NOTES ON THE DIVIDING OF AMERICA: GOD’S WINNOWING FORK, FREE WILL, AND THE RIGHT CHOICES IN THE AGE OF HYPOCRISY – PART II

1. The Great Sifting
2. THE GREAT APOSTASY
3. The Grateful Remnant

SCRIPTURE. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”- JAMES 4:1-4, AMP

QUOTATIONS

“And yet! Into this universe, which was appointed to the highest, which the Creator had called that it should become a vessel to reveal His glory, there has entered ‘a Breach.’ The united harmony of the spheres is destroyed by a Harsh Discord. SIN has appeared, and criminally set itself against the holy, loving plans of God to reveal Himself. Through the Sin of Mankind this lower earth is devastated (Gen. 3: 17, 18; Rom. 8:20), and, in the heavenly world above, as the history of temptation in the Bible premises, ‘A Fall’ had taken place among the angels prior to the Fall of Adam and Eve” (Gen. 3: 1-7; 2:15). – ERICH SAUER, ‘The Dawn of World Redemption,’ 1951; edited

“The greatest danger to the Church today is not humanism, paganism, atheism or agnosticism. The greatest danger is not increasing hostility against our faith from the culture. Our greatest danger is ‘Apostasy on the inside,’ arising from False Teachers- theological liberals who deny and distort Biblical Doctrine and lead others down the same path.” – MARK HITCHCOCK, ‘The Coming Apostasy: Exposing the Sabotage of Christianity from Within,’ 2017; edited

“If you have any acquaintance with basic science (or if you have ever looked at your teenager’s bedroom), you are familiar with the ‘Law of Entropy’: If left to themselves, things descend into greater and greater Disorder. ThisLaw is as true in the Spiritual realm as it is in the Physical. Over time, things degrade. Without constant monitoring, maintenance, and ‘Restoration,’ we drift away from the Standard God has set. And the Descent into Disorder is so gradual we often don’t admit to ourselves what is happening.” – GARY HENRY, “The Restoration Principle,” ‘Word Points,’ November 10, 2020; edited, emphasis my own

Selah.

1. FIRST THOUGHTS

The natural state of all Mankind is Sin, period. That is our First Premise of Human Conduct: That human beings lean toward Wickedness more easily than Goodness. It is in our very flesh and bones, and in our Spiritual DNA.

King David and the Apostle Paul said it this way, so very clearly.

“Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful] … Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.” – PSALM 51:5; ROMANS 5:12, AMPC

It is helpful to remember these Primary Truths about Humankind before even delving into the entire notion of ‘The Great Falling Away’ of the Church. In the context of right theology, it is eminently Predictable. That is, beloved, the way of things in The Universe of Man.

THE LAST DAYS APOSTASY. Now let’s dive into the deeper structure of what the Scriptures (and Frank Peretti) call, ‘This Present Darkness’ (1986). Here is the classic passage with which we are all familiar – or should be.

In the Words of our King, then.

“At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.” – MATTHEW 24:10-13, AMP

• OFFENDED [BY TRUTH]. This vitally important term is taken from the original Greek word, ‘Skandalizó [σκανδαλίζω]: “To put a snare (in the way), to cause to stumble, to give offense; Usage: I cause to stumble, cause to sin, cause to become indignant, shock, offend; to hinder right conduct or thought; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; ‘to cause to fall away;’ to commit that which leads to the fall or ruin of anyone; to give occasion for ungodly conduct resulting in the mischief incurred thereby; to craftily entice or lead to destruction.’

• COMMENTARY I. “‘Many shall be offended’ – See the notes at Matthew 5:29. Many shall stumble, fall, ‘apostatize from a profession of [true] religion.’ Many who ‘professed’ to love Me will then show that they had no ‘real’ attachment to Me; and in those trying times it will be seen that they knew nothing of genuine Christian Love. See 1 John 2:19. ‘Shall betray one another’ – Those who thus Apostatize from professed attachment to Me will betray others who really Love Me. This they would do to secure their own safety, by revealing the names, habitations, or places of concealment of others.” – ALBERT BARNES, ‘Notes on the Whole Bible,’ 1875; edited

DK’S TAKE. A couple of things right up front. ONE, the passage from James is diagnostic here; those who sought their own “pleasures” are easy prey for the Easy Gospel that has so riddled our Churches today. TWO, this Grand Process is presented here as a key part of ‘God’s Great Winnowing’ we covered in Part I.

