Category: Man of Lawlessness

Watch out for deceivers

by Innermost Being, posted in Man of Lawlessness

Truth is constantly under attack. Deceivers hide it, bury it, distort it, deny it, and deflect attention away from it. They can’t destroy the truth, but they can make people believe their  lies.

False prophets, false teachers, false apostles, false messiahs

Jesus warned about false prophets and false messiahs. They may look like one of you, but inside, they are like ferocious wolves. You will know them by their fruit. A bad tree can not bear good fruit.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly, they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 7:15

When the disciples asked Jesus about the end times, he warned that even the elect (God’s chosen) might be deceived by false prophets and false messiahs.

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:24

Deceit has eternal consequences.

Jesus knew that not everyone who would claim to be his follower is a true disciple. False Christians may fool other people, but they can’t fool Jesus. The danger in pretending to be righteous is that when your time comes, Jesus will say, “Get away from me. I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23)

The Apostle Paul also warned that people would masquerade as apostles of Christ.

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:13

Peter wrote that deceivers will “introduce destructive heresies,” teachings that go against Christ’s teaching. In our times, these heresies include the “prosperity gospel” and religious nationalism.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

2 Peter 2:1

The coming of the lawless one

The Apostle Paul warned that the man of lawlessness will be a deceiver. He will exalt himself above everything and everyone. He will oppose everything that God is for.

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

The lawless one will have many tricks up his sleeve – “all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.” Those who will perish under his reign will be under a powerful delusion that causes them to believe the lie. There will be something in their character that allows them to be deceived. They won’t love the truth. They will delight in wickedness.

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

No one knows when Jesus will return. That is why Jesus told us to keep watch. Be ready now.

A powerful delusion

The prophecy that makes me especially vigilant right now is the powerful delusion that causes people to turn away from the faith. In the last decade, I have seen Christians unashamedly contort themselves to support words and behavior that are anti-Christ. Why can’t they see deceivers for who they are?

Watch out for words and behavior that do not reflect the heart of God. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Seek the kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of man.

I can’t put on his shoes. How can I walk in them?

by Innermost Being, posted in Man of Lawlessness

When a person says, “Walk a mile in my shoes,” it means, “Don’t judge me until you consider things from my perspective. How would you feel if you were in my position?” The phrase encourages me to have empathy. But I can’t walk in Donald Trump’s shoes.

There is a difference between empathy and sympathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Sympathy is feeling sorrow or pity for another person’s misfortune.

Shortly before Trump began his first term, I wrote about why I pity him in a post entitled Love Your Enemies, Guard Your Heart. I still pity him.

I have been thinking about why I do not understand Donald Trump or share his feelings. I certainly can’t relate to his life. I grew up poor. I’ve never lived a life of luxury. My life is a humble but happy one. Nevertheless, I can empathize with rich people who experience misfortune.

The desires that motivate Trump do not motivate me.

Clearly, one of Trump’s greatest desires is to deport and imprison immigrants, specifically immigrants with brown skin. He is motivated by racism, a sin I can’t abide.  Trump believes that immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country, so he believes he is purifying the country by deporting people who aren’t white. This is a wicked way to walk. We were all created in God’s image and have an inalienable right to dignity and respect.

Trump is also motivated by a desire to humiliate his opponents and to seek revenge for perceived wrongs. His political opponents live rent-free in his head. His enemies include judges, the media, and anyone who criticizes or asks him hard questions. This is also a wicked way to walk.

We are commanded to love others as we love ourselves. That means caring for others, even our enemies, and leaving vengeance to God.

Trump is not a normal human being. He has been called a malignant narcissist. You don’t have to be a psychologist to see that he exhibits the signs of a narcissist. He believes he is superior to everyone else. He believes he is entitled to special treatment. He is obsessed with status and appearance. He needs to be admired. He can’t handle criticism. He is envious of others. He manipulates and exploits people. He lacks empathy.

In addition to narcissism, I believe that Trump has an anti-social personality disorder. Take a look at the list of traits in this article by Anton Ashcroft.

Superficial. Grandiose. Deceitful. Lacks remorse. Lacks empathy. Doesn’t accept responsibility. Impulsive. Poor behavioral controls. Lacks goals. Irresponsible. Antisocial behavior.

When I think about what it would be like to be the president, a position I wouldn’t want in my wildest dreams, I know that I would be overwhelmed by the responsibility. I would be humbled. I would seek advice from trusted experts. Yet Trump has not been humbled. He claims to know more than experts. He surrounds himself with sycophants.

I can not walk a mile in Donald Trump’s shoes because his shoes don’t fit a child of God. I do feel sorry for him. He is not at peace with God. He is walking down a path that leads to destruction and dragging many unfortunate souls with him.

There’s an Elephant in My Church

by Innermost Being, posted in Man of Lawlessness

When there is an obvious problem that people avoid discussing, you might say that there is an elephant in the room. Everyone can see the elephant. They should know the elephant doesn’t belong in the room. But to acknowledge that there is, in fact, an elephant in the room would make too many people uncomfortable, so everyone pretends it’s not there.

There’s an elephant in my church. It’s in the Sanctuary where we congregate to worship and hear a sermon. It’s in the fellowship hall where people gather to visit. It is even in the classrooms where small groups meet for book studies.

