Wednesday, July 28, 2021

The Sons of Disobedience

 

…the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Paraphrase from Ephesians 2:2

It is not difficult to imagine that we have entered one more dark history of humanity on a long string of dark histories.  I want to say that others have suffered much worse, and they have.  We can think of those in the path of Genghis Khan; the early Christians under Rome; medieval Europeans under siege by Vikings, Huns, or Charlemagne; almost anyone in France in the late eighteenth century; Armenians in the Ottoman Empire; those living in between Germany and the Soviet Union in the 1930s and 1940s; Chinese under Mao; Vietnamese under napalm; Arabs under drones.

But I think I am on safe ground to consider that never before in the recorded history of humanity has the entire population of the world been under siege simultaneously and placed in a medical experiment, forced to face the risk of early death regardless of the path chosen.  All of humanity; one-hundred percent.  More than seven billion people.

Ephesians 6: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

These sons of disobedience, are they merely ghosts?  Or do they walk among us, flesh and blood?  Certainly, as the Apostle Paul writes, they are in the heavenly places, but he also writes that they are world forces.  We find this reality elsewhere:

1 Peter 5: 8(b) Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The Apostle Peter doesn’t say he is floating, coming only in a dream to fill our heads with evil thoughts.  He prowls, like a lion; he devours – a physical act. 

Jesus furthers this idea that they walk among us, on the surface quite religious and devout.  He says to the Pharisees:

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

Those to whom Jesus is speaking are the sons of disobedience; the sons of their father, the devil.  They want to do the devil’s work.  We see them on television daily; they fill every major outlet.  Their father was a murderer from the beginning, and they want to do his work.  We also have come to see them in positions of church leadership, bowing in obedience to the sons of disobedience, speaking lies as their father does.  They are doing their father’s work and teaching others that they also must do their father’s work.

One of the paths I have taken at this blog is a significant examination of the many false histories we have been taught, the lies used to justify action, the way evil was described as virtuous.  When I began that journey, I was already somewhat skeptical of the narrative; as I worked through that journey, I have come to conclude that everything being described to us about meaningful events in our history is a lie.

The sons of disobedience always lie, because their father always lies.  It is in their nature because it is their father’s nature.  Every major event in my lifetime (and for centuries before this) has been based on a lie or explained away by a lie. 

For this reason, I didn’t believe for a minute that we faced a plague of medieval proportions (see my earliest thoughts here, here, and here – all from March 2020).  I didn’t need to have a complete answer of the truth; just that I knew what we were being told was a lie.

Revelation 9: 11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon [destruction], and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon [destroyer].

Their king brings only destruction.  And the sons want to do his work; they want to please him and actively strive to do so.  Lying and destruction comes as easily to them as breathing does to me and you.

The Apostle Paul knows that many Christians will be deceived and follow the destroyer, becoming sons of disobedience themselves:

2 Corinthians 11: 3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

There are several important factors I consider regarding which church to attend, and it is a question I – like many of us, I suppose – have had to face in the last year.  I am coming to the conclusion that the highest factor on the list might be how that church dealt with the nonsense of the last eighteen months.  Closing last Easter…I still can’t believe how willingly this was done.

Revelation 2: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Is Satan himself physically going to cast believers into prison, or will he act through his sons of disobedience?  The faithful will suffer tribulation, it is a tribulation from which there is no escape – we will be made to physically suffer whether we obey the lies of Satan or we don’t:

1 John 5: 9 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

The world lies in his power; but we have a means to resist:

Ephesians 6: 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Stand firm.  Remember that no matter which path you take, you face the risk of physical death: follow in the path of these sons of disobedience, and you will have poison pumped into your arm; do not follow in their path, and they may shut you out of society. 

But this is only the physical death. 

Conclusion

In the face of this, how should we then live?

Ephesians 6: 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1 Peter 5: 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

James 4: 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

28 comments:

  1. Luke 9:62--Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

    Matthew 16:25--"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

    Luke 12:4,5--"I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"

    Matthew 10:16--"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

    Acts 5:29--Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!"

    Indeed! How should we then live?

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  2. "I have come to conclude that everything being described to us about meaningful events in our history is a lie."

    That is rough.

    "One of the paths I have taken at this blog is a significant examination of the many false histories we have been taught, the lies used to justify action, the way evil was described as virtuous. When I began that journey ..."

    Thank you for taking such a journey and sharing your thoughts as you have gone along and for letting us get a glimpse and even to comment on your discoveris.

    Much appreciated.

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    1. Well, maybe not everything...just the corona, the financial meltdown of 2008, nine-one-one, Vietnam, Korea, WWII, the Great Depression, WWI, the Civil War...

      And I thank you and others for participating. I both enjoy and benefit from your feedback.

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    2. Don’t forget the mother of all creation lies, heliocentric sun worship that has ZERO scriptural support!!! Stop listening to NASA & “Ask for the old paths”!

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  3. While reading this was the verse that kept popping in my mind. Philippians 2:15

    "prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world"

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  4. Thank you for your insights. I, too, disbelieved the false narrative in March last year for much the same reasons as you. And I too left a church for another church that refused to shut the doors at any time last year; indeed they took the doors off the building and burned them to prevent anyone from forcing closure.

    I do want to ask that you correct the latter passage references regarding the spiritual warfare. Those are found in chapter 6 of Ephesians rather than chapter 2.

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    1. You are quite right on the chapter...I had the link correct, but for some reason typed the wrong chapter.

      Thank you.

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    2. A good analysis of America's problem which is summed up in James 4:17. We simply have too many people failing to do what is right. The question is: what can and should we try to do about it? I suggest we plan our work and work our plan. See http://thecnc.org/Call2Action.htm and http://thecnc.org/Documents/1776.htm.
      Walter Myers
      785-766-3045

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  5. Blah, blah, blah. Christianity is a social club for most so called 'Christains' Your connection to God doesn't come from a local denominational church. There was only one Jesus and one God. Your 'denomination' is only a statement of how far you are from the holy Trinity and what men have perverted the gospel that you think is the real one but isnt. There is and never will be some world-wide announcement that 'now is the time to stand with God'. Your true faith is supposed to tell you. But even here in the Bible belt, the moment the state agents said 'you can't go to church because COVID' millions of so called 'Christians' rolled over and surrendered. The few of true faith that fought it quickly found that the government never had any authority to do this, and ended this attempted tyranny. But the fact remains that 99% of the 'faithful' took it and turned their back on God when the moment came to stand with Him. When their biggest test came they all failed. Strike one was thinking you'd find God in a house of men. Strike two was when you turned your back on God and failed to fight back against this assault on worship. I can only assume strike three will be when they tell you that the only cure for COVId will be worshipping the devil. At which point all the evidence says a good 90% of 'ye faithful' will do so without hesitation. Because your God is the television that you worship far more and far more often, and apparently trust more too. If this isn't you. Of you are among the small minority of true faithful, then apologies in advance. But please don't waste my time with some response about how you really felt called to church but were worried about your job or the police being mean to you. You can tell that nonsense straight to God's face on your judgement day. Assuming you're really that stupid or self deluded. As with all things the 80/20 rule applies to Christians too. Most are fakes and its out in the open now for all to see. No words can gloss over your inaction. Prepare for judgement now. Especially if you doubled down on your lack of faith and took that vaccine. God's immune system is 99.7% effective against COvID. But you chose Pfizer's?!?!?! Why not just piss on the cross in full view of everyone and at least own who you really are? Please note that this isn't directed towards the author or anyone here, but it is directed towards the literally hundreds of millions of 'Christians' for whom the shoe fits.

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    1. Deuce, it really would have helped if you opened with your last sentence. I almost deleted your comment, with the last sentence (barely) overcoming the tone of the rest.

      One other thought: a "local denominational church" is necessary insofar as a community is necessary. And a community is necessary if one is to live a Christ-filled life to the full.

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    2. Bionic, you are a better man than I am.

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    3. I don't know about that, Roger.

      A post like this one I have written might tend to invite such a comment. I really let it sit before deciding to approve it.

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    4. Speaking from a history as an evangelist, pastor, house-church leader, and gospel singer (all of the above in the conventional contemporary sense), I can say that while Jesus has not found a home within any denominational walls, neither can or do those walls keep Him out from intruding into such confines. My mentor and spiritual father gave his life to ministering to the body of Christ at large, but particularly within the tradition in which he was born. For him, it was a mission field, and within it, his testimony was that he was evangelizing Christians.

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    5. Christianity is NOT etiquette - https://crushlimbraw.blogspot.com/2019/10/vox-popoli-christianity-isnt-etiquette.html?m=0

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  6. I don’t have much time to comment these days, but Bionic you have been on fire all year. This may be but a humble blog, but you are at the forefront of proper liberty-minded (dare I say libertarian) thinking. The paradigm has needed change to link, and more importantly improve, ideas about personal sovereignty with the reality on the ground and the spiritual realm above.

    You are continuing the work of Rothbard, who late in his life became ever more aware that the paradigm of understanding civilization needed to change by looking backward, or more appropriately, to the center, where we find Christendom and the truths discovered by its fathers, intellectuals, saints, and followers and proclaimed by its founder and exemplified by his mother.

    As you like to say, we seek the road to a libertarian society that to outsiders, may not look conventionally libertarian. Like you (and partially due to childhood inoculations from my father), I have been aware most of my life that history is largely a self-serving narrative in the halls of officialdom; you have to cobble together materials at the margins. But with work such as yours, Tom Woods, etc., we are finding our power and actually have materials to work with as we educate our children for the next generation. It gives me hope.

    Rothbard was right to scold the Buchananites and Paleos for their uber-particularism, essentially denying economic theory and natural law. But he also knew the autistic libertarian mainstream was sorely lacking in a theory of the good, of man’s destiny and the truth, and so he pointed the way back to the likes of Aristotle, Aquinas, Chesterton, Scholasticism, the Old Right and so on.

    I may agree with Walter Block’s tactical approach of big tent alliances for the purpose of finding strength in numbers, but in the realm of ideas, it’s ridiculous to hear foundational ideas like Kinsella’s (someone for whom I have high regard) that the difference between a person that thinks murder and rape are fine and one who doesn’t is a matter of preference, not “right and wrong”. I give him credit for acknowledging the logical end of autistic libertarianism, but I can’t see how one can live with this premise and not in some ways daily engage in performative and emotional contradictions.

    Thanks for all your tireless writing.

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  7. Ausgezeichnet.

    Ausgezeichnet is my favorite German word. (look it up if you need to) That's what this post is.

    Ausgezeichnet.

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  8. RE: "One other thought: a "local denominational church" is necessary insofar as a community is necessary. And a community is necessary if one is to live a Christ-filled life to the full."

    Right, as my local Christian radio station keeps reminding, "It's time to get back to church". Hebrews 10:25 back in effect, until the next time it isn't.

    Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

    No city or community necessary to live a Christ-filled life to the full. The Bible tells me so.

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    1. You are correct! That's like saying you need to belong to a community to serve Satan!

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    2. Our highest commandment is to love God; next, like it, is to love our neighbor.

      This is not possible without community.

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    3. Love for our neighbor can be expressed through intercessory prayer from solitary confinement. Community is anywhere and there is certainly no need for "denominational churches" for any reason. From plainbibleteaching.com's "The Problem with Denominations":

      "Denominations do not represent additional paths to heaven. They are all part of the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). The call for people everywhere is to abandon the churches of men for the church which our Lord “purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28)."

      Right! Eliminate the middle-men and go straight to the Savior.

      There is an old knee-slapper on Youtube by Bill Clifton: "You go to your church (and I'll go to mine)". The lyrics continue, "...But let's walk along together...Our Father built them side by side, so let's walk along together...The Lord will be at your church, but He'll be at my church also ...so let's walk along together".

      A very catchy tune, but no. Just no.

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  9. one can take the 'jab' and still be of free choice BUT following any mandate YOU err on the side of evil and your 'free will' is given away by YOU to the evil.

    Boosters will be the 'final' subjugation of the masses and the 'culling ' of the herd as many of us will NEVER take any more 'jabs'. imo

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  10. I like to think of myself as an amateur historian. Bionic, you very well may have articulated the exact reason I read and reread about all the events you mentioned. There has always been some things about all those events that didn't add up in my mind. I think you are correct in saying the bases are all lies. I have told many people that it is not a negative thing to go to jail for the right reason. The Disciples are a good example. Thanks for your posts. Inspirational!

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