Satan's Plan of Destruction
Critical Thinking and the Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Satan is Masterful with Deception and Accusation.
Satan is Masterful with Deception and Accusation.
Satan is committed to destroying God’s people before he is ultimately defeated. (1 Pt 5:8; Lk 22:52-53; Jn 14:30)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Satana/j - Satan; literally Adversary, the constant enemy of God and man, a supernatural evil being. – Frieberg
The power of Satan in found in lies and deception. What we learn from the Bible is that truth defeats Satan.
In the Bible light and darkness are a constant theme. (Lk 22:52-53; Jn 14:30)
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
How would Satan make “Christians”? (2 Cor 11:13-14; 4:3-4)
He would start as appearing to be standing with the Christian in righteousness. (2 Cor 11:13-14)
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
While appearing to be your friend, he would seek to destroy your ability to think and discern. (2 Cor 4:3-4)
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
How does this happen? God gives us the game plan of Satan!
Building a Foundation of Strength is the task of each Saint.
Building a Foundation of Strength is the task of each Saint.
In order to stand against Satan, we are urged by Jesus to diligently build a foundation. (Lk 6:48-49; Heb 11:6)
He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
A foundation is that which you begin and which all other things are built upon.
A foundation is strong when it is built on reality. Begin with God! (Heb 11:6)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Who I am must be founded upon the Rock. (Ps 63:1-8; Isa 40:28-31)
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.
Consider the expressions: “thirsts,” “longs,” “looked,” and “meditate.”
True knowledge must be pursued and digested. Decide in your mind right now: I will not rest in a superficial knowledge of God!
If you were to introduce God to someone else, what would you say? (Isa 40:28-31)
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
The key foundation to overcoming temptation is knowing who we really are. (Jer 9:23-24; Gal 3:26-29; Phil 3:4-8)
At conversion one begins a lifelong process of conforming to God’s way of thinking. (Jer 9:23-24; Gal 3:26-29)
Thus says the Lord:
“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
How did Paul once view himself and his purpose in life? (Phil 3:4-8)
though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
I have seen weak members find purpose in things the world will applaud. When one’s purpose changes, then attitudes towards brethren will also change.
If we belong to Christ, we stand on truths that are eternal and unalterable. (2 Jn 1-2, 4; 2 Cor 11:2-4; Lk 16:13-14)
The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father.
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
Sometimes, brethren change their “identity” but struggle with things they know are true. You can see the truth gradually being let go. (Lk 16:13-14)
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.
What direction am I heading? Our mercy and love for the truth will tell us!
Satan takes advantage of “Unstable” Christians.
Satan takes advantage of “Unstable” Christians.
Satan desires to isolate the unstable and recruit them, like a wolf among sheep.
Unstable - avsth,riktoj - having a tendency to change one's views and attitudes unstable, unsteady, not settled (2 Pt 2.14); substantively, of someone not settled in his thinking unstable person (2 Pt 3.16) - Friberg Lexicon
We all have been here at one point in our lives. We must not live in instability!
Despair and uncertainty come from instability in our lives. (Eph 4:14-15)
Being like a wave that is tossed about is no fun. (Eph 4:14-15)
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
If you stay in this state too long you will likely quit.
The unstable are easy prey to be manipulated by men. (2 Tim 3:6-7; 1 Thess 2:5-6; Jn 9:22)
For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
Relationships become more important than God’s word.
Emotions are often used to bring a change. (1 Thess 2:5-6)
For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
Threats and peer-pressure become effective. (Jn 9:22)
(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)
Empty sayings become appealing.
The unstable face strong temptations to wrest Scripture to approve their lifestyle. (2 Pt 3:16-17)
as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
The arguments of the unstable will have no consistency.
They will appeal to the flesh and attempt to “win” at any cost.
The unstable are tempted to “burn out”, or give up! (Lk 8:13)
And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
Satan Seeks to plant Three Things in our Hearts.
Satan Seeks to plant Three Things in our Hearts.
Bitterness against our brethren. (Heb 12:15; 1 Jn 3:15; Lev 19:16-18, 34-37; Gal 5:19-21)
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Bitterness - pikri,a -; literally, of plants that produce inedible or poisonous fruit, root that bears bitter fruit; used metaphorically of a person whose influence or actions become harmful to a community one who causes trouble (HE 12.15; ..); figuratively, as a hostile attitude (angry) resentment, animosity (EP 4.31)
It is very easy to spread anger and bitterness. The world in not concerned with justice and mercy. They are quick to believe a falsehood!
