Paul Harvey Aurandt, better known as Paul Harvey, was a conservative American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio. He broadcast “News and Comment” on weekday mornings and mid-days and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. Harvey added that phrase as a tagline to his in-depth feature stories in 1946.

From 1952 through 2008, his programs reached as many as 24 million people per week. Paul Harvey News was carried on 1,200 radio stations, 400 American Forces Network stations, and in 300 newspapers.

Paul Harvey originally wrote his famous “If I Were The Devil” essay in 1964. The broadcast of the essay aired in 1965, and others still create updated rewrites with the same theme and approach. It is really amazing to realize how over 55 years ago he accurately “predicted” the future spiritual condition of the United States. Many of his statements were considered ridiculously outlandish at that time in history.

Harvey wrote and broadcasted current events throughout his adult life in a way that reflected society’s outlook and behavior of the time. Sadly his voice ended in 2009.

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PAUL HARVEY’S “IF I WERE THE DEVIL”

If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. 

And I’d have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree—Thee. 

So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first—I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve, “Do as you please.”

To the young, I would whisper that “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. 

I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is “square.” And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the devil I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions—just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing; I’d have judges promoting pornography—soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress.

And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? 

I would caution against extremes and hard work in patriotism, and in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. 

In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey…good day.”

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But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 2 Corinthians 11:3 NLT

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. herefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:11-15 NLT

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 NLT

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