In the series titled “Bait and Switch” I introduced the reader to an age-old trick played by retailers to draw unsuspecting customers into their stores. In this ruse the store owner advertises a certain high dollar item that is priced so low that those in need of the item cannot resist. The large, eye-catching ad features a picture showing the item along with its price. However, when the excited customer arrives at the store he finds that the item pictured in the ad is not available. However, an enthusiastic salesperson explains, something “just as good” IS available, and at a much lower price. The disappointed customer is then reminded that he had failed to read the store owner’s disclaimer, which was also in the ad, ONLY IN MUCH SMALLER LETTERS. The idea behind the well-planned ruse is that customers will buy the item of lesser value rather than go home empty-handed. After all, it is an item they need, and the price is low. Incredibly, the seller usually wins. He has sold what he wanted to sell at the price he wanted to charge. And in the end the buyer is satisfied. The seller has used the buyers fixation on headlines to hook him. In the end, the seller is richer and the buyer is satisfied. This proves that the age-old adage: “All is well that ends well” is true. On the physical and social level most people fixate on big headlines while ignoring the details. Therefore they fail to note such finely printed statements as: “Item is in limited supply” or “No guarantee of availability,” “Cash only,” “No delivery of the item,” “Some items may be damaged,” “Some assembly required,” etc., etc.

The same situation exists within the religious community. However, the problems relative to the deceptive transaction do not lie with the “store owner,” the “product” or the cost of the “item,” but rather with the “customer” and the “salesperson.” For example, a “headline” (Truth) presented in the Holy Bible and proclaimed by a “salesperson” (false prophet) is instantly believed by the customer (salvation- seeker). The salesman proclaims that the consumer need not look beyond the headline, that there is no need to read the details that are plainly stated by the Writer of the advertisement (God). As a result, the customer, who knows the salesman intimately and trusts him totally, purchases (embraces) the promised item (salvation) and goes merrily on his way, assured by the trusted salesperson that all that needs to be done has been done.

In the social/physical realm the end result of such a ruse is merely the purchase of an inferior product at a low price. However, in the spiritual realm the end result is the failure to recognize that one has purchased an inferior–non-existent–item. The differences also show up later when the purchaser is forced to face reality. The social/physical victim simply realizes that he has been duped, swallows his pride and makes the most of the situation. However, the spiritual victim takes a totally different approach when he is shown in the Bible that he has been duped. The Bible-clutching, Satan-deceived “Christian” denies everything. He clings to the words of the salesman rather than the stated Word of God. Refusing to believe the details/fine print (Truth) that prove that he has made a deadly mistake, the “Christian” rejects the very Word that, he claims, confirms his “salvation.” Not only does he reject the Words of God Himself, he rejects God’s messenger. This in spite of the fact that Jesus Himself said in Luke 10:16 that those who hear His Truth from His messenger and reject it, “… REJECTS ME. AND HE WHO REJECTS ME REJECTS HIM (GOD) WHO SENT ME.” This statement, written in red letters, is summarily dismissed along with all other Biblical evidence that he has believed a lie. Two deadly traits explain why “Christians” deny and reject the Words of their supposed Messsiah: pride and fear. Their pride will not allow them to admit that they have been deceived. They fear the reaction of family and friends should they admit the Truth.  In the next posting we will examine both the HEADLINES and the details/fine print relative to the bait and blind system Satan has used to lure multiplied billions of God-seekers into his Counterfeit Church system known as Catholicism/Protestantism. L.J.