One of the great challenges we face is to be pulled into an unjust and unmerciful mindset. It is a poisonous form of hatred. (1 Jn 3:15; Lev 19:16-18)
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
When you let your mind go down this path you will likely give in to mistreatment of others. What can be taken from those you hate? (Lev 19:34-37)
You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
“You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord.”
Bitterness makes you overly sensitive and unstable. Satan will plant “minefields (mind-fields)” that make discussion with you very difficult!
Your past hurts can turn you into a tyrant. Do your hurts mean that you are right about your judgments? Does your hurts change reality? (Ex. Do you not care about…) – Postmodern counselling – Men are always at fault.
The “anger family” can accomplish much in Satan’s plan. (Gal 5:19-21)
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Why do some make blanket statements about “churches of Christ?”
“One of the most effective tools of Satan has been to have individuals make judgments of churches of Christ as a “group.” Please be careful when you talk about brethren this way. You are saying things that you cannot know! When you put people in a group and deny their individuality, then they can become faceless “monsters” that can be easily slandered and discarded.”
Pride toward our brethren. (Jas 3:14; 1 Jn 2:16; 1 Cor 8:1-3; Gal 4:16-17; Lk 18:9, 11; 2 Cor 10:12, 18)
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Pride looks down on others and you are no longer fair-minded towards them.
Pride is often employed by the unstable as a means to artificially build one up.
In pride you will look down on “ignorant” brethren and not listen. (1 Cor 8:1-3)
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
Pride rejoices in the faults of others. You live in the land of “throw-away” people. You write them off with no attempt to work with them. (Gal 4:16-17)
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
The faults of brethren are often discussed as proof of their spirituality. (Lk 18:9, 11; 2 Cor 10:12, 18)
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
A Learned Dishonesty. (Lk 20:4-7; Mk 11:29-33; Lk 8:15; 2 Cor 4:2; 3:2; Jn 1:47; 18:20)
The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
Justice and lies cannot go together. It now becomes an issue of achieving the right outcome, and not that of finding the truth. (Mk 11:29-33)
But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Dishonest men turn their proclaimed “justice” into open slander.
This creates a heart that cannot receive the word of God. (Lk 8:15 KJV)
King James Version Chapter 8
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Men of faith and conviction are open and bold. (2 Cor 4:2; 3:2; Jn 1:47)
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
One brother described a man’s preaching as “veiled subtleties that leave you uneasy after hearing the sermons.”
They are always “misunderstood” and love to wear martyr’s clothes. (Quote)
How did Jesus teach others? Why do men hide their beliefs? (Jn 18:20)
Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.
Satan Destroys our Relationships.
Satan Destroys our Relationships.
Satan will weaponize our relationships. (Ps 1:1-2; 2 Sam 15:1-6; 2 Pt 2:1, 3; Deut 29:18-19; Prov 14:10; 22:24-25)
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Consider the work of Absolom. (2 Sam 15:1-6)
After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
There are some who work hard to plant bitterness in private. (2 Pt 2:1, 3)
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
When you are angry you can easily accept false doctrine because of you hatred of “legalistic brethren.” (Deut 29:18-19)
so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.
You become poison! If you stay like this, it is just a matter of time before you leave “sectarian brethren” and take others with you. (Prov 14:10)
The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
Please do not closely associate with an angry man. (Prov 22:24-25)
Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a furious man do not go,
Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.
Satan works on wedge issues that can divide us if not handled correctly. (1 Cor 13:4-7; Mt 6:1-4)
Satan’s wisdom works to build wedges between brethren and make them stronger, the love of Christ shows mercy and patience in resolving differences.
“A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” Consider how differences are exploited to achieve worldly goals. The love of God is very different. (1 Cor 13:4-7)
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
By far, the biggest wedge issue used to spread bitterness amongst brethren is the care of the needy. This is not the first time where the needy are used as a prop and as a carnal tool. (Mt 6:1-4) (Quotes)
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Satan lures us into secrecy and backbiting. He wants us to build a fellowship based on bitterness and flattery. (1 Thess 2:3-6; Acts 17:11; 2 Pt 2:1-3; Gal 4:16-17)
For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
They complain about other’s “gossip”, but they work hard to destroy relationships with those that could answer their doctrine.
