As I concentrate my personal studies in the Bible around the Last Days before Jesus's return, I can feel the tension in my spirit as I recognize the compromise and deception that is propagating within the Body of Christ and The Church in regards to Biblical Truth.
Let me start by clarifying something ... I prefer to make reference to "the Body of Christ" rather than "the Church", and let me tell you why. To me, the Body of Christ signifies those of us who are part of a unified entity of individuals following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy and sanctified Son of the Almighty God of the Universe. As the Body of Christ, we gather together to encourage and uplift each other, and at the same time, have access to a personal, individual, and spiritual relationship with Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer. We see the Word as our guide to staying committed to the statutes and commands given to man since our creation; infallible, unerring, and true. There are so many other attributes of that term, [the Body of Christ], but these are the aspects that pertain to this blog post.
On the other hand, I see "the Church" as an organization that has grown into an entity unto itself; an institution that often transforms the Word of God into something that benefits and supports itself -- professing faith in the Father and the Son, but oftentimes choosing to follow the world in compromise and agreement; or as 2 Timothy 3:5 says, "having a form of godliness but denying its power".
And as a Watchman on the Wall, [commissioned by God to walk in His instruction as described in Ezekiel 33:1-9] I recognize the spiritual battle we are in. Too many, within both the Body of Christ and the Church, have let the Enemy come in through "the wide gate", a metaphor for one path available to us to live our lives on this earth. This wide gate is a path that leads to destruction, both in the here and now, as well as eternally. It is characterized by taking the easy, unrighteous way and seeking the popular choice. The "narrow gate" represents the more challenging path of following Jesus's ways that lead to Life, again both in the here and now, and in eternity.
And it is by believing and following the Truth of the Word, that we stand a chance of being delivered into that sanctified Life. Jesus IS the Word, and the Bible reveals Him and the Life-saving Truth that delivers us and guides us. But ever since my husband, Mark, and I said YES to His calling on our lives, the Lord has been revealing to us the battle in the spiritual realms to dissuade and discourage the acceptance of this Truth. The Enemy has entered the wide gate, made available to him and his followers. And Satan brought DECEPTION with him!
Simply put, this deception comes in many forms, but its purpose is always meant to mislead someone, or cause someone to believe something that is contrary to God's nature, according to Scripture. If Satan can corrupt God's Truth in the Bible, and then get us to question it or modify it so that it resembles authentic Truth, [with a satanic twist that denies its real power], then he will continue to make inroads towards cancelling God and claiming authority over man and the earth. He certainly made progress towards that goal in 1963 when he convinced the US Supreme Court to rule 8-1 against Bible reading in public schools. By eliminating God's established Truth in the Bible, the Enemy can send in his troops to distort, corrupt, or cancel the Truth and establish his anti-Christ theology. Likewise, by establishing the IRS 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, prohibiting attempts to influence legislation or participate in any political campaign activities, the devil can manipulate God's Truth [for example] about whether Abortion is intentional murder. If the Church avoids that difficult question and hides behind the law of the land, it is denying that God's law [established in His Truth] takes precedence. And Satan wins that round!
But Remember! God never changes -- His Truth is not relative; it does not change according to your personal perspective. Yet, we hear individual Believers, as well as Leaders in the Church, declare their own "biblical justifications" on topics like the War in Iran; the Jew's position in Israel; Abortion; Same-sex marriage; Christian Nationalism; Illegal Immigration; God's Judgment; the Rapture; Social Justice; Gender Identity, and on and on.
Folks, the Bible is a guide for every problem known to man; a manual for helping us to discern the narrow path and the way in which Jesus leads us. But it takes time to study it, to research it, to listen to God in order to hear His voice and understand, to practice it, to examine how to walk it out, to embed it in your heart, mind, soul and spirit. And the more time we spend in this powerful and symbiotic relationship with Him, we will learn to trust our discernment in His Truth. He will never steer us wrong or lead us astray! And if you are solidly walking this world with Him, you cannot miss the Spiritual battle over Biblical Truth. The question is ... what are you going to do about it? Will you stand in alliance with the Word ... or will you take the wide and easy path that yields the most self-comfort and join the part of the Church that has grown apathetic and lacking in the Spirit?
As I watch this battle playing out in the Spirit and on the earth, I am left wondering, "How much deception is the world willing to tolerate when it comes to Biblical Truth?" We can't define what makes someone a woman? REALLY?!?! And Matthew 24:24 warns us that even the elect have the potential to be deceived. When someone like Bill Johnson, who has devoted his spiritual life to knowing God and trying to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, can be deceived and succumb to Satan's lies and treachery, then we see our own prospects for being led astray. He opted to protect his Church's ministries and reputation rather than look at (and reject) the sin that Jesus admonishes and rebukes. Johnson offered mercy and grace for the sin, but did not require repentance for forgiveness. As the Ekklesia, the Body of Christ needs to look at the fruit of the actions taken -- do they mirror God's Truth in His Word? Who better than Jesus to recognize the Truth; He, who had reason to soften God's commandments, to make them more convenient, palatable, and less painful for Himself? Instead, He showed us the self-sacrifice and reckoning that is required to pay the price for our sins against God and His Truth.
I despise having to call out the agreement with Deception among the Body of Christ and in the Church! My assignment as a Watchman finds me often looking like a "Negative Nelly", as my grandmother would say. It's not that I don't see the goodness and authenticity of pure faith and obedience... it's that the lawlessness, led by Satan, is becoming so prevalent, that the Lord is highlighting His message to His Watchmen: Blow the trumpet loud and warn your people that they might be saved from My Judgment that is coming! Please believe me, I don't issue these warnings and thoughts for my own pleasure. I do not wish to see anyone denied entry into God's House or Family! But I don't want to be responsible for their blood on my hands! We all need to work together, from whatever assignment you've been given by God, to see the narrow path flooded with people of the world seeking the righteous path of Jesus Christ. Let's leave no one behind! The Lord is about to mount up on His Steed of Righteousness! Encourage the people of the Earth to hear the warnings!
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith [in conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession of faith in the presence of many witnesses.
