Don't Check Your Brains at the Door - The Cosmic Cop

Chapter One: Exposing the Killjoy Myth

My Interpretation of Chapter 1:

We tend to believe the fantasy where God is on one shoulder and the Devil is on the another. God is speaking in our ear telling us all the ways to behave and do good and the Devil is on the other shoulder telling us all of the ways we could have fun and get wild. We portray the Devil as our fun-loving buddy who helps us get in touch with our wildest dreams, and God as the officer and hall monitor who slows us down and prosecutes our bad decisions.

The Bible tells us a different story. Actually, God is trying to protect us and the Devil is trying to corrupt and steal or devour us. Yes, God does have guidelines for us to follow. He wants us to live happily and near him. This doesn't make him a cop. It makes him a parent. He created us and he loves us. As we grow in our faith we follow a path very close to how we grow physically and mentally. Once we grow past our "childlike" faith stage and our "teenage" rebellion stage, we grow into an adult stage that allows us to look at God and his guidelines with a new respect and see the value in following them.

Workout:

In Peter, we find the devil portrayed as a lion devouring us when we are off guard and unsuspecting.
1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version)
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

In Job, Satan is tortures Job so the he loses his faith in God. Job has done nothing to provoke him. Satan simply wishes Job ill because of the relationship he has with God.

Job 2:1-8 (New International Version) Job's Second Test

1 On another day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."

4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

Satan is ready to "throw Zechariah under the bus" in this verse.
Zechariah 3:1 (New International Version)

1 Then he showed me Joshua [a] the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan [b] standing at his right side to accuse him.

Here again we see a repeat of Satan ready to accuse us (our brothers or those who follow God) day and night.
Revelation 12:10 (New International Version)

10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.

Summary:

I can see Satan or "the Devil" playing some kind of Godfather figure, a mob boss or a gang leader, who is ready to use everyone that follows them to their own advantage. Satan is more than willing to bend any rule or help you in anyway to "buy" you. He will also feel need to spare your life after he has put his stamp on you. He is so good at appearing to help you in the beginning and then after you become a liability you are cut off and in more danger than you started.