Walt Kelley creator of Pogo, a little swamp possum comic strip character named Pogo that ran from 1948 to 1975 put this, one of many immortal lines into Pago’s mouth, "We have met the enemy and he is us." As we look at Christianity in America within the context of Job, the question that begs to be answered is "We have met Job, are we he?" Satan said of Job that God had a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (Job 1:10) Are we not in the same position? We have a "wall" around us that protects us from the kind of religious discrimination Christians in other parts of the world face every single day of their lives. Like Job, even our poor are the envy of the rest of the world. That’s why, legally or otherwise, they cross our borders to share the "American dream" and have a chunk of the pie. Yes, we are just like him; wealthy and free from persecution.

Now the next question is, if the hedge were torn down and our wealth dissipated, would we respond differently than he? Let’s just say for the fun of it, that we are a fly on the wall in heaven and we overhear a conversation between the LORD and Satan concerning us. The conversation might start out like this, "And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servants in America, that there is none like them in the earth, perfect and upright men and women, who fear Me, and turn away from evil?’" (see Job 1:8) We know what followed in their conversation about Job; God took away his fence of protection, his family and all of his wealth. Ultimately he was struck with a horrible illness. (Job2:7) Let’s hold off on the "boils" for now but let the persecution begin and our wealth wither away. Will we continue to sing God’s praise? We’re about to find out.

In a recent sermon, a pastor of a local Southern Baptist Church correctly pointed out a dramatic shift in the attitude of the United States toward Christianity. At all levels, governments have moved from a neutral (if not positive) attitude toward Christianity to one that can only be described as increasingly hostile. Nothing illustrates this shift more than the "hot potato" issue of gay marriage. Couched in the language of the Constitutional Laws of "equal protection" and "freedom of religion," this issue is not only an assault upon a thousand plus years of Western traditions but, more fundamentally, upon Christianity itself. In California, where the people voted against gay marriages, the now infamous Proposition 8 has been ruled unconstitutional by a Federal Court with the Governor and the Attorney General coming out in favor of the ruling and insisting gay marriages be allowed right away. The fly on the wall just heard Satan saying, put forth thine hand now, and touch all that [American Christians] hath, and [they] will curse thee to thy face. (Job 1:11 modified)

Except for a few astute conservative Christian commentators, regarded by many as radical fanatics, the cursing has not begun – not in so many words. In other respects, it has been spewing forth for a number of years in the form of attempts to make Christianity more palatable; less what some would call narrow minded and bigoted. On second thought, what could be more profane to God’s ears than such prostitution of His Holy Word? The "Jobian fence of protection" is being torn down from Christianity in America and, before the task is completed, before the first real assault on our family has been launched, we are cowering like sheep that have lost their shepherd. This is tantamount to a soldier going AWOL because he heard a rumor that there just might be a pending war. What, in the name of God, will we do when it is upon us in all of its fury?

One "AWOL Christian" novelist succinctly states her anti-Christian case in the following manner,

Got that? She finds condemning "secularism" to be upsetting and embarrassing and, in the article, even goes so far as to complement its ability to make it possible for all to live together (Rodney Kings plea.)

To some degree, churches (institutional Christianity) are responsible for such attitudes because they have wandered too far from the 1^st Century "church" where worship, praise and fellowship were its cardinal characteristics. However, the remedy lies in getting the "institution" out of church and returning it to the Biblical model. The path so-called "Christianity" is taking today is most likely to have a Solomon-like consequence of the Kingdom being ripped from our midst and given to others who are more faithful.

Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 1 Kings 11:11

The comparison is fundamentally accurate. There is One who dwells within the hearts of believers; even before they know they believe. But, there are a number of rather important exceptions. Most notable is the fact that within us is not a "candy Christ." He isn’t there to fill our "sweet-tooth" urges this world encourages us to crave anymore than He is there to fulfill our self-centered desires. About this sort of thing God told the people of Israel, Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isa. 1:16:17) What makes us think this admonition applies any the less to us? The words "judgment" and "judge" used in these verses are from the Hebrew Mishpat and Shaphat respectively and may also be translated as justice, right, proper, fitting for Mishpat and to plead and defend for Shaphat as they are used on other occasions.

Therefore, it is entirely proper for us, when reading what God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, told the Israelites to understand the lesson given them, to put away doing evil things; learn to do good; seek justice; help the oppressed; defend the fatherless and look after widows applies just as well to us as it does to them. Israel was to be a Holy nation likened to a light showing the world God’s love, mercy, truth, grace and His righteousness (Isa.42:6, 49:6, 60:3). We, His holy people, are to be nothing less. Remember, we are supposed to be a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. (1 Peter 2:9) None of which implies we are worldly champions.

