I am not a fan of heavy metal music. I enjoy a variety of music, but heavy metal isn’t music to me. Though I care nothing for their music, Motley Crue has a fascinating story that brings about a sound Biblical principle that anyone can understand.
In 1983, the group released an album that included a song called, “Shout At The Devil.” The album cover shows a pentagram, and this sends a message without hearing a note from the album itself. It “shouts out” satanism. The story behind the song is about Nikki Sixx, bassist for the group and their primary songwriter. At the time the group recorded this song, Sixx had a growing interest in satanic symbols. He originally wrote the song under the title, “Shout With The Devil.”
Tom Zutant, an executive with the group, watched Sixx as some strange things occurred in his life. One day Zutant told him that if he continued shouting with the devil, he would be killed. That’s when Sixx changed the title of the song.
In one of Sixx’s interviews, he said, “The phrase has a deeper meaning beyond the satanic. It has always been about pushing back.”
Pushing back is what is behind much of what is wrong in our world. God created this world and everything in it. He made it perfect, and the devil pushed back. He became the evil one, and he was responsible for teaching man how to push back, not against sin, but against God. The devil told Eve, “You will not surely die.” Eve first, then Adam, sinned; and they did die. Eve did not shout at the devil. Instead, she listened and fell for his lies.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness in Matthew 4, the devil tried three times to get Jesus to submit to Him. Three times Jesus shouted at him, “It is written,” and then He proceeded to quote from the Old Testament God’s commandments to man. Jesus didn’t hesitate. He didn’t think about whether or not He wanted to be favored by the devil. He shouted loudly and clearly that He would not give in to the devil’s lies.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles stood before the crowd of Jewish worshippers and proclaimed the identity of the one God’s own people had crucified. He didn’t whisper. He couldn’t quietly tell these people they had crucified the Son of God. Instead, he shouted his message loudly and clearly, and it cut them to the heart (Acts 2:37). Verse 40 says he exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” Does that sound like a whisper?
When Peter and John healed the lame man at the temple in Acts 4, they were eventually brought into the presence of the rulers of the Jews. The rulers questioned them and wanted to know by what power they were able to perform this miracle. When Peter stood to answer them, this is how Peter replied. He said, “Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.” Do you hear a soft-spoken Peter making such a statement? He shouted at the devil.
When Peter confronted Ananias and Sapphira with their lies, he spoke plainly and boldly. “…why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 5:3). He didn’t quietly tell them they he had made a mistake. He shouted at the devil— “Satan filled the hearts.”
When Stephen stood before the people and defended his ability to heal and defended his teaching, he clearly said, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit, As your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). It is not likely that he spoke in a soft voice but rather shouted at the devil.
There are many other examples, but I think the point has been made. Shouting at the devil is not necessarily done with a loud voice and certainly not an unkind attitude. It is about a clear, concise attitude of standing for the truth. It is about being clear to the devil that you will not engage in wrongdoing, whatever the cost. It is pushing back against the devil and not pushing back against God.
When Paul stood before Festus in Acts 26, Paul was accused of being mad. Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.” His words were clear. He belonged to Christ. He shouted out against everything that was contrary to the gospel. He shouted at the devil.
When Paul writes to the Romans, he speaks about not being ashamed of the gospel. He declares it as being the power of God for the purpose of everyone who believes it. He also says the wrath of God is shown against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, “who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). The world may push back against God, but God will win.
So, we need to “push back,” not against God but against the devil. Shout out loudly and clearly against the devil, not with him.
Sandra Oliver
(Information about “Shout At The Devil” from ultimatedclassicrock.com).