The Bible uses various metaphors to describe the propensity for evil in human nature.
And the Lord said unto Cain, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. -Genesis 4:6-8
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. -Romans 6:6
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul -1 Peter 2:11
Carl Jung postulated the existence of a “shadow self” as an aspect of our personality. He argued that the path to wholeness lies in integrating this dark, unconscious side of one’s personality into one’s conscious thoughts and actions. Various works of fiction have employed this motif, whether before or after the work of Jung. One such modern example is Ursula Leguin’s A Wizard of Earthsea, which also draws on feminist themes and concepts from eastern philosophy and spirituality.
Christians should be wary of such concepts, which find ways of influencing the zeitgeist of our societies. The quotation from 1 Peter above tells Christians not to incorporate the shadow self into our lives, but to resist its evil impulses and seductions. St Paul, drawing on Christ’s own teachings, articulated an anthropology in which the evil side of our character was a thing to be crucified, that had been crucified with Christ and would be purged from us in the resurrection.
Following Christ’s teaching means renouncing and executing this side of ourselves on a daily basis, Lent being a season of the liturgical year that focusses on this doctrine, drawing inspiration from the Temptation of Christ in the wilderness. The Temptation is presented in detail in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Milton wrote about the Temptation in his lesser known Paradise Regained.
The shadow in our hearts can also lead to madness. Today we see great fits of madness in the outbursts of individuals and in the actions of groups. While Christianity involves a mystical side and acceptance of the fact that we do not know everything, it is not a call to insanity, to the submersion of our rational minds. We are to use our minds to contemplate truth and to preach truth to others and live it by example. This “way of truth” is another aspect of the daily call to “take up one’s cross” as discussed above. We are in a war over Truth with a capital T. An important aspect of these end times is the spread of deception and madness.
The discipline of the Lenten season, then, is about the mind and the body. Let us not be blind to evil, to the work of the fallen nature, of the world, and of the Devil. He wants to sit on the throne of God, not just in Jerusalem, but in our hearts.
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. -Psalm 22:2-4
All Along the Watchtower 
A succinct and sound summation of the contrast between the sanctification process for disciples of Christ and the not-yet redeemed. The ‘source reference’ to Jung points to the incomplete and ungodly aspects of modern psychology and I recall reading his biographical work in which he tells of the early startling visions and dreams. He was of believed some were insights from heaven that turned him against Christianity, and I think he spoke of a personal spirit guide. When I later became born-again it came as no surprise to learn that he’d probably been affected by demonic spirits.
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Oops my editing didn’t quite work: pls delete ‘was of’ to read ‘He believed’.
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Indeed – I rather suspect that his “visions” in the exploration of the dark side were from demons. It certainly is true that our minds can create unpleasant, intrusive thoughts as a counter-reaction to the weight of conservatism and legalism – but Jung is not describing that. His serpentine encounters suggest a link to Satan himself, who is a serpent as both the chaos-dragon, and as the throne guardian (cherub/seraph). I expect you are also familiar with serpentine themes in Hermetic philosophy and related disciplines (e.g. the ouroboros – see also Jormungandr in Norse mythology).
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Yes I was aware to some extent but that obviously distinct darkness repelled me, even in those dim distant days decades ago. At last years conference in Matlock I came to realise how truly the Lord’s grace was covering me throughout my life, even when I was far away in enemy territory.
Very interesting to note 40 years elapsed between my deliberate divergence into that and getting into my destined writing on scriptural and contemporary prophecy – hence my recent references to childhood local library and blog’s cyber-library, as well as the ‘wheat and tares’ revelation.
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Maybe, the psychiatrists just didn’t know how to say or understand what we call ‘concupiscence’ (our tendency to be attracted to sin). I suppose in a Christian context we could call that our ‘shadow self’ but it is far different from what Jung had in mind. We do know that the Fall left us with this defect and why, in fact, we needed a Savior. We can’t save ourselves and we will fall often in this life and need to continually be forgiven for these falls from grace . . . enter Jesus to forgive and the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in virtues etc. Nobody ever promised that The Imitation of Christ (or living a life without sin) would be easy . . . but we do have a models and heroes; first with Christ, His Mother and Foster Father on earth and then with all the Saints who received the grace to overcome or control their concupiscence.
