Polite Demons: Are You Allowing the Door to be Opened?

I think that it’s clear to say that Satan can outright temp us by using the “Pleasures of the Flesh.” As a younger version of myself, I experienced these temptations in an easy to acknowledge effort from the adversary. These temptations became predictable, and were easy to identify who indeed was behind these feelings.

As I have aged, I have discovered that the adversary’s plan against us does not always come in the form of grotesque darkness, terrifying apparitions, or open defiance against God. More often than not, it comes as a whisper, a friendly suggestion, a gentle nudge toward a seemingly harmless choice. The adversary does not always use force; he often uses persuasion, appearing not as an enemy, but as a guide—polite, understanding, and patient.

The Deception of Compromise

One of Satan’s most effective tools is not immediate destruction but gradual erosion. He does not demand that a person abandon their faith in a single day. Instead, he suggests small, reasonable compromises:

• “It’s just a little sin. God will understand.”
• “You don’t need to read the Bible today—you’re too busy.”
• “Go ahead and indulge just this once. You deserve it.”

Each step seems insignificant, but when added together over time, they lead a person far from where they started. Like a ship that drifts just one degree off course, the destination eventually becomes miles away from the intended harbor.

The Mask of Morality

The adversary knows that blatant evil repels most people, so he disguises sin in moral clothing. He convinces people that they are being righteous while subtly leading them into pride, self-righteousness, or judgment.

• “You are better than those sinners. You should distance yourself from them.”
• “Your version of the truth is more enlightened than the old, outdated Scriptures.”
• “You should focus on personal happiness rather than obedience to God’s commands.”

By presenting disobedience as wisdom, and sin as virtue, Satan can lead even the well-intentioned into darkness, all while they believe they are walking in light.

Desensitization to Sin

The more a person allows darkness into their life, the less offensive it becomes. What once shocked and disturbed them now seems normal. The adversary does not demand immediate acceptance of wickedness but introduces it gradually, through entertainment, media, and cultural shifts.

• The first time they hear blasphemy or immorality in a movie, they cringe.
• The tenth time, they tolerate it.
• The hundredth time, they laugh at it.
• Eventually, they embrace it.

Little by little, what once seemed evil is now just “part of life.” The polite demon has done his work well.

Distraction from Truth

One of Satan’s greatest strategies is not always to turn people into outright sinners but simply to keep them too distracted for God. He fills life with noise—entertainment, busyness, endless obligations—so that people have no time to pray, read the Bible, or seek truth.

• “You can pray later.”
• “You’ll read Scripture tomorrow.”
• “You’re too tired to think about spiritual things right now.”

He does not need to convince people to hate God; he only needs to keep them too preoccupied to notice they are drifting away.

Resisting the Polite Demons

The Bible warns us to be sober and vigilant because the adversary prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). But he does not always roar—sometimes, he whispers. To resist, we must:

1. Guard our hearts and minds – Be mindful of the small compromises that can lead to greater destruction.
2. Stay rooted in Scripture – A person who knows truth will recognize deception when it comes.
3. Pray for discernment – Not all that seems good is from God; wisdom is needed to distinguish light from disguised darkness.
4. Reject distractions – Make time for God, no matter how busy life becomes.
5. Surround yourself with truth – Fellowship with strong believers and seek accountability.

The enemy is polite, patient, and cunning, but his end goal is always the same: separation from God. He may come as a friend, an enlightened teacher, or even an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), but his ultimate desire is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

Let us not be deceived. The adversary may creep in politely, but he must always be driven out with authority.

In my studies, I am amazed that just how much satan copies Jesus and His gospel making it hard sometime to understand the truth. Let me give you an example. The inverted pentagram.

Did you know that this symbol has to completely different meanings? Let’s take a look at the differences.

The Good of the Inverted Pentagram

1. Symbol of Balance and Earthly Connection – In some traditions, the inverted pentagram represents the dominance of the physical world over the spiritual. It can symbolize grounding, material stability, and the mastery of the elements (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit).
2. Wiccan and Pagan Use – Some Wiccan and pagan traditions use the inverted pentagram to represent the second-degree initiation, signifying personal growth and transformation.
3. Protection in Some Beliefs – Although less common, some believe the inverted pentagram can serve as a symbol of protection and personal empowerment.
4. Association with Freemasonry – Some Masonic traditions have used pentagrams (both upright and inverted) as symbols of wisdom and enlightenment.

