I recently engaged in an esoteric discussion with a friend over lunch. After extolling my views on life, he responded “well, to play devil’s advocate,” before pointing out the flaws in my idea. 

My first inclination was to disparage his mother. But then I started to consider what he was saying. No, I didn’t contemplate the strength of his argument juxtaposed against the merit of my stated proposition. I couldn’t do it. I was fixated on his initial statement. 

My friend just admitted to advocating for Satan!

I always considered him a Christian fella. I now learned it was likely a ruse to infiltrate the ranks of the righteous and spread the word of the Prince of Darkness. That was pretty unsettling, to say the least. 

So I ran away. I was always taught as a youth to escape morally compromising situations. I’m pretty sure breaking bread with one of Satan’s foot soldiers qualifies. Besides, I wanted him to pick up the tab. 

I went home and cried. I realized our friendship couldn’t continue. Sure, I didn’t like him that much. But a guy with my personality can’t afford to lose any friends. 

Then confusion set in. My friend admitted to advocating for Beelzebub just prior to articulating the shortcomings of my idea. I always fancied Lucifer as more Hitler than Socrates. I imagined the Evil One’s work as tempting people to steal, murder and vote for Donald Trump, not identifying non sequitur arguments or ad hominem attacks. 

In my confusion, I googled what exactly being a devil’s advocate entails. Apparently, playing devil’s advocate is a common expression describing the act of offering a counterpoint for the sake of debate.  Either that or Lucifer already got to Google. 
Assuming the Google machine is correct, seems a pretty dramatic and sinister way to describe the act of verbal sparring. And it certainly seems dismissive of and undermines the Adversary’s great work as a force of real evil in the world. 

Not that I’m taking the devil’s side. I’m just playing devil’s advocate.