It is the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. He will assist us in fulfilling God’s word. Unlike that which dwells within an M&M, He is a person, not a candy bar nor a pretzel. Furthermore, and most importantly, He is not an amorphous ghost. He is a person, a part of the Trinity with the Father and the Son. He is equal to them in every way; He is: Omnipotent – all powerful; (Luke 1:35) Omnipresent – in all places at once; (Psalms 139:7-10) Omniscient – all knowing; (1 Cor. 2:10) Eternal; (Hebrews 9:14) Equal; (Acts 5:3-4). All of this is by way of saying He is not a convoluted pretzel full of confusing twists and turns but, rather, a solid ball of perfectly clear Truth and Sacred wisdom. His ministry is to bear witness of Jesus. (John 15:26)

He assists us in learning the Truth of the Gospel by helping us filter out deception, lies and half-truths. We can’t go into the entire world preaching the Gospel if we don’t know what it is and, as importantly, what it is not. Paul wrote that without the Spirit, we would not accept the Truth in the first place. We would regard it as foolishness. (1Cor. 2:14) It is He who convicts (reproves) the world of their guilt – the first step. (John 16:8) All we can do to spread the gospel is sow the seed. Then He takes over, waters, nurtures and prunes. It is generally agreed that He performs a number of other vital purposes in addition to the conviction of sin, He brings us to conversion. He enables our Christian lives, and is both comforter as inspiration and interpretation of scripture. Makes possible the fruits (Gal. 5:22-23) and provides our gifts (1 Cor. 12) for laboring in the vineyard. Loving God is not something we can be taught to us by someone else. It does not come natural to us – quite the contrary. Without Him, we would find ourselves eternally condemned. We should listen to Him. By indwelling within us, He helps us go where God wants us to go, say what He wants us to say and do what He wants us to do.

Worthy of note is the fact that "Comforter" (Parakletos) as used in John 14:16, 26; 15:26 and 16:7 means a number of things that we don’t ordinarily associate with Him including: "summoned, called to one's side, one who pleads another's cause before a judge, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate, an intercessor of Christ, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins and, in the widest sense, He is a helper, an assistant." In Scripture, He is given a number of other names such as Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of grace, Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of truth. It is only through His "occupational depiction" that we know Him to be the one-and-the-same Holy Ghost/Spirit (Pneuma) spoken of in Luke 4:1, 11:13 and Eph. 1:13.

You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)

One of the principles of the Gospel we seem increasingly inclined to overlook is the Biblical fact that this world is made desolate by the domination of the "prince of this world." (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11) It is not, as John Gill indicates, that he has any legal claim to the world as much as he has "usurped a dominion over it." The earliest reference to Satan in the KJV of the NT is the account of the temptation of Jesus found in Matthew 4:5-10 from which we should learn some very valuable lessons. First and foremost, as the NT Greek Lexicon points out, he is "the prince of evil spirits, the inveterate adversary of God and Christ; he incites apostasy from God and to sin; circumventing men by his wiles." He is no one to fool around with or take lightly. We must never lose sight of the fact that he is our primal enemy with whom we are in a perpetual state of guerrilla war. For now, the world is his playground

There was a time, perhaps, before sin entered the world, (Rom. 5:12). Then it was not his bailiwick. However, since humanity was cast out of Eden, it has been. Adam, (Rom. 5:14) with some beguiling help, is the one responsible for this ejection. We, the descendants of Adam, through his murdering son Cain, (Gen. 4:8) are the "beneficiaries" of his disobedience. People who should know better want to ascribe instinctive behavior to humanity. If we have any at all, it is our inclination to sin. Here we can rightly ascribe to all humanity an overwhelming urge to sin – it is in our blood as it were. And, since we were given dominion (Gen. 1:26) over the earth, our sinful nature has opened the door for this Satan to turn it into a land of desolation. Accordingly, there is both joy and consequence to the Biblical truth that this world is a temporary state. It will come to an end. Sometime in the unknown future it will be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev. 21:1) Praise God – that’s the joyful part!

What are we doing? Just exactly what Jesus tells us not to do, laying up treasures upon earth? (Matt. 6:19). Just a few verses later, He tells us that’s where our hearts really are (Matt. 6:21). Our very nature speaks to us telling us to ignore, completely disregard His warning found in comparing the chances of a rich man entering heaven to that of a camel going through the eye of a needle. (Luke 18:24) One of many mistakes we make is to equate riches and treasures with money and things like stately homes, expensive automobiles, elegant attire and luxurious vacations. True enough these things are "riches" we treasure, but they represent only the tip of the "greed-berg." Indeed, treasures, riches, are anything that makes the world attractive to us; endearing it to us. Therefore, along with such material riches to be found in our "repository casket" we must place things such as conceit, prestige, fame and status, selfishness and greed, the knowledge of men and worldly wisdom, desiring influence, cultivating the esteem of others, the desire to be thought highly of by others for our accomplishments.

