Part 2
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
—Titus 1:16
Reprobate –
rep·ro·bate -ˈreprəˌbāt/
2.Christian Theology
archaic
(especially in Calvinism) a sinner who is not of the elect and is predestined to damnation.
More observations gleaned from a recent trip into the apostate churches.
1- Before moving on to new topics on this subject, let’s take this opportunity to clear up a few loose ends from the previous installment.
PART ONE: Apostasy in the Churches: 10 Observations
A. Church-goers will at times acknowledge that there are many idols worshiped by others in their churches. They will even name quite a few things that church-goers put before God (idols). However, none have ever (in this writer’s presence) associated idol worship with what the Bible says is behind every idol: a devil.
American Apostasy: Disobedience in the House of God
B.Pew-sitters will very often complain that the world is “going to hell in a hand basket.” But to date, none have associated the worsening conditions of the world with the disobedience to God’s Word that is evident in the churches (which are supposed to be the light of the world).
Light in a Dark World: Ye are the Light of the World
C. The first defense of the apostate is “There is no perfect church.” But this is disingenuous: Who’s looking for perfection? Who’s implying that the churches should be perfect?
No one but those defending the ungodliness of the churches.
Forget perfection. Those in the Church are looking for churches that follow the Bible and not man’s doctrines or the latest fashions. Those in the churches might insist that they too want such a situation.
However, by their actions (rank disobedience and rebellion), they declare something altogether different. They claim to desire to follow the Bible only–until it runs up against their job, or their Harry Potter novels or their celebration of pagan holy days. Then their true priorities are revealed.
Now to some new topics.
2- The spread of homosexuality and homosexual marriage is a popular topic in the churches. There is little agreement on many things, but church-goers can often agree that the public displays of homosexuality is not a good sign of the times.
The feeling seems to be that only “liberal,” “depraved” or “bad” churches would ever endorse homosexuality.
The usual list of things condemned by church-goers (in traditional denominations) are: homosexuality, atheists and satanists.
This is because it is fairly easy for many apostates to see that these three things involve disobedience to God’s Word. Even heathens and the worldly know these three things are not of God. For the churches to survive until the coming of the man of sin, there has to be SOMETHING which church-goers can roundly condemn as contrary to God’s Word.
That list has grown extremely short in the modern churches.
Apostate American Church: Waiting for the MAN OF SIN
MAN OF SIN: The Man of Sin is Coming
3- Apostates fiercely defend “going to church” as a sign that a person is saved and right with God. To suggest that church attendance has nothing to do with salvation is very offensive to many and will cause some to get visibly angry.
Going to Church: Celebrating Tradition, Rituals and Empty Worship
The modern churches are temples full of dead rituals and empty, meaningless ceremonies which comfort the flesh of those attending. Church-goers mistake this temporary feel-good for the spiritual cleansing of true repentance and heartfelt prayer.
It matters not whether the church professes to be Roman Catholic, snake handlers, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Baptists, Science Fiction Church, ascetics, TV ‘ministries,’ Methodist, Lutheran or what-have-you: all are infested with traditions, ceremonies and rituals which satisfy the human hunger for the [security of] routine.
The cause of much anger appears to be that anyone would dare question the legitimacy of church attendance as a ritual of sanctification.
4 – Someone who adheres closer to God’s Word than the apostate is usually labeled “religious,” “legalistic” or “a Pharisee.” This last label is curious. The Pharisees were renowned for their attempts to CIRCUMVENT God’s Word, not adhere to it. They were also infamous for their lip service to God, not their obedience.
“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
—Luke 12:1
So the use of the label “Pharisee” for someone who advocates obedience to God’s Word demonstrates a lack of Bible knowledge of the one applying the label.
5- The churches appear to be able to stomach anything (witchcraft, occult themes, idol worship) EXCEPT disagreement with their worldly, antichrist agenda.
Though they claim to value “All opinions. However, as someone has already pointed out: no one gets to have an opinion on a subject where God has already spoken.