The Bad of the Inverted Pentagram

1. Association with Satanism – The Church of Satan adopted the inverted pentagram (often with a goat’s head, called the Sigil of Baphomet) as a symbol of rebellion against Christian doctrine, making it widely associated with Satanism and the occult.
2. Reversal of Spiritual Priorities – In esoteric traditions, an upright pentagram symbolizes the spirit ruling over the material world, whereas an inverted pentagram is sometimes said to represent the opposite—placing material desires over spiritual enlightenment.
3. Negative Cultural and Religious Connotations – Many Christian and religious groups see the inverted pentagram as a sign of evil, corruption, or anti-Christian beliefs.
4. Use in Black Magic and Occult Practices – Some occult practitioners use the inverted pentagram in rituals that involve summoning or communicating with dark entities, contributing to its ominous reputation.

Ultimately, whether the inverted pentagram is good or bad depends on one’s perspective, beliefs, and the context in which it is used. Some see it as a symbol of power and freedom, while others view it as a representation of rebellion and darkness.

Because of this deception, some can see this symbol as a form of worship, when in all reality, they might indeed be worshiping an entirely different entity than they had thought.

Here is another one… “The Morning Star.”

The term “Morning Star” carries both positive and negative meanings depending on its context in religious and historical references.

The Good of the Morning Star

1. Jesus Christ (Revelation 22:16) – In the Bible, Jesus refers to Himself as the “Bright and Morning Star”:
   • “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Revelation 22:16, KJV)
   • This symbolizes light, hope, guidance, and eternal salvation. Just as the morning star (Venus) shines before dawn, Christ is seen as bringing light into a dark world.

The Bad of the Morning Star

1. Lucifer’s Fall (Isaiah 14:12) – The term “Morning Star” (translated as Lucifer in the KJV) is used to describe the fallen angel:
   • “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12, KJV)
   • In this context, “morning star” is associated with pride, rebellion, and a fall from grace, as Lucifer sought to elevate himself above God.
2. Deception and False Light – Satan is said to masquerade as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). This means that while he may appear righteous, his true nature is to deceive. The morning star, in a negative sense, can represent false enlightenment and spiritual deception.

The term “Morning Star” can represent either Jesus Christ (as a beacon of hope and salvation) or Lucifer (as a fallen, prideful being who sought to overthrow God). The key difference lies in the context—whether it refers to Christ as the true light or to the devil as a deceiver.

There are quite a few religious symbols, concepts, and figures that have both good and bad meanings, depending on interpretation. Here are some notable examples:

1. The Serpent

• Good Meaning: In some traditions, the serpent represents wisdom, healing, and transformation. For example, in Numbers 21:9, Moses lifts up a bronze serpent to heal those who look upon it, prefiguring Christ.
• Bad Meaning: The serpent is often associated with deception and evil, as seen in Genesis 3, where Satan tempts Eve in the form of a serpent.

2. The Cross

• Good Meaning: The cross represents salvation, Jesus’ sacrifice, and eternal life.
• Bad Meaning: In biblical times, the cross was a symbol of shame, suffering, and execution. Some also argue that it has been misused in history for violent or oppressive purposes (e.g., the Crusades).

3. The Eye (Eye of Providence)

• Good Meaning: Sometimes seen as the all-seeing eye of God, symbolizing divine guidance and omniscience.
• Bad Meaning: Some associate it with secret societies, control, and deception, particularly in conspiracy theories.

4. Goats

• Good Meaning: In some contexts, goats symbolize stubbornness in faith and provision (e.g., goats being used in sacrifices to atone for sins).
• Bad Meaning: In Matthew 25:32-33, Jesus separates the sheep (the righteous) from the goats (the condemned), giving goats a negative connotation.

5. The Sun

• Good Meaning: Symbolizes God’s glory, righteousness, and light overcoming darkness (Malachi 4:2 – “the Sun of Righteousness”).
• Bad Meaning: In some pagan traditions, the sun is worshiped as a god, which the Bible condemns.

Can you see the cleverness of satan? Either way, he can take something that is “sacred” and change its meaning into something “evil”, or vice versa. A subtle way to get religious people to worship him while in fact, they feel that they are worshiping God. The move of a “Polite Demon.”

As we discover what he has done throughout time, it prepares us for the “deception” that is to come in the last days. Can you identify some of the deceptions that you have experienced in your life relating to religious worship?

So, what can we do to further prepare in our battle with these polite demons? One concept that rings through time after time is to ask God for clarification. Through the Holy Ghost, God will always tell us if something is good or evil. You will have a felling of “light” inside yourself when the answer is that it is from Him. Further, when what you are asking about is not from Him, but rather the adversary, you will have a feeling of darkness and confusion. This is a gift that God has given to us to navigate through these confusing matters.

It is my prayer that all of us will see through the deceptions, as well as recognize the “Polite Demons” that are trying to find a place to rest within us.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Amos 5:14-15
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

3 John 1:11
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

You’ve got this! Stay close to God, and do not allow yourself to quietly drift away from His presence. He is your Father, and will see you through.