Deceived?

Two weeks ago, I expressed my concern about the cultural and political changes that are taking place in the United States - specifically the changes that affect Christians and the Church. Laws are being passed that effect the Church and free speech - particularly, Biblical free speech. Lawsuits are being filed against the Church and Christians. Christians are being discriminated against and ostracized. The name of Jesus is being singled-out among other religions. And there is a growing public sentiment that the values of the Judeo/Christian faith are no longer welcome in America.

I am not convinced that the majority of Americans hate Christians or local churches. However, the loudest voices that oppose Christianity are in positions of authority in our government and of course, within the media. I believe Christians still have a wide acceptance with common folk in America. However, it doesn’t take much for public opinion to change and to change rapidly – and of course, we know it is changing.

Let’s look to history for an example: In the early 1900s, it was taboo for women to smoke in public. The Great American Tobacco company wanted to change that - they wanted to see more women smoking. Why? Because they wanted more women smoking? No. They wanted more profit. So, they contacted a successful marketing guru - Edward Bernays (nephew of Sigmund Freud).

In 1928, Edward published a book titled, Propaganda. In his book he wrote this -

“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, and our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of …. It is they who pull the wires that control the public mind.”

This was the guy Great American Tobacco contacted. And this man, Edward Bernays, single mindedly changed American culture and changed a social taboo. In 1929, he told the tobacco company to hire several women (of course, women who had profitable appearance), give them cigarettes, have them strut up and down 5th Avenue during the Easter Sunday parade in New York, inform the media to take pictures and then publicize the pictures as a “protest” of inequality and as a symbol of fashion and beauty.

Keep in mind, this was all staged. And the result? Cigarette sales exploded - not because men and women wanted to fill their lungs with smoke, but because someone told them that smoking equals equality and it’s sexy.

Check this out – Edward’s book, Propaganda greatly influenced another world leader, which influenced a nation, which then had a major impact on the world and 6 million Jews. Any guesses? Adolf Hitler.

After WWII, Edward learned that his methods of influencing the public became a textbook for the Nazis. Rather than changing his methods, he thought perhaps it would be best to change the name. His methods are no longer known as propaganda, but as … Public Relations – which still are at work in the world today.

So, we see that public opinion is volatile and under the influence of unseen men and women and spiritual entities (not just about greed and marketing …) who specialize in creating and molding public opinion and public lust. And public opinion can change in an instant.

I say all that to warn us that there is a movement in America that could soon change how we as Christians and we as the Church function in society. The freedoms and comforts that we enjoy and take for granted will probably be pulled out from under us. To say that could never happen here is simply foolish. And as I said a couple of weeks ago, we need to be like the men of Issachar - 1 Chron. 12:32 … who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

And my concern is this - do we truly understand the times in which we live, and do we know how to respond. But what exactly is it that I’m concerned about?

Is it the loss of free speech - that we will be banned from talking about sexual morality or using the name of Jesus? Am I about the loss of tax exempt status? What about lawsuits or prison or loss of jobs?

Yes. I’m concerned about all those things and I believe we should fight for our rights and support organizations like the ACLJ and ADF. But overall, I’m less concerned about the changes that are coming and more concerned about how we will respond – in particular with what Jesus said in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:1–4 NIV

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.

This is important – the disciples wanted information. They wanted secret knowledge of what’s to come – we’re the same way. If we could just know all the secrets – all the mysteries to the “End Times” …. But notice how Jesus answered. Verse 4 - 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.

Jesus eventually tells them how bad it’s going to be - famine, wars, persecution, natural catastrophes - but His main concern is not how much they know, but rather their fidelity to the truth. His main concern is that His disciples would not succumb to deception.

“Watch out” is a common phrase throughout Scripture. From the beginning to the end, we are told “Watch out, be on your guard, pay attention, do not be deceived!”

Just on example -

Colossians 2:6–8 NIV

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

This is a huge issue. God’s people have been and continue to be susceptible to deception – which comes in many forms. Here’s part of the problem - most of us believe we’re too smart to be fooled. But get this – in 2016, phone scams alone cost Americans 9.5 billion dollars – a 56% increase from the previous year. The truth is, most of us think we’re smarter than the average bear. Check this out: http://www.trutv.com/shows/the-carbonaro-effect/videos/total-face-rejuvenation.html

If we don’t know the truth, we are easily deceived.

Let’s continue

Matthew 24:4–5 NIV

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.

Jesus is making it clear, many will attempt to deceive us and sadly, many will be deceived – and with that deception, which we’ll see next week, there will be many who turn from the faith.

A lot of us think in such literal terms that we envision some guy coming on the scene and saying, “Hey, I’ the messiah.” And we Christians can be a little smug here and think, “Oh, come on, I won’t fall for that! If someone says they’re Jesus ….”

Really? Read Gen. 3. Read the book of Judges. Read Paul’s letter to the Galatians. If we think we’re too smart to be deceived, let me remind us that pride comes before the fall. It’s not the people who know deception is possible that should be worried. It’s not the people who are constantly evaluating to make sure what they’re hearing and what they’re bringing into their lives is alignment with Scripture who should be worried.

So, who should be concerned? Anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ. Every follower of Jesus has a responsibility to know the truth … (Believe series in September).

Back to verse 5. Jesus says many will come in my name. “In my name” does not necessarily mean that someone will literally claim to be the messiah or the savior of the world. “In my name” refers to anyone or anything that attempts to usurp Christ’s place as Lord and Savior. Anyone or anything that says you don’t need Jesus or you don’t need Jesus only fits this category.

Think about all the religions, philosophies, social movements in our world that attempt to subvert Christ as the only Savior. The World and its many systems is attempting to eradicate, not belief in a god or gods, but rather the truth that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him.

Evolution. COEXIST movement. UFO movement. Artificial Intelligence. All are working in collaboration, whether they know it or not, to prepare the world for a savior who will replace the Savior – and are we prepared to face the deceptions when they come?

There’s a lot more to uncover here, and we will in the upcoming weeks, but I want to get back to the issue that our culture is changing and how we do church will change and how we live out our faith will change – and are we prepared to face and overcome those changes?

What I find interesting about facing the coming persecution, is God’s main concern is not that we protect ourselves from persecution, but rather that we protect ourselves from deception and remain faithful to the truth.

Let me close with the words of Paul

Colossians 2:6–8 NIV

Do you know Christ?

Admit

Believe

Confess

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