Does Satan Hate the Church?

“Does Satan Hate the Church?”

I guess they should get some points for creativity. The Metro South Church, located in a suburb of Detroit, MI, has put an intriguing spin on the billboards that are supposed to be messages from God. Metro South has chosen to post some similar messages, only from the “other side of the aisle”, if you will.

Metro South’s new billboards feature messages from the devil rather than God. For instance, one billboard says, “Metro South Church makes me sick – Satan.” You can view all of the billboards at www.satanhatesmetro.com.

You’ve heard it said that there is no such thing as bad publicity, and if that is true, I am not sure using Satan as your pitch man, even in an ironic sort of way, is a good idea. However, Metro South’s ad campaign does raise a good question. Does Satan really hate the Church?

I can’t help but think of C.S. Lewis’ classic The Screwtape Letters. In one of the early letters, the senior demon writes to the underling, Wormwood, and says:

“One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see her spread out through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners. That, I confess, is a spectacle which makes our boldest tempters uneasy. But fortunately it is quite invisible to these humans. All your patient sees is the half-finished, sham Gothic erection on the new building estate.”

Make no mistake about it, Satan despise the true Church of the Firstborn; that blood-washed band of believers mysteriously united from every kindred, tribe, and tongue. Not even the gates of His eternal home will prevail against that formidable body, led by its conquering Head!

However, Satan is not in the least bit opposed to the ecclesiastical mirage of a building, a denomination, or a religious institution. It is the spirit-empowered bride, not technologically enhanced buildings that are despised by our enemy. He can work (and does) as effectively through empty religion as he does through open rebellion. He will use a dead assembly just as quickly as he will a living atheist.

I hope the devil hates my church. But I know that we are sometimes his allies, and he would rather use us to his advantage than close us down – if we will let him.