There once was a church full of pride,
To power and politics tied,
They set their faith in Jesus aside,
To force “the others” to abide,
Woe unto them—salvation denied.

Worldly leaders craving control,
Defy “God’s People” sacred goal.
But Jesus Christ’s voice still rings true—
“Get behind Me, satan”, we must say too.
For only faith keeps “free will” whole.

Prompt: The “evangelical” should oppose any church or government leader who espouses authoritarianism. Since the beginning of time, our Creator has given us free will so that we can decide for ourselves whether to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. However, Lucifer rejected the Son of God by attempting to take away our free will. As a consequence, he was cast out of Heaven and became satan, the first authoritarian on earth. When any elected government official advocates for limiting citizens’ free agency, they are being influenced by the devil. When Jesus Christ came to earth, Satan tried to tempt Him into surrendering His Free Will in exchange for worldly riches and glory. Jesus responded, “Get behind me, satan,” demonstrating how “God’s People” can overcome any authoritarian who seeks to take away our free will. By anchoring our faith in these truths, Christians can reserve the precious gift of free will that enables a genuine relationship with God.

Why did Jesus say to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan”?

Edited by: ElRoyPoet, 2025

The Christian’s Fight to Preserve Free Will and Faith

Throughout history, Christians are called to stand firm against forces that threaten their spiritual freedom and the core tenets of their faith. Central to this struggle is the biblical understanding that God has given humanity free will—the ability to choose between good and evil, obedience and rebellion. This gift is vital for genuine faith and relationship with God, but it also makes believers vulnerable to influences that seek to undermine their liberty. As Christians, we are called to resist any form of authoritarianism—whether in church, government, or personal temptation—that seeks to control or diminish our free will. The Bible provides clear guidance on this matter, illustrating the importance of faith, free agency, and resisting evil influences.

God’s Gift of Free Will

From the very beginning, God endowed humanity with free will. In Genesis 2:16-17, God commands Adam and Eve: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” This command exemplifies that humans have the capacity to choose obedience or disobedience. The freedom to choose is essential for genuine love and faith; it is not coerced but given freely, allowing believers to willingly accept God’s salvation.

Lucifer’s Rebellion and the Threat of Authority

The importance of free will is reinforced by the story of Lucifer’s rebellion. Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-19 describe Satan’s fall from heaven due to pride and his desire to elevate himself above God. Lucifer rejected God’s authority and sought to take away the free will of others by attempting to establish his own rule and influence. As a result, he was cast out of heaven and became Satan, the adversary of God and humanity. This narrative underscores that rebellion against God’s authority—an attempt to impose authoritarian control—originates with Satan. His goal is to suppress human free will and lead believers astray.

Jesus’ Example and the Power of Choice

Jesus Christ exemplified the importance of free will in His earthly ministry. When tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), Jesus faced the temptation to misuse His divine authority or to abandon His mission. Instead, He resisted Satan’s offers of worldly riches and power by affirming His obedience to God’s will. His response, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4), demonstrates the importance of choosing God’s way over worldly temptations.

Furthermore, during His arrest in Gethsemane, Jesus exemplified submission to God’s will, even unto death: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). This act highlights that true faith involves a willing submission to God’s plan, not coercion or authoritarian control, but a voluntary surrender in trust and obedience.

Resisting Authoritarianism and Protecting Free Will

The Bible warns believers to be vigilant against influences that seek to control or manipulate their faith and choices. Ephesians 6:11-12 encourages Christians to “put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The devil, as the master of deception, seeks to undermine our free will through lies, temptations, and false doctrines.

Jesus Himself warned against false teachers and corrupt authorities that impose spiritual tyranny. In John 8:44, He describes Satan as “a liar, and the father of it,” emphasizing that believers must remain vigilant and discerning. The Christian’s act of faith involves actively resisting any form of oppressive authority that seeks to diminish our free will and lead us away from truth.

Standing Firm in Faith and Freedom

In conclusion, the Christian’s act of faith involves a deliberate choice to accept and uphold the gift of free will given by God. Throughout biblical history, Satan has sought to undermine this freedom through rebellion and deception, aiming to establish authoritarian control over individuals and nations. Jesus’ example demonstrates that true faith is rooted in voluntary submission to God’s will, not coercion. As believers, we are called to stand firm against any force that seeks to control or diminish our free agency, trusting in God’s truth and power to help us resist the enemy’s schemes.

The Collapse of Freedom of Religion: A Shift from Faith to Authoritarianism

The evangelical church, at its core, is built upon faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However, when it shifts its focus from spiritual faith to seeking influence through government power, it risks internal division and spiritual ruin. This shift often manifests in advocating for authoritarianism in government, attempting to establish a de facto state religion, and undermining foundational freedoms such as the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty.

