Notwithstanding my beliefs, consider these demons as pandemic neuroses, if it helps. But grant me the patience to indulge in a bit of this language to illustrate a point or two.
Through my own struggles as well as my observations, I see two demons rampant within human life: Cleanthes and Epicurus. Each one has its own methods, but both have the same result in destruction and decay of human life. Those possessed by Cleanthes, as well as Epicurus, willfully do so out of the need to manage all outcomes and appearances. But once one gives in to either, the incredible amount of energy and intellect expended on the methods they use can amaze, even if it carries destructiveness with it.
Cleanthes is a spirit that requires control. His words are stoic and proud. But those terms are window dressing for a deeper desire to control everyone and everything. A person possessed by Cleanthes has a tendency to be abusive, controlling and manipulative. Although Cleanthes can posses anyone, religion is a great avenue and wonderful fodder for his methods. But outside of religion, Cleanthes runs rampant. His name is spread, and disciples made, in areas of business, politics and social networking. Wherever you see the nervous and accelerated energy to control, roll over, destroy or manipulate, you are seeing his gospel at work. This disciple comes across as terrifyingly moral and ready to correct. Yet, I think it was Sigmund Freud or Carl Jung, or some other famous thinker who stated, of all the heads they unscrewed, not one time did they not find someone terribly afraid. Fear of the future, the unknown as well as our own security and significance can drive us into the arms of Cleanthes. And once there, his promises of rectitude are alluring and although they always end up very bitter-sweet for us, the bitter may sting us, but with just enough sweet to keep us going, planning, strategizing for the next step. And the sweetness of any success employed by being an apprentice of this demon leaves a bigger desire for more satisfaction. There is an unquenching thirst to drive longer, harder and speed it all up. Of course, there is no satiability, just more desire. The projects either fail, causing disappointment, or succeed, causing emptiness and disillusionment. But Cleanthes, upon the despair of his disciple's wake, whispers in his or her ear, "don't look back. it's all about you." Those words have a fatal draw for a will that tries to take care of itself. Once allegiance is made to Cleanthes, getting away is practically impossible. As a result, people are used up, resources are expended and a wake is left behind a trail of business plans, political platforms and new ministries.
Epicurus works through a different angle. If Cleanthes plays on our desire for significance, Epicurus plays on a fears for security. The world is a very harsh place. Having it full of people possessed by Cleanthes in powerful positions doesn't make it seem any less harsh. In any case, we tend to want to curl up and hide somewhere for a while....close the blinds and turn off the phone. But this sort of resignation isn't always anti-social. People can get energy from solitude or from social gatherings. And neither is a stumbling block for this demon. Epicurus has his ways of working the hopelessly social as well. His tools of the trade are the allure and subsequent hammer of our hurts, habits and hang ups. Sexual addictions, chemical dependencies and just self-possessed desires for an ambiguous satisfaction are tools the disciple of Epicurus illicits. His disciple also ends up with bitter-sweet results, with the same mixture. The fix is momentary and the desire that was their before the fix, shows back up, stronger and deeper than ever before. Rather than the Cleanthian disciples outward control of other people in order to move onward and upward, albeit things turned upside down, Epicurus destroys his disciples from the inside by alluring them into a false sense of security through sex, drugs, food, work, revenge, requiring more and more with diminishing returns. Whether the disciple is wealthy and famous or poor and invisible, he makes no distinguishment other than using those circumstances to his benefit in their personal destruction.
Both disciples are bent on destruction. Cleanthes' disciples destroy others before they turn on themselves. Epicurus' disciples avoid the middle step and begin destroying themselves right away. Both end up, outside of redemption, in the human garbage dump, along with all the contracts, buy offs, dirty needles and broken relationships. Both disciples are capable of choosing otherwise. Despite the draw within and the circumstances without, there are other ways. But because of a prevailing feeling of ultimately being completely alone, it seems impossible to ignore their whispers. Both types of disciples will cleverly hide the despair behind the facade of saccharin-like satisfaction, which is sometimes cleverly deceptive and at other times, hardly more than thinly transparant to even other disciples of that ilk. But the facade has to continue because admitting defeat, giving up and giving in seems almost suicidal to them. The grip tightens. It will be death rather than admitting a deep and profound misery and surrender. New distractions or another project or soap box may help in steering clear, but the distractions must continue to be better, projects more intense and political banners far more enveloping to keep out of those dangerous waters.
The Great Physician is the only antidote and the last place these disciples will turn, were it not for a divine nudge. Although His words, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavily burdened and I will give you rest for your souls..." makes cognitive sense to them, they have convinced themselves they are in no need of this cure. In fact, they have deluded themselves into actually believing the tricks they invented to avoid resignation. In fact, they have convinced themselves there isn't any such thing as a soul, as if somehow reducing themselves down to an organic structure will eliminate the despair or make it illusory. Of course, by doing that, then they can no longer distinguish between reality and imagination. Pain hurts, but contending it is all in the mind leaves them fragmented. This is probably why The Physician always stated that He came for the sick, rather than the well. Of course, in context of those sayings, you can tell that the 'well' were simply Cleanthian disciples disguised as pictures of health. The fact is, all are disciples are one or the other, and know, deep down, that if something doesn't happen soon, it will be a sad end. But aside those words The Physician calls out for those in need, His harsh words are recognized as well: "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Of course, that's hardball, and so long as these disciples can avoid hardball, as well as The Great Physician, all will remain as it does.
He calls out to them. He calls out to us. As one who has been a disciple of both demons, I am living testimony of all that I have written above and declare to all disciples of every dark force that The Great Physician, Jesus Christ, can and does heal. He has the power to eliminate the bondage described and, although circumstances may seem the same, inside of us, we are changed and calm, with a peace that passes understanding. This is salvation and it is available now. It doesn't matter if we are already serving these demons within a religious context. Come to Him. Leave all your burdens at His feet and become a new sort of disciple. One that restores and rebuilds, rather than destroys.
