A World Full Of Scammers

Something To Think About, Full Mouth, Empty Pockets:

I Just read in the paper and heard on the radio about a scammer who convinced a bunch of really smart people that he was going to give a huge pile of money to his Alma Mater.  It turns out that the whole thing was " pure fantasy . . . [the perpetrator] . . . was no more than a “breathtakingly persuasive liar” who took more than $800,000 from his friends to spend on luxury cars, a vacation in Las Vegas and dinners at Ruth’s Chris Steak House"  (Roanoke Times, 10/14).   The story caught my attention, because I had recently heard about another example of huge promises, great expectations, but no substance just a few days before.  Both stories reminded me of a disaster that a relative of mine narrowly avoided.  It's a fairly common syndrome.  Our world is filled with folk who have great needs and desires.  To one degree or another we are all there.  Even folk who have few personal wants tend to care deeply about institutions and movements that have great needs.  Then there are those who have a "need" to be the hero, the one who will fill the gap and provide the big bucks.  The problem is the benfactors in the three incidents to which I refer, and who knows how many more examples, have no bucks at all.  What they do have is a remarkable ability to lie convincingly.  If we were to set up an assembly of the duped, just from the three incidents in this STTA, it would include very well educated professionals, school administrators, church leaders, business owners, professional fund-raisers, people who know how to balance a checkbook, and even some who run the banks that hold the accounts.  In one of the cases I mention, even the man's wife was taken in. It is not a new scenario. Jesus spoke of a group of people who said, "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!"  Yet the truth was, they were "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17, NLT).   I can easily see the Church of Laodicea offering a matching-fund-challenge to the local Red Cross, while accountants were pulling together the numbers that would force them into bankruptcy. In some perverse way the whole idea goes back to the father of lies.  In the Garden of Eden he came offering what he really couldn't give, and what Eve really didn't need but came to desperately want. In between Genesis and Revelation we see Israel persuaded to trade the glory of God for the shame of idols, the nations of the world worshiping and serving the things created rather than the creator, representatives of the nation of Israel rejecting their King and instead swearing allegiance to Caesar, and those who follow "shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. . . clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain . . . trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots" (Jude 12, NLT). My first temptation when I read the article this morning was to feel smug and look down my nose at those who were taken in, but after I thought a bit, I realize that I'm taken in all the time.  There just isn't a reporter keeping track of my foolish sin.   It's STTA. This is a dangerous world.  You'll find hope here.

Satan & Christmas:

Something To Think About, The enemy of our faith:

Half-a-dozen times over the past weekend I was Satan--actually a caricature of the evil spirit-being.  We just concluded our annual presentation of a live nativity.  This year we had eight scenes that were part of our presentation.  We take guests on tours of the scenes.  Most of the scenes are populated with actors dressed in appropriate costumes, who act out the scene of which they are a part.  The guides are also characters "from" the Biblical account.  They have assumed the role of various Apostles, Mary, Elizabeth, a Roman soldier, Nicodemus, and even Judas.  At the suggestion of a veteran guide, this year I assumed the role of Satan, or as he identified himself to the guests on his tour, "Lou C. Fir." Lou is proud (Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:12-17), he is a creature of anger (Revelation 12:12, [he is able to take advantage of our unresolved anger, Ephesians 4:26-27]), He is a liar (John 8:44), and the devil is supremely selfish.  His minions, the demons use up and destroy those they possess.  He himself is described as "a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).  He, more than anyone I know of, fits the description of one who came to "steal, and kill, and destroy" (John 10:10).  I tried to pick up on these traits in my portrayal of our great enemy. There is no doubt that Satan is powerful and very smart.  There is also no doubt that his doom is sure.  I once heard a comedian describe Satan as the dumbest character in history--he thinks he is going to win. In the current configuration of things Satan does appear to making great progress.  In Job 1 he brags about his free movement in the world.  He is described in Ephesians 2 as the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  (Ephesians 2:2).  John says that the "whole world lies in the power of the wicked one" (1 John 5:19).  You can read about his doom in Revelation 20. By default we are part of the domain where Satan holds sway.  We must choose to follow Christ.  There is a link below that gives you more information. It's Something To Think About. Here is a site where you can find out about Jesus Christ and His plan for you.  You'll find several opportunities to explore.  If we can help you, let us know.

