Problems With the Revised Common Lectionary: Satan Gets the Ax in 2 Thessalonians, a Wicked Deception Indeed

This Sunday's reading from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17 is yet another example of the lectionary editors presenting the slumbering masses in the pews with a less than complete story. The result of their cuts is a lesson that minimizes the very real presence of Satan and his methods. I have shaded the missing verses in red.

"As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?"

Paul does not name the "lawless one", but I assume he is referring to the Emperor Nero who set himself up as God around the time of Paul's writing this letter and who possibly was the person who condemned Paul to death.

And now for the missing verses,

 "And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned."

There are two things in those verses that the lectionary editors may have thought to be problematic. First, the notion of Jesus destroying and annihilating anyone goes completely against the modern narrative in which Jesus is seen as something of a sweet and gentle flower child.
Second, the real evil one, Satan, cannot be discussed in front of the typical Sunday pewsitters because he is not something they believe in anymore.

The Sunday lesson concludes with this benign sounding exhortation,

"But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word."

I see the workings of Satan when we get presented with a highly edited version of what the Bible actually says. Satan getting written out of the Sunday lectionary reading is an example of how he infiltrates the Church through wicked deception