Going on, right now, today, in Real Time. Thus the sense of Tumult.

1. TRUE SPIRITUALITY

As a Baseline, I am going to introduce you to TWO THINKERS who shall address the Epochal Question: What is a ‘Real’ Christian?’

The first is from the brilliant British theologian, HARRY BLAMIRES, mentored by C.S. Lewis and nicknamed, “the scourge of trendy theology” (gotta’ love that moniker). The second is from our beloved ensign of True Faith, DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, who literally lived and died The Faith for us all to follow. Selah.

TRUE SPIRITUALITY: I simply define this as: The stuff of ‘Genuine Followership’ of the Jewish Messiah of the Sacred Text.

• BLAMIRES. The Mark of the True Christian is one who bears: “‘The Marks of Truth,’ as Christianly conceived, that it is Supernaturally grounded not developed within nature; that it is Objective and not subjective; that it is a Revelation and not a construction; that it is Discovered by Inquiry and not elected by a majority vote; that it is Authoritative and not a matter of personal choice.” – ‘The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think?’ 1963; edited

BONHOEFFER. “The Cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the ‘Call to Abandon’ the attachments of this world. It is that Dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship, we Surrender ourselves to Christ in union with His Death—we give over our lives to Death. Thus, it begins; the Cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise God-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our Communion with Christ. ‘When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.’ It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow Him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—Death in Jesus Christ, the Death of the old man at his call.” – ‘The Cost of Discipleship,’ 1937; edited

DK’S TAKE. Taken together then, there are at least TWO MARKS that distinguish a True Christian from a False Christian: (1) A passionate commitment to ‘Discovering Truth’ on every matter under the sun by which to live out our Christian life. (2) An equally passionate ‘Commitment to Dying’ to all other definitions of what it is to live for Christ, and Christ alone.

That begins and ends, therefore, to Living Authentically, and, if required of us, literally Dying Courageously, as did our brother and teacher, Dr. Bonhoeffer. And nothing less, beloved. Nothing less.

1. THREE TYPES OF CHRISTIANS

SCRIPTURE.  Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’” – JOHN 3:5-7, AMP

Now we tighten the screws a bit more, as it were, on just what constitutes a True Follower of The Christ. No wiggle room here, whereas before we were dealing with largely, albeit well informed, human definitions.

I take this simple yet superb analysis from an old country preacher named, PASTOR RAYMOND T. ELLIS, founder of Country Preacher Ministries, Incorporated, as well as the Pastor of Country Bible Baptist Church in Lumberton, North Carolina, founded in 1980. He is best known for his Bible Time Radio Ministry which began in 1972.

You’ll note with some delight, this old Preacher Man pulls no punches.

1. THE RELIGIOUS CHRISTIAN. “The modern 21^st Century Church has many members who fit into this category. They are a religious lot who love the ceremonies and rituals that are carried out in their churches. Participating in these kinds of services have them feeling that they are part of the group who will go to Heaven one day. I heard a prominent man say he belonged to a major Denomination, and he was a Christian, but he had never asked God to forgive him of any sin [Selah]. This is an example of a ‘Religious’ person who is the member of a church.

• THE WORLDLY CHRISTIAN. “To see this group of Christians in the Scriptures turn to 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians. Read both of these Books in order to see what the Apostle Paul wrote to Corinth. Keep in mind now he is writing to ‘saved believers.’ Christians that are saved, and going to church yet committing all kinds of sins. Some of these sins were shameful … Yes, these were all saved people living as ‘Babes’ in the Lord. They were not growing spiritually, and the Apostle Paul is writing to these believers to inform them of their sins and their need to Repent.”

• THE SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN. “These are the Spiritual Believers who live for Christ and who love the Lord. Without these Christians there would be very little publishing of the gospel on the radio or television, in the papers, on the Internet or Facebook, or many other places. Disciples are those who continue to learn about the Lord, and are ‘obeying Him.’ There are many Christians who are ‘believers,’ but there are also other believers who ‘Know’ the Lord. It is those who know the Lord we need more of in these troublesome days. The Gospel Light is growing dimmer in our Pagan Society as Christianity declines among people who want no religion, or those who have a belief system that suits their own deceived preference. Spiritual Believers are ‘Living’ by the Bible. Spiritual Believers are looking for the Return of the Lord. Spiritual Believers are concerned about the quagmire of sin that our Nation has descended into.” – “Three Types of Christians,” ‘Country Preacher Ministries, Inc.,’ 2014; edited

DK TAKE. And, beloved, to underscore the Preacher Man’s Point: They DO whatever the Lord asks of them, with no holding back. They are the ones who say, with tears and a full, sometimes trembling heart: “Here am I, Lord. Send me!’ – cf. ISAIAH 6:8

1. THE TEACHING

SCRIPTURE. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”- JAMES 4:1-4, AMP

Contrary to what is taught in today’s American Church, there are certain things ‘God hates.’ Yes, He is Unremitting Love in every way, all the time, never divorced from that Heart of Compassion for His entire Creation, and especially Mankind.