Matthew 12:25-30 emphasizes a vital principle: a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus states that internal conflict weakens any organization, whether a kingdom, city, household, or spiritual movement. When the church aligns itself more with political power and seeks to impose a particular religious worldview through government, it creates factions within its own ranks and beyond. The desire to establish a state religion—where faith becomes subordinate to political authority—contradicts the very essence of Christian liberty and the biblical call to serve Christ alone. Such efforts threaten to dismantle the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom, replacing individual conscience with government enforcement.

Furthermore, Jesus describes a “strong man” whose possessions are being plundered only after he is first tied up. In spiritual terms, the “strong man” represents Satan’s domain, which Christ came to defeat through spiritual authority. When the church turns to wielding government power—pursuing political influence and attempting to control societal institutions—it risks trying to do the work of Christ through human authority. This approach may resemble attempting to “tie up” the spiritual conflict with political force, but Jesus warns that true victory comes through reliance on the Spirit, not coercion.

Jesus states that whoever is not with Him is against Him, and those who do not gather with Him scatter. When the church becomes entangled in political battles—especially those advocating authoritarianism and the suppression of religious pluralism—it risks dividing itself from the core message of Christ’s love and freedom. Instead of gathering people into the unity of faith, it fosters division, strife, and even the suppression of differing religious voices, ultimately scattering its influence and credibility.

In summary, the evangelical church’s pursuit of political power—particularly through authoritarianism, the desire to establish a state religion, and the undermining of constitutional protections like the First Amendment—threatens to compromise its spiritual integrity. As Jesus warns, a kingdom divided cannot stand. When faith in Jesus is supplanted by the pursuit of worldly power and control, the church becomes vulnerable to internal strife and spiritual collapse. True strength lies in unity with Christ and reliance on His Spirit, not in coercive political influence. Without this foundation, the church risks falling, having forsaken its divine calling for the fleeting power of worldly dominance.

Analogy: Before we were born, there was a rebellion in Heaven. God’s firstborn said, “I will help all those who choose to go to Earth to return to Heaven by bringing them the gospel. Then they can decide for themselves if they will believe.” However, Lucifer countered, “Let me be their leader, and I will make sure that they all return to Heaven. I will force them to obey, and none will be lost.”

Since then, this disagreement has echoed on Earth. Many liberal leaders argue, “We were all born with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In order for that to transpire, we must also be free men.” However, evangelicals contend, “Wouldn’t it be easier to make the citizens obey the law, by taking away their freedom? Even though we will not allow them to exercise their First Amendment rights, we will trick them into believing that they do. And if any protest, we will punish their insubordination.”

Then, God said, “I will send the Firstborn because they already have their free agency, and no one should be allowed to take away, what I have already given to them.” He sent Jesus to earth to encourage individuals to choose their own path and reject those who sought to limit their liberty.

Jesus wants to help those who chose to come to Earth by providing them with the gospel and allowing them to choose their own path towards redemption. He wants us to exercise our free will because God has given us sovereignty, so that we can choose for ourselves.

Satan, on the other hand, seeks dominion over us. He wants to lead us back to heaven by force, without regard to our free agency. He believes that people should be made to obey, and this is the only way to ensure that none will be lost.

The moral of the story is that any demagogue who aims to take away the people’s autonomy is obviously in league with the devil. True leaders understand that sovereignty is a gift from God and should be defended at all costs.

“Unity requires effort. We are united by our common primary identity as children of God and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents. If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should re-examine our priorities and change. We might be inclined to say, “Of course we can have unity—if only you would agree with me!” A better approach is to ask, “What can I do to foster unity? How can I respond to help this person draw closer to Christ? What can I do to lessen contention and to build a compassionate and caring Church community?”
When love of Christ envelops our lives, we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness. We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We seek to moderate and unify. We do not engage in “doubtful disputations,” judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble. Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have.” By: Dale G. Renlund

“It is we who nourish the ‘Soul Of The World’, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse.” By: Paulo Coelho

“In order for a government to become a christo-fascist regime, the church must allow itself to be swallowed by the state. In order for a government to remain democratic, the state must be kept separated from the church—so that they’re not tempted to swallow each other.” By: A. Freeman

“How can I expect my religion to change you; If it hasn’t fixed my anxiety yet? I guess—deep down in my heart I was hoping—that your faith would be the exception!” By: B. Bondman

“The devil will remind you over and over again, of your past. Because he knows, that the day you stop feeling sorry for yourself, he has no future with you. Holding on to old grudges will not remove the pain in your brain. Only Jesus can transform your life, if you allow him into your heart.” By: ElRoyPoet

God didn’t create Satan. Satan is a byproduct of free will. God created Lucifer, perfect—as it says in Ezekiel and Isaiah—in all his ways. He created Lucifer to worship and to be perfect. But Lucifer rejected Jesus, rejected God, and became Satan. So, the question is not why a loving God would create a devil, a hateful being like Satan. Evil is not something that God created; it is a byproduct of the absence of God’s Will.