Thou Art as Thou Smokest

Ever notice that stuff from way back when tends to last longer than stuff made today? For instance, your great-grandfather's desk is probably as solid today as it was the day he bought it. Sure, there might be a few scratches in the finish where you gouged it with a penknife when you were five, but that’s your own darn fault. Other than that, it’s as good as new. Moreover, if you’ve had to move it to a different room or a new house, you’re aware that the thing weighs a ton. That’s because it’s built solidly. The hardwood is of the highest quality, as is the construction. The thing was built to last, to be useful long after the craftsman who built it had died. It’s a desk which is very pleasing to the eye. Whether it’s built with a simple and practical design, or decorated with ornate carving, it’s designed to be not only functional as a desk, but also a piece of art.

Compare this to the piece of junk that passes for a desk today. It's ugly, and it’s made out of plywood. It wasn’t built to last four hundred years; rather, it’s designed to break in five years so that you’ll have to buy a new one. Thanks a lot, corporate scam-artists.

I chose furniture as the subject of that little rant, but there are any number of things which would have served as nicely: cars, architecture, clothing, Ritz cracker tins. People used to place value on craftsmanship, quality, beauty, charm. Now, mass production, cookie-cutter design, and disposability run the show.

On what, as a society, do we place value? On permanency or disposability? The answer to this question will inevitably pervade every aspect of our lives.

In the 1940s, men smoked pipes. Oh, they smoked cigarettes too, and often they smoked both. But over seventy percent of all men chose to smoke their tobacco in briar pipes, which is, needless to say, and astounding number. Nowadays, those who choose to imbibe the fragrant leaf can be seen rushing out of their office-buildings to stave off their nicotine cravings, hastily gasping in a few lungfuls of acrid smoke before returning to the earning of their daily bread, or at a bus stop passing the idle minutes, only half conscious of the roll of paper and tobacco pinched between their fingertips.

The pipe brings forth a very different image, and this is no mistake. Pipes are the natural companions of thoughtful solitude, large arm chairs and larger books, tea and brandy and deep contemplation. The pipe likewise (and perhaps to an even greater degree, the cigar) is at home amongst good company, wherein thick billows of fragrant smoke constitute the very atmosphere for comradery and conversation, of jovial brotherhood and earnest discussion alike. The very nature of the pipe demands that it be approached in a very different manner from a cigarette. It must be carefully packed, carefully lit, and thoughtfully smoked. Twenty minutes is hardly sufficient time in which to smoke a small pipe, and an hour or more is required for a larger one. These things give the pipe its character and virtue, but they are the very same things which have caused its decline in popularity. The very nature of the pipe makes it unattractive to the man who craves only a quick nicotine hit.

When we examine the briar pipe, we find that is a beautifully simple object designed for a beautifully simple task. It is in essence a small furnace, constructed so that the smoker may draw smoke from the burning tobacco into his mouth so as to savor it, and, in so doing, simultaneously keep the tobacco lit by supplying the coal with oxygen. Yet it is more than this. It is a small work of art, a testament to and legacy of the craftsman who made it. It is simple, but it is beautiful. It is not discarded after smoking like a cigarette; rather, it is a constant companion and friend. It can serve your grandson as faithfully as it has served you. It lasts. It is permanent.

As men made in the image of God, we are designed for eternity. This mortal body will wear out, but our next one never shall. We were designed for permanence. How many times in Scripture are we exhorted to think not of the temporary things of this world, but to be concerned with things that are forever? In light of eternity, even gold and silver are to be considered perishable. Yet we are made in the image of God, and an aspect of that image is our creativity. God creates. And when God creates, he creates things that are functional, beautiful and lasting.

The man who smokes cigarettes is concerned with a temporary sensation of relief. He is in bondage to nicotine, and inhaling smoke into his lungs keeps his cravings at bay. He takes the momentary pleasure in his cigarette for what it’s worth, and then tosses it aside. It is disposable. It is temporary.

The man who smokes a pipe is not a slave to nicotine. He does not draw the smoke into his lungs, and could just as easily refrain from smoking if he so desired. It is not nicotine he craves, but fragrance, flavor, relaxation, rest, and thought. When he knocks the last of the ashes from his pipe, he returns it to his pocket or his coffee table or desk, until next they meet as friends, and the old ritual – the filling, so carefully yet so naturally; the striking of a match, the kiss of the flame upon the leaf, the steady puff, puff, puff, the billows of smoke, the gentle tamping of the coals, and the easing into an hour of quiet bliss – is repeated once more. The pipe lasts. The pipe is permanent.