They do not have a spirit of open examination! (Acts 17:11; 2 Pt 2:1-3)
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
They use emotion to separate them from others. (Gal 4:16-17)
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
In short, Satan wants you to discard your brethren. (1 Jn 2:9-11; 2 Pt 2:18-19; Num 16:41)
How do people suddenly rebel against an eldership and destroy relationships that have been built for years? They have help. (1 Jn 2:9-11)
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Consider what the scriptures describe as one being captured. (2 Pt 2:18-19)
For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
I have been shocked to see the ridicule of brethren publicly. It is hard for those exposed to this over time to overcome it. Ex. Korah (Num 16:41)
On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.”
Indications of Postmodern Thinking
Good people can be pulled into this system and not realize the steps they have taken!
Taking action on poverty, injustice, racism and ALL other evil is proper for a Christian. We must not move away from real justice to a system that enslaves!
Is your focus on God and what you have read in His word. His revealed Holiness will be very different from what the world determines from its wisdom.
Are you increasingly focusing on the political?
Are you increasingly judging your brethren and find yourself looking down on them?
Are you increasingly emotional; - anger, fear and worry.
Can you rationally talk with others? Are you willing to thoughtfully agree or disagree?
Are you increasingly surrounding yourself in an echo chamber? What do you read? Who do you want to be around?
Consider these quotes on several topics. How are these subjects used to divide rather than a solution be sought? What kinds of mindfields exist in these topics?
The fruits of looking at others by their “privilege”
“If a small group of men were always regarded as guilty, in any clash with any other group, regardless of the issues or circumstances involved, would you call it persecution? If this group were always made to pay for the sins, errors, or failures of any other group, would you call that persecution? If this group had to live under a silent reign of terror, under special laws, from which all other people were immune, laws which the accused could not grasp or define in advance and which the accuser could interpret in any way he pleased—would you call that persecution? If this group were penalized, not for its faults, but for its virtues, not for its incompetence, but for its ability, not for its failures, but for its achievements, and the greater the achievement, the greater the penalty—would you call that persecution?”
…The only problem is that there are multiple groups we, as a society, tend to feel sorry for. This means that the oppressed groups must compete to jerk the most tears from the public’s eyes—in what has been aptly named “the oppression olympics”—in order to obtain that privilege of being so “under-privileged” that they will be allowed (even championed!) to utter any epithet, hurl any slur, shamelessly smear any opponent, and advocate for any atrocity—by simply appealing to our culture’s twisted sense of sympathy.
Pity, grounded in nothing but the arbitrary emotions of the masses, has become a blank check used to justify every form of evil—from violence in the streets to violence in the womb; from disordered roles within the Church and the home to disordered sexual desires; from envy-ridden social factions to envy-ridden political policies—with all their advocates parading around in the false moral righteousness of being thought of as “victims.”
The culture—and the Church—are drowning in a sea of sinful sympathy and sensitivity. Truth, justice, reason, and civility are being desecrated in a mass orgy of sob stories and misplaced pity. We have been bewitched by mindless sentiment, and our impending destruction is just—if we do not act swiftly to rouse ourselves from this insanity. - Jacob Brunton
Race relationships
“I feel a need to add something - It is imperative that we understand our times and the opportunities we have right now to connect with our brothers and sisters from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This time can be used as a great awakening as it pertains to racial and cultural issues. It is an unbelievable time - which is why I also feel a need to say the following. Those who take issue with CRT are in no way seeking to deny or lower the discussions being had about racism and race in the church. That response (that those who criticize CRT are being political, racist, etc.) is literally the CRT response (you can’t simply be "not-racist" - you must be "anti-racist" - which means you agree with systemic and structural racism in every aspect of life - you cannot dissent without being a racist). CRT is not only a philosophy, it provides direct answers - answers that are not biblical in any way, shape, or form. They create an ethnic caste system - based on a system of "intersectionality." As one of my professors called it, jokingly, "Intersectionality is like the Olympics of the oppressed.” Voices of those who are "more" oppressed than others now have more value - no matter what you are saying. In the end, I have come to this conclusion, and it has become my answer to most when they ask, "I agree with your desire for discussions and change as it pertains to racism. I disagree with the answers you are providing."
