A Spiritual PSYOP?

 

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23 

“As we use our power of choice to turn our minds to God, we have greater contact with God throughout our day, developing a conversational relationship with him. We bring the reality of God into our lives by making contact with him through our minds, and then our actions are based on the understanding that results from the fullness of that contact.” ~ Dallas Willard (1)

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” - (Gen. 6:5 NET)

” People had taken their God-given capacities and used them to devise evil.” (2)

We find a sobering warning in Romans 1:28: 

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

An individual or society as a whole can turn to evil as a result of rejecting the revelation God gives. The mind is the target of both physical and spiritual enemies. When boundaries God has established for our benefit and flourishing are ignored, chaos ensues. God destroyed the earth once with a flood.  The next time it will be by fire. And God will give us the new heavens and a new earth with no more sin, sickness, death, or war.

“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” ~ 2 Peter 3:7 ESV

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” ~ 2 Peter 3:13 ESV

The most important job a follower of Jesus has is to guard their heart. A heart full of anger, pride, envy, lust, etc., will eventually act on these impulses. Indwelling sin is part of the human condition. Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5 KJV). Sin dwells in our bodies, but those who learn to watch over their minds experience an increase of freedom in their lives. The Holy Spirit was sent to give us power to testify to the resurrection of Jesus with our words and our lives.

A.I., social media platforms, and news media outlets disseminate propaganda to foster division in our society. 

Some argue that PSYOPs are aimed at the United States by foreign powers or elites that seek to cause armed conflict in the U.S. I believe that is true. Even so, ‘doom scrolling’ on the internet is causing high levels of anxiety in our population. Below is the definition of PSYOP from Wikipedia.

“Psychological operations (PSYOP) are military operations designed to influence the beliefs, emotions, and behaviors of foreign governments, organizations, and populations to achieve U.S. objectives. They involve the strategic dissemination of information to persuade or manipulate target audiences, often during both peacetime and conflict.” (3)

I've been shocked to see how many people celebrate the death or wish death upon those they disagree with. This is the result of dehumanizing them. The leader of this PSYOP is Satan himself.

The enlightenment didn’t erase the reality of the spiritual world. Satan is real; he’s called ‘the god of this world.’ He’s not God’s equal but a lesser adversary who controls those who reject the Son of God. 

I’m not trying to be harsh. We all need the grace and mercy of God. But Jesus claimed to be God, and I believe him. His Resurrection proves it.

How do we survive in such a toxic society? I think the answer is to “... seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…” 

To seek God’s righteousness is to seek his character. This type of lifestyle requires us to sell out to Jesus.

Only a close relationship with God will sustain us in these times of uncertainty. Reality is hard to discern, and we desperately need discernment. 

Your friend on Facebook who disagrees with you is not your real enemy. Now is the time to rid ourselves of the toxicity of our society by learning to trust in and rely on our Savior, the Prince of Peace.

Make contact with your Creator. Watch over your heart.

1. Dallas Willard, The Scandal of the Kingdom, page 48 Kindle 

2. Bible Gateway

3. Wikipedia

Utopia?

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 14:17 ESV

“ Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”- Luke 17:20-21 ESV

City in my head, Utopia

Heaven in my body, Utopia

It's time for me, for me to go
City in my head, Utopia
Heaven in my body, Utopia
Into the sky, it rises now” - Todd Rungdren, Utopia, 1974

The lyrics above are from Todd Rundgren's song “Utopia.” I often listened to this song as a teenager. It seems like the artist was looking for some state of perfect bliss. As humans, we all have needs that no one or anything except God can meet.

Definition: Utopia

“utopia, an ideal commonwealth whose inhabitants exist under seemingly perfect conditions. Hence utopian and utopianism are words used to denote visionary reform that tends to be impossibly idealistic.” - Britannica

As a young man, I sought bliss and harmony through destructive habits. I knew God but thought I knew better how to obtain the happiness I sought. 