And yet, and yet, there is this from the pen of King Solomon.

“These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:

A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.” – PROVERBS 6:16-19, AMPC

THE FIRST SIN. Now I cannot prove this in an absolute sense, but if I had to single out one of these Seven Things that God Hates, I’d start with the first one mentioned in this list of these mortal sins: PRIDE.

• ABOMINATION. So there is no mistake here, the word used by the Writer is from the Hebrew, ‘Toebah’ [תּוֹעֵבַה], translated as: “Something that is morally disgusting [to God]; utterly detestable; an abhorrent act or thing; on the same level and definition as the worship of idols [more than the God who hates it]; these are things absolutely repugnant to God [which He shall most severely reprove]; on a par with cultic prostitution or harlotry; the practice of dishonest business; basically, it is ‘a clash’ of basic dispositions between Unrighteous people and Righteous people (Proverbs 29:27 – ‘An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked’).”

• A PROUD LOOK. From the Hebrew, ‘Rum’ [רוּם]: “To be high and [self] exalted; defiant [against legitimate authority]; haughty; to extoll oneself; lofty and loud; presumptuous, self-promoting; likened unto a breed of worms; having inordinate self-esteem; possessing a high or unreasonable conceit of one’s own excellence, either of body or mind; arrogant; supercilious; excited by the animal appetite; pompous, high-minded; feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own accomplishments; having or showing an excessive high opinion of one’s importance.”

MAXIM. The point to carry forward into the formal teaching is the following ‘Principle’: ‘Proud people seek only for themselves, and will do ‘anything’ to get what they desire. I mean: Anything! Including the other Five Sins that follow: Lie, Murder, Coerce, Do Evil, Break Covenant, and Sow Division among the Righteous.

Now the hardest part: ‘God not only hates these wicked deeds, but ‘the people’ who habitually carry them out. Especially if they do it in His Name. Selah.

JAMES’ WARNING. To complete this important section toward ‘Why All the Division,’ I will isolate one crucial Word form that passage that undergirds all that we see taking place in America and her Church today. A finding, if properly understood, that is beyond stunning.

• PLEASURE. This one term, in the final analysis, is what The Proud seek more than anything else in the world. Defined by the Greek word, ‘Hédoné’ [ἡδονή], or: “The pursuit of sensual delight; lust; strong, illicit desire or motivation; pleasure as an end in itself, at the expense of other, nobler things; the satiation of bodily desires [not limited to sexual]; the gratification of the senses or mind; excitement, relish or happiness [of a surface nature]; from indulgence of one’s appetite; excitement of the passions.”

• WM. MACDONALD. “The sad fact is that there are wars and fights among Christians. To suggest that this paragraph does not apply to believers is unrealistic, and it robs the passage of its value for us. What ‘Causes’ all this fighting? It arises from the ‘strong desires’ within us which are constantly struggling to be satisfied. There is the Lust to accumulate material possessions. There is the drive for Prestige. There is the craving for Pleasure, for the gratification of bodily appetites. These powerful forces are at work within us. We are never satisfied. We always want more.” – ‘Believer’s Bible Commentary,’ 1995, p. 2235; edited

DK’S TAKE. From these sobering Scriptural Truths we must learn from them a Principle Lesson derived from a First Question we must all address:

Who, or What, do you LOVE (i.e., want, desire, value) more than anything else on the earth, even more than life itself?

If it is not quick answer to ‘Jesus Christ,’ beloved, you are Lost. I tell you, you are Lost, and in severe and immediate Need of Repentance. Here is how The Messiah put in stark and incontrovertible terms.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].” – MATTHEW 10:37-39, AMP

Any questions, beloved? If so, if so, don’t bring them to me, but straight to Him, in private conversation, in these Final Hours.

