“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Lula and I have just returned from the Corpus Christi conference—a delightful annual gathering for Lutheran worship, continuing ed, and fellowship for Lutherans in their 20s and 30s. This year it was held in Prague. I had been asked to teach a three-day breakout on spiritual warfare. Every class was packed, with people even sitting on the floor and in the overflow room. I explained that in Holy Baptism our Lord transfers us from the realm of Satan to His Kingdom, in which He graciously shields us from the Evil One—primarily through His true Body and Blood. But some Christians foolishly seek out the dark forces, thereby drilling holes in God’s protective dome over them. Seeking success or power in this world, or perhaps even perversely intrigued by evil itself, they naively make pacts with the devil—sometimes using a Ouija board. This can lead to demonic oppression or even possession. After our last class, three people waited patiently until the crowds had dissipated. All tearfully sought advice, asking me how to deal with what seems to be demonic oppression. Two admitted having reached out to the dark forces years ago—one through tarot cards, the other by praying to the devil. Neither had realized how dangerous and foolish their actions were. Tragically, they can no longer free themselves from the evil forces they had invited. While these young people seem to be strong in their Christian faith, they still need to formally sever the bonds with the dark side that they had forged. I suggested that they contact their local pastor for Individual Confession and Absolution, and renounce Satan and all his ways. Jesus Christ unequivocally defeated Satan on the cross and in the empty tomb. Yet, for reasons unclear to us, God has allowed Satan to prowl around in a limited fashion until Christ returns. Do not seek him out!
The Tiews in Germany 