In our own Christian struggles, people tend to believe that it is simple as good evil. People don’t realize however that in this fight, the Devil can infiltrate a seemingly normal, Christian Human Being, but it’s true. Better yet, in our own walk with God the Devil lurks near to test what might look like a strong relationship with Christ. As shown in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘Young Goodman Brown,’ even a grounded, sincere Christian can have his or her faith tested. Hawthorne’s story refers to Brown’s travel companion as ‘the serpent,’ ; and though the story is allegory based the story itself raises an age old battle that is being fought to this day, the great controversy. The great controversy as it is formally known as, is the fight between good and evil…
Michael and Lucifer. On the issue at hand Ellen White says ‘The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man’s behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviour’s mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is the object which he seeks to accomplish.’ ; Within this fight, man, sinful in nature is in the middle of it. According to the Story Young Goodman Brown, Brown left faith or his faith to walk with the serpent, or the devil. He was so deep-rooted in his faith but disregarded it to walk with the devil. All throughout the walk the devil tried to test his faith by showing him harsh realities and telling Young Goodman Brown about his past and the negatives about his family’s heritage.
The Essay on Young Goodman Brown Faith Devil Woods
Young Goodman Brown Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne was at first a boring read. However the more I read it and began to break it down by sections it was interesting. The short story was written in 1895 it deals with a man and testing his faith. Ultimately this story displays how betrayal can affect someone's state of mind and actions. The story begins with Goodman Brown and his wife ...
That is just one of the traps of the devil, more so the one of the greatest tests of faith can be the existence of evil spirits. Ellen White says in her book The Great Controversy, ‘There is a growing tendency to disbelief in the existence of evil spirits, while the holy angels that ‘minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation’ (Hebrews 1: 14) are regarded by many as spirits of the dead. But the Scriptures not only teach the existence of angels, both good and evil, but present unquestionable proof that these are not disembodied spirits of dead men.’ ; (White 111) In the story the devil used his evil minions to deceive Young Goodman Brown and to make it appear that the people that appear to be good and upstanding Christians aren’t. With the likes of Goody Close and Deacon Gook in, Brown is never the same as he falls for the devils trap and looses his faith. ‘Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the Scriptures, will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he invents every possible device to engross the mind.
There has ever been a class professing godliness, who, instead of following on to know the truth, make it their religion to seek some fault of character or error of faith in those with whom they do not agree.’ ; (White 520) According to this passage in Mrs. White’s book Satan uses people and their own doubts and dislikes to get his work done, because believe it or not, everybody has his or her own controversy just like Goodman Brown did, meaning we all unknowingly.
