Did Christians Create Satan; or Is He Actually Real?

Stephanie M.
Nov 19
4 min read

Until shortly after I graduated college, I was a moderately-avid horror film consumer, specifically those of the spiritual nature. My brother, who shared this mild fascination with the supernatural, eagerly viewed them with me and it became a sort of hobby we shared.

Though we weren’t obsessive about them, whenever the latest scare came out on DVD, we’d snatch it up and pop the popcorn.

We enjoyed classics like The Amityville Horror & The Shining, but the newer ones were the ones that really pulled us in. Think: the Annabelle, The Conjuring, and Insidious worlds.

Each of those movie universes explored demon-hunting and spiritual warfare which, both of us being Christians, we knew to be real (not so much the Hollywood version, but rather the concepts).

Some of the movies would make me jumpy and on-edge afterwards. Others would give me nightmares. I knew they were increasingly affecting me, yet I continued to fill my mind with images and jump scares that I will never be able to unsee.

That is, until one evening when the Holy Spirit got a hold of me. We were watching the newest release and the still small voice of the Lord told me to stop mid-movie. It was crystal clear and undeniably the Holy Spirit.

My horror-watching days had come to an abrupt halt, and I’ve never looked back.

Who is Satan?

Satan goes by many common names, such as Lucifer, The Devil, The Enemy and The Fallen Angel. Genesis refers to him as a serpent, and we see a description of Satan as a dragon in Revelation. John tells us that Satan is a murderer, liar, and the Father of Lies.

However, did you know he was also known as the Morning Star and Son of the Dawn before he fell?

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! — Isaiah 14:12

Satan is crafty, cunning, and good at making sin look beautiful. He brought down legions of angels with him when he fell from heaven. He is wicked and deceptive, tempting mankind and luring us away from God.

He is also powerful. Even Michael, the highest ranking angel of the Lord, recognized this and did not speak against him when given the opportunity. Rather, he called on the name of the Lord when he went up against his opponent.

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” — Jude 1:9

That should tell us something, folks.

We don’t fear Satan if we are covered by the blood of Christ. But we should respect that he is more powerful than we are on our own. If an angel mightier than Satan dared not go up against him without invoking the name and authority of the Lord, we shouldn’t either.

We also shouldn’t go looking for him.

Playing with Fire

Voluntarily participating in, playing with, viewing, or otherwise exposing ourselves to evil is like dancing around a bonfire with gasoline on your clothes. You might be okay, but you might not.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. — Psalm 4:23

When my brother and I were consuming so many horror films, we were not guarding our hearts. We were allowing our minds to be infiltrated with scenes and ideas that celebrated darkness. Those are in direct opposition with the types of things we’re told to fill our minds with.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. — Philippians 4:8

Am I saying Christians can’t watch scary movies? No, not at all. But I am saying we should be careful with what we allow in our minds, because it shapes us. Though not as often now, I still experience spiritual attacks to this day because of some of the things I exposed myself to more than a decade ago.

In the preface to his book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis writes:

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors…

I love this line, because it succinctly states how Scripture instructs Christians to interact with dark forces — be aware of, but don’t invite.

Have nothing to do with the fruitless acts of darkness, but rather expose them. — Ephesians 5:11

Some translations even say, “have no fellowship with…” Just saying.

A Warning to My Brothers and Sisters

None of this is written to invoke fear (or legalism when it comes to what movies we watch).

Rather, my hope is that you will take very seriously the fact that we do have an enemy who is very much out there in the world.

The tactics he uses are cunning and deceitful. His greatest skill is packaging up lies and half truths and making them appear innocent, even holy.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. — Colossians 2:8

Don’t be taken in. Be on your guard. Stay in the Word.

Thanks for reading! If any of this resonated with you, or you’d like to see more content like this, please consider subscribing so you’ll never miss out on a post. 🫶🏻