““You should "listen to people of color." I agree. But which ones? Do we listen to only the ones telling the story we already believe (as both sides tend to do)? Or do we listen to everyone? I've noted before that mentioning the name Candace Owens (she's a lady of color so are we listening or not?) is not acceptable. Find someone else. So I quoted a black friend I've known for 20 years…. I even linked his page since he's basically public in his settings. That was either ignored or met with asinine criticism because it didn't match a certain idea.”
Those that believe in the Bible are “oppressors”
“What if…conceptions of marriage and family, of biblical inerrancy, or even the concept of having a personal relationship with Jesus developed as they did because they were useful tools for reinforcing white dominance?” - Jones, White Too Long, p.70-71
Gender as a “social construct”
National Geographic featured a nine year old transgender boy dressed as a girl on their January
2017 cover, calling that special issue, “Gender Revolution” . Boy Scouts are now
allowed to accept transgender girls in. We’ve taught people that what counts is how
they feel not what the actual truth is. The objective reality of their biological body means
little, how they feel means everything. And so if a man feels like a woman, he’s a
woman. If a woman feels like a man, she’s a man. They can even be gender fluid if they
like.
Do we know what our foundation is for human rights? If we can’t figure out genders and functions and roles of male and female; it is in part because we no longer know what it means to be human! We act more like beasts who have lost our humanity.
In the 6th century AD Boethius wrote, “You cannot regard as a man one who is disfigured by vices. The one who steeps himself in foul and unclean lusts, lingers over pleasure like a filthy sow. In this sense, he who abandons goodness and ceases to be a man, cannot rise to the status of a god and so is transformed into an animal.” (The Consolation of Philosophy)
Jude vs 10 speaks of those “like unreasoning animals” – If we can’t figure out male and female, it’s because we have begun to be more like unreasoning animals.
How have we reached a point where the moral lines are so blurred? Because good is considered evil and evil is considered good (Isa 5.20), culture has lost the true sense of humanity by trying to be¬come self-made gods. Because the true God has been forgotten, avoided, dismissed, and straw-manned, people do not know what God's image is supposed to be. The world has "exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures" (Rom 1.23). Consequently, the world does not know what it means to be male or female, man or woman, in the truest sense. The lines are blurred, genders are conflated, and, in the process, culture has lost the semblance of true humanity as people act like unreasoning beasts. "Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish" (Psa 49.20).
Making your identity on the basis of “oppression” (blame)
The responsibility/ fault fallacy allows people to pass off the responsibility for solving their problems to others. This ability to alleviate responsibility through blame gives people a temporary high and a feeling of moral righteousness.
Unfortunately, one side effect of the Internet and social media is that it’s become easier than ever to push responsibility—for even the tiniest of infractions—onto some other group or person. In fact, this kind of public blame/ shame game has become popular; in certain crowds it’s even seen as “cool.” The public sharing of “injustices” garners far more attention and emotional outpouring than most other events on social media, rewarding people who are able to perpetually feel victimized with ever-growing amounts of attention and sympathy.
“Victimhood chic” is in style on both the right and the left today, among both the rich and the poor. In fact, this may be the first time in human history that every single demographic group has felt unfairly victimized simultaneously. And they’re all riding the highs of the moral indignation that comes along with it.
The current media environment both encourages and perpetuates these reactions because, after all, it’s good for business. The writer and media commentator Ryan Holiday refers to this as “outrage porn”: rather than report on real stories and real issues, the media find it much easier (and more profitable) to find something mildly offensive, broadcast it to a wide audience, generate outrage, and then broadcast that outrage back across the population in a way that outrages yet another part of the population. This … meanwhile distracting everyone from real societal problems. It’s no wonder we’re more politically polarized than ever before.
What happens when one identifies as a social justice warrior?
Example of woman in Auburn that made the helping of immigrants her identity. She was a Hispanic helping Hispanics. She became obsessed with this and left her husband.
“The result of a consistent and total substitution of lies for factual truth is not that the lies will now be accepted as truth, and the truth defamed as lies, but that the sense by which we take our bearings in the real world — and the category of truth vs. falsehood is among the mental means to this end — is being destroyed.” The possibilities for lying become boundless and frequently meet with little resistance. - Hannah Arendt
“Don’t vote for a racist” “If you are a ___________ supporter, He is your savior”