I’ve discovered a God-secret! The enemy, skilled at making things attractive to the eye of our soul, seeks ways to play on our passions, luring us away from God’s direction. A safeguard against “giving in” to popular cultural values and opinions is to be immersed in Scripture. The tale of Hamelin may be a helpful illustration.
AN ANALOGY – THE TALE OF HAMELIN
With a plague of rats, the German town of Hamelin hired the Pied (multi-colored) Piper, whose hypnotic notes from his magical flute led the rats out of town and into the river. However, after the city refused to pay for his services, the Piper quickly devised a vengeful plan; he enchanted the 130 village children and led them away, never to be seen again.
Like the duped children who followed the Pied Piper, the Deceiver of our soul allures us to follow the crowd’s values. Those values often oppose God’s values for marriage, life, relationships, work ethics, and godliness. Jesus described the accepted worldly values as the broad road to destruction. Jesus also said those who love the Word and do the Father’s will find the “narrow road” that leads to heaven.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
The children of Hamelin were caught up in the moment. They didn’t listen to their parents’ warnings about strangers. Instead, they followed the crowd that led them on the “wide road” to destruction.
Like those children, it’s easy to follow the crowd and disregard God’s warnings in Scripture. Our human nature is easily swayed with a propensity to wander off the narrow road. We follow what our eyes see, fleshly desires, or are caught up in thinking we are someone who doesn’t need God’s commands.
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but from this world (1 John 2:16).
ESCAPE THE DECEIVER
Without the strength of God’s presence and His guiding principles, we will fall prey to the Pied-Piper-like enemy of our souls. He roams about seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
God gives the promise: when we dwell in his Word, we guard against sin. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11).
To escape the Deceiver, seeking God through the Bible will keep us on the narrow path to heaven and alert to the world’s values.
God’s Word is a weapon against the enemy of our soul. Jesus defined our Bibles as more important than our daily food because every word of Scripture comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
Without developing a more profound knowledge of Scripture, my perception is dull. My emotions fool me. Human thinking, peer pressure, and attractive pleasures call my name. I need help to be alert and guard against the world’s ways. As a genuine seeker of God, I’m not above deception. But a sure defense is to examine closely God’s word. It “teaches me to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12).
Too often, I act as if I’m smarter than I am–doing things my way instead of what God has commanded. My self-talk excuses my actions. Popular opinions influence me incorrectly. Being accepted by the crowd sways my thoughts. When I listen and give in to popular views of cultural voices that oppose God’s values, I’m joining the “wide road” travelers.
Learning and obeying God’s Word fends off worldly opinions. My love for God deepens. Obedience comes so much easier. Then, the narrow road appeals to me. God grants grace and favor.
As I remain in God’s Word, my lifestyle more readily conforms to God’s nature.
As the Psalmist wrote, I delight in Your commandments because I love them (Psalm 119:147). And, when I love them, God knows I love Him! The more I love Him, the more I obey. And, it’s a joy!
The measure of my love for God deepens as I grow in understanding the God of Scripture.
MORALISTIC THERAPEUTIC DEISM – The Most Popular Worldview
The Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University, and Dr. George Barna, the Director of Research, surveyed the state of Christianity in America in 2021. According to Barna, the statistics say many Christians shape their beliefs based NOT on Scripture but popular opinion, “Christianity in this nation is rotting from the inside out.” According to Barna, three out of four American Christians fall into the ranks of this new philosophy, and the most popular worldview is called Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD). Barna describes this new belief system as “watered-down, feel-good, fake Christianity.” https://www.assistnews.net/christianity-in-america-rotting-from-the-inside-out/
Moralistic Therapeutic Deists beliefs:
- 95% do not agree success in life is consistent with obedience to God.
- 91% do not believe people are born into sin. Salvation through Jesus is unnecessary.
- 88% of primary moral guidance is from various sources, not the Bible.
- 76% of people earn a place in heaven through being good (no need for Jesus’ death and resurrection).
- 75% do not believe God is the basis of all truth.
- 74% believe in karma.
- 71% do not think the Bible is the truth from God.
These stats are very troubling! But, there’s a remedy. Learning and applying the Scripture keeps us off the wide road and guards against the Deceiver of our soul.
BUILD YOUR DEFENSES LOVING THE WORD EACH DAY
Carving out a daily time in the Word takes determination. Living a life that pleases God takes dedication. It’s a struggle to fight the flesh and worldly values, but it’s possible. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments (2 Corinthians 10:4, NLT).
Through Scripture, we learn wisdom for life in every aspect – relationships, business, spiritual growth, parenting, marriage, church life, problem-solving and more. Without knowledge of the Scripture, it’s like using a dull ax. We lack wisdom for everyday life and the temptations that come.
Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed (Ecclesiastes 10:10). The knowledge of Scripture equips with overcoming power to recognize and avoid the world’s attractions and the Deceiver’s traps.
GET WISDOM
In the New Testament, Jude writes to “contend (struggle, work for it) for the faith, or “sharpen the blade.” Learning and applying Scripture will develop the strength to overcome the world’s arguments and philosophies as it trains in wise choices.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
The children followed the Pied Piper to their destruction. Instead of listening to their parents, they listened to the crowd. We can learn an excellent lesson in how to please the Father by the example of Jesus. He told the Deceiver, the Devil, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Jesus did the will of the Father and overcame the Devil. So can we when we fight, armed with the Word.
SHOW GOD YOU LOVE HIM BY LOVING THE WORD
Loving God’s Word IS loving God (every word is from the mouth of God).
Unlike the village children that followed the crowd to their death, growing in the Word gives spiritual power to overcome the world’s values, philosophies, and sins. Loving the Word is the best defense against the world’s Pied-Piper-Deceiver. Loving the words of the Bible will build confidence in walking on the narrow road to heaven.
Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Psalm 119:165
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