Warning Labels

We have an inclination to see that being deceived by others is the danger. Actually, it is much closer than we might think. The deception resides in us all!

So much (if not all) that a person gets from reading the bible is simply that the scriptures are written in a reporting type of format. I believe it was designed that way but I also see that reporting format is designed to provoke thoughts, stimulate commentary or conversation and for us to ask questions.

Here is an example. Jesus said, “How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Warning labels are not put on things that are not harmful. Jesus chose to warn his disciples… but I see it to be much broader and infinitely more pervasive than the warning being relegated to the religious leaders and the religious establishment.
The cartoon character Pogo was illustrates this: “We have met the enemy…and he is us”. I would paraphrase that remark: “We have been warned that the enemy resides within our flesh, all of us – yes, you and me Christian, so beware.” I’m not sure that like us, the disciples saw past Jesus’ warning (according to their mindset) and relegated this corrupting influence to the religious leaders.

Right now in the wake of an unprecedented awakening deep within the hearts of countless numbers of people throughout the earth, those wearing the label of Christian and possibly many who have simply had a close encounter with this God of love (which breaks through all demographic lines), are being sized up afresh for religious bondage. This is not a new phenomenon.

The total, 100% unconditional love and acceptance God the Father has for us should be what infiltrates and colors everything we say and do, but those under the direct influence of the father of lies and religion are wanting to coral or funnel us into another system of bondage. If you were to ask these ‘leaders’ of their intent, I am convinced they, like the disciples Jesus was warning, would look at you blankly in light of their perceived intense sincerity of simply wanting what is best for the body of Christ.
It’s important to note that both the ‘leaders’ and the ‘led’ have the same propensity to be deceived, since the father of lies is resident within us all. I want to emphasize that I am neither preoccupied nor fascinated with the devil, but the warning Christ gave is timeless.

I have so many more thoughts on this covert, subversive undercurrent making merchandise out of His sons, maybe I will continue later with some of them in another post.

Rich