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Gosh Scoop, haven’t heard that word since ages past!
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I know. We don’t even hear it from our priests anymore it seems. Maybe its time we go back to teaching Original Sin again and the effects of that sin (which never leave us) namely concupiscence. But in this age of everybody is going to heaven we have no need to try to eliminate sin in our life or strive toward a life of virtue and, of course, the imitation of Christ. Sad really.
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Concupiscence is one of my top words – I even used it in my coursework on legal ethics last year.
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It’s going to be interesting to see how the Church is going to get cleaned out and rebuilt so we get the full Gospel of the Kingdom proclaimed to all and sundry.
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As I said to Scoop a while back, my rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple dream might also mean spiritually rebuilding the Church.
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Ace point and don’t see why not as modern history shows that major developments for the Jewish people and Israel have been followed by important spiritual events in those churches open to receive Holy Spirit’s working.
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Indeed – Revelation 12 presents Israel and the Church together: the Woman (Israel) flies on the eagle’s wings and Satan attacks those who keep the testimony of Jesus (Church).
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I’m not sure if ‘interesting’ is the right word. It may be scary, painful and downright chaotic persecutions. It may take an EMP to destroy our new belief in the State, technology and science. It won’t take long before we revert to gangs of thugs and killers looking for water, food, shelter and clothing. I think here in the US we have about 3 days of groceries in our supermarkets and very little is grown locally. So if an EMP destroys the computers in our trucks and the supply of gasoline or diesel to operate them . . . food won’t show up . . . we will have to rely on one another to some extent or we will have to steal or kill to obtain what we want from those that have these things. I hope you’re right and it is interesting rather than an utter nightmare.
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I think, if the American Church really gathers around the Lord, then in His grace, He will defend you. But it seems to me that your problems are similar to the ones in the UK. This means the problem of the bad doctrine and bad leaders has to be dealt with somehow. Either they must be expelled, or the congregations must abandon them.
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Demographics is starting that winnowing process already and in a few short decades much of what we see will be behind us . . . historically. I think a little bit of suffering and service to others in the spirit of the Gospels may go a long way . . . but if we do not turn back to the Lord I think our woes will simply be a beginning for what is in store for us.
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It is indeed crunch time: there is a general feeling of wavering in the natural that I think is a symptom of the spiritual condition behind the veil – natural wavering being about Brexit, the direction of Europe, and whether the President can get anymore policies through via his powers and via Congress.
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Indeed. Thomas Sowell warns U.S. may not resist siren song of socialism: ‘I wouldn’t bet on it’
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/5/thomas-sowell-warns-us-may-not-resist-siren-song-o/
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I was referring particularly to how church is expected to change, in view of many recent insights from prophets and seers. It will, of course be a means of testing their accuracy, as it was with the UK referendum vote to leave EU – I blogged on it being an act of God that challenges churches!
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My personal hope is that the Church will have a surge in both the gifts of the Spirit and accurate teaching of what the Bible means.
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Indeed and I can certainly see a multitude of things that might sent as warnings: plagues, loss of energy supplies, food, water clothing, medicine etc. I guess we might expect some version of Venezuela to be visited upon all of us. The Church will have to form communities of love and cooperation with one another and become self-reliant in all aspects of life.
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I think the physical signs we saw around 2009/10 were an early warning: diseases, earthquakes, etc. They seemed to function like a trumpet fanfare – and some people reportedly heard heavenly trumpets.
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Yes, I read the headlines and listened to some of the videos and audios of these things. I think it is only a reminder . . . but it may be the beginning of something much more frightening.
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Like many people who are into prophecy, I treat Israel as the “master clock”. The only explicit sign given in Matthew 24 prior to the Parousia itself is the Abomination of Desolation. Pretty much everything before that is stuff that characterises the whole period from the Ascension to the Parousia – but I expect various things to grow in frequency and intensity: false teachers, false christs, earthquakes, wars, plagues, civil strife, Christian apostasy, Christian betrayal, etc.