The elephant was also at the church I attended in Colorado. I remember looking around me in 2016 when it first appeared. I wondered, How did it get in here? Where did it come from? I hoped I wouldn’t see an elephant at my new church, too, but the odds were not in my favor.

What is the elephant in my church? The elephant is Christian support for Donald Trump. Why is that a problem? Because Trump is the antithesis of the Christ Christians claim to follow. You can’t serve two masters. As Jesus saud, you will be devoted to one and despise the other.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You can not serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

We don’t talk about the elephant in my church. Once in a while, someone acknowledges that the country is divided politically, but they don’t say why. No one ever mentions the fact that a significant portion of the congregation is okay with treating immigrants inhumanely and with cutting off aid to the sick and the poor. It doesn’t bother them that the leader they chose is morally bankrupt. His self-aggrandizement, his hatred of immigrants and political opponents (really anyone who is not devoted to him), show that he completely disregards God’s greatest commandment.

Even though we don’t talk about the elephant, I know it’s there. Someone wore a MAGA hat to church during the COVID epidemic. One of the elders wears his MAGA hat outside church. The red hat demonstrates devotion to Trump and his antichrist policies.

Another person devoted to Trump, a Christian nationalist, is a member of my Bible study group.

When I told a church friend that my husband won’t go to church because of the current political environment (my way of addressing the issue without directly mentioning the elephant), she told me, “Oh. I’m in seventh heaven.”

Many people are trying to understand how the elephant got into Evangelical churches. I believe that the elephant made its way into the church through the powerful influence of the media and false prophets. It didn’t appear overnight. These influencers have convinced the masses that God needs a bad person to accomplish his purposes. They also minimize or ignore his transgressions while holding others up to biblical standards.

Jesus warned his followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. That is, watch out for the teaching of hypocrites. Just as a small amount of leaven permeates the dough, false teaching corrupts the church.

I don’t know how to get people to acknowledge the elephant in the church. Once in a while, my pastor says something subtle that may or may not get through (like preaching about staying faithful and not bowng down to the king). If I were ever to directly address the problem, I would likely make enemies.

I hope that I will continue to have a positive impact on my church family and to shine a light on the teachings of my Master. But I can’t compete with the influence of the media and the false teachers that have led the people astray.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

by Innermost Being, posted in Man of Lawlessness

These days, my soul is often downcast. Why am I sad? Why am I angry? Why am I worried?

I am sad because this is not the country I once knew. I can’t count on her anymore.

I am sad because people will starve to death and suffer from preventable diseases because the US will no longer use its immense resources to help those in need.

I am sad because the government treats immigrants inhumanely and denies them the right to due process.

I am angry at the lawlessness, selfishness, cruelty, and deception.

I am angry because Christians are complicit.

I worry because this is only the start of his lawlessness.

My pastor said that emotions are terrible masters. There is nothing wrong with having emotions, but you can’t let them  control you. No matter what you’re feeling, God will meet you where you are.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:11

My pastor reminded us not to forget what God has done. Stay grounded in your faith.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Deuteronomy 4:9

My soul is downcast within me, Lord. But I must remember that I am rooted and established in your love. You are faithful. You will never leave me. Lord Jesus, you are my hope. You are the light in the darkness. Holy Spirit, restore my soul. Renew a steadfast spirit in me.

Christians, wake up!

by Innermost Being, posted in Man of Lawlessness

During Lent, my church has been reading the letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. Jesus accused the church in Sardis of being dead. He warned them to remember what they had received and heard, or they might be caught off guard when he returns.

To the angel of the church in Sardis, write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They walk with me dressed in white, for they are worthy.

Revelation 3:1-4

The church in Sardis had a reputation for being full of life. They thought they were invincible. Jesus exposed them for what they really were.

How did the church become dead? My pastor said that they were too comfortable and they compromised their faith, acclimating to the ways of the Roman culture.

The church in Sardis was not walking with Jesus. They forgot the gospel message.

Although this revelation was for a specific church, it is applicable to Christians today.

Many American Christians don’t separate their Christian identity from their national identity. Loving your country is fine, but a Christian’s identity should come from Christ! We must not idolize our country.

Many American Christians have what Tim Alberta calls a “lust for hegemony.” (I had to look it up.)  They want Christians to have dominion over the country. Jesus did not seek to dominate the culture. He was concerned about God’s kingdom – the realm where God reigns.

Christians can easily become compromised when their knowledge of scripture is shallow and when they take their eyes off of Jesus. They can easily be deceived by false teachers. They choose to be discipled not by Christ but by the media, politicians, or others who are not motivated by the issues that mattered to Jesus.

One of the biggest deceptions is that character doesn’t matter, that anti-Christian conduct should be excused because God uses flawed people.

[Trump] persuaded the churchgoing class that it was better to win with vice than lose with virtue. He had blinded believers to the means and fixed their eyes on the ends. Most significantly, he had shown evangelicals that their movement need not be led by an evangelical.

Tim Alberta, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

If Christians in America don’t want to be caught off guard, they must wake up spiritually and hold fast to the words of Jesus.

More than any figure in American history,  the forty-fifth president transformed evangelical from spiritual qualifier into political punchline, exposing the selective morality and ethical inconsistency and rank hypocrisy that had for so long lurked in the subconscious of the movement.

Tim Alberta, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

Christians have become a political punchline. Our selective morality and rank hypocrisy have been exposed. We pretend to be righteous while walking around in filthy clothes.

It’s time to wake up!