I Will Not Fight Your Demons

how to stop taking the bait

We're not battling people these days. We're battling the gang of demons huddled behind them.

Humans are the frontmen who have been duped into advancing the destruction and devastation of ancient evils. While many of us are savvy enough not to fall prey to their numerous tactics, not everyone is. It's easy enough to understand how an individual can be outsmarted and outmaneuvered by entities that have had centuries to perfect their tactics of persuasion.

I keep thinking of grungy, delinquent high schoolers hanging out behind the gym smoking as a third grader walks by them. They appeal to the kid, "Hey man. You want to smoke? It's really cool."

The third grader responds, "Nope. That looks dumb."

The stoners go, "Noooooo. Come smoke with us."

Adjusting his backpack, the youngster walks away.

Not everyone does. These are the big kids. That in and of itself is persuasive. The third grader wonders, would they really lure me into something that's wrong? What's the harm of a single puff? Instead he stays.

Chocking on the smoke as his little lungs can't handle the inhale, he hears uproarious laughter from the group he trusted mere moments ago. Still, he doesn't realize that he's the butt of their joke. The next thing you know, the situation escalates. The high schoolers goad him into stealing a candy bar from the local shop. What more can they convince the third grader to do for their amusement and objectives?

It's no different with demons.

We watch as demons continue to operate people. They're sucking folks into bad behavior, bad logic, bad everything that impacts their human relationships. When I say, "I won't fight your demons," it's because I don't think it's the actual person that I'm up against. It's a hoard of demons swarming behind him or her shouting, "Hey!!" and itching for a fight.

They want to bring us all down to their level because they can't compete on even footing. One of the places that this is most evident is in discussions of politics.

Don't let politics expose your poor thinking.

The eruption of anger over politics is not natural. You guessed it. Those reactions are fueled by demons.

What's truly diabolical is that on one hand you have folks who are being egged on by demons. On the other, you have those who appear to be overreacting because they can sense the demonic energy and are reacting in kind. In essence, this corrupts everyone involved — making those who keep a level head the ones to whom you should gravitate.

As it's been doing since 2020, politics continues to create divides in friendships. More accurately, I believe it's actually highlighting unspoken tensions that were already there. Mostly it's accentuating who is thinking for him or herself and who is falling hook, line, and sinker for the propaganda. If you're parroting sound bites, this might be you.

In which case, it's not that I don't want to be friends with you because we disagree. It's that the thought process, or lack thereof, that prompted you to arrive at your ridiculous conclusions makes me not want to be friends. I don't have time for your horrific thinking and lack of logic. I don't want to entertain your hoard of demons.

If you come to great conclusions with which I completely disagree and can make a really solid argument supporting them, great! We will agree to disagree.

But if I can tear apart your argument with facts, logic, and real world examples in under three seconds, why am I wasting my time debating? The same holds true for those who are disingenuous. This is the bait. It's how the demons suck you in. You want to give people the benefit of the doubt. You're kind and understanding. This great strength is also your Achilles' heel. Demons will exploit it.

You do not owe people your time or your attention.

I hear the audible gasps.

But you don't.

You are not the jerk for having standards and not giving the world access, particularly when the other party is willingly entertaining demons. Sound harsh? Good. Demons don't deserve your energy.

Time and attention are to be given willingly. It's a voluntary choice, not an obligation.

Demons deserve to be mocked.

"Evil is afoot! There are demons running amok!"

A friend wrote this sentiment recently to which I responded, "I'm using that!"

Can you feel the joy and levity in calling out the presence of evil in this way? It strips it of its power.

Stop taking demons so seriously. You're ceding ground by even acknowledging their ideas and questions as having validity. Enough. A far better plan is laid out in the forward of The Screwtape Letters, mockery.

"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn." — Luthor

"The devil…the prowde spirite…cannot endure to be mocked." — Thomas More

I've spent far too long falling for the bait — the bait being an idea that is so patently ridiculous that it doesn't deserve to be acknowledged or countered. Longstanding socialization can be hard to break. That said, there are stupid questions. We've been conditioned to believe that there aren't in order to play to the lowest common denominators of our society.

We see this in the press core.

Don't entertain the foolish. It's a diversion.

The Devil wants to distract you from the fights that are truly yours.

Confidence in who you are will drive away the demons.

The hoards will attempt to silence you either through voices in your own head or those spoken aloud. Speak anyway. Thoughtfully. With conviction.

Remember what I said about gravitating to those keeping a level head? Become one of those people. If you sound like a talking doll having your string pulled, you know you're not. You might want to check around for demons. As long as you can articulate your convictions and point of view, you're clean.

Remain open to other points of view.

You will agree with some and adamantly disagree with others. At times you will be both be right or perhaps both be wrong. You may see things entirely differently than everyone else. The demons will try to have a field day with this. Don't let them. Assimilating and interpreting information in a unique fashion is an asset, not a detriment. This is where innovation and originality happen. Stand alone, others will find you.

And tell the demons who wish to dissuade you to shove off. You have better things to do than fight them.

Excited to hear your thoughts in the world. If you want to hear more of mine, you know what to do.