In A Devil Named Lucifer, Jared Brock uncovers Satan’s hidden influence and tactics, arguing that understanding how he works and why he does what he does can help you resist him
Author and film director Jared Brock paid a high price to write A Devil Named Lucifer (Bethany House Publishers). From the week he decided to embark on the project his life “went into a tailspin of chaos.”
He suffered housing problems, health issues, money losses, and “had strange dreams, including one of a dead man in a coffin who sat up, opened his tuxedo and revealed himself to be a green cobra.”
Brock’s year of writing this book, however, was also one of blessing - his baby boy becoming a toddler, Brock leading a teenager to Christ and he and his wife became“debt-free home stewards”.
And yet, it is clear that Brock’s life was turned upside-down as he launched into writing this book about the Devil. So many bad things happened. Coincidence?
Brock argues that the Devil doesn’t want people to know too much about him - despite his presence throughout popular culture, from films and books to online discussions, and even in place names like gorges, canyons, and bridges.
When I opened this book, C.S. Lewis’s advice in The Screwtape Letters immediately came to mind. He wrote about the Devil, stating: “[t]here are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall.” One is to disbelieve entirely in his existence, and the other is to believe and feel: “an excessive and unhealthy interest.” I confess, I do feel this book tends to fit into the latter category.
A Devil Named Lucifer devotes nearly 240 pages to the Devil. While Brock concludes that: “The Devil is not the main character in God’s history or your story” and that: “[he], like all former things - including sin, pain, sadness, and death—will not even be a distant memory in eternity,” I still found myself learning more about the ‘Accuser-Adversary’ than I ever wanted to know.
Brock acknowledges that reading the book could be difficult, warning: “The Devil is furious that you’re reading this. Expect obstacles, challenges, setbacks, struggles, and strife to keep you from finishing.” He advises reading the book with a friend, family member, or small group, and praying before and after each chapter discussion. Consider yourself warned…
That said, Brock covers his subject well. Writing in a clear and accessible style, he explores the names Lucifer, Satan, and the Devil, examines his appearance and allies, and delves into his work and whereabouts. He discusses ‘Heaven’s Hierarchy,’ ‘The Devil Incarnate,’ and perhaps most helpfully, how to resist the Devil. Brock also includes a section on Redemption, offering insights such as ‘How to Use the Devil to Serve God.’
Why write a book about the Devil? In his introduction, Brock explains: “When you understand how he works, why he does what he does, and who he does it for, life’s challenges become easier to bear.”
Frustratingly for Brock, he acknowledges that “the Bible barely mentions the brute,” whereas “every page of scripture is about Jesus.” Yet, he argues that: “a proper Satanology is extremely important if we want to live as biblically faithful followers of Jesus.”
Brock explores the influence of the Devil and the presence of evil in our world. As I write this, my newsfeed features an Old Bailey trial where police describe: “a Satanist terror network targeting children online” in southern England.
He also tackles a question that has challenged both believers and non-believers for centuries: If God is all-powerful, why does he allow evil? Known in theology as the theodicy question, this issue has long been a subject of deep debate and reflection.
He tackles this complex issue with eight key points, beginning with the belief that God is all-powerful, all-good, and out of love granted humanity free will to choose between good and evil. He explains that evil exists because humanity chose it, and that while God knew free will would lead to this choice, He also created a plan to overcome evil with love.
To this day, God continues to allow free will to exist because his plan is not finished. Meanwhile, our mission is to trust, hope, obey, and remain faithful until we meet God face-to-face. At that point, God will enact justice, make all things right, wipe away every tear, blot out every memory, and deliver pleasure beyond all pain. In these sentences, Brock powerfully presents the Good News of Christ and his Gospel of salvation, triumphing over any plans the Devil may have. For me, this was one of the most uplifting sections of the book.
I’m indebted to Brock for writing this insightful and well-researched book, though I share his concern - and that of C.S. Lewis - that the book and subject matter should be handled with great care.
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