Back Talk
Discover more from Ben Simpson's Faith & Formation Newsletter
Back in the third century there was a desert monk named Evagrius of Pontus, and he had this tremendous insight: demonic temptation often occurs in the realm of thought, and therefore to be equipped for the fight, one must saturate the mind with ready answers in Scripture.
Failure follows a lack of preparation. But that can be addressed. Evagrius wrote:
Now, the words that are required for speaking against our enemies, that is, the cruel demons, cannot be found quickly in the hour of conflict, because they are scattered throughout the Scriptures and are so difficult to find. We have, therefore, carefullly selected words from the Holy Scriptures, so that we may equip ourselves with them and drive out the Philistines forcefully, standing firm in battle, as warriors and soldiers of our victorious King, Jesus Christ.
Evagrius and his friends built a reference work.
Against gluttony, or slavery to one’s appetite, Evagrius wrote:
Against the thought that says to me, “They command to fast is burdensome”:
The command I give you this day is not burdensome, nor is it far from you (Deuteronomy 30:11).
Against fornication, or illicit sexual temptation, Evagrius wrote:
Against the thought of fornication that depicts in my intellect a married woman:
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife (Exodus 20:17).
Against the love of money, or greed, Evagrius wrote:
Against the thought of love of money that seeks relaxation and glory from riches:
A good name is better than a lot of wealth, and good favor far surpasses silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1).
There are more. Evagrius offered guidance on resisting a temptation to sadness or sloth, putting off anger, resisting acedia and listlessness, and rejecting pride. He identified the various forms in which temptation comes and provided a firm foundation from which to reject those avenues as false and leading to death. He was prepared for battle.
David Brakke has provided an excellent translation of Evagrius’ work: Talking Back: A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons.
And John Mark Comer has translated these concepts into our contemporary setting in Live No Lies: Recognizing the Three Enemies that Sabotage Your Peace, a work that is principly an exposition of 1 John 2:15-17:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.
The world, the flesh, and the devil are still opposed to God’s work in the world. There’s a spiritual battle going on. It’s one that we can be equipped to win, for those who are willing to prepare.
Come ready for a rumble.
Book Notes
I finished Peter Brown’s Augustine of Hippo.
I haven’t given up on Russell F. Weigley’s The American Way of War.
I completed the Comer title, mentioned above, Live No Lies, David Harsanyi’s Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent, and John McWhorter’s The Language Hoax.
I’m about 50% of the way through Andy Weir’s novel, Project Hail Mary.
Sights and Sounds
On Netflix I watched Red Notice (2021), which was just okay.
I’ve also been watching Chappelle’s Show. Oh my.
Last Words
On the blog: don’t buy your own hype, flip books, and telling the Christmas story with confidence.
Before I go, standard copy.
If you are receiving this newsletter in your email inbox, great! If you are a reader who comes my way via social media but you'd like to subscribe, subscribe here.
Hit play on the tape with the appeal for social media followers, then: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. I’m not checking those accounts, but content does push there. If you use social media as your news feed, follow there. Share my stuff, if you like. Maybe those services are for you. They are not for me. I’ve been a happier and less anxious person since I quit checking social media.
Publishers consider social media numbers when extending offers or invites to write. Likes, follows, etc. help a person like me make their way. Lastly, subscribe to the blog by submitting your email to the "Updates to Your Inbox" form in the sidebar. We're at 1,382 across platforms. Help us get to 1,500+.
That's the business.
If you like this post, click the heart and kindly share it with others. If you’re coming my way because someone shared this with you, subscribe.
Be well this week. Bless others.
Best,
BAS
P.S. - Saw this in Baylor’s Dutton Garage and had a flashback to 1996.
