The
Third Sunday after Easter.
The
Collect.
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LMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light
of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness;
Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion,
that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and
follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Even at the moment of the Resurrection of Christ, the spirit of anti-Christ was
afoot. Roman guards were bribed to conceal the truth of what happened at the
Garden Tomb before sunrise on Easter morning. Institutions, even the Churches,
that draw their power and influence from political man, are a part and portion
of that spirit of anti-Christ. The focus of our Collect for this week centers
on a plea against error and darkness.
There is a church in Pensacola called the Brownsville Assembly of God Church at
which the Korean preacher, Cho Yonggi, spoke in the 90”s and predicted a great
revival. Cho, not noted for his faithfulness to biblical truth, did correctly
forecast an event that lasted a few years there and which was ‘called’ a
revival by its adherents. There was a lot of spirit observed in their revival
(at which it is estimated more than four million people attended) to the
detriment of biblical truth. Men were being led about on all fours by a leash.
Why? Because the Holy Spirit, they say, told them to act like a dog! On one
occasion, a woman came to the microphone and said, “I know some of you will
think I am crazy, but the Holy Spirit told me to do this.” She then began to
howl like a wolf into the microphone – I am NOT kidding, I have it on VHS tape.
Certain men were assigned as blanketeers. They would stand by with blankets to
cover the modesty of women rolling about on the floor. It is clear that a
spirit had moved these people to this state of delusional ecstasy, but it
certainly was not the Holy Spirit of which I read in Holy Scripture. The
so-called ‘Brownsville Revival’ has run its course and the men who initiated
the false revival have moved on to the next nest of suckers who will believe
their lies.
So is this phenomenon relegated to the past only? Not hardly. How many silly
women and naïve men are being deceived today by books claiming that someone has
gone to heaven or hell and returned to tell us about it? Paul gives profound
warning of this delusional aspect of error: This know also, that in the last
days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this
sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with
sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth. (2 Tim 3:1-7) The deception of those who read such
light-headed drama is not innocent, but deliberate. They choose to believe a
lie over and above the Word of God. This places their very souls in jeopardy.
Did not Mother Eve do the same?
God does reveal to those who seek in earnest, His absolute Truth! He revealed
it to Adam and Eve, and they disregarded that truth and brought death and sin
upon – not only human race – but the world at large. ALMIGHTY God, who
showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth. It is
amazing to me, and even shocking, that those who are in error and claim to be
sound Bible believers will accept the word of a fictional writer over that of clear
biblical proofs. The reason is simple: they prefer to believe the fantasy
before they will believe the truth. Beware, again, the words of St. Paul:
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked
be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming
is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because
they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess 2:7-12)
For what purpose does God reveal the Light of Truth to those who are in error? “…..to
the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness.” If
deceitful men and books have led a man or woman away from the path of truth,
surely they will believe once the error is pointed out to them, won’t they?
Often they do not because they prefer the lie to the truth. To
those who love truth to the exclusion of popular fantasies, that truth will
always bring again to understanding truth.
There are two points of purpose that should govern the thoughts and actions of
a Christian: 1) Possessing such knowledge and understanding of truth so as to
recognize and AVOID error. Grant unto all those who are admitted
into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid those things that
are contrary to their profession. 2) Possessing such truth and
wisdom of God’s Word in our hearts so that we order our lives in the very way
of that righteousness in truth described by God in His Word. “….and
follow all such things as are agreeable to the same.” Of course, we
are enabled to do these things “…through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
How is it possible that we sit under Godly preaching and worship, Sunday after
Sunday, repeating the prayers of the Collects and, yet, have no intention of
being faithful to those prayers we have uttered collectively? Is this not
taking the Name of the Lord in vain if we pray with false intention and motive?
Do we really mean it when we pray the Lord’s Prayer? Do we REALLY desire HIS
will to be done, or do we tenaciously hold to a lie and follow our own wills in
deception of truth? Do we REALLY seek only our daily bread, or do we seek the
bread of others to add to our own? Are we truly repentant in seeking His
forgiveness of our sins? Have we turned from them? If so, have we followed the
corollary of the prayer to forgive others in like manner in which God has forgiven
us? Do we truly glorify God with our minds, heart, body, and spirits? If we
recognize the Lord as the awesome and almighty Savior that He is, why do we
follow silly fantasies that add to, or take away, from the Word of God? I am
becoming disillusioned, not so much by unbelievers of the world as, with
professed believers who disregard the Word of God and live and believe with
flippant disregard for that Word. But I recognize my obligation, and the
obligation of every clergyman and laity to persist in teaching, in rebuking,
and in edifying the Church.