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I expect an uptick in Jewish conversions. Not sure what the Abomination of Desolation refers to; whether it is sacrifices in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem or the New Temples of Sacrifice . . . the re-presenting of the once for all Sacrifice of Christ (in other words, invalid Masses and even black masses etc. Seems it can be fulfilled in several ways.
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I think it likely to be both: Christ in referencing it speaks of it as the one prophesied by Daniel. Daniel would have understood it in Jerusalem Temple terms, and the one that occurred under Antiochus happened in just such terms. The most reasonable interpretation would stick with a hermeneutic of continuity. But I do not think that it precludes the Catholic interpretation either – in fact, sham masses seem to fit the general picture of persecution times and apostasy: consider the false Catholic church in China or the Samaritan illicit temple on Mount Gerizim (which became idolatrous under Antiochus). False masses could also be an aspect of the Mark of the Beast material in Revelation 13. Just as the Roman prefiguring of that involved offerings to the emperor, a false mass might involve some syncretism with Islam and prayers/incense/elements offered to/for the Mahdi.
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Indeed and it does not negate the understanding of the Jerusalem Temple that Christ tore down and resurrected in three days: that to me is the new and last Temple . . . the last place and fulfillment of the Sacrifice that is pleasing to God. If not, then it seems that Jews will be converting to their old faith rather than to Christianity. So who can tell how the mind of God will work its mysterious ways . . . hidden from our human intellect. So I leave these things open to interpretation and God’s ways (which are not our ways). 🙂
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Time will tell. For my part, I feel the Lord has placed a burden for the Jerusalem Temple on my heart, just as other intercessors are called to pray for particular nations or places.
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I may have been leaning more toward that point of view as well if it wasn’t for the reality on the ground: Jewish people are primarily Jewish in traditions and culture as a whole these days and the Orthodox are almost despised by the nation. Seems there is a lot of inertia to overcome if the Temple is to be rebuilt etc. As you say, time will tell.
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Indeed. The elections and a peace plan could have an impact either way – for many nationalists, it’s as much about asserting their right to be in the land as it is about the religious things.
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True. I keep thinking back, however, to the many conversion of Jews that happened in the Second World War including the Chief Rabbi of Rome. So a catastrophe may in store which will have people raising their eyes toward God once again and hopefully not turning their ire toward God for allowing this to happen. Since it worked somewhat before I do wonder how bad it will have to be to move an a large portion of the nation to accept Christ as their Messiah.
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That seems to be the purpose of the Great Tribulation/Time of Jacob’s Trouble – to humble Israel so that they are ready for the “fountain of grace” to be opened to them. As in WWII, I think part of the process is seeing how God will use kind Gentiles to help them escape from Antichrist’s death squads. There is also an element of jealousy/provocation at work, which Paul describes in Romans. Seeing what the Church is experiencing – grace from God and persecution from the Devil – will have an impact on Israel.
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Or perhaps the difference in the way true Christians handle their persecutions as opposed to the way that Jews respond. No telling what God has up His sleeve (so to speak) . . . only that whatever He does will have the maximum good effect that He desires.
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Absolutely. I would expect the epicentre of this distress to be in the ME, but there will probably be elements of this in Europe where there are large Muslim populations. Maybe also the US if the conservatives cannot keep power. I’ve heard of cases in the US where private bible studies in people’s homes were shut down by police (I think this was in California) and in the UK I heard of a village hall stopping a church meeting there because the church was pro-Israel.
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Yes freedom, especially religious freedom, is dying . . . except for the non-religious, ideologies such as Islam. What does that tell us?
Enjoyed the talk; got to get going now for some medical testing so I must sign off.
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Okay – hope the testing goes fine: God bless you in body, mind, and spirit. Deus tecum.
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For me learning to crucify the flesh has not been so much about my resistance of the Shadow nature, it has been about fully embracing the spirit man who Christ raised to life when I believed in him. I often meditate on that passage of scripture in Galatians 5 which says, “Walk in the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
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Thanks Pastor Joseph, that is a very helpful comment. Distractions pulling us away from Christ seem to be where much of the work of evil is done: advertising; economic and financial pressures; etc.