The Utopia that so many have sought since the Garden of Eden doesn't exist apart from Jesus. Human nature apart from God’s intervention is corrupt. 

Some scholars say that we are born guilty of Adam's sin. Others say that is not so. Still others say we are born broken with the inclination to sin. One thing I know for sure: you don't have to teach a child to lie, it comes naturally. Sin comes naturally to us all.

 Until Jesus’ return and the destruction of this present evil age, the kingdom of God will only be in the hearts of his followers. The perfect world or Utopia is an illusion apart from Jesus and “the new heavens and the new earth” that is coming.

Jesus came to the earth and brought his kingdom with him. He is the Word made flesh. He is the wisdom of God, the Son of God. As the second Person of the Trinity, he is God and became man. 

All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in him. Everything was made for him and by him. His message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).

His followers are called to “ … make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). We share the good news that Jesus died on a cruel cross to pay our sin debt. And he was resurrected from the dead and victorious over the devil. 

No political party or movement nor any ideology is capable of bringing Utopia to the earth. Marxism and Totalitarianism are failed experiments. 

The New Age movement and various religions desire what can only happen through the life of Jesus imparted to the human heart.

Politicians pontificate about solutions to the increase in crime in our society. Good legislation is helpful. But rarely do we hear them discuss the problem of the sinful human heart.

Until Jesus returns we can live in what theologians call “the already but not yet of the kingdom.” We live in a broken world and Jesus said,  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - (John 16:33 NIV) 

And again he said, “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

An important part of our assignment as followers of Jesus is to do good works. Feed the poor, educate, and bring relief to those in need. We can help alleviate poverty but we will never end it. 

When Jesus returns to the earth he will make every wrong thing right. We live with a sense of sadness yet we can experience peace and joy knowing that Jesus will one day make sense of it all. 

When we experience supernatural peace despite our circumstances - see the sick healed - people delivered from addictions, we experience a foretaste of the kingdom.

 Through God’s sovereign grace and the prayers of his people, we get to experience a temporary touch of his kingdom now.

Prayer: Father, may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21: 1-4 ESV 

Formed By The Presence

 

The Quote:

"Our hearts need to come to the fixed conclusion that God is everywhere present - that He is more real than the things we may think of as "real" and is deeply and utterly committed to our transformation into the image of His beloved Son. Any Christianity that embraces a less-integrated worldview is rendered increasingly powerless. It is a Christianity whose God exists only in an abstract sense. Such a life is madness in the end. It cannot but be encumbered with doubt while fostering opinion and argument in the place of faith. The result is an intellectualized faith (however simple or sophisticated), always driven by culture, either in ignorant subservience or in whatever form its political masters direct for the "culture wars." What Christianity in its various secularized forms has not done and cannot do is to produce true culture. The production of culture is not the goal of the Christian faith, but a faith that is truly integrated and grounded in the God who is everywhere present cannot help but produce culture - for it produces a whole humanity. (1)

My Thoughts:

How we think about and interact with God determines how we live life. God is committed to our transformation into Christ-likeness. The things we speak and the actions we take come from our hearts. I hear very little about the awareness of God's omnipresence and our transformation into the image of His Son as the answer to our cultural meltdown. 

I fear many evangelicals have "kissed the ring" of political power to the detriment of the Gospel message. A secularized form of Christianity is weak and non-efective. 

Moral transformation only becomes a reality for those who - have been formed by the Presence of God. There is no division between the secular and sacred for those who acknowledge His presence. 

The Holy Spirit is here, among us now.

 God is not "the man upstairs" - He is ever present.

Scriptures For Meditation:

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. - Colossians 3:2-4 ESV 

 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

"Where shall I go from your Spirit?

    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning

    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

 even there your hand shall lead me,

    and your right hand shall hold me." - Psalm 139: 7-10

"Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” - John 18:36

(1) Every Where Present, Stephen Freeman, pages 95-96.

Christianity Was Not - "Made in America!"

 "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." - (Romans 1:21 ESV)

Some argue the violence in America is the result of gun ownership. Others blame it on the lack of prayer in public schools. These are arguments for the current culture wars in America. A war of words, thoughts, and ideologies. Scripture teaches that people become arrogant when they refuse to acknowledge their Creator - spiritual darkness and violence increase. 

 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - (Ephesians 4:30 ESV)

The United States is experiencing spiritual evil, desensitizing us through exposure to images and ideologies of violence and perversions. God is - grieved by so much sin.

During the nineteen sixties, the U.S. experienced a spiritual invasion from the east. We are all 'gods' was what the eastern mystics told us. That view of spirituality combined with self-centered western materialism makes for a bad combination. 

The new 'priest' of society are those who control education, politicians, extreme environmentalists, the news media, and the entertainment industry. Many of their ideas form the minds of the American public. And science has the final word on everything in the western world - while the biblical worldview - is ignored.

A Christian worldview does not reject 'real' science because God gives knowledge to the world through many different sources. But followers of Jesus understand that the supernatural cannot be proven scientifically.

Those from the "majority world" outside of the western world have a greater understanding of spiritual - realities - both good and evil. Christianity was not - "Made in America!" It is an eastern religion that teaches the true nature of reality. God came to live among his creation as a Jewish man. He existed in eternity past with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. One God in three distinct Persons. What other religion has a god who came to live with those he created? Christianity is perceived as - just another religion - by those who have not encountered the living Christ. Following Jesus is not one of many ways to enter heaven - he is the only way.

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - (John 14:6 ESV)

Holding to a strictly scientific, naturalistic, anti-supernatural worldview grieves the heart of God. We saw the results or the fruit of this atheistic worldview from the Nazi and Communist regimes of the twentieth century. Will we ever learn?

Education and passing better laws can be helpful, but until the human heart is changed, we are only putting a band-aide on a terminal wound. 

Religion without the love of Christ does not work either. That is the reason Jesus told Nicodemus, "you must be born again." When Jesus returns to the earth to set up his kingdom - those that follow him will experience the Utopia that so many long to obtain.

 But until His return, we must share the life-transforming truth that only Jesus Christ can give. 

 

Strangers In A Foreign Land Of Digital Delights

I must admit that I’m happy in what author Mark Sayers calls “Non-Places.”(1) These are places where I have access to my digital world. Music downloads, podcasts, and my favorite T.V. dramas. Netflix, Amazon, and Facebook (even though Facebook can be stressful!) are ways to escape the harsh realities of the real world. A good book and a coffee shop is my idea of contentment. I like to escape reality and retreat to my comfortable world. In this world, we do not have to interact with people face to face.

While these things can be good in moderation, they can also dry out our souls and distract us from God. 

The early Christians had to face the stark reality of death daily. The early Church, for the most part, was fearless. While I’m in no hurry to die and leave all my comforts – they lived like pilgrims, just passing through.

The Church Father John Chrysostom wrote, “We are strangers and sojourners. Let us not grieve over any of the world’s painful things. For if you come from a renowned country and from illustrious ancestors, and find yourself in a distant land, known to no one, having neither servants nor wealth, and then someone insults you, would you grieve as though these things had taken place at home? The knowledge that you were in a strange and foreign land would persuade you to bear all easily and to despise hunger, thirst, and any suffering. So consider that you are a stranger and a pilgrim, and do not let anything bother you in foreign territory. You have a city whose builder and creator is God, and the journey is but for a short and little time. Let whoever wishes strike, insult, revile. We are in foreign territory, and live there in difficulty.“(2)

So instead of losing ourselves in this digital utopia we have created – maybe we need to let go of it – just a little. It might be a good idea to consider ourselves foreigners in a strange land. And seek God for a heavenly and eternal perspective on life.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” – Philippians 3:20 (NKJV)

(1) I recommend Mark Sayers book, Strange Days: Life In The Spirit In A Time Of Upheaval.

(2.) Learning Theology With The Church Fathers, Christopher A. Hall, page 198.