Church leaders warn us of the dangers posed by groups outside the church in the surrounding society; “liberal” politicians, “Woke” ideology, the “gay agenda,” and the like. Forces that are destroying society, perverting the culture, and undermining the “Judeo-Christian” values on which the United States of America was founded, supposedly.
I remain unsure what
“Judeo-Christian” values are. The term is a recent invention born out of
partisan politics and expediency. Regardless, this line of thinking derives
from the presumption that this country is God’s great exceptional nation, a
beacon of light in an otherwise dark world, or at least, was so once upon a
time.
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| [Photo by Joseph Pearson on Unsplash] |
Jesus certainly included a definite political aspect in his teachings; namely, the “Kingdom of God.” However, America is not that Kingdom. Like all other nations, its society, culture, and political system are part of the fallen World Order judged centuries ago on Calvary.
The worsening of sin demonstrates
the nation is under the “wrath of God.” Having refused to “acknowledge
God as God,” He delivered it over to the very sins for which its people and
leaders lusted. The existing World Order is winding down to its inevitable
demise, engaging in an orgy of self-destruction along the way.
Yes, the New Testament speaks
of temptations and persecution from without. After all, “all those who live
godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Nevertheless, what it consistently
and loudly warns against is the coming infiltration of the Body of Christ by
deceivers. When John referred to the “Spirit of the Antichrist” that was
at work in the world, for example, he pointed to the false teachers who were
disrupting his congregations to prove his point.
Jesus warned that “many deceivers will come and deceive many,” causing the love of many believers to turn cold, and today, deceivers of this very sort are targeting the “Elect” of God with their false teachings, scams, and lies - (Matthew 24:4-11, 24:23-24, 24:26).
Likewise, Paul
wrote of the coming “Apostasy” and the “Lawless One” who will
appear in the “Sanctuary of God,” a term he applied to the Church
- (2 Thessalonians 2:12). This “Lawless One” will use “lying signs
and wonders” to deceive those “who do not welcome the love of the truth,”
and if we wish to know what Paul meant by “the truth,” we need only read
a little further – The “traditions taught” by Jesus and his Apostles. Only by cleaving to them will believers
avoid the coming deception and apostasy.
Peter warned of coming false prophets and false
teachers in the Church
who would teach heretical doctrines. Many believers will “follow their pernicious ways; and by whom the way of truth shall be defamed. And through covetousness shall they with feigned
words make merchandise of you.” These words fit today’s Word of Faith preachers
‘to a T.’ They are charlatans who “make merchandise” of the sheep,
pervert the Gospel, and discredit the gifts of the Spirit through their silly
antics and false prophecies.
It is not the further
degradation of an already fallen society’s morals and government or even
persecution that could destroy the Church, but the deceivers who are working in
the Body of Christ. When their lies are embraced by millions of believers,
disaster becomes inevitable.
The warnings of the
New Testament are no longer that. They have become all too real in the churches
of America where true prophets are rare, and the voice of the teacher who knows
God and His word struggles to be heard over the noise of Satan’s invading horde.
RELATED POSTS:
- Deceiving and being deceived - (The New Testament repeatedly warns of coming deceivers and false prophets who will cause many disciples to depart from the faith)
- Serpents in the Assembly - (The Spirit of Antichrist works to destroy the Body of Christ from within, especially through deceivers and false teachers)
- Prophetic Blunders - (Time and again, popular preaching on end-time prophecy has propagated predictions and expectations that have not come to pass)