As to their good works and motives, they strive for universal agreement by all in the discussion.
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
—Matthew 10:34
“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
—Luke 12:51-53
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.”
—John 15:20-21
Practically any subject can be ruled “out of bounds” by declaring it to “not a salvation issue.” However, the central issue of obedience affects MANY issues that are declared to have no salvational value.
6- Talk of “evil spirits” or “demons” or “devils” make some visibly uncomfortable. Some declare that they do not believe other spirits are interacting with people in the churches today.
Seducing Spirits in the Church: The Supernatural Fan Club
However, the Bible plainly declares the existence of evil and familiar spirits and man’s use of illegitimate supernatural power (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The practitioners themselves (particularly witches) declare that illegitimate supernatural power exists.
Apparently the only two groups who declare that it does not exist are 1- those who have had no experience with such a thing; and, 2- Those who have but want to keep such experience secret.
The idea that spirits congregate in a place which is used spiritually is not a far-fetched one. IF the Holy Spirit was the only spirit who interacted with believers, God would not have had to issue the following warnings.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
—1 John 4:1
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
—2 Corinthians 11:13-15
7- Apostates know the Scripture about “narrow is the way,” but it appears not to matter enough to put away those things they’ve elevated above God (money, jobs, loved ones, etc.). Making God the number one item in their lives seems unrealistic and unworkable.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
—Matthew 7:13-14
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
—Luke 13:24
A usual response to the topic is “Hey, I’ve got to live!”
That God will be “reasonable” is another point raised.
8- Some justify and defend the promotion of witches, wizards, (Harry Potter, Halloween) and paganism as “It’s fun!” or “It’s just fantasy. It’s not real!”
It’s usually not helpful to the discussion to point out that “fun” is one of Satan’s greatest tools. Or that many pagans and occultists hide behind the skirts of “fantasy.”
Christianity and the Occult: The Occult goes to Church
PRAYER CIRCLES: Another Pagan Practice in the Church
Halloween 2014 Quotes: Halloween is Satanic and Demonic
Four Blood Moons: American Church Comfortable with Witchcraft
9- It should go without saying it does no good to ever tell a deceived person they are deceived. The Bible says that they cannot hear you.
“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
—1 John 4:6
10- The people who inhabit the churches are almost universally pleasant. They smile a LOT. They are very agreeable on all subjects except those relating to the Bible. One almost hates to disagree with them because they try very hard to be likable. They are likeable.
But this does not in any way lessen the believer’s obligation to defend the faith and doctrines delivered by Jesus Christ.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
—Jude 1:3
For most people,being agreeable is a more pleasant state of affairs than earnestly contending.
It’s almost as if they know that their pleasantness makes it harder to contend for the faith.
TWO BONUS OBSERVATIONS
11-The Scout’s motto (“Be prepared)” is usually always great advice. One should certainly always prepare before one goes into the churches. Prayers and fasting are good ideas.
(IF this seems overly-dramatic to the reader, refer once more to1 John 4:1 and 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.)
When one returns from such a trip, one also should pray for those with whom one interacted.
12- Once more (to repeat what was written in Part One,
When interacting with church-goers it is sometimes hard to determine if the person is being deceived or is “deceiving and being deceived.”
In either case, there is nothing for the believer to do other than to share the gospel and pray. No amount of logic, Bible verses, expert communication or any other earthly means will make a difference.
Only prayer and the gospel.
THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-4
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
PART ONE: Apostasy in the Churches: 10 Observations
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- Deceived and Deceiving, part 2
- To the isolated Christian in this Time of Apostasy
- Assembling Ourselves Together: The Lack of Fellowship in the Churches
- Eternal Salvation: The Narrow Way is Challenging and Few Find It
- FEW THERE BE: How Many Christians are There?
- Satan Has Counterfeited the Christian Church
- Discipleship Deception: The Apostate Church
- The Many Layers of End Times Deception: Deception in the Church
by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: ETPR/David Castillo Dominici , FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-15. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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