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Yes! The more we focus on the Lord and His Kingdom and His love the more distance we put between us and our shadow selves…the quieter those shadow selves are forced to become. I also find the more I fight with them the more powerful they become. So for me the key is filling myself with the Light of Christ. That is resisting the Devil.
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The micro effects of our dependence is almost a self-fulfilling nightmare of the macro effects of dependence upon the State, the Media, our Energy, our Food and our entertainment (often steeped in evil) which may be the root seed to the specter of the rise of Socialism and ‘free stuff’ . . . which is not free. Our new free stuff is made of spiritual chains to forces we have yet to grapple with. An EMP event will certainly shed light on the fact which St. Thomas mentions (see following article) that our dignity is tied to our independence and it is lessened by our dependence on others in this world.
https://www.catholicfamilynews.org/blog/2019/3/5/grid-dependency-an-unpleasant-but-important-topic?fbclid=IwAR1007TqlPpVFwrtHilKQ0LZO3jkkMfT-1V1VpLZAxYIC0evM3O0QDwNMYU
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The darkness and evil that men do
Lyon (AFP) – Philippe Barbarin, the French cardinal convicted on Thursday for failing to report the sexual abuse of minors by a priest in his diocese, is a conservative cleric who has made headlines for his blunt and controversial comments.
The 68-year-old archbishop of Lyon is one of the best-known figures in France’s Catholic Church — and its most senior figure to be caught up in a paedophile scandal.
Before his conviction, he was accused of ignoring the suffering of victims — until they went public with their stories, plunging the Catholic Church into a deep crisis.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/barbarin-outspoken-cardinal-charged-paedophile-cover-155615671.html
The cardinal very well couldn’t rat out his priests.Hes doing it too. They are all child abusers. A wicked religion will have a wicked priestcraft.
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Not true. A good band can have wicked members, a good country can have wicked politicians, a good company can have wicked directors, a good family can have wicked children and even God who created paradise for Adam and Eve found that they had fallen from Grace and their wonderful family had Cain killing Abel. You don’t have a very good understanding of the cost of God’s gift of ‘free will’ that He endowed us with. But one question ought to suffice for you. If the whole becomes corrupt it will not reproduce and will disappear in time . . . bad bands fail, bad countries get overthrown, bad companies file chapter 11 or worse, bad families end up dying off and yet the Catholic Church remains, warts and all, wicked members in need of redemption still doing God’s work and teaching the same truths though many don’t heed the teachings. But it survives . . . so it is not the structure that is wicked is that the Church was made for sinners. Some repent and are saved while others do not and go to hell. But how does that reflect on the Church? The Church remains what it is; as Christ founded Her and God told us that wicked men would come in. Did God say throw out my Church because we have sinners in it or did He ask us to clean them out and hold fast to the Truth? You are a rather shallow thinker I’m afraid.
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Yes good brother scoop, there are wicked men everywhere. As to why the catholic religion has survived so long, The bible, or rather Jesus tells us it will last 1260 yrs then its wound will be healed. 1929 Mussolini gave the CC back its land and it country back. Why does god let this murderous religion last…..I don’t know exactly but he is using it for something, which I don’t really know. But he tells us the anti Christ will destroy it during the trib. Sure, there are lots of religions , small poachers, but the big one, theMother of all Harlots is described with deadly accuracy by Christ in Rev. All Christian religions have the CC as their Mother, as the CC is fond of calling itself. You say the CC holds the truth…..I maintain the CC has 95% good food and 5% poison. Just enough poison not to be detected but swallowed. Then you eat it and die. Catholics explain the unbiblical teachings by saying that everything we need to know isn’t in the bible. Never mind that what they believe is contrary to the Word of God. It has its flock trusting in a virgin queen of heaven and graven images and costumed holymen, who are the most reprobate men walking the earth. Yes good brother scoop, not only are the holymen wicked, the religion is blasphemous, replete with its head holyman you call Lord God the Pope, the holy Father, gods title.
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