How do I resist evil? - Alpha Course 11

The Battle You Did Not Know You Were In

Evil is one of those words that can feel either too dramatic or too abstract for everyday life. We see it in the headlines — atrocities, abuse, senseless violence — but we rarely apply the word to the quieter struggles that play out in our own hearts and minds. So when the Bible talks about resisting evil, what does it actually mean? And is it relevant to ordinary people living ordinary lives?

In this episode of Crowd Church, Matt Edmundson and Sal welcome back the Alpha Course series with part 11, featuring a talk from Dave Connolly. Dave has been a pastor in Liverpool since the late 1980s, and Matt has known him since arriving in the city in 1992. He is, by Matt's account, "a top bloke — very wise, with a lot of experience under his belt."

The Claim of the New Testament

Dave opens with a verse from Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." It is a bold statement, and it raises an immediate question — how is that even possible?

The claim of the New Testament, Dave explains, is that just as behind goodness lies God himself, behind evil in the world lies the devil. He acknowledges that this is a stretch for many people. Some find it hard enough to believe in God, let alone in a personal force of evil. Others find it easier to believe in the devil than in God.

Dave suggests that part of the problem is the false images we have created. A God who is an old man on a cloud is unbelievable. A devil with horns and a pitchfork is equally unbelievable — and, Dave adds, "actually unbiblical."

What the Bible Actually Describes

Dave turns to Ephesians 6:11-12, where Paul writes: "Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age."

This is not a cartoon villain. It is a description of spiritual forces that are cunning, powerful, and intent on destruction. Dave connects this to the real world — evil regimes, institutional torture, terrorist atrocities, the abuse of men, women, and children.

He recalls the Dunblane massacre of March 1996, when Thomas Hamilton entered a primary school gym and opened fire on a class of five and six-year-olds. Sixteen children and their teacher were killed. The head teacher said at the time: "Evil has visited our school."

"On any kind of theology or worldview which ignores the existence of spiritual evil," Dave says, "there is a great deal to explain."

How Evil Operates

Dave walks through Genesis 3 to show the pattern of how evil works. It is methodical and consistent, and once you see it, you start to recognise it everywhere.

Step one: raise doubt. The serpent asks Eve, "Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?" It is the same tactic used on Jesus in the wilderness — "If you are the Son of God..." And it is the same voice that whispers to us today: if God loved you, this would not have happened.

Step two: ignore the permission. God had given Adam and Eve wide-ranging freedom — "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden." But the enemy ignores all of that generosity and focuses entirely on the one prohibition. Dave points out that this is exactly what happens today. The devil "does not tell people who are not Christians about all the wonderful things it's possible to enjoy as a Christian."

Step three: deny the consequences. The serpent tells Eve, "You will not surely die." The penalty is dismissed as empty. And so the temptation lands.

The result? Shame, embarrassment, broken relationship with God, and hiding. Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves and hid from God's presence.

The Cry of a Parent

But Dave draws out something beautiful from the wreckage. After the fall, God's first response is not anger. It is a question: "Where are you?"

"That's the cry of a parent whose child has gone astray or got lost," Dave says. God's immediate instinct is to draw them back. Even in the aftermath of humanity's worst decision, the first move is towards restoration.

C.S. Lewis Had a Point

Dave quotes C.S. Lewis on the two equal and opposite errors we can fall into regarding the devil: "One is to disbelieve in their existence, and the other is to believe and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."

There is a healthy middle ground. Acknowledging that spiritual evil exists does not mean becoming obsessed with it. It means being aware of how it operates — the doubt, the distortion, the denial — and knowing how to stand against it.

Dave also warns about the growing interest in occult practices — ouija boards, channelling, consulting the dead, astrology — which the Bible expressly forbids. Many people explore these things because they are searching for something spiritual. The irony is that the very thing they are looking for is available through a relationship with God.

The Practical Response

The talk comes back to that opening verse: overcome evil with good. It is not a passive instruction. It requires awareness, intentionality, and a willingness to engage.

Dave's approach is practical. Know the tactics. Recognise the doubt when it arrives. Remember the generosity of God when the enemy tries to make you focus on restrictions. And when shame and hiding feel like the only options, listen for the voice that asks, "Where are you?" — not to condemn, but to restore.

Something to Consider

The conversation between Matt and Sal afterwards reflects on how relevant this talk is — not just in the dramatic, headline-grabbing sense, but in the everyday experience of temptation, doubt, and the quiet erosion of trust.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Deliver us from the evil one." It was not an afterthought. It was part of the daily rhythm of faith.

If you have been a Christian for a while, you may have noticed that the struggle with temptation did not disappear after you made a decision to follow Jesus. In fact, it may have intensified. Dave's talk offers a helpful frame for understanding why that happens — and what to do about it.

What area of your life might benefit from recognising the pattern of doubt, distortion, and denial — and choosing a different response?