A Modern Woman's Perspective On The Kingdom of God on Earth


January 14, 2016

Like Lambs To The Slaughter...


     You know how you sometimes have that nagging thought at the back of your mind, but then you think perhaps you are reaching a bit --- until someone else proposes the same thought with equal passion, and you know it is an affirmation from God?  That's what happened to me this morning.
     As usual, I start my day off with personal time in my Bible as I commune with God, trying to gain a bigger, and more intimate, knowledge of Him.  I was reading the Book of Proverbs, specifically Chapter 7, and I was instantly impacted by the vision the Scripture presented.  On the surface, the text was describing the advice that a loving father was giving to his son... to keep and treasure the commandments of the father; to cling to wisdom and understanding and insight, in order to avoid the enticement of "the loose woman", who was not only a "fallen woman", but sly and cunning of heart; turbulent and willful.
     This "harlot" was seen as bold and adventurous, blatantly tempting the son, and impudently offering herself to him without hesitation.   She lures him to come home with her and make love on her luxurious couch and cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt.  She teases his senses with the suggestion of a bed perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.  She assures him that the good man of the house is not at home; that he has gone on a long journey and taken his treasure with him, only to return home at the appointed time.
     Then Proverbs tell us that "with a justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him [to overcome his conscience and his fears] and forces him along into her house.  Suddenly he [yields and] follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in shackles going to the correction [to be given] to a fool, or like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle, until an arrow [of passion] pierces and inflames his vitals; then like a bird fluttering straight into the net [he hastens], not knowing that it will cost him his life."
     I knew, with a sinking heart, that this was an accurate analogy for the path our country has taken; and sadly, the experience of too many Christians who have been enticed to abandon the commands of God in order to follow the harlot and what the world has to offer.  I know I am not the only one who sees it.  And sometimes I think that my justification for this opinion falls on deaf ears.
     But then someone else speaks up with a voice much louder than mine.  Today it is Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini.  She says God has shown her how Satan is lulling the Body of Christ to sleep; that many Christians are befriending the world, seeking fame and popularity before all else.  
     Naghmeh is in the midst of a three-week fast to refocus her relationship on God.  "A main theme during my time of prayer and fasting seems to be becoming aware of our (my) friendship with the world as followers of Christ," Naghmeh writes. "I am being made more and more aware of how we (including me) are allowing its subtle ways get to us and it is putting the body of Christ to sleep."
     And she has seen a much broader view of the world than I have; traveling around the world in recent years, campaigning for the release of her husband, Saeed, who is imprisoned in Iran.   "My travels over the last 3 years have opened my eyes to the condition that the Body of Christ is in. Pursuing fame, wealth and 'followers/numbers' has become normal in the Christian world. We are becoming like the world and we are totally Ok with that. Yet the Scripture has serious warnings, even calling us ENEMIES OF GOD."
     Whether, we see ourselves as the foolish and tempted son of a faithful and sovereign father [in Proverbs 7], or as the Body of Christ being lulled to sleep in Naghmeh's vision of the Church, the message is the same ... we are ignoring the teachings and commands of our God, and have strayed onto the path that the harlot has so cleverly offered us.  As in the Proverb, she has offered to let us share with her the feast from her "peace offering".  But if we Christians understood what this offering symbolized, we would know that it is to be dedicated to God in full; that we must not think we are worthy or equal to share in what is the Lord's.  The peace offering is to be an acknowledgment of being made whole through the peace of knowing and experiencing God's forgiveness, and it signifies the peace that Jesus's sacrifice brings us -- we have no right to "share", or take credit for that offering.  But, just as the harlot deliberately sought the son, so has the Enemy ensnared us to share in his blasphemous feast.
     I guess the thing that is most clear to me is that we, who can see, are seeing clearly and with great spiritual discernment.  We are solemnly aware that the harlot -- this shiny, tempting, alluring world -- has led us down her path, and her victims are countless.  For me, the sad climax to this analogy from Scripture, is that just like the wayward son, and Naghmeh Abedini's sleeping Body of Christ, the harlot's house "is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death" ... and how many do not know that following her will cost them their [eternal] lives?

Thank you to Charisma News for the report on Naghmeh Abedini.

Proverbs 7:6-8     "For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.  And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense, Sauntering through the street near the [loose woman’s] corner; and he went the way to her house."


6 comments:

  1. Belle
    This message spoke truth to me this morning, thanks for being a vessel of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, as I was praying this morning I thought of Saed and was reminded that I have not prayed for him for several weeks. Then I read your article and noticed his wife and her comments. God is amazing how He does that, putting the thoughts into our minds at the same time. To all reading this we need to heed the warning and exhortation from the Spirit. Also, please keep Saed and his wife and children in your prayers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Pastor Abedini desperately needs our prayers! Let us lift him up with a mighty chorus of voices to the midst of God's Throne Room… may be delivered from his persecution soon!

      Delete
  2. Sorry Belle,
    It appears you too have been lulled to sleep by this vile and contemptuous woman. When confronted with truth, we must apply it...

    First off, she claims that she has been psychologically and sexually abused by her husband - Pastor Abedini - *ALL WHILE HE IS IN PRISON* !!! reference here:
    http://www.christianpost.com/news/naghmeh-abedini-saeed-abedini-marital-sexual-abuse-stress-iran-persecution-149995/

    Of course Pastor Abedini simply cannot defend himself, he's simply trying to survive....

    There are lots of issues here, and sure, possibly Pastor is sinning with porn (if true), but how do we know with only one voice, and why mention it while he's in prison?!

    If you truly wish to get to truth, then seek it - otherwise this woman *IS* the one spoken about in this article -

    More detailed in these posts:

    https://dalrock.wordpress.com/category/pastor-abedini/

    We must not stand for HER abuse of Pastor Abedini while he cannot speak for himself!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am well aware of her statements regarding her husband, and I, too, have questioned her timing and reasoning for bringing it to the public at this time. Is she lying or not? We do not know, and I leave it to God to judge her actions. BUT, that is not the issue at hand in my blog post. Can you deny the Church's friendship with the world (support of abortion, gay marriage, silence in the face of persecution)? I have to agree with her that too many "Christians" are pursuing fame and wealth; and 'followers/numbers' has become normal in the Christian world. We are becoming like the world and we are totally Ok with that. It is that position -- and that position ALONE -- that I agree with her. Please don't assume anything else.

      Delete
  3. Belle,

    I like you, I like you a lot. You have much to say that is good.

    Yet on this woman, we disagree. Sure she speaks some truth, the truth that we all already know. I do agree many 'christians' pursue wrong things - yet true 'believers' (which I call myself, I do not call myself a christian) believers seek righteousness and holiness only found in the Lord. Nothing else.

    As she has shown clearly what she is, she should not be listened to, and others who are much more spiritual should be listened to. Nobody is without sin, sure, yet she has betrayed her husband when he was in prison (thank the Lord he's out now).

    I would listen to her like I would listen to Hitler, sure some truth may be spoken, but by their actions they should be ignored.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we will just have to disagree. I am not willing to condemn her yet.... I want to wait and see how the reunion with her husband is played out, and to see if Iran did not demand some kind of statement from her in return for her husband's freedom. And even if none of this exonerates her from the charges she made against Pastor Abedini, it is up to him to forgive her. I will not claim to know the truth about their relationship ... only they know it, and the reasons she said what she did. It still does not negate her statements that I referred to, and I will leave it to Jesus to judge her. He knows the truth... I do not.

      Delete