Brief Overview of Our Enemies Strategic Plan

As I survey the landscape of Western “Churchianity” several things seem to stand out. Things like pride, materialism, apathy, divorce, etc. have become extremely prevalent within the body of Christ (even normal). However, these I believe are symptoms of a larger issue. To address something like apathy for example would be like treating a cancer patient with Tylenol because they have aches and pains, and ignoring the tumor which is the root problem. The enemies most effective attacks do not come from the outside but from within. I believe the real malignancy is our loss of identity as Sons of God “saved by grace alone”. This issue is so critical because it deals with the recognition of the degree of depravity with which humanity has been cursed. When people understand that they are indeed sinners who are worthy of eternal punishment and torment, they intrinsically understand the value of God’s grace and mercy. When we forget who we are in Christ Jesus (and who we were outside of Him) apathy, pride, materialism etc. become part of the “Christian” experience. The enemy whispers in our ear that we “chose” God, and that He’s pretty lucky to have us. The truth is that it’s not that we loved God but that He first loved us… We need revival, but it cannot be a revival of legalism and behavior management. We must have revival centered on grace, where our realization of the LOVE of God moves us to action. The church has become stunted and rendered impotent because of her desire to be “free”. Her longing for independence has brought her into bondage to the outside culture. Gone by are the days when the church could speak from a position of authority. We have squandered our inheritance on a bowl of potage. We have left our first love, neither hot or cold we risk being vomited from the Lord’s mouth. All of this because we love autonomy more than grace, we want to believe that we are saved of our own choosing. If only we grasped a fraction of the truth.
There are a number of different ways the enemy works to achieve this end. Probably one of the most effective ways to accomplish this result is through distraction. For example, instead of putting the cross at the center of our theology, we might replace it with eschatology (study of the end times). This subtle invitation to explore “the deeper” things of Christianity cause us to lose focus on the most important aspects of faith. This isn’t to say that doing a study on end times is a bad thing, but I know of people who are consumed with it and they don’t know anything more about when Jesus is coming back than when they first started the “study”. This kind of obsession is a waste of time and derailment of purpose. Our objective as believers is to make disciples of all nations, not to devise charts which date the arrival of Antichrist.
Are you abiding in Christ and being conformed to his image? Is there anything in your life which distracts you from your mission to make disciples? Do you recognize your own sinfulness apart from Jesus? The enemy is subtle! We are sent out as sheep among wolves, be as wise as a serpent but as gentle as a dove.