It isn’t enough that these are the enticements the world offers, more and more the message we’re given from the pulpit is that we are destined to be positive-possibility-filled-champions. We’re taught by those desiring to reign over Solomon-like "houses of worship," that the "eye of a needle" referred to in Scripture is really the name of one of the gates into the Temple grounds or some other rationalization intended to remove or lessen the stigma of striving for earthly wealth. Rather than warning about the pit-falls of earthly wealth, we are told they are the birth-right of the children of God. What is lacking, we are told, is for us to "blab it and grab it." Health and wealth are our rightful inheritance if we’ll only "name it and claim it!" Some preachers, using John 34 and Psalm 82:6 even go so far as to claim that we Christians are "gods." WoW that horse and pony show has got to fill the pews – standing room only! Their time will come.

Appeal to generosity is one of the "angels of deception" such "Solomonites" use to fill their "church" coffers. The naïvely guilty "parishioner" is taught to believe that through their 10% tithes and generous offerings their wealth is justified. The preacher offers a quick reminder that all such donations are tax deductible. We fail to understand that it isn’t the wealth or the personal aggrandizements per se that is the enemy. It is the "lies that blind" and the distractions they cause that are the real culprits; the arrows in Satan’s quiver. We have yet to learn that this "for-profit philanthropy" (represented by Google’s version of the P.E.A.C.E Plan) is the wrong method and the wrong motivation. In fact, it is little more than a reincarnation of Noblesse oblige where we view ourselves as noble and others our servants in a world we think can be and is worth saving. It is the desire for such things and the self-centered arrogance they represent that is the problem.
 

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:4
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31

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Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Matthew 5:17
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Those "Christians" who wish to avoid the accusations of being bigoted, prejudiced, narrow-minded, etc. peddle away from this statement by Jesus the Christ found in John as fast as they can. Regardless of the fact that He states this Truth various ways in different parts of the Gospels (e.g. Matt. 11:27, John 10:7-9) they want to have nothing to do with it in the name of being "politically correct." Their rationalization under the guise that Jesus tells us to love our neighbors and that our God is a loving God is that this directive would interfere with our ability to do so.

There is another group of what must be called "OTee Christians" who want to give those who lived prior to Jesus’ earthly ministry a pass on this edict as well. Their rationalization is that our God is a just God and it would not be right to condemn generations of people who, through no fault of their own, did not have the opportunity to accept Jesus. A sub-set of the "OTee Christian" bunch will bring up the names of Moses, Abram, Ruth, Joshua, Solomon, David, the prophets and others, like these, who did mighty and wonderful works for the Lord. Surely, the "OTees" contend, they will be in heaven along with us. Let us answer this argument with a quote from John Gill’s Commentary,

There are two key words here; "works" and "Mediator." The People’s New Testament Commentary and The Fourfold Gospel Commentary, say pretty much the same thing. Works are absolutely inadequate regardless of how profound they are and The Mediator is absolutely necessary for everyone – that is everyone! On this matter, we find in Matthew Henry’ Commentary this statement,

This also suggests that regardless of when we live, who we are or what we do matters not one wit. The rule applies to all; then and now, men and women. The one possible exception to this requirement for the entire human race throughout history is very young children. (see Mark 10:14)

So, how do we answer groups within (as well as without) the Christian community that contend that to say only Christians will be in heaven is not only bigoted but it is just downright wrong? Bigotry or whatever synonymous slur is used (e.g. prejudice, intolerance, narrow-mindedness, fanaticism.) To begin with, such suggestions from Christians strongly suggest a lack of full comprehension of what we are called out to be. Without any attempt to apologize for our absolutism, we simply commend to these sorts the passage from Mark 4:17 saying And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. If the shoe fits, wear it.

For those who, intentionally or otherwise, use Old Testament figures (such as those noted above and perhaps millions more from the pre-Christian era) to raise doubts about the absolute edict of John 14:6, we simply remind them of the infinite wisdom, mercy, justice and grace of the Lord God Almighty. Though it may appear to some of us that the only way to include such as Moses and Abraham in the Heavenly realm is to give His OT followers a relaxation of the rule in this edict, that is only from our limited human perspective. If we really believe that the Bible does not contradict itself, we know that God has made provision, just as He has for the prophet Elijah, who was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, (2 Kings 2:1) and the rest of the deserving OT peoples to come to Him through Christ according to the provisions of John 14:6 making them, as we, Christ followers. Answers to how will have to wait until, if, He determines to reveal such answers to us . Till then faith will do.

