Apologetics
AND MAN FORMED GOD IN HIS OWN IMAGE
Wayne broadstone
The Bible is regarded in a wide array of perceptions. A partial list might include some of the following: A historical treatise; a collection of myths, parables, a running narrative of the peoples of ancient civilizations that eroded through millennia; a book of violence, mayhem, of sadistic tales about a supernatural God who seemed angry much of the time. A great number of others see the Bible as an outdated collective of moral absolutes. Still others derive a sense of foreboding, of judgments and dreadful apocalyptic mystique. In the morass of our downward spiraling culture, there is an endless litany of ‘grave’ deceptions. Pun totally intended!
From a vastly different perspective, many others see the Bible as a Living Covenant between a loving God and a creation of beings temporarily confined to a fallen world. They see an all powerful, all knowing Creator who loves them beyond the bounds of human imagination. They perceive Him as the Architect of their being. Only He holds title to their dreams, destiny, and the depth of who they are. He becomes their refuge, peace, confidant, and lover. In a mystery that eludes human logic, this Living Covenant has personified Himself and taken eternal residency in the hearts and minds of . . . . “whosoever should believe in Him.”
Through recent years, I’ve seen an egregious departure away from the Biblical imperative that the Holy Spirit has written not only the Logos (written word of God), but reveals Himself in the depths of our human spirit. In considering this at length, I have arrived at the following observation:
“If created man rejects the revealed God of scripture who defines Himself by the infallible oath of His Own Testimony, (The Bible) then out of necessity, man will foolishly attempt to fashion a more manageable god that he will accept.”
Since the very beginning of the early Church, there have always been two concentric circles of spiritual reality. There is the larger outer circle which encompasses those who profess the name of Christ only; and the smaller inner circle of true believers who have God’s Holy Spirit sealed within them. 13 “And you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promise of the Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of His glory”. Ephesians 1: 13, 14.
The God of the Bible hasn’t as yet been totally relieved of command. However, it’s apparent that an image makeover has been under development for quite some time. This is driven by a Laodicean rational that believes the ‘old order’ of Biblical thinking simply can not address the needs and trends of the potential convert of today. If we actually read what scripture declares, we see this is clearly forecasted. Consider what The Holy Spirit declares:
1 “But mark (take critical note of) this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money (striving to obtain great wealth) boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (God of the Bible) 5 having a form of Godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2nd Tim 3:1-5
Note the emphasis on the final underlined scripture above. If we compare this passage with what Jesus revealed to the apostle John in Revelation chapter three, we realize that the Holy Spirit is giving us confirmation of what we should be watching for.
15 To the angle of the church in Laodicea write: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. 16 So because you are luke warm-neither hot nor cold, I am about to spew (vomit) you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth (possessions) and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Rev 3:15-17
The mindset of the religious left today is distancing itself away from the ‘inflexible’ God of scripture in lieu of a more tolerant, seeker sensitive god who can better relate to the needs of this present culture. Many of the essential doctrines found in Scripture are now subject to reinterpretation of the politically correct of today’s church.
The following list represents only a sampling:
The restricting doctrine of salvation only through the blood atonement of Jesus Christ: 6 “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the father except through Me.” John 14: 6. This has always been a thorn in the side of the professing liberal church. It is considered divisive, bigoted, and fails to show the “spirit of tolerance” that has politically spilled over to infect mainstream churches. It also discloses an arrogant ignorance that the God of the Bible will NOT share His glory with any other gods.
{Satan’s objective is to vaccinate as many people as possible with false religion in order to deter them from contracting genuine Christianity!}
The absurdity that homosexual behavior is condemned in scripture as sin:
26 “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” Romans 1: 26; 27. The perception that God hates the homosexual is right out of the pit of hell! He does not! Satan works tirelessly at promoting this falsehood in order to drive those trapped in this lifestyle away from their Creator who loves them. The sad fact that many immature Christians still don’t ‘get it’ that Jesus died once and for all for ALL sin hasn’t helped matters any.
The belief that since we are saved by grace only, obedience to Christ is optional: 5 Through Him and for His name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. Romans 1: 5. I never cease to be amazed at the spreading deception that liberal churches ‘infer’ that since Christ paid the sin penalty on the cross, sin should not be overly emphasized. This deception has gained traction in much of the professing church, and depicts grace as a “credit card” to be conveniently swiped as needed. It is certainly true that no believer is without the frustration of our continuing sin nature! However, if we can casually continue to sin with assumed immunity, we need to return to the cross and submit a broken and contrite spirit before God! What say you?
The outdated notion that destroying a growing, living child in its mother’s womb for the sake of social convenience should be viewed as infanticide: 13 For You (God) created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalms 139: 13.” This satanic ritual, and believe me it is satanic to the core, dates back to the old testament when infants were cast alive into the fire to court the favor of demonic entities. This was the most hideous example of pagan idolatry. One of today’s strongest idols is the idol of sexual pleasure. We hear the militant feminists ‘scream’ it’s their choice. Do we foolishly imagine that God doesn’t hear the screams of the murdered unborn? How “very deep” the darkness we’ve fallen into.
The very idea that Bible prophecy should be taken literally, much less taught, in this age of attained ‘enlightenment’: 20 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2nd Peter 1:20; 21. Satan despises Bible prophecy! It not only exposes his evil schemes, but discloses his ultimate destruction. The powerful knowledge of Bible prophecy has a great stabilizing effect when we are challenged by a very precarious future. In fact, there is no equivalent of facing a very uncertain tomorrow than with a very certain God of today!!!
The ridiculous notion that the true Church (Ecclesia) will be called up by Christ’s literal command (Rapture){Greek; Harpodzo} 16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.18. Therefore, encourage each other with these words.” 1st Thess 4:16-18 When we live with the anticipation of being suddenly taken up in the clouds without warning, it has a profound effect of impacting everything we do in our relationship to our Savior and everything around us. When I observe believers who are obeying Christ’s command to be watching for Him, their passion and commitment is very apparent. Who could possibly be behind the mindset to encourage the Church to refrain from watching for Christ’s return? The god of this world.
The outmoded belief that all scripture is literally God ordained: 16“All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2nd Tim 3:16; 17. In summary, I believe this generation will experience the recorded prophetic events promised in Scripture. Consider the following Scripture very carefully:
4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel (the original gospel Christ gave us) of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2nd Cor 4:4
In choosing your image of who God is, I prayerfully suggest you consider the Image that God presents of Himself! The other image is man created!
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