Countering Lies And Backsliding

When Jesus came on this earth, the officials of the then church were what we would call ‘backslidden’. This is not fiction – just read the gospel accounts of the ministry of John The Baptist to see that clearly.

Church rulers, instead of leading the people in the spirit, had sold out to ‘The Law’ (Pharisees) and Mammon (Sadducees). They were oppressing the populace by the unrealistic expectations of their version of ‘The Law’, and unrealistic taxation in the name of the Temple.

John The Baptist

John’s special ministry was to preach repentance to a nation spiritually in the wilderness. The story of The Baptist’s preaching – how the people flocked to him in the wilderness of Judea, confirms this:

“Crowds of people came out to John to be baptized by him. ‘You snakes!’ he said to them. ‘Who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don’t start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! The axe is ready to cut down trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.‘  The people asked him, ‘What are we to do, then?'”  (Luke 3:7-10)

Here is a people totally without spiritual guidance, seeking truth – Real Truth.   And Jesus took pity on them. (Matthew 9:36)

Jesus And The Truth

It was Jesus’ calling and His nature to fight against backsliding and deception – and if He were not listened to, to give His life for the people.

As for the church leaders, He nailed it in John 8:44 when He came up against the Scribes and Pharisees in a discussion about Truth, by saying:

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

The importance of this quote, and its relevance to the present times, becomes plainer from the context. The discussion began with Jesus talking about His Father. The Jews (John: religious leaders) misunderstood Him – either through error or on purpose – and countered, “Where is your father?” The discussion went on, and Jesus finally said, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Immediately, the Jews sidestepped: “We are the descendants of Abraham,” they answered pompously, “and we have never been anybody’s slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, ‘You will be free’?” (John 8:33)   That claim for a start was untrue – the people of Israel had been enslaved several times – and taught the languages and customs of their captors.

When Jesus challenged that statement, the Jews changed their tack again: “God himself is the only Father we have,” they answered, “and we are his true children.” (John 8:41)   It was at this point that Jesus came out in full condemnation:

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

The Truth Today

I want to show the crucial importance of this statement in its relevance to where we are right now.

For the first time ever, the world is in the grip of a philosophy that holds there is no such thing as absolute truth – that is, there is no independent standard by which truth or error can be judged.   Your folly is as good as mine.  This travesty is being taught to children and teenagers, and instilled into the minds of anyone who will listen.   It is a direct, Satanic attack on honesty, uprightness, ethics, wisdom, learning, absolute truth, God, the Bible and Jesus Christ.

Its real purpose is to destroy the underpinnings of civilization and bring as many people as possible into Satan’s future domain, as quickly as possible.

Those behind this ideology couldn’t care less – they have their wealth, their bolt-holes and no doubt consider themselves untouchable.  They would love to see the world’s population seriously reduced by chaos and lawlessness ASAP.

What does all this mean right now, close to election time?

• As far as today’s church is concerned, make no mistake – God is subjecting it to a mighty shaking, in which only the things that cannot be shaken will remain. (Hebrews 12:27)   In the run-up to the American Election, the fallout of backsliding churches is becoming evident, – and their pastors will be held responsible for leading their flock into stumbling. (Luke 17:2. Matthew 18:6 , Mark 9:42)
• For the nations: yes there are many things that need to be repented of and turned away from.   We all have indeed sinned.   But this is not the time to throw the baby out with the bathwater – like de-funding the Police, for example: wouldn’t some people just love that?   No – that way lies Anarchy.  Cleanse, but do not destroy.

We and the nations need above all to repent (turn away from all ungodly acts) and dedicate ourselves to cleaning house, chopping at the root all unhealthy trees and rebuilding afresh systems that are worthy to serve the peoples of the world as per the example set by Jesus and followed by Ghandi, Mandela, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa – to name just a few..

This is no mean task.

Above all, remember this:   It is a historic truth that Marxism, Socialism and Anarchy have never achieved the result of improving the lot of the world’s people.    

And they never will.

Rights of Women and Children

The Women’s Rights movement has grown strong over the years, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It needed to happen, and there is still more work to be done.