We are so fond of telling ourselves that God is good, but we appear to forget or don’t believe our own words. Is it not said that the ways of the Lord are inscrutable? (Romans 11:33) Then, why is it that we have such little faith in Him that we must have every mystery revealed to our human minds (as if that were possible) or we forthwith set about reforming the Gospel to conform to our finite mentality? What was the cause of our human fall into sin but the lust for knowledge? (knowledge, Da`ath, may also be translated as understanding or wisdom) Thus, Genesis 2:17, may just as correctly be translated as the tree of understanding or wisdom.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof,
then your eyes shall be opened , and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:4-5

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For centuries now, Christianity has been on the defense against the onslaught of scientific theories of the earth’s origins. Some have even coalesced with science with the high sounding, seemingly intellectual argument that we (Christianity and science) are seeking the same thing – truth. Others believe that the matters of Christian faith can be bolstered up (proven as it were) by scientific research. As an example, archeological findings that appear to support certain elements of our faith are met with much glee and applause among certain elements of the Christian community. Every time mention is made of a presumed discovery of Noah’s Ark, there is an almost audible sucking in of breath within these segments of Christianity. In contrast, when science claims to have evidence refuting some of our beliefs there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth with some so deluded they abandon their Christian faith. The announcement by the renowned physicists Dr. Steven Hawking that he no longer believed it was necessary to turn to a deity to explain the universe (relying on some theoretical notion labeled the "M-theory" Hawking concluded that, "It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.") was met with grief and sadness among Christians not, as it should be for his damned soul, but because his announcement seemingly weakens our faith. In all of this, no one sees the contradiction of speaking about faith and science in the same sentence.

Furthermore, even erudite scientists such as the renowned Dr. Hawking seem to overlook the limitations of their field of scientific inquiry. The assumptions science imposes upon itself render any attempt to delve into the supernatural sterile – in total violation of its philosophy. The same may be said of anything that cannot be seen, touched, smelled or tasted (observed through the natural senses). Nor may science probe into areas where things are not orderly (where so-called "natural laws" prevail) because otherwise their observations may not be repeated and verified – an absolute prerequisite to scientific inquiry. These self imposed assumptions of science automatically eliminate investigation of the chaotic as well as the supernatural. Historical events no longer exist to be examined through the scientifically required "natural observation." Certainly, it cannot be re-examined; also required by the philosophy of science. At best, with luck, some "artifacts" may remain from historical events that are available for such scrutiny. However, the question remains as to just how representative such artifacts are of the historical occurrence under scrutiny. Possibly, a "natural decay of artifacts," a "natural selection" if you will, all but destroys their representativeness of a previous time.

Dr. Hawking now proposes something he labels the M-theory to explain the origin of our universe. In a review of his latest book, The Grand Design, Dr. James Trefil (professor of physics at George Mason University) states, the M-theories "predict that there is not a single universe (the one we live in) but a huge number of universes. In other words, not only is the Earth just one of several planets in our solar system and the Milky Way one of billions of galaxies, but our known universe itself is just one among uncounted billions of universes." Since this so-called M-theory, and its proposition that there is "a huge number of universes", has not and cannot be repeatedly observed, as required by the philosophy of science, it must be regarded as little more than idle speculation and Dr. Hawking’s conclusions about the "need for God to explain the creation process" as foolish grand-standing. Even if we should be so naïve as to unquestioningly accept the unfounded tenants of the "M-theory" at face value, the consequence is to compound the pure absurdity of thinking that something can naturally be created from nothing. Should we accept the rather conservative, if unsubstantiated theory that, "before the beginning there were tiny grains of energy/mass with nothing other to do than form a universe," we don’t have an explanation of where those "tiny grains of energy/mass" came from. Rather than a "Big Bang Theory," what we have is a POOF-theory or, more scientifically, a "P-theory."

But there is one lingering mystery Christians must resolve. What is the world is faith? What do we mean when we speak of our Christian Faith? It must be powerful stuff. Jesus said, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove ; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matt. 17:20) But, what is it? Used some 228 times in the KJNT is has Biblical synonyms like conviction, assurance, fidelity, belief and faithfulness. Webster’s describes it as something we accept as the truth without question! Encarta says it is a belief "without logical proof." Two Christians at the Pearly Gates; one believes in God because of his exhaustive scientific study. The other states, I have not proof; I believe He is. Whom does Pete admit? Jesus said, blessed are they that have not seen , and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5

 
You Decide!

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