Metr. Saba: Christians Must Recognize Demonic Influence and Personal Responsibility

ENGLEWOOD, NJ — Metr. Saba (Isper) of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America has published an article examining the Orthodox Christian understanding of demons, warning against both denying their existence and blaming them for every form of evil.

In his article, “On Demons,” Metr. Saba argues that denying the devil’s existence conflicts with the Gospel, while attributing all evil to demonic influence allows people to evade personal responsibility. He also cautions that secular thinking has begun to influence some Christian teachers who minimize the devil’s role in the spiritual life.

Drawing on Scripture, Metr. Saba describes demons as fallen angels who rejected God through their own free will. He cites passages from Revelation, the Gospels, and the Epistles of St. Paul to explain the Church’s teaching on Satan as humanity’s adversary and deceiver.

The hierarch also addresses why most people do not encounter the devil directly. He writes that temptation often operates through thoughts and suggestions, using the example of someone who decides to give money to a needy person but finds himself repeatedly tempted to reduce the amount.

Metr. Saba emphasizes that Orthodox spiritual tradition advises neither exaggerating nor underestimating demonic influence. Blaming the devil for every evil can produce fear and obscure human responsibility, while dismissing his activity can leave people vulnerable to temptation.

Instead, Christians are called to confront the evil within themselves, take responsibility for their actions, and replace sinful habits with corresponding virtues. Metr. Saba concludes that spiritual struggle centers on acquiring the love of God and growing in holiness, recalling a contemporary theologian’s observation: “The problem is not that not all human beings are Christians, but that not all Christians are saints.”

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Saba said Scripture revealed God’s work, not simply human history.