Not only is Satan a liar and the father of lies, his clever deceptions are starting to show up in societal studies, based on the results of one I read about in a Times Online article entitled 'Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'.

The article states that "religious belief can cause damage to a society, contributing towards high murder rates, abortion, sexual promiscuity and suicide", adding that "belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems." The article concludes by stating "the widely held fear that a Godless citizenry must experience societal disaster is therefore refuted."

It's things like this that lead me to tell people that Satan should never, under any circumstances, be considered an adversary which even the most intelligent of us could match wits with. Is it any wonder, in light of his ability to manipulate mankind's thinking, we see in Scripture that even Michael the archangel couldn't stand in dispute against him without the aid of the Lord, as seen in Jude 1:9?

I want to first share an excerpt from the article in question then address why the study's findings are what they are, as well as resolve the issue of whether Godless citizenry will experience societal disaster. First, the excerpt:

Is there an explanation for why a churchgoing nation might be seeing higher rates of homicide, teen pregnancy, and abortion, etc., than more secular nations? Absolutely, and it has nothing to do with the portion of society that is dedicated to Jesus Christ!

Simply put, the findings of Mr. Paul's study are indicative of a spiritual war being fought in a tactically sound and logical manner with the greatest emphasis being placed where the front lines of good and evil meet!

Much as opposing armies collide in the most hotly-contested areas on the battlefield, Satan is directing his minions to fight most strongly where he knows the greatest threat to his survival exists - the reason we see nations that honor God and Israel, where the satanic trinity of Satan (in the role of the Father), the Antichrist (in the role of the Son) and the False Prophet (in the role of the Holy Spirit) will ultimately meet their Waterloo, being attacked most harshly by the forces of darkness!

The United States of America, for example, considered by most to be the bastion of Christianity here in the end times, is under all-out spiritual attack of late, a few examples of many being atheist Michael Newdow's fight against the words 'under God' being in the Pledge of Allegiance and the ACLU's (the Anti-Christian Liberties Union as I like to call it) never-ending fight against public display of the Ten Commandments, the cross, the word 'Christmas', and anything else uniquely Christian it can find to bash in our nation's courts in an overt effort to undermine Almighty God, doing so, ironically and irritatingly, under the pretense of protecting our rights! What hogwash!

And Israel? Do I even have to mention, in light of how often I write about Satan's attempts to destroy the nation of Israel, the ongoing, never-ceasing efforts of the international community to divide up Israel's covenant lands, in what amounts to, unbeknownst to their spiritually bankrupt hearts, an attempt on the part of Satan to prevent Christ's visible, physical, bodily return to the earth and, ultimately, his defeat from taking place as long as he possibly can?

Wars, whether physical or spiritual, aren't fought where victory is already virtually assured! Although there may be skirmishes along the way as the light of the world and the salt of the earth - the Church - penetrates the darkness in areas where God is largely being forgotten, evil will always be found doing its worst, logically, where the cause of Christ is being forwarded the most!

In closing, is the fear that a Godless citizenry must experience societal disaster refuted by Gregory Paul's study? No, although I believe Mr. Paul's findings, at least on their face value, are accurate for the reasons previously stated.

Romans 1:18 tells us the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not the opposite!

Are societies truly worse off with God on their side? Of course not! Thus sayeth the Lord!

Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.