This morning, we read a couple of articles written by Tozer, and they inspired me to revisit a few issues. Tozer’s topics were on becoming what we love and the Modern (1950) Christian treating the “Battleground” like a playground. I want to begin with a particular statement he made: “we do not ‘fall in love’ with God.”
We sought the Truth of this word “Love” in both the post, “Pursuit Is,” and Forgotten Hope. What we found was this: Love Is, “‘Genuine’ affection for another by a deliberate act of will, in moral clarity, as a matter of principle.” What we showed without question is that, contrary to what the world and SSR* says, Love is not something that happens to us, it is something we choose and pursue. In fact, after thinking about this, I realized we discuss this Truth in its parts all the time. In some discussions, we talk about our requirement to choose and how Lucifer’s and Adam’s choices to sin are each represented in Scripture as “the Fall” – the Fall of Satan and the other disobedient angels and the Fall of man after Adam chose to listen to his whispers and act against God. In other discussions, we talk about the curse of the Fallen nature that man carries as a result of Adam’s choice.
In the Shipwrecked Series we just completed, we showed in detail how the Manual is very clear that, as Christians, we are to “Strive with God.” That our Love for God is to be “a deliberate act of will.” I noticed a message a few years back that has become dominant in entertainment and the world in general. What is this message? “I have/had no choice.” You know what I am talking about. The scene that either precedes or follows an intentional choice to do wrong. “Why did you let the bad guy with the nuclear bomb go? You know he is going to set it off and kill a million people!” The Reply, “I had no choice… they have my daughter.” Another. The bad guy has captured someone and has a gun to their head. He demands, “Call your dad and tell him you need him to come over right now!” After they call their dad and the shooting stops, we see the “remorse scene,” “I’m sorry, Dad!” Who lovingly replies, “That’s OK, dear. You had no choice.” Yeah, I know those scenes are flooding your brain now.
What is the message SSR* is trying to send in the relentless presentation of these scenarios?
There is no such thing as True “Moral Clarity” and “Principle” doesn’t matter.
“You conspiracy theorist!” Not at all… I am a conspiracy realist! The Manual is quite clear that the Adversary and his children who follow his lies are in a conspiracy to do the same thing to us that he did to Adam. This is not a theory. It is a fact. A fact represented in the Manual continuously. And, in every example, no one fell for God’s Will. In every example, they had to choose to Love God more than whatever “other” they were presented with.
While we are on conspiracies, why has SSR gone to such lengths to get us to deny Creation? We also talk about this in Forgotten Hope and will attack it head on in Fidelity to Hope. To reject Creation as described by Moses is to reject the Creator. And to reject the Creator is to reject His Authority as the Creator to define… wait for it… “Moral Clarity” and what is a “Matter of Principle.” This rejection leaves man as the ultimate authority, and history has proven that when man is in charge, no one is free. This is the world Engles, Marx, Stalin, Mao, etc. sought and SSR seeks to create.
Here is a lie too many who “Claim the Name” have embraced: “All you have to do is fall in love with God and you’re good.” The Adversary is fine with the idea that we fall in love with God. The Adversary is fine with it because he both knows and has experienced that in order for God to embrace us, we must choose Him “Deliberately.”
Christ is not Prince Charming. He does not ride up on His white stallion and flash His pearly whites causing you to swoon and faint and to wake up “saved.” Christ was not born in a palace. He left the ultimate palace to be born in a stable. While Christ is Heir to a throne, He rode a donkey not a stallion. Christ is owed Worship but sought out execution on our behalf. Christ chose to do all this and much, much more (see, Would You Be An Ant..?). He does not expect that we will “Fall in Love” with Him, but He asks that we choose to repent to our Creator, choose to follow, choose to Love Him, and choose to pursue that Love until the end of days.
Which brings us to Tozer’s other point, the Battleground. I think we give a pretty good look at this Battleground in The Hateful Christian. It’s actually a rather short post, you should probably just go there and read it…
Done?
OK.
While there are always many references from the Manual, no matter what approach we take to this issue it usually includes one or all of these verses: 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18, 1 Peter 1:22. These verses say that not only do we have a choice but that a Christian cannot claim fear or weakness as an excuse for making the wrong one, “God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-control.” And, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear…” “purify your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers…” And of course, the final proof that to Truly be a Christian means a Deliberate choice to enter the Battleground, Ephesians 6:10-17, “Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
I have seen what Tozer was warning about fulfilled in my lifetime. The SSR world has handed Christianity Rose-colored glasses, and Christianity willingly put them on. We are still on a Battleground and the Adversary has not forgotten that, but he has cunningly conspired to get mankind and Christians in particular to see a playground through those glasses. Like ignorant (unknowing) and immature children, the churches not only watch but assist as the Created are destroyed. When I was four, SSR said we need to stop trying to help couples through times of trouble. Who needs fathers in the home anyway? We should make divorce “easy.” When I was eight, SSR said believing and acting against your biological reality will no longer be seen as a need for help. Who are we to judge? Also when I was eight (apparently a good year… for the Adversary), SSR said a mother has a right to kill her baby, and neither the father, society, nor the Creator of them both have anything to say about it.
Jump ahead nearly fifty years and we have 2020, 2021, and ????. SSR has said we should hate the Creator’s work based on skin color. Whites have no “self-control” over who they are or choose to be; they are evil racists. On the other hand, SSR has said the Created have so much self-control that, in spite of their biological reality, they can choose their identity and reject the Creator’s decision. And again, SSR has declared this will no longer be seen as a need for help. Who are we to judge?
Quick note on that:
To the surprise of many, “60 minutes” returned to its roots and took a fairly honest look at this issue (For a minute anyway). Other networks added interviews to the discussion as well. The result? Turns out, many who have gone to the drastic step of recreating their biological reality in their own image had devastating effects. In addition, many of them have now come to the realization that their “dysphoria” was actually a cry for help!
Oh yeah… and apparently no one cared to truly offer any!
It’s long past time Christians took off those Rose-colored glasses, got your butts off the swing, and took a look at the Battleground around you.
Notice anything?
Your children are there! Shame on you for sitting back while hatred, racism, Creator denial, and all kinds of other lies are being forced on them through the very school system meant to improve their lives!
“But we have no choice. They have to have an education.” (Maybe you need to read the post again!)
How dare you sit back while SSR indoctrinates your children into beliefs that move them away from God and closer to an eternity without His Love.
Worse yet, if, after allowing this threat to exist in their minds all week long, you bring them into a church that teaches or even accepts these lies as possibilities, then (excuse the irony) God Help You! And God save them from the cost of your disobedience.
Yes, in the end, the Adversary and his armies lose. The surprise for many “Christians” will be when they are rounded up with the rest of the P.O.W.s and told, “In fact, you had a Choice… and you made the wrong one!”
*Social/Secular Religion
© Scott A Caughel 5/26/2021