I have been followed Paul Kingsnorth on the internet.  He posts at “The Abbey of Misrule.”  He has recently become a committed Christian.  For me, he puts into words the spiritual conflict taking place in the West.  Recently he wrote a blog entitled “Chasing the Dragon.”

“When I look forward,” notes Kingsnorth, “I can’t see anything much that is fixed or holy or pegged down.  All I can see…….is that dragon.” He wonders if we are moving into a dragon time.  “If this is a dragon time,” He ponders, “what is our age’s serpent saying?  What has it come for?  Perhaps our dragon is the beast rising from the sea.  Perhaps it is the return of the wild nature we have crushed outside and inside of us for so long………Is it the consuming passion of the Machine, which will end up consuming us all?……. Does it come to destroy us or to redeem us – or are they both the same thing?”

I am fascinated by Kingsnorth’s intuitive struggle to understand the modern day struggle between good and evil.  It takes me to Revelation 12, where we read about Satan as the great, red dragon.  “Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. (Rev. 12:3).  We are told, about a war in heaven. “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.” (v 7). 

Michael is victorious, causing the dragon to lose its place in heaven.  “The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth” (v 9).  Heaven rejoices at the victory, but we have these fateful words regarding  the dragon.  “But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (v 12). 

We are told, “the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (v 17).  This is the believing church throughout history.

Eugene Peterson has this observation about the bluster of the dragon.  “Our problem is that we overestimate the politics of earthly governments and underestimate the politics of heaven.  John’s imagination is a rush of adrenaline to those of us with little faith.  And so infused, we’re again fearless, unimpressed by the bluster of the dragon.”

I appreciate Kingsnorth’s wondering about our time being a dragon time.  I understand this to mean the power of darkness which seems to be clouding our civilization.   Could there be an intensifying of the battle between light and darkness in our Post Christian culture?  So many signs point to a deepening of a battle between good and evil.  

Only our heavenly Father knows the day of the Lord.  But could the crises and chaos of our time be pointing in that direction.  I sure can see our age being a dragon time.  Peterson give us this warning: “The political metaphor of a kingdom insists on a gospel that brings everything and everyone under the rule of God.  People love to hear that God is powerful and that he rules.  They aren’t as enthusiastic when they discover the means by which he exercises his rule.” 

Men, the battle has already been won through Jesus death and resurrection.  We live in the time of the “not yet.”  Victory against the dragon is assured.  But how the battle will play out is not for us to determine. 

As a young pastor back in 1978, I read Richard Foster’s book “Celebration of Discipline.”  It was a kind of spiritual awakening for me.  I felt like I was breathing “fresh spiritual air.”  I was concerned about matters of the heart and soul, but there were few evangelical leaders speaking to the issues of “soul care.”  Foster opened new doors for me. 

I was captivated by the opening words of Foster’s book: “Superficiality is the curse of our age.  The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.   Foster went on to say, “the spiritual life calls us to move beyond surface living into the depths.”  He was talking about soul life.

Recently I watched a video of Foster giving a presentation in 2018 at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of his book.  What was true then is true today: “The need for the growth of the soul.”  In Foster’s view, “The most lasting work is accomplished in the depth of the heart.”  All real spiritual formation is “heart work.”  The focus is on the purity of the heart (Proverbs 4:23).  “We must not neglect this work,” he warns, “Spiritual formation is not a tool kit to fix things.”

When Foster looks at our culture, he listed four areas of concern:

First, information technology.  We are all wired to the information age.  The changes have been rapid and all pervasive.  The demands on each of us can be a spiritual drain.  The inner life can easily be neglected.  Soul care takes time and attention.  Foster cautions us with one word: distraction.  “We need,” he maintains, “a discerning, life-giving ascetism.”  We need practices to help us “unplug” so we can listen and learn to just be.

Second, the loss of Christian consciousness.  The Christian story and culture are being lost in the collective consciousness of our nation.  How do we minister to people who have no roots in Christianity?  We need to focus on spiritual formation and the growth of the soul.  The inner life of many is an empty, confused spiritual space that needs to be addressed.

Third,  learning to live courageously through dark times.  We live in what Foster calls, “a wilderness of cultural unbelief.”  We may be witnessing “the beginnings of a new dark age.”  Evangelicals in our day are considered “hypocrites.”  How are we to sing the songs of Zion in a strange land?  Foster’s advice is stark: “Shut up” and “listen.” Talk less. Listen more.

Fourth, narcissism is the spirit of the age.  Culture has changed in this regard over the last 40 years.   We live in the age of “expressive individualism” (Carl Trueman).  It is the very air that we breathe.  Only inner transformation of the soul can help us to be “other-centered” rather than “self-centered.”  Jesus is our model in a life of surrender. 

Recently I came across a review written by Foster.  He mentioned a prayer that he was using in his devotional life.  I have memorized it and use it both in prayer and during the day.  “Lord Jesus, please/Purify my heart/Renew my mind/Sanctify my imagination/Enlarge my soul/Amen.”  This is a prayer that helps us focus on our inner life.  

Notice: a purified heart comes first, then the renewal of the mind.  I continue to need much sanctifying of my imagination.  Recently, I have become aware of the Spirit enlarging my soul as I focus on Jesus at the center.  May the Lord help us all to do this (Hebrews 12:1-3).