In Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus says:
43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man [or woman], it
passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it.
44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came';
and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.
45 "Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more
wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state
of that man [or woman] becomes worse than the first. That is the way
it will also be with this evil generation."
~ New American Standard Bible
Whether a person believes that “unclean spirits” actually exist or
that Jesus is using metaphorical language, He presents an accurate
description of the downward spiral of one who succumbs to temptation
after he or she has “cleaned up their act” and “turned a new leaf.”
Reading this scripture, I thought of those who “sell out” or go back
to behaviors that they had once abandoned. In my opinion, one who has
“seen the light” and later makes an about-turn, going back into the
“darkness,” places himself or herself in a very dangerous position –
spiritually speaking. The one who has not as yet been informed by the
Holy Spirit about their ungodly activities may yet be touched and
transformed. But the one who, having once experienced God’s redemption,
backslides, places himself or herself in great peril.
In Matthew 12:31 Jesus says –
31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven
men [and women], but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be
forgiven.”
~ New American Standard Bible
In Matthew 12:24 the Pharisees, who were religious leaders,
blasphemed the Holy Spirit by falsely accusing Jesus of casting out
demons – healing the afflicted – by demonic power:
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man [Jesus]
casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
~ New American Standard Bible
Leaders of animal welfare or protection organizations who “sell out”
and work with animal exploiting industries, or “water down” the message
with lies and “doublespeak” (“humane” veal, for example), are on a
downward spiral. There is no excusing their actions, because they
already know the horrendous emotional and physical pain of the animals
they are betraying.
Jesus’ commentary about “unclean spirits” (Matthew 12:43-45) coming
back to occupy a person who had once experienced positive change is an
apt description of the consequences of the treachery that they inflict
on God’s creatures.