• LAST THOUGHTS

As we close, then, I believe it is clearer now to understand just WHO is more likely to ‘Stand in Righteousness’ in the Last Days, and who is more likely to ‘Fall Away into Apostasy.’ But just in case it is not clear, let’s review, with the help of a timeless Christian voice. Quoted at length, given its importance.

And frankly, tragically, because we don’t hear this kind of preaching anymore in God’s Houses.

BILLY GRAHAM SPEAKS. “Recently I have been studying a word that is used, sometimes carelessly, by many Christians today. It is the word ‘Apostasy,’ which comes from the Greek ‘apostasia.’ The English word is derived from two Greek words. Putting them together they mean ‘to stand away from’ or ‘to abandon’ one’s faith.

Most people think of an Apostate as a person who has denied the theology of his faith. But the Biblical teaching about Apostasy goes far deeper than that. The ‘Falling Away’ mentioned by Paul to the Church at Thessalonica indicates that Apostasy affected every area of life. The word is so strong and so emphatic that it suggests a complete breakdown of morals, ethics and spirituality …

Paul listed the ‘Types of Sins’ that these people who Fall Away will fall into: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power … always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 7).

What a picture of thousands of ‘Professing Christians’ today—people ‘having a form of godliness but denying its power.’ This is a picture of Satan releasing against the Church all the diabolical powers at his command. The main objective of Satan against the Church is to create a ‘Falling Away,’ a ‘Decline’ of moral and spiritual power.” – “Today’s Apostasy,” ‘Decision Magazine,’ April 30, 2019; edited

THREE TYPES OF APOSTASY. Graham then wisely distinguished between three kinds of Falling Away: (1) ‘Moral Apostasy,’ or that which manifests in immorality of all kinds. (2) ‘Theological Apostasy,’ the stuff I deal with primarily, or the ‘doctrines of demons’ that Paul’s Letter to Timothy references. And (3), ‘Pharisaical Apostasy,’ or that which issues straight out of the hearts of Liars and Hypocrites – which Jesus hates!

Now that’s a lot, I realize the more I do these studies for y’all – and for myself. But it’s important to recall my overall Plan for this SERIES ON DIVISION:

• FIRST: ‘The Great Sifting’ going on even as I write these words, between Wheat and Tares – overwhelmingly based on what is in our hearts, and our subsequent pattern of choices.

• SECOND: The Great Apostasy,’ or Falling Away also transpiring, as countless millions decide to believe the Lie and forsake the Truth, for all the reasons we have discussed thus far. – At enormous cost.

• THIRD: For the final lesson, ‘The Grateful Remnant’ – consisting of all those who are determined NOT to compromise their Covenant with Christ, and who die daily to this world and all its allures. – No matter the cost.

CODA. As I was pondering on how to finish this installment, I fanned through my notes and came to that penned on July 10, 2021. One that sweetly DEFINES precisely what it is that God Requires of all who would be Members of His Remnant in this Hour of Apostasy.

You will recognize it immediately as King David’s passionate PRAYER OF REPENTANCE, after he willfully committed adultery with Bathsheba, and arranged to have her husband, Uriah, murdered. Apropos to this Teaching, I should think.

“My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.” – PSALM 51:17, AMPC

• CONTRITE. The Key to Contrition is taken from the Hebrew term, ‘Dakah’ [דָּכָה], meaning, most fundamentally: ‘To crush; to become broken [of the primacy of self]; to collapse, be cast down, humbled (by your sin); to bruise or rub; deeply affected by grief and sorrow for having offended God; penitent; i.e., the only state that God can use to mold us into His Likeness; [not unlike the training of a thoroughbred or a champion].”

• M. HENRY. “The good work wrought in every True Penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God’s Word. Oh, that there were such a heart in every one of us! God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice.” – ‘Exposition of the Old and New Testaments,’ 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

DK’S CLOSE. Beloved, I have argued and cajoled and wept and shouted and pretty much everything else for over 15 months now, that the American Church is in dire, desperate and indeed Mortal Need of Repentance, King David style.

Certainly, we are no better than David, are we, Pastors?

Ironically enough, the Path to Real Life more luminescent than the sun, lies along the same Road taken by the Messiah – even Death on a Cross. As Jesus has said it by way of a Parable:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” – JOHN 12:24, NKJV

I would that we should all choose to produce much grain, beloved, until the sky splits apart, the mountains tremble, and we are Raised higher than anything we could ever imagine. I would that, for all of us.

Ever your servant, DK

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDvrWd0sexg&t=2s