Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Confused (08/16/07)
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TITLE: Losing The Confusion | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
08/22/07 -
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Hopefully, the response would not be one of denial that the confusion exists. Denying that the problem exists, and in fact has existed from the earliest years (Galatians 3: 1) of the Church Age, is an indication of just how deceived and ignorant the Christian Community is regarding its own history and just what the devil’s chief weapon, religion, is all about.
Religion is any belief or practice that Man has either added (Prov.30: 6) to or taken from (Deut. 4: 2) what can be Biblically substantiated. All such things, including the ones that can be found within the Christian Community, are satanically endorsed and promoted, and are contrary to the “mind of Christ (1Cor. 2:16 NASB)”.
The reason is that the focus of satanic (Eph. 6: 12) attack is on the true teachings of the Christian faith is that there is no need or incentive for him to attack any other systems of belief. The adherents to such things are already in denial of the deity and the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture (Psalms 96:5/1Tim.4: 1) makes it clear that ALL such teachings and practices are actually demonic in nature. This is either a statement of absolute truth or its source (2Tim.3: 16) is a liar and therefore cannot be trusted concerning any spiritual issue(s).
The concept that there is only one God and therefore we all worship the same God, but by a different name or practice(s) is a deception from the mouth of Satan. Like all of Satan’s lies, there is always an element of truth to make them appear credible. In this case, Satan is correct when he promotes the idea of there being only one God, but to say that we all therefore worship the same God/god is a lie.
The only thing that all humans share is an inherent concept of there being a God (Eccl.3: 11). What each individual inevitably chooses to fill the void that God created in our soul for Himself is what separates believers from unbelievers.
The Lord Jesus Christ is either everything He claimed to be or He is the greatest deceiver in all of human and universal history. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14: 6 NASB).”
The being behind all the attacks and the resulting confusion in the spiritual realm is the devil himself (John 8: 44). This is nothing new.
Our true enemy, therefore is not fellow Christians of man-made denominations with differing concepts or practices. Our true enemy is not the atheist or those who adhere to any of the world’s religions. “For our struggle is not against” [people] “flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, and the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6: 12 NASB).”
Fellow human beings are to be edified with “gentleness and reverence (1Pet.3: 15 NASB).” Hate sin, but not the sinner.
The only solution to any form of spiritual confusion is spiritual truth. The ONLY tangible source of spiritual truth is the Word of God. Even at that, the Bible must be studied under the filling of God the Holy Spirit (John 15: 5) and interpreted according to the principles of isagogics, categorical doctrine, and exegesis. While this is primarily the job of the pastor teacher, members of the congregation should aspire to be like the ancient Bereans (Acts 17: 11) in order to discern the accuracy of the doctrine being taught from ANY pulpit.
The greatest adversary to the Word of God is not SIN or SINNERS; it is religion. There is no greater darkness (confusion) that the darkness that a “religious” individual can be lost in. This is because such a person believes he/she is right when in reality he/she couldn’t be any more wrong.
We know when we sin and what we are doing when we choose to do so. However, knowing the difference between religion and spirituality is a horse of a different color.
In order to be inoculated from all the confusion in the spiritual environment, one needs a daily dosage of unadulterated Bible Doctrine.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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