Striking out Blindly

 5 min. read 

Part 4 in the Challenges series

(Mark 7:7)

"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

(1 Timothy 4:1)

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

In the 2010 Coen Brothers remake of the 1969 movie "True Grit", the character Mattie Ross -- played by actress Hailee Steinfeld -- asks Matt Damon's character, Texas Ranger LaBouef: "how can you give up now after the many months you've dedicated to finding Chaney?" LaBouef responds with, "I would go on in your company if there were a clear way to go, but we'd be striking out blindly."

As we presented in the last installment, confusion is the wrench that has been thrown into the engine of the Church. Many are leaving because there just doesn't seem to be a "clear way to go."

Proverbs 29:18 instructs us, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

According to an article posted on foxnews.com dated November 2, 2022

"The largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. has hemorrhaged membership in recent years, which several conservative Presbyterian clergy members partially attribute to a departure from its own historical teachings."

 "The PCUSA (Presbyterian) boasts 1.1 million active members and 8,813 member congregations, but it has been rapidly losing numbers during the past decade. It reported having about 700,000 more members and 1,400 more congregations in 2012. More than 51,000 members have left since 2021, according to its most recent annual report."

Also, in a similar article on the Religion News Service's website dated May 9, 2023

by Bob Smietana,

"Membership in the Southern Baptist Convention was down by nearly half a million in 2022, according to a recently released denomination report. Nashville-based Lifeway Research reported Tuesday (May 9) that the SBC had 13.2 million members in 2022, down from 13.68 million in 2021. That loss of 457,371 members is the largest in more than a century, according to the Annual Church Profile compiled by Lifeway."

While it seems that the SBC has been scratching their heads and wringing their hands over the massive decline these many years, at least some "old school" Presbyterians have been able to ascertain the reason for the exodus. If you look closer at the previous quote, they attribute it partially to, "a departure from its own historical teachings."

 If you remember, in closing, in the previous installment in this series we stated,

 "Going forward in the series, we will begin further exploring the implementation of confusion and it's delivery methodology, Mysticism."

In almost text book fashion, we see from the quotes of these major denominations, the fruits of the labors of the Marxist infiltration previously mentioned in "A Tale of Two Authors". 

We are seeing the prophecy of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 unfolding right before our very eyes. That predicted "falling away" is going to closely precede the rapture of the "true church", and leave the "professing church" behind on earth to go through the tribulation with the Antichrist described in verse 2:4.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

The purpose of this study is not to openly shame or bash denominations, individual churches or it's members. Instead, the alarm needs to be sounded to all of those who are falling prey (and falling away) to the enemy. Those individuals leaving the church because of confusion or of not seeing "a clear way to go" need some sound doctrine -- as opposed to what they are being spoon fed in liberal congregations. This scourge on church doctrine is not limited to just the Baptist or Presbyterian churches, but throughout all Protestant denominations. 

Sound doctrine is the only remedy to counteract the "doctrines of devils" that have seized mainline churches.

The warning that Paul is giving us here in his first letter to Timothy, is that we must understand that it is inevitable that "seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" are a part of the end time Apostate church. 

It is not a guestion of if, but when?: the answer is, now. As a result of these "erroneous" teachings many are going to "fall away". This falling away is not only referring to those leaving the church, but also a falling away from the fundamentals of the faith. Leaving "sound doctrine ". This is exactly what we have documented evidence of in the aforementioned articles. Those Presbyterian congregants were cited as saying that they noticed the denomination's direction as being a "departure from its own historical teachings."

Paul tells us as well, in 2 Corinthians 2:11, how the enemies to the Gospel are gaining a foothold.

 "lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

Many are unaware of "the devices", such as the subversion and incursion practices being used by those that have "crept in unawares", we mentioned beforehand. The enemies of the Gospel have the advantage because the Church is "ignorant of his devices". 

Paul is not using the word ignorant as a negative connotation here, he is simply stating that some are not being taught about these "devices". The Greek word translated in this verse is, agnoeo: Strongs defines it as: not to know (through lack of information or intelligence). That is where the vision needs to be restored. It is only going to be restored by shining the light of sound doctrine on false teachings. 

Next up, we will begin to look a little closer at the major weapon in the enemies infiltration inside the fortress walls of the Church.

"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."  

My dear friend, if you have never received Christ as your Saviour, would you do so today? Pray this from your heart. 

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you were buried and rose again the third day. I ask you now to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and save me. Amen