Moreover, the pipe, like everything worthwhile in life, takes care, maintenance, and commitment. A cigarette can be smoked thoughtlessly. This is impossible to do with the pipe, as anyone who has tried it knows. The pipe must be cared for and maintained, lest it turn bitter. It must be packed carefully before smoking, and tended carefully while smoking, lest it either die or burn hotly.

That our society has replaced pipes with cigarettes should not surprise us. Everything else which was once permanent is being replaced by the disposable as well. Cars which were made in the 1940s, ‘50s, or 60’s are still prized today. Now, a car is old after five years. And mark my words, in fifty years no one will be thrilled by the sight of a 2015 Toyota. They might say, “Wow,” but it will be “wow, that’s ugly.” The man who goes through cigarette after cigarette is the man who will goes from job to job, house to house, church to church, worldview to worldview, marriage to marriage. It should be stated that the point of this is not to condemn everyone who chooses to smoke cigarettes. Rather, it is to point out that certain attitudes have pervaded our society, from the smallest things to the greatest. The attitudes of our society can be demonstrated in our smoking habits, and these will in turn correspond to our attitudes about employment and marriage and religion. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”

Let us not be those who value convenience over beauty, cheapness over quality, disposability over permanence. Let us not be those who are blown by every wind of doctrine. Let us not plow through marriages like so many cigarettes. Let us, rather, be as those who smoke pipes. 

'The Devil Went Down to Georgia' as Allegory

Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went Down to Georgia is a classic of country music, but it is often, and perhaps justly, viewed merely as a flippant country song, with no real message, and as scarcely more

Fire on the mountain! Run, boys, run!

than an elaborate excuse for a couple of violin solos.  It is most probable that this is what Charlie Daniels intended it to be.  Certainly, it was not intended as a theological treatise, and Christians often hold that there is really nothing to be learned from the lyrics of the song.  

I intend to play Devil’s advocate, if you will excuse the pun, and argue that there are plenty of lessons to be learned here, if only we will take the lyrics of the song and examine them through the lens of Scripture. In other words, it’s not that there’s nothing of value to be gleaned from The Devil Went Down to Georgia.  It’s just that you have to view it from the correct angle.  Let’s give it a shot, shall we?

While my treatment of the song as a deep, theological allegory is tongue in cheek, the lessons which I will derive from it are not.  And yes, I'm about to ruin this song for you forever.

The song begins, "The devil went down to Georgia / he was looking for a soul to steal / he was in a bind / cause he was way behind / he was willing to make a deal."  We must be aware, the devil is looking for souls to steal.  Satan is the enemy of God and the enemy of all Christians.  He wants nothing more than for every human soul to go to hell, and experience eternal punishment in the fire prepared for him and his angels.  He is also way behind – all humanity is born bearing the guilt of Adam's first sin and the want of original righteousness, and therefore we are all on a natural path towards condemnation.  And such would be our end, were it not for Christ.  Paul tells us, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind" (Ephesians 1-3). So mankind are slaves to sin and Satan, following the prince of the power of the air—Satan.  Because of this, the devil is "way behind" for, as Paul tells us, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.  By sending his own Son ink the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1-4).  Whereas Satan wishes death for everyone, John records, "I looked, and behold, a great multitude that none could number, from every nation, from all drives and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"  Those saved by Christ is a "great multitude that no one can number"— truly, the devil is way behind!           

Interestingly, no such thing is ever said of hell.  We do not read of a great multitude of those in hell.  Charles Spurgeon takes this to mean that the number of the saved will far outnumber the damned, and expresses confidence that Satan will not claim more souls than Christ.  I can’t say with certainty if he is right about this, since Christ says that there are few who find the narrow way.  But we can at least rejoice that the number of those who are saved will be more than anyone can count.

Next, according to the lyrics of the song, the devil goes about tempting a boy named Johnny, who just so happens to be a world-class fiddle player.  Satan challenges the lad to a fiddle duel of the highest stakes.  If Johnny proves the better musician, the devil will give him a violin made of solid gold.  But if Satan wins, Johnny's soul belongs to him.  From this we can infer a couple facts, which will be integral for the remainder of our argument.  First of all, Johnny is a Christian.  This is not difficult to imagine, since he comes from Georgia, part of the Bible belt.  He's probably Southern Baptist or Methodist. I’ll not speculate as to which, or make any snarky remarks about either group.  Stuff like that gets me in trouble.  At any rate, he is saved.  This is obvious, because if he were not, the devil would not need to claim his soul, it would already be firmly in his possession.  Christ tells the Pharisees, "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires" (John 8:44).  As Satan is attempting to win Johnny's soul, it must be in the possession of another, namely God.  That the Devil is attempting to draw astray one of the elect of God is wholly Biblical.  After all, Satan even had the audacity and arrogance to try to induce Christ to worship him--something we will find laughable and pathetic! (Who does this guy think he is, anyway?) Peter warns Christians, "Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).  Christ says "false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:24).

