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Are We Unknowingly Doing the Devil's Work? Division, Pride, and the Call to Unity
13:41
What the video says
Father Michael Haldane, in an Orthodox Christian adult education broadcast, reflects on how ordinary believers, like Peter rebuking Christ, can unknowingly do the devil's work through self-willed words and actions that cause division. He warns that division (the meaning of 'diabolos') is the work of the evil one, while Christ calls us to unity ('that they all may be one').
He discusses false versus true peace, the media's fueling of hatred, the need for humility and watchfulness over our words, and forgiveness, so that we may love even those who disagree with us and become united with Christ.
Key moments
- Recounts Matthew 16:13-23: Peter rightly confesses Christ as the Son of God, then rebukes Jesus about His coming death, prompting Christ to say, 'Get behind me, Satan, for you are thinking human things, not the things of God.'
- Many today, especially in the United States, believe they act rightly while causing massive division; there is no right side to division when it is our goal or when we are indifferent to causing it.
- The essence of sin is self-centeredness; self-will combined with the human mind brings self-deception, so we must be still and pray to open our hearts to God.
- Christ prays 'that they all may be one' (John 17:21); the Eucharist is the highest form of unity, while the devil, whose name (diabolos) means divider, sows discord — St. Ignatius of Antioch urges fleeing divisions as the beginning of evils.
- When accused of being in league with Beelzebub, Christ teaches that a house divided against itself cannot stand — this applies to our hearts, families, friendships, communities, and nations.
- Media, politicians, and social media spread a 'virus' of hatred and division; the sacramental life is our ongoing medicine, and we must recognize the spiritual war behind it.
- On Luke 12:51-53 ('I came not to bring peace but division'), the Orthodox Study Bible distinguishes false peace (superficial harmony ignoring truth) from true peace (reconciliation with God), which has division as a side effect in a fallen world.
- Citing Fr. Alexander Schmemann: division is the triumph of sin, and forgiveness is the first breakthrough of the Kingdom; we can remain faithful to our convictions while loving and forgiving others, becoming 'little Christs.'
In an Orthodox Christian adult education class, Michael Haldas examines how ordinary believers can unknowingly contribute to division while convinced they are acting rightly. He begins with Matthew 16, where Peter confesses Christ as the Son of God and then, moments later, rebukes Jesus about His coming death, drawing the response, 'Get behind me, Satan, for you are thinking human things, not the things of God.' The point is sobering: even the most devoted among us can speak self-willed words that serve the enemy's purposes.
Haldas notes that 'diabolos' literally means divider, while Christ prays 'that they all may be one' (John 17:21), with the Eucharist as the highest expression of that unity. He warns that in contemporary America especially, people pursue or excuse division while believing their cause is just, yet there is no right side when division itself is the goal.
The root of the problem is self-centeredness: self-will joined to the human mind produces self-deception, so believers must cultivate stillness and prayer. He also addresses the role of media, politicians, and social media in spreading what he calls a virus of hatred, urging recognition of the spiritual warfare behind it and pointing to the sacramental life as ongoing medicine.
Discussing Christ's words in Luke 12 that He came not to bring peace but division, he distinguishes false peace, a superficial harmony that ignores truth, from true peace, reconciliation with God, which may provoke division in a fallen world as a side effect rather than a goal. Citing Fr. Alexander Schmemann, he presents forgiveness as the first breakthrough of the Kingdom: one can hold firm convictions while loving and forgiving those who disagree, becoming 'little Christs.' The discussion centers on humility, restraint in speech, and forgiveness as practical means of resisting division in hearts, families, communities, and nations.
Main points
- Peter's rebuke of Christ shows how even devoted believers can unknowingly speak for the enemy when guided by self-will.
- 'Diabolos' means divider; Christ prays 'that they all may be one,' and the Eucharist is the highest form of unity.
- There is no right side to division when it is our goal or when we are indifferent to causing it.
- False peace is superficial harmony ignoring truth; true peace is reconciliation with God, which may provoke division as a side effect.
- Media and social media fuel hatred; the sacramental life, humility, restraint in speech, and forgiveness are our medicine.