The Dark Side

FIGHTING SATAN
Knowing his Weaknesses, Strategies and
Defeat
By Joel R. Beeke
Reformation Heritage Books. 126 pages. £8.43
ISBN: 978 1 601 784 117

When the personality and work of Satan crop up in Christian conversation, two main kinds of response often occur. One is to seek to downplay or avoid the topic, as if we join in with the demon in the Screwtape Letters almost denying his existence. Another is to get all excited, particularly if it means a little spiritual warfare or the like.

Fighting Satan is written unashamedly for both groups of people, bringing biblical clarity and confidence to this all-too-real subject. It is an updated version of his earlier Striving against Satan, with the particular addition of some helpful discussion questions.

The victorious Christ

The writer comes from a clearly Reformed stable, and will be most easily read by people with a similar mindset. For instance, while acknowledging the present-day reality of demon possession, he doesn’t debate as to whether, or how, demons might be cast out, preferring to quote someone who warns against trying. It’s better to focus on the preaching of the Word of God and prayer, as we trust in the victorious Christ.

This is a great book to direct a Christian friend who has questions about this topic, or has had time to read your personal Top 20. (I say that not to disparage the book, just that with limited time, this won’t get to my Top 20). It is something I wish some unbe-lieving friends might read, as they tend both to disbelief (that Satan exists) or unwitting openness to his trade (Tarot cards and the like). However, since it’s not pitched at those who don’t trust in Christ, it may suffice to have enjoyed reading it, to celebrate the frequent reminder of Jesus as Lord and what that means, and be a little more sensitive to the call to each servant of Christ to resist the devil and run to Christ each day.