So, Satan tempts Johnny, a fiddler and a Christian, and Johnny gives in instantly, bragging, "it might be a sin / but I'll take that bet / you're going to regret / cause I'm the best there's ever been!"  Obviously, this is descriptive, not prescriptive.  Should the Devil ever challenge you to a fiddle duel, you should not take him up on it!  James tells us, "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you!" (James 4:7).  Alas, characters in country-western songs never seem to be the most sober-minded of folks.  Johnny should have told Satan that his soul was ransomed by Christ at a price, and that he would not trivialize that sacrifice by betting his soul against a fiddle!

 Furthermore, he should have responded that his real treasure was not on earth, but in heaven, "where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-21).  However, he does not.  Being weak, as Christians often are, having his pride rankled by the devil's claim that he is a better fiddler, and enticed by the beauty of the golden fiddle, Johnny gives in.  He does this in full recognition that his action may be sinful.  The language is ambiguous; Johnny says "It may be a sin" (emphasis mine).  This can mean one of two things.  Either he is saying, "It is possible that this is sinful, but I'm not completely sure so I'm taking the bet anyway," or he is saying, "I'm going to take your bet even though I know full well that it is sin."  It's a sin either way, the only difference being the severity of Johnny's trespass.  If he's not sure, it's still a sin, for Paul writes, in another context but articulating a universal principle, "Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgement on himself for what he approves.  But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith.  For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Romans 14:22).  Johnny's actions are not based on faith; rather, he doubts that what he is doing is righteous.  It is, therefore, sinful. If Johnny knows he is sinning, as is likely, this has even graver implications.

Stakes set, Johnny and the Devil compete, and Johnny's fiddle skills trump those of Satan and his Demon Rock Band.  Here again we have proof that Johnny is a Christian.   No matter how much a virtuoso he is, we should not expect a Georgia boy to be able to play the fiddle better than Satan.  After all, Satan is extremely powerful.  Before his fall, Satan was one of the most powerful and beautiful angels, possibly even the foremost.  He is called the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), so it seems safe to say that, under normal circumstances, he could play better than even the best violinist, should he so choose.  But if Christ has ransomed Johnny's soul, there is no way that the devil can ever recapture it.  Paul says, "I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor power, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).  Thus, Johnny's triumph must be due to God's providence rather than his own ability.  Satan cannot win Johnny's soul in a fiddle match, because God will not allow it.  In His High Priestly Prayer, Christ says, "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one" (John 18:9).  Speaking of those who appeared to have fallen away from the faith, John writes, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us" (1 John 2:19).  Johnny, then, is preserved by the grace of God.

Is there a winner and a loser in this story? Surely, at face value, it appears that the winner is Johnny and the loser is the Devil. Satan admits his defeat, and hands the golden fiddle to Johnny as his prize.  Ultimately, we know that the winners are God, and, by the power of Christ, Johnny. For Paul tells us, "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).  And yet, we must view this as a temporary victory for Satan.  Why?  While Satan fails to obtain Johnny's soul, something which he must have realized was impossible, he succeeds in seducing Johnny to sin, not once, but twice. Johnny sins at first by agreeing to compete with the devil at all.  He sins again when his pride is inflated to even more astronomical proportions by his victory.  Full of haughty pride, Johnny boasts, "Devil / just come on back if you ever want to try again / I done told you once / you son of a gun / I'm the best there's ever been!"  Rather than giving praise to God for his salvation and deliverance, Johnny puts his trust in his own abilities.  Even if Satan does not succeed in snatching Johnny's soul from him, he certainly succeeds in causing him to trust in his own abilities, rather than in Christ's finished work.  Johnny becomes exceedingly arrogant and prideful, and even curses the devil in his boastfulness.  In contrast to this, Jude tells us, "when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgement, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you'" (Jude 1:9).  This is precisely what Johnny should have done, but instead he is propelled to the heights of arrogance by his victory.

This is not the final word, however.  No doubt Johnny will struggle with this pride, and be hurt by it.  No doubt his walk with God will be hindered temporarily.  But we know that "all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Ultimately, Johnny will learn a lesson about the dangers of pride, and will be stronger than ever before, perhaps even uniquely prepared for some future difficulty.  What Satan, or man, intends for evil, God can use for good.  The Puritan theologian Stephen Charnock once wrote, "The goodness of God makes the devil a polisher, while he intends to be a destroyer."  Satan cannot destroy Johnny, for God will not allow it. And when he comes bringing fiery trial, rather than damaging Johnny as he intends, Johnny will shine afterwards with an even greater luster.