall a believer, especially the reader himself. The prayers Bubeck offers are of value as they focus on God, not Satan. They focus on the work already done and the victory already won, something that does not shine out as clearly in some of the stories Bubeck relays. In the final chapters, where the focus lies a bit on
See also authors paper on The Theological Development of Satanhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/24461995/Theological-Development-of-Satan.
11 10

Bubeck, The Adversary: The Christian Versus Demon Activity, 117-22.

generational issues, or blood lines of demonic oppression, the reader is once again left bewildered as Ezekiel 18:20 reads, The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (ESV) In general, this reader is left with the impression that this book focuses too much on Satan and too little on the finished work of Christ. The redeeming factors are the chapters on the war against the flesh and the war against the world, which a believer will encounter on a daily basis. It is probably safe to say that while most believers believe there is demonic activity, they are also convinced that the battle has already been won. PERSONAL APPLICATION Bubecks book has several benefits to take away from it, in particular the prayers and the lists of what constitutes warfare against both flesh and the world. To internalize this on a regular basis is a very valuable exercise. The prayers are also valuable to understand how much we are dependent on God to fight the battle against spiritual powers for us. Putting on the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6 is probably one of the most important daily tasks of any believer. The author will spend time praying through what putting on the armor means and believes that Bubecks prayer will be helpful here. One rather noteworthy sentence from Bubecks book is, If I seek some experience which does not have a sound biblical foundation, I am opening my life to some deceiving spirit to come as an angel of light.12 It is here that the author found the greatest application to take away from this book. Testing everything in light of Scripture seems like the best safeguard against the wiles of Satan. It is only through daily immersion in the Word of God that the believer stands the chance to have this level of discernment.
12

Bubeck, The Adversary, 130.The Christian Versus Demon Activity, 21.

CONCLUSION Bubecks book focuses on spiritual warfare. While it takes excursions to the battles against the flesh and against the world, it is mainly centered on what the Christian needs to do to prepare for a show-down with demonic forces. It is in some ways written in a sensational manner, which causes concern, as Scripture does not sensationalize the topic of spiritual warfare. It warns believers to heed the dealings of Satan and other spiritual forces, yet again and again, Scripture reminds the reader that Jesus Christ is the victor over Satan, and the battle has already been won decisively, one might add! This book is a book that needs to be read against the witness of Scripture. Believers do have to deal with the hater of their souls, yet their focus needs to be on their relationship to the Lord, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and their daily putting on of the spiritual armor. Bubecks focus on Satan, while well-meant, is not giving an accurate picture of how Scripture depicts spiritual warfare, but rather instills unnecessary fear in the believer. What the reader can take away safely from this book are the prayers. All believers need to be deeply steeped in prayer. This will be the best assurance of protection from spiritual warfare.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Achtemeier, Paul J. Publishers Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper's bible dictionary, 1st ed. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985. Bubeck, Mark I. The Adversary: The Christian Versus Demon Activity. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1975. Cross Life Books. About Mark I. Bubeck. http://crosslifebooks.com/authors_author.php?authorid=17 (accessed February 19, 2012). Publishers, Moody. Authors: Mark Bubeck. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_authorDetail.aspx?id=41798&aid=857 (accessed February 19, 2012).