The Infiltration

Most Christians I know believe that Satan has a hand in scandal and failure within the Church and society. I'm quite sure that the Evil One expresses great glee at the demise of preachers, teachers, and 'Christians.' What I'm not so sure about is two-fold: 1. The awareness within the Church of what is happening and 2. The methods the Church uses to thwart Satan's schemes in the context of Spiritual Warfare.

I don't think many would be bold enough to say it, but I consider myself an exile from the Christian Church and so I have no qualms about expressing what is true. Satan has infiltrated churches and denominations across the United States in such a fashion that few, if any, individuals realize that it has happened.

"Wait ... are you sure? Isn't that a big extreme? That seems crazy."

Let me introduce you to crazy: Preachers are more concerned with finances and numbers than the truthfulness of what they speak from the pulpit. Congregations speak in "tongues" without anyone to interpret, which is a slap in the face to New Testament scripture. Those with the gift of prophecy are persecuted by the Church because of modern Christianity's disdain for truth and conviction. Churchgoers raise their hands and cry out to God during 'worship services,' but nothing changes in how they live their lives, treat others, or impact the world. Start up churches water down the Bible and preach it out of context to become 'culturally relevant.'

That's the short version of 'problems.' These issues are widespread and prevalant. These are not isolated cases. A false 'gospel' has spread like wildfire, perpetrated by false teachers and lying 'prophets.' They say that if you obey God's laws and just "do your best" and "ask for forgiveness" then you won't have any problems. You'll get a good job, make lots of money, have a wonderful marriage, be famous, do great things, etc.

That's a bunch of crap. No one who did anything worth noting for Christ has lived the American Dream. Christianity has now become nothing but the justification for, to steal a line from John Piper, "this Disneyland mentality." It's called the Prosperity Gospel. "Give it to God, and your mental illness will go away." "Give your money to us, let us pray, and your physical body will be healed." What a pit of vipers our religious leaders have become.

None of it is true. God rarely acts in such a manner, and for good reason. Did Christ not tell us that if we followed Him, we would suffer with Him? Scripture has been forgotten. The words of Christ are perverted to justify the greed, lust, and empire-building of the elite at the expense of the poor and needy. What's pathetic is that I believe strongly that many Christians are really seeking God. How can they find Him, though? The most serious charge I level at the leaders of the 'Christian Community' is that they are sending others strait to hell in a hand basket because of their own depravity.

This is what I mean when I say that Satan has efficiently and quietly infiltrated our Churches. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, after all. I propose a different way to live the Christian life. I fervently pray that Christians would embrace the suffering of Christ so that we can relate to a world that suffers. I hope that we would walk outside and see the things that hurt people and HATE those things. Until that day comes, Christianity can die a lingering, painful death. It's no longer impacting lives, reaching the masses, or saving souls.