My own version of Screwtape:

Something to Think About for April 23, 2014:

Something To Think About, Lies, 4/23

It is absolutely clear that the more time one spends on the road, the more likely he is to have an accident.  The car that stays in the garage will never hit the guardrail.  So, the faster I drive the quicker I will get to my destination, thus spending less time on the road.  Therefore, driving as fast as I can is the safest way to go. I love spinning out that flawed syllogism.  If my presentation has the necessary element of apparent sincerity, and if the listener has the requisite desire to believe--dare I say gullibility, there will be a couple of seconds between when I finish my presentation, and the point where the listener says, "Naw!" in which there is a look in the eyes that says, "Maybe he's got something, there."  I've been there.  For a moment in time I almost believe the unbelievable. Satan is the master of this game, only with him it isn't a game, it is a deadly exercise.  If he can get me to buy into one of his flawed narratives long enough, I become invested in it.  Once I have skin in the game, I come to defend a line of reasoning that just a short time ago I almost proclaimed ridiculous.  At this point I begin to promote error.  I rent billboards to spread my message:    "DRIVE FASTER.  IT'S THE SAFEST WAY TO GO!   Let me give you a real example: I'm a preacher.  I have the incredible privilege of sharing God's word with people, of seeking to persuade people to bring their lives into conformity with "Thus saith the Lord," and in that way giving them the opportunity to reap the blessing that comes from living a God-centered life.  One of the necessary ingredients to preaching is having somebody to listen.  Here is where the "Drive faster" error comes in.  Satan can present it with such smoothness that it looks just like the truth.     You are preaching God's word, right?      Uh, Yeah.      It's a good thing that people hear God's      word, right?      Sure.      More people will come if they like you, if      they think you are cool, smart, relevant        (substitue any number of words, here.)      If you promote yourself it's a good      thing. . .  C. S. Lewis wrote a classic little text, that, though technically fictional, is absolutely real.  The Srewtape Letters is about the games, that are deadly serious, that Satan plays in our minds.  He convinces husbands or wives that violating their wedding vows is really a good thing.  He passes out arguments about justifiable lies like M&Ms.  "They owe you." is a favorite line of his.  He can convince old preachers that John the Baptist's observation that "He must increase and I must decrease," or the Apostle Paul's realization that he was strongest when he was most aware of his weakness, has "nothing to do with me," or this situation, etc. etc. Thankfully, no one has ever really bought my "Drive faster" line of reasoning.  Satan is better at it.  He doesn't give his line of reasoning accompanied by a smile.  If he had a mother, he could lie to her with tears in his eyes. Here is what I need to remember.  I can't out argue Satan.  He's smarter than I am.  He's been at this for thousands of years.  What I need to do is hold to the truth.  It's stronger than he is.  After he has been condemned to eternal damnation, God's truth will go on and on. It's STTA.

Afraid of whom?

I was listening this morning to a story about North Korea's arrest and trial of Kenneth Bae, a missionary.  Bae is accused of attempting to overthrow the North Korean government.  Why not accuse me of threatening to carry away the Brooklyn Bridge in the trunk of my Honda, or trying to fill in the Grand Canyon with my shovel and wheelbarrow?  The officials of North Korea show their own weakness by fearing such an insignificant "threat."  

It is a common syndrome among petty tyrants and restrictive regimes.  Every time they arrest a preacher, squash a protest, or censor an author they show how weak they are.  The lion can afford to ignore the mouse.  My observation is not limited to happenings "across the pond."  When so called academics choose to shout down those who espouse ideas contrary to the approved line, they might as well rent a billboard that proclaims, "My ideas are weak.  I can only win a debate by keeping the opposition out."

As is often the case, though, I find that as I thinkon this, I condemn myself.  I am a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I have His word which is a fire, a hammer, and a sword.  I am indwelt by God's Spirit.  Yet, YET, too often I act as if Satan--a poor misguided, defeated spirit who, in spite of his great intellect, somehow thinks that he can win--is a force who can defeat me.  I know that "He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world," yet I too often act like it ain't so.  (1 John 4:4)  The fact is My knees sometimes buckle and my resolve fails in the face of entities far less than threatening than the Spirit formerly known as Lucifer.

Lord, may I not insult you, by fearing those who can do me no harm.

Amen.

 

 It's STTA