In the fourth chapter of John’s gospel to the church Jesus stated that His agenda, His ONLY agenda, was to do the will of the father. As a man, Jesus of Nazareth was a disciple of God the Father. A disciple is one who emulates (copies) the words, thoughts and deeds of another–his master. In the secular world the leader of a group is often called “master” by those in the group. Many in the martial arts call their leaders by that exalted term. By calling him “master” they acknowledge that they recognize and agree with his standards and emulate them. By calling him “master” they proclaim publicly that they recognize his status and react to him accordingly. This should be the case within professing CHRISTendom. It is not. Those within Catholicism/Protestantism, by calling themselves “sinners saved by grace,” do not even pretend to follow the Lord’s Words and example, which He commands that they do. Having been convinced by Satan’s false prophets that they are saved and born again, they proclaim that there is nothing more to be done–the fix is in, the die is cast. Concerning this “truth,” I have a few questions. What happened to the walk of Christ they are commanded to walk (1 Jn. 2:6)? Where is the purity they are commanded to reveal (2 Jn. 3:3)? Where is the overcoming of Satan they are commanded to accomplish (Rev. 3:21)? These counterfeit Christians not only ignore the Lord’s commands, but ridicule  those who obey them. Why? They desire to please men, not God.

The Lord speaks to the church about this choice of leaders in Ephesians 6:6 where the Apostle Paul tells the church to do God’s will from the heart (mind). We are not to simply go through the motions, but are to earnestly learn His will, believe and obey it because it is “… the way, the truth and the life,” Jesus being the perfect example. True disciples of Christ do this. False disciples of Christ do not. For false Christians, “going to church” on Sunday morning is the extent of their “walk,” their “purity,” their “overcoming”–their emulation of the Father’s Messiah. They believe that by showing up one or more times each week, listening to their false prophet lie to them and singing a few songs, that they have met all the requirements for maintaining their false salvation. Having performed their requirements, they are now free to do the things that matter–watch t.v., recreate, read, visit, etc., In other words, to fulfill Satan’s will. By willingly obeying his will they become his slaves–his willing slaves. They have, in a sense, become Satan’s galley slaves who follow the commands of their master. There are three basic differences between galley slaves of old and modern church parishioners: 1) Galley slaves were forced to obey masters not of their choosing in the bowels of ships with masts on top, 2) modern slaves choose to gather in land-locked buildings with crosses on top where they obey the master of their choosing.

In this life man has the choice of two masters–God or Satan. He will follow the will of one or the other. Every person chooses the one they will obey–the one whose slaves they automatically and willingly become. Many years ago a phenomenon took place in a Swiss bank that was being robbed by some men who believed that the Swedish society had mistreated them and owed them for their suffering. At first the people in the bank rejected their excuse for stealing the public’s money. But over time a change in thinking took place among the hostages. Before the episode ended the hostages were helping the thieves and proclaiming to the public that they had indeed been mistreated by the society and had every right to the money. This came to be known as the Stockholm Syndrome. This bewildering and unprecedented phenomenon was looked upon with wonder throughout the world. No one had ever heard of such a thing. Or so they thought.

What the world did not realize was that this syndrome had been going on in the church for almost 2000 years. Early on the apostles began to write to the church that false prophets were rising up among them and leading them astray. And just as would the people in the bank many generations later, parishioners were willingly agreeing with these “ministers of righteousness” and following their lead. In the case of the church, Satan has declared that parishioners should see things his way and follow him, as in the Garden of Eden. Some 99.9% of those who call themselves “Christians” show their agreement with him by and dutifully and willingly entering his wide gate and walking along his broad path. Many, Jesus said, would answer his siren call. Few, He said, would willingly enter His strait (difficult) gate and walk His narrow (restrictive) path (Mat. 7:13,14). L.J.