I came across this quote from NT Wright as I am studying 1 Peter:

The thing about recognizing the existence and power of the devil, and learning to see him behind not only temptations to sin but also persecution and suffering, is that this enables you to take the position which the rest of the letter has been advocating. When, two hundred years ago, many Western countries took a decisive move towards democracy, this was sometimes (not always) accompanied by a resolute dismissal of God, or public religion, from the civic and social stage. We were the masters now! But the danger with that, as has been apparent throughout the last two centuries, is that once you get rid of God you get rid, too, of the devil; and then you yourself, and your friends, or your party, or your country, take the role of God, while your enemies take the role of the devil. And that leads to disaster.

 Wright, T. (2011). Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John and Judah (p. 96). SPCK; Westminster John Knox Press.

We are in a militant phase in our culture. To the right and to the left we have a movement to “burn it all down” and start with something else… We create enemies out of people and political parties and economic ideologies. We burn through anger and look for solutions out of anger. At best, we look for solutions without a spiritual context, and that will still lead to more walls being built and fewer tables being a place of invitation.

My deepest prayer in this time is that the we would, culturally, quit taking the role of God in whatever manner that may look (even if we swear we’re not trying to be God). As for followers of Christ, may we stay humble and find the way of humility, the way of HIS LOVE, once again.