|
I think one of the most challenging places to
"stand up for Jesus" is when one is in a group setting with other
believers; even in "places" on the internet, such as list servs and
discussion forums. Much peer pressure is exerted in a group—even in an electronic
format—and we must guard against hiding our light
for fear of getting flamed from "fellow believers." Many posters on list servs and discussion forums are occultists
who pose as Christians in order to get as much anti-biblical, New Age attitudinal change accomplished in
the church as possible. This may sound shocking, but it is true, and quite
common.
It is very easy to pose as a Christian on the
internet. One just needs to know a bit of Christian "jargon", and that is
not hard to pick up. Sometimes they do not even bother to make much of a
show of being "Christian." This is sad, because it shows how far believers
have fallen for the conditioning to not judge their brother by his fruit,
but only by his profession. Fake Christian message board posters will use a
handle and/or a graphic and an attitude that provide clues as to whom they really serve.
The
"higher up" occultists who work Christian messageboards do know the scriptures and are
dangerously clever at twisting them and making it seem like they are
"rightly dividing the word of truth." Whether they work hard to
play the part or not, they usually have one thing in common: they try to get the
Christian to question God's Word, which is absolute truth, and to render it
relative. This is the key to getting the Christian to eventually depart from the
faith. These "posing as Christians posters" literally make merchandise of
God's people by using the internet! They use the oldest trick in the book: "Yea, hath God said?"
When countered by a Christian who knows the
Bible well, they will appeal to their friends who then come in
with a show of force to assist them in doing "damage control." Real
Christian who post messages that
could be used of the Lord to get someone saved, brought back from the
backslidden way, or protected from false teachers are not welcome on boards run
by fake Christians. Infiltrators consider such posts to be emergencies and will
not hesitate to slander and lie about the Christian who does this in an attempt
to discourage him and cause him to leave the forum. They also retaliate in
various ways when the Christian poster exposes false doctrine and occultism that has crept into the church.
The infiltrators' favorite mind-manipulating tactic, which they use against any
Christian who actually stands on the truth of God's holy word (and thus counters
their hidden agenda) is to accuse them of teaching a works-based salvation. They
always resort to this false accusation when the non-compromising
Christian points out the particular sins they condone and the false teachers
they promote.
When real Christians fail to speak up to
counter false doctrine and sinful lifestyles that deceivers in Christian garb
promote on Christian forums, we are guilty of allowing wolves to devour our
brothers and sisters in the Lord. To not counter false doctrine and verbally
abusive behavior by so-called Christians on forums is to become an accomplice
to the same. If God's true saints do not speak up and counter their lying
doctrines with the truth, we can be sure Satan's agents never will...not
completely that is. Sure, they might rail against Mormonism or Catholicism or
even false Bible versions in order to gain credibility, but they will not stand
against all forms of sin and all false doctrine.
If God has given us the light of his word and
yet we refuse to let it shine for fear of persecution from other so-called
believers, we are not seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Rather, we are seeking first the kingdom of self. Every single day
there is an opportunity on the internet to stand up for Jesus Christ, who is
Lord, and endure
hardness (ridicule and baiting) as a soldier
of the cross. Are we standing in this evil day or are we shirking this responsibility
because of the fear of man which brings with it a spiritual snare?
Speaking up must be done without sarcasm or
unkindness. The infiltrator does his utmost to try to bait his Christian
opponent so that the truth the Christian has presented will be overshadowed by
his angry words, hastily typed in frustration. Infiltrators seek to "push buttons" in an attempt to cause the
Christian to "snap" and retaliate
with harsh words. Purpose that you will not resort to sarcasm or a condescending
tone as
you continue to stand firm for the truth as written in God's Word. Remember,
the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Often I have been led to just post something
and leave it alone. The "Christian" sin-justifier will often try to "undo" the truth, but the readers
of the posts are not unintelligent; they are deceived. The Holy Spirit has a way of showing
people the truth, no matter how much someone tries to destroy it with twistings and turnings.
Satan's agents, while posing as Christians, post letters on a daily basis
that are designed to damage the faith of true Christians. They are on every
Christian discussion list and forum I have ever been on. They have a network and
do keep tabs on everything that is going on in the church. They want to
know exactly where the Christians are weak in doctrine so they can zero in on
them and start to work to make merchandise of them. They take their "internet
ministry" very seriously and work together on discussion forums,
list servs, news groups, etc. to try to ridicule and discredit Christians who
are "standing up for Jesus" and speaking out against the broad road
that they exhort Christians to walk down, while all the while teaching them they
"shall not surely die."
Day after day these deceivers post letters that
put a question mark on what God has actually made very clear in the Bible.
Their fellow deceivers, also posing as Christians, respond to their letters with
affirmation, and the Christians who read these posts wonder if perhaps they are
out of touch with what God's Word really says. Maybe the road they are on
really is too narrow, and they need to loosen up a bit. Perhaps
they are missing out on the fun of life by denying themselves and taking up
their crosses. After all, these other "Christians" don't see
things in such a narrow-minded way, now do they? They follow Jesus too,
and yet they do not stop conforming to the world. And nobody
speaks up and corrects them, do they? No, not a word is said, and little
by little, another Christian's faith is finally shipwrecked, and
another occultist puts another notch on his belt for Satan.
Take the Harry Potter craze for an
example. The Bible is very clear about the sin of witchcraft, abstaining from the
appearance of evil, and about casting down imaginations that exalt themselves
against the knowledge of God. End of discussion...or it should
be. But that is where these "attitudinal changers" come
in. Their job is to cause Christians to accept the things of the devil, or at least
tolerate them, and they do not rest in their quest to achieve this goal.
They must accomplish this task for this crucial reason: to gives Satan
"place" in the life of every Christian who will fellowship at the
table of devils by reading and defending the Harry Potter books. This also
primes the church for accepting the New Age movement and New Age Christ much more
easily. That is why you will see this subject frequently brought up on
Christian forums and list servs. Satan's workers need Christian's attitudes
to be changed, and it takes time and much repetition to accomplish this. If every God-fearing Christian (there is no other kind) would stand up
for Jesus and declare that Harry Potter teaches real witchcraft (which it does) and
is off-limits for a Christian--absolutely-- they
would not be able to accomplish this attitudinal change in the minds and hearts
of Christians!
Whether these posters are deliberate
infiltrators or are merely misguided; we must boldly contend for the faith as
the Holy Spirit leads us, and not allow "attitudinal changers" of
whatever kind, to succeed in getting our brethren to depart from the most holy
faith once delivered unto the saints.
Christians, stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ on the
internet! Satan's followers are not afraid to stand up for for their
master! The devil
is only a created being, and yet we serve the creator, the Most High God.
Let us get some Holy Ghost gumption and stand up for the Lord Jesus Christ who is worthy to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
blessing.
May God bless and strengthen his people, strong
in love and Bible knowledge, to minister on Christian message boards and
discussion forums and newsgroups-- even if you are not really liked there and
not accepted as part of their group. That is where you are needed the most: to
exhort the brethren to continue in the most holy faith and not fall away
to the most unholy faith these infiltrators promote.
return to:
Dangers of Christian Message
Boards
|