DECEPTION

I Was Just Thinking About – DECEPTION.

The founder of C-Span, Brian Lamb, after 40 years of observing Congress included the following in his farewell observation: “Lying is the word that I would use to describe this town. I don’t know if it will ever stop. It’s gotten worse rather than getting better, and both sides do it. You’ve got to listen very carefully to what they’re saying.”

Yesterday’s news included the most recent Gallup Poll regarding Church Membership and Attendance in 2019. The summary of the Poll indicates: “The percentage of U.S. adults who belong to a church or other religious institution has plunged by 20 percentage points over the past two decades, hitting a low of 50% last year, according to a new Gallup poll. Among major demographic groups, the biggest drops were recorded among Democrats and Hispanics. Gallup said church membership was 70% in 1999 — and close to or higher than that figure for most of the 20th century. Since 1999, the figure has fallen steadily, while the percentage of U.S. adults with no religious affiliation has jumped from 8% to 19%. Among Americans identifying with a particular religion, there was a sharp drop in church membership among Catholics — dropping from 76% to 63% over the past two decades as the church was buffeted by clergy sex-abuse scandals. Membership among Protestants dropped from 73% to 67% percent over the same period.”

Why is it that people are rejecting organized religion and regular participation in Church per se? The hackneyed response is often – “hypocrisy” on the part of the attendees and leadership. Much of that can be more true than false – but – does that make it one’s acceptable excuse – or – is that some cleverly designed ploy – deception by a spiritual force one has failed to consider? Paul offered words of caution in a twofold way. First, be aware of the spiritual forces of evil - Ephesians 6:11-12, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Second, don’t get focused on secondary issues, Philippians 1:15, 18 – “…Some preach Christ from envy and rivalry…” Paul was persuaded that his focus,and ours, needs to be: “…whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

Another consideration – who has the right to determine and designate who is or isn’t a hypocrite? In Matthew 23, Jesus Christ pronounces a series of woes upon hypocrites. An example is in verse 13: “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” 

In John 8:43-45, Jesus Christ is speaking about belief and deception. He makes the distinction between truth and lies when He stated: “Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!”

Our task is to represent the one who is (John 14:6), “the way, the truth and the life.” We cannot allow ourselves to become dissuaded because of extraneous factors. Jesus Christ became The once-for-all Sacrifice for our sins – was crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended into heaven – for all who will believe that eternal truth.

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me.