One of the basic questions that fuel the confusion of Christianity is, "who is God"? How can God be a relevant force in a modernistic society when Christianity cannot come to a consensus on whom or what God is? After 2000 years, more than 30, 000 denominations the confusion of Christianity is still another inconvenient truth. The generation of today has rejected Christian values because our leaders are failing to present a cohesive front. New and toxic ideologies are creeping into the realm of Christendom and those on the outside looking in are not impressed.
When did the Supreme Court of the United States render God Irrelevant in the application of the law? In what year did the courts enact laws that were contrary to the teaching of the Holy Scripture? When did it become acceptable for our youth to question the existence of God? By whose authority the talk show host, the football player and the soothsayer proclaim that Jesus was just one of many ways to obtain salvation.
In the early fifties with the acceptance of radio and television, the field of entertainment began to grow. The granting of star power to those who could sing, dance, or even talk was the beginning of the great proliferation of religion values. What happened during that era that allowed the emerging of such notables as Jim Jones and the Father divine types? What was it that drew the religious core to the radio on Saturday nights? Were they looking for a fresh word from God or was it the sound of Rev. C.L. Franklin as he toned up and roared.
The true knowledge of God is diminishing; thus, the arrogance of humanity and the ignorance of God are on the increase. Ignorance of God is accompanied by vice and crime, filling the community with violence and bloodshed, and making it ripe for the vengeance of heaven. The arrogance of man caused by the rejection of the knowledge of God is growing. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (Hosea 4:6)
A major step in the pacification of Christian values is to change the nature of God. How can a mere mortal change the nature of metaphysical God? Those of us who came of age in the early fifties and sixties can attest to the changes in the nature of God. Not only reflected in the nature of God, but everything pertaining to God seems to have changed. As a child coming of age in the sixties, I was afraid of God, I was afraid to use the Lord's name in vain. Our reasons for attending church have changed from that of the early Christians. Toxic values have crept into the church service Pacification allows toxic values to co-exist, but it is the Holy Spirit and the fear of God that directs our choice. Remove the fear of God from the equation and we have an impotent god sitting on the sideline smiling and waiting to bless his rebellious children.
The children of emerging generations are looking for the blessing. If there is a natural disaster, we can easily become complacent, looking to others for assistance. For many a simple chore of grocery shopping is becoming dependent upon the government. Dependent upon the government for survival while protesting the actions of the government is becoming synonymous with handouts, freedom, and rights. It is only fitting that we emerge as a people looking to God or someone else to provide for us. The nature of the Government is changed and so is the nature of God. Why do we go to church? We now go to church looking for that blessing. How do we get that blessing from God? Give God some money and he will bless you. How profane, yet for every person that does not believe this a great majority does and the rest are shamed into silence.
The Devil mimics God, often in the process creating mass confusion. Often he speaks in the name of God his ability to twist and interpret God's word is phenomenal. Along with some of the angels of the heavenly host, Eve also was a victim of the Devil's charming rhetoric. Whereas in the Old Testament God would fight against the wicked; the Devil would fight against the righteous. His tool of choice was misinformation. Always confident that he could achieve the same success that he achieved in the Garden he continued to exert a negative influence on humanity. The mass dereliction of duty by Israel, God's chosen people resulted in punitive action taken and the silence of God for four hundred years. God's wrath began to build to Revelation proportion, and then the Father sent his son.
Confident that he had won the war and brought destruction upon God chosen people, the Jew, after four hundred years the devil found himself once again facing a new and more powerful threat, the Son of God. A metaphysical being whose words evoked a state of fear and trembling, a personage destined to rule over his Father's kingdom as the King of Kings.
Many of Jesus followers were looking to him to raise an army and establish his Kingdom. Exhibiting a pacifist nature, Jesus assured them his kingdom was not of this world. (John 18:36) Jesus made it clear that the next battle would be a supernatural battle, and he was recruiting soldiers for his Army. The Devil knowing that he would not survive a supernatural encounter with the King of Kings he sought for ways to engage Jesus on a natural level.
The words of Christ possess the power to rendered Satan impotent, a simple phrase of "Get behind me Satan", sent him quaking in fear. Demons enter a state of convulsion and cast themselves of a cliff at the sound of Christ's voice. Failure to stand against Christ in a direct confrontation, he contrived a three-prong plan that we can say was beautiful, without giving him too much credit. The first step of his plan required Christ acknowledge his Kingship. On the surface, nothing seems sinister about this act of comradely. The people would demand that he be their King. The demand for a King had played out once before when the Children of Israel entered the land of promise. It was not God's will but God relented and gave them a King. If the people had accepted God as their King the prophet would have never stated, "The leaders have caused my people to err." (Isaiah 9:16) Now the people would be clamoring for Jesus to be their King to deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire.
"When Jesus, therefore, perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." (John 6:15)
Why did Jesus refuse the Kingship? If Jesus had assumed the position of King of the Jews, then his Kingly duties would have been to lead a revolt against the Roman Empire, thereby establishing his Kingdom.
Will you at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel; was the question at the top of the disciple agenda? Therefore, if Jesus had accepted the Kingship from the people rather than waiting until the Father bestowed upon him the kingdom, he would have operated outside of the will of the Father.
The next part of the Devil's master plan posed the question as to whether Jesus would fight to save his life. Peter was ready to fight; he even drew his sword and attacked one of the arresting officials. Judas expected Jesus to use his powers and save himself. If he would fight then this would be an insurrection against the Romans. Many of Jesus followers expected him to use his supernatural powers to free them from Roman oppression.
Regardless of what part of the plan worked, the Devil was confident of the overall success. If Christ refused to take any action, then crucifixion would become a reality. Crucifixion would bring shame upon the Christ and the people would turn from him, they would say, "He can save others but he cannot save himself."
After the death of Christ, but before the resurrection, the Devil realized the folly of his ways. The wrath of God peaked and the earth trembled, the temple shook, those that were standing around gawking at their handiworks, cried out, "surely this man is the son of God."
So true my brother :-)
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