**So let’s analyze the central features of each of our friends’ response.**
Analyze? Kinda like the mainstream media analyzes conservative positions, with no bias?
The true church of Jesus Christ has never been extremely popular with the masses. Denying one’s self, taking up one’s cross, and following him, is not glamorous. Jesus said, “Few there be that find it”, when he was describing the quest for eternal life.
I can’t answer for the others, but you certainly haven’t answered most of my responses.
Let me ask you another series of questions that you can ‘analyze’:
Paul said that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, and his demons into ministers of righteousness. What line(s) does Satan not cross to achieve his masterful deceptions?
Let’s just start at Penetcost, to see what he was faced with, after the Spirit was poured out. He was no doubt witness to the birth of the church, heard Peter preach Christ and him crucified; heard the convicted souls ask what they needed to do, and heard Peter’s Acts 2:38 conversion commands.
First and foremost, The devil hates the usage of the name of Jesus in baptism. So, he knew he had to eliminate, or at least discount it’s importance in some way. With the apostles fresh out of ‘seminary’, there was going to be a need for weaker minded ‘replacements’ to come along after the original twelve died off, in order to introduce ‘better understanding’ of the scriptures, and the teachings of Christ and the original twelve.
The ‘replacements’ plan could be done in as many ways as there could be replacement doctrines. Those that stayed true to the apostles doctrine could simply be declared to be closed minded, old fashioned, or not as ‘spiritual’, and forced to go their separate way to still be faithful to the original doctrine. Paul warned of that happening, before leaving Miletus to sail to Judea. So, we KNOW false doctrine was present in the time of Paul.
What other way could Satan try to undermine the foundation of the church?.....lay claim to preserving God’s word? Do you think that that is a line he would not cross? It would be almost essential, in order to build a legitimacy in his quest for the title of ‘the original church’. I’m sure he is a big believer in advertising only the ‘positive’.
We know from scipture that the devil has supernatural powers; even to do things that seem like miracles. But, he can’t forgive sins, and of course, doesn’t want to.
Would Satan make sure to erect the most impressive places of worship?....Put on the most elaborate displays of ceremony?
The devil knows all about the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride of life. He has used those weaknesses of man to his advantage for thousands of years. He’s not about to stop short of making a ‘church’ that looks and sounds like it could only have been built by God.
Tell me he won’t give the hungry heart everything but remission of sins, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost (which he couldn’t even if he wanted to).
Tell me he waited hundreds of years to try and make a church that looked and sounded original, as though he’s too stupid, or inexperienced at deception to do it in a few (see Paul’s warning at Miletus again).
Tell me he didn’t add ‘more stuff’, as time went by, to make it look like his ‘church’ had more to offer.
Tell me what lines you don’t think the devil would cross and cross quickly.
We await your analysis.
I don't think he has given up that tactic.
Satan will even quote scripture to "prove" or advance his agenda.....he'll just take it out of context or leave a verse or two out so the meaning is changed.
I don't think he's given up that tactic either.
AMEN, Zuriel. Those who are fixated on the 5-senses of this life on earth are easily led astray by all they can see, feel, touch, smell, and hear. Does that sound like any church you know? It certainly does to me. The Psalms says it best: there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death and destruction.