Recently however, Women’s Rights has openly turned against Christian values, God and Jesus. I find this almost unbelievably grotesque and ironic – though I can see why.   I’m sorry to say it, but when I see women and girls carrying banners that shout against Jesus, shout against God – quite frankly, I could get angry.

But I try not to – so instead I’ll explain my reasons.

In old-time nations, civilizations of the Classical world (with small exceptions), many non-christian civilizations and primitive peoples of today, there were/are simply no rights for women and children.  Women and children were the property of their husbands and fathers. In warfare, women and children on the defeated side would be taken into slavery (men who survived too, of course) – a world-wide phenomenon. This was the case also in the Old Testament times in Israel.

Rights Of Women

The wife’s main function was seen as bearing children to carry on her husband’s family line. There are many references in the Old Testament to the humiliation felt by wives who failed to produce children. Abram’s wife Sara, and Jacob’s first wife Leah are examples in point: note the disdain of Abram’s servant girl towards Sara.

If a woman lost her husband, her situation could be dire, as the story of Naomi and Ruth clearly illustrates. Both of Naomi’s sons and her husband were dead. Her only option was to travel back to Israel, her homeland, and initially both her daughters-in-law said they would go with her. One of them turned back, but the other – Ruth – made a promise to carry on. The unfolding of Ruth’s story is a highlight of God’s mercy on 2 faithful women. (Book Of Ruth)  But note: that mercy had to be worked out in terms of the prevailing, male-oriented customs of the day.

God is fully aware of human traits, and He made special provision in Deuteronomy 24 to protect the widows and the fatherless. The very fact that He laid a curse on anyone who denied justice to a widow speaks clearly about human attitudes at that time, as well as His own merciful nature.

See also the comment of Jesus: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers…” (Matthew 23:14)

There is one terrible passage in Judges 19 that indicates very clearly the attitudes of men to women in those days. I will not quote it, but suffice to say, it is horrific. This event was not God’s work – it reveals the depravity of the day.  And let no nation on earth point the finger.

Jesus In The New Testament

When we come to the New Testament, we find a very different story in the teachings of Jesus. It is from His teachings solely – as carried throughout the Western world by the spread of Christianity – that the rights of women and children today are derived.

The story of the woman taken in adultery illustrates the huge divergence between the attitudes of the time and the Lord’s mercy. It’s worth noting that the Mosaic law required both parties to adultery to be brought to justice. However, these religious men brought forward only the woman:

“They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

“But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.  “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go, and sin no more.” (John 8:3-11)

It was fortunate for her that the elders decided to use her case to try and trap Jesus – otherwise they would undoubtedly have stoned her to death out of hand.     And I ask – where was the man? Where was the evidence?  Where was the justice?

For women, there was no justice.

Divorce

While it was lawful in biblical times for a man to divorce a woman, the woman had no similar right.  The religious leaders tried to trip Jesus on this also:

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”   Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” (Matthew 19:3-10)

Great commentary on male attitudes, this!

Rights Of Children

Children – especially female children – were often exposed after birth to lessen the burden on the family: still a practice in some countries today. There is an ancient letter from a husband in Alexandria to his expectant wife in Judea, part of which reads, “If the child is a girl, put it on the rubbish pit.”

Jesus however, had a deep fondness for children. He went so far as to say that they have a special place in heaven:

“…the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,  and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.   Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.“  (Matthew 18:1-6)

When the disciples tried to stop children from crowding around Jesus He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Given the attitudes of the day, can you imagine how radical in His ways and sayings Jesus must have been? How far away from the norm? Here He was, with a stiff-necked people and religious leaders thirsting for His blood, yet He never once flinched from making His values clear.

We women owe a huge debt to Jesus, and those who faithfully spread His principles around the world after His death.

The world has hashed the Bible, trashed the Bible, disagreed over the Bible – but Jesus IS Truth, and He upholds truth.    Women especially should honor Him for that.

Acrylic on canvas 12″ x 12″.  Inspired by a digital ‘wander’ through the Eden Project in Cornwall,UK.  For more details about the artwork and products, click on the image.