The Myth of Dualism

I am the LORD, and there is none else, – Is 45:5

Dualism is the religious/philosophical principle that two opposed and antagonistic forces of good and evil are in control of this world. This philosophy is found in Zoroastrianism and in many native religions.

In Eastern religions, it’s typified by the combination of YIN (darkness, negativity, femininity) and YANG (light, heat, motivation, masculinity). These two forces are said to be opposite and complementary and are thought to exist in varying proportions in all things. The Yin-Yang symbol, (an example is the circle at the centre of the South Korean flag), depicts this supposed Good/Evil inter-relationship.

Unfortunately, many have transferred this principle into Christianity. They’ve created a worldview with God on one side and the Devil on the other. But Nothing could be further from the truth. The conflict depicted in scripture is not between Satan and God but between Satan and Man! The battle in Genesis 3 was between two creations – Adam and Satan, with God as their judge. The notion of Satan being opposite to God isn’t from scripture.

Far from depicting two equally opposing forces, we see the Bible reference Christ virtually on every page, yet has only scant references to Satan, (it mentions “Isaac” more times than Satan/Devil/Serpent/etc. combined)!

If we’re to be bluntly honest, much of what we think we know about demons, Hell Fire and the kingdom of darkness come from extra-biblical sources; like Dante Alighieri’s Inferno and John Milton’s Paradise Lost (with updated insertions from modern day “Deliverance” Testimonies). Theologians, for example, are still not agreed on where demons come from or even what they are.

This manifest understating of the Devil and his world is deliberate, and we would do well to follow the Bible’s cue. Satan is always after attention; but Jesus, Paul and the Early believers never gave it to him (Mk 1:25,34; Lk 4:41; Act 16:16-18).

Beloved, let Christ be the centre of our lives: our devotion, our confession, our prayer and our message. It’s the knowledge of Christ that saves, not of the Devil. And as we look to Christ, we’ll be changed into His image by His Spirit.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN