Tuesday 2 September 2008

Is Temptation a sign we're doing it right?

Why do we see so many Christian leaders fall from grace? Why are there so many sex scandals in the church? Why wasn't I entirely surprised when I saw the news about Mike Guglielmucci?

And why don't we see the same sort of things from Muslim leaders, Buddhist monks, Hindus and Scientologists?

Maybe they're better at hiding it? And I don't want to make any excuses, all that stuff is wrong and should never happen but I wonder is Satan doesn't bother pushing the boundaries with Islamic Imams because he already has them in a place he wants. There's no doubt there's such temptation on the church, but is that because if we weren't tempted, and didn't stuff up we would be an unstoppable movement in the world today?

Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism aren't saving people. Those religions are not God working in this world, so they must be a tool of Satan - why would Satan tear down those tools? But the church is the movement of God, in fact with the Holy Spirit living inside each Christian the church can be God to the world around them... that must be the place Satan will try and tear down. The Islamic religion is always so quick to point out the hypocrisy of the Church, and their discipline is something that they can show off with pride... but is that just because the work of Satan is focused on the one group of people who could actually make the difference, and not worry about those preaching darkness already?

It's not an excuse, but it might explain the media coverage shown to church downfalls and not other religions. It's also a call for us to be extra vigilant. Why when I'm with the guys at work they may see a skimpily clad girl, make a comment and get on with the conversation, yet the image of that girl may linger in my mind as a continual temptation... if I give into that temptation it makes me an ineffective witness to those guys around me - wouldn't it make sense to make that temptation much bigger for the one person you're trying to stop being effective?

As always the answer to this is Jesus - as powerful as Satan may be over the minds of human, however he may weave situations for the purpose of our downfall, Jesus is so much more powerful than him. Again, due to the Holy Spirit's presence in each one of us, we have that power at hand when we are tempted.

James 4:7 says "Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." Is that what we are missing somehow? Is that why we're seeing so much stuff in the church that looks like a downfall? Are we failing to submit to God, because even if all the focus of Satan's temptation is on the church - that verse is still the truth and we should be able to make Satan flee!

Let's pray for each other, let's support each other through each of our temptations, let's not hide ourselves from each other, but let us stand together, submit to God and make Satan run away. For we are the salt of the earth, we are the way to God, and we are the group of people who can make the difference for the kingdom of God!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Good thoughts mate.

Anonymous said...

I really connected with your suggestion that other religions are a tool of Satan as they are not from God and furthering his Glory and kingdom.

I knew it but until i read it, i dont think i KNEW it.

Kinda makes you regret ever being accepting of another's religion when in essence, its just another mask of Satan.

g said...

not sure what you're getting at lou?

It's the religion in itself which is the problem, but the thing that adds a whole new element to it (which wasn't the topic of this post) is that the people in the particular religion are not the problem... they are only effected by the problem. So it doesn't allow us to treat everything to do with another religion like crap - because that would mean treating those people in that way.

Instead we need to love everyone, no matter what religion - even if they're hidden under a mask of Satan as you put it - because how else can you show them the love that will allow them to pull that mask off.

this post was more about the public face of Christianity as opposed to the likes of Islam. It many people outside the church they see Islam as this devout, and withstanding religion - and Christianity as full of hypocrites - I was trying to flesh out why that seems to be the case.

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