Hosea 4:1-19

1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
15 Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18 Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Ephesians 6:12-18

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

2 John 1:7

7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

There are many Christians who are fearful of understanding the ways of the world. This ignorance has lead many to being deceived by those who pretend to be Christian, but have merchandise out of the Christian community. These are the preachers who have convinced many that it is OK to live in sin. That it is correct to be divorced and remarried many times. These are the deceivers who preach a pleasing message that tickles the ears, but leads the unstable down a path to destruction. Many Christians believe that they are to adhere to all of the teachings of the minister without question. I even heard one preacher tell his congregation that they have to obey him for he is the guardian of their souls. Many would rather hear a good line than to regard the ways of this world. The Christian must be on his guard against all manor of deception.

As Paul, Peter, and John all warned the first century church we must be on our guard against the arch deceivers of this world. We must be wise to the ways of the world realizing that there are many deceivers in the world today just like there was in the first century. Many are filling rolls of leadership in the church attempting to deceive the very elect of the Lord. Thus we must be on our guard against all manor of evil. In these days deception is a refined art. If you know what to look for, you can protect yourself from the deception. There are many books on the market about selling and advertising.

All of these books tell the salesperson to sell the emotion and not the object. Like what do young girls have to do with selling cars? Who do the cigarette companies show smoking? No matter what the companies proclaim the major target of cigarette advertising are the young teenagers who are the most impressionable. Also the companies that manufacture whiskey and bourbon target the teenager that the legal ability to drink is a sign of maturity. So the message is those that drink are mature and grown up.

Also there are books on the market about subliminal subjection in advertising. One of the most classic is the Camel cigarette pack. Back in the 40's it was discovered that there is a latent image of a classic nude portrait in the fore leg of the camel. Look at most of the television advertising today and you will notice that the topic is mostly sex to sell the product. The message is that you will be either sexier, or attract someone of the opposite sex if you use a certain product. How many remember the Gillette commercial with Henry Mancinie's ``The Stripper'' being played?

All of these are the ways of the world, and it is also used in the Christian community. Look at some of the so called Christian shows which use sex to sell their form of Christianity. Isn't this approach using the methods of the world to sell Christianity? Also isn't the form of Christianity being sold by these methods so watered down that it is hard to compare it with the Bible's? Isn't this like the early Roman church which preached going half way with the pagans?

It is good for the Christian to know the ways of the world so that he can see when he is being deceived, but it is evil for the Christian to use the same deceptions. A preacher should never use the ways of the world to sell Christianity and water down the Christian message. The real Christian message is about Jesus Christ and the price he paid on the cross. Christianity involves holiness, righteousness, purity, and piety. It does not involve behaving like the world indulging in all of the lusts of the flesh. (1 John 2:15-17) The world would have you to believe that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are the most important things. In the end it is those who do the will of God will have eternal life.

Are you being deceived? Have you been deceived by a false form of Christianity? Has Satan's agents convinced you of a lie? To find out I implore you to read and study your Bible for yourself. Many will try to tell you that you don't have the knowledge, but the Bible is printed for you to read, study, and research the truth for yourself. When you listen to a preacher, salesman, or any form of advertising, ask yourself what methods are being used to sell me? If Satan was able to deceive a third of the angels in heaven, how much is that deception being used against you?

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Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037

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Copyright © 2002 LeRoy D. Cressy
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