The Adversary doesn't have to be smart to deal with humans. We are willing sheep out for self. The Kingdom operates on the principle that we should care for each other as we would be cared for by others in times of need. The world operates on the principle of self (interest, justification, centeredness, serving, determination, etc.). These two cultures run contrary to each other.
Jesus turned down ruling the world when offered by the Tempter because His mission was the Gospel of the Kingdom, knowing full well it trumped anything this world could offer. His rule would be the Kingdom, not this asylum. Man of course built a religion around Jesus. But what would the Adversary do?
Simple. Take the focus off of the Kingdom and not Jesus but His message, and put it back on the world. Why? Because there is no place for the Adversary or it's ways in the Kingdom. It would be out of a job. Not only was the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus taught replaced by another, but the idea that God would no longer allow man to rule over fellow man was subdued. Gentiles were an easy mark because they were passionate about ruling each other and building their systems upon the same foundations that previous systems were built. It was a simple matter to remove the Kingdom concept and return the religion to the world that man has made in our and the adversary's image. It was even caesar controlled.
The ultimate broadside was to the Gospel of the Kingdom (which was to honour the Kingdom and it's ways that ran contrary to the ways of man) and returning Christianity to work in power along side and eventually over the secular world of man as a king maker, following the same secular systems of the past rather than those of the Kingdom. What better way than to have the Adversary control the narrative of a worldly rather than Kingdom religion. It does, after all, have influence over everything. Jesus was a light but darkness soon fell again and the blind soon returned to leading the blind while using God. Thus the threat of the Adversary losing control of man was diminished, for at least now while this still plays out. All of the institutions of this world operate on the foundation of Adversarial ways built around self interest rather than truth which was originally intended according to Jesus. That original church built upon the foundations of truth, as a result has always remained small and a home for the discerning. Alternately, concern for self reigns over concern for others fueling strife among even denominations for exclusivity which does not exist. Yet people would rather defend their denomination over defending the Kingdom.
People ask the wrong question. It was for a brief moment WWJD, but quickly reverted back to what would the Adversary do to counter the Kingdom and God. He's been doing just fine. As long as man defers from the ways of the Kingdom and tries to solve the world's woes by using the same thinking that created them, we will go nowhere. The scripture says that Jesus will return, not when Christianity is spread throughout the world but rather the good news of the Kingdom that shows us just how backwards we are. Could be some time yet at the rate we are going.
Matthew 24: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
© ...timothyu
Jesus turned down ruling the world when offered by the Tempter because His mission was the Gospel of the Kingdom, knowing full well it trumped anything this world could offer. His rule would be the Kingdom, not this asylum. Man of course built a religion around Jesus. But what would the Adversary do?
Simple. Take the focus off of the Kingdom and not Jesus but His message, and put it back on the world. Why? Because there is no place for the Adversary or it's ways in the Kingdom. It would be out of a job. Not only was the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus taught replaced by another, but the idea that God would no longer allow man to rule over fellow man was subdued. Gentiles were an easy mark because they were passionate about ruling each other and building their systems upon the same foundations that previous systems were built. It was a simple matter to remove the Kingdom concept and return the religion to the world that man has made in our and the adversary's image. It was even caesar controlled.
The ultimate broadside was to the Gospel of the Kingdom (which was to honour the Kingdom and it's ways that ran contrary to the ways of man) and returning Christianity to work in power along side and eventually over the secular world of man as a king maker, following the same secular systems of the past rather than those of the Kingdom. What better way than to have the Adversary control the narrative of a worldly rather than Kingdom religion. It does, after all, have influence over everything. Jesus was a light but darkness soon fell again and the blind soon returned to leading the blind while using God. Thus the threat of the Adversary losing control of man was diminished, for at least now while this still plays out. All of the institutions of this world operate on the foundation of Adversarial ways built around self interest rather than truth which was originally intended according to Jesus. That original church built upon the foundations of truth, as a result has always remained small and a home for the discerning. Alternately, concern for self reigns over concern for others fueling strife among even denominations for exclusivity which does not exist. Yet people would rather defend their denomination over defending the Kingdom.
People ask the wrong question. It was for a brief moment WWJD, but quickly reverted back to what would the Adversary do to counter the Kingdom and God. He's been doing just fine. As long as man defers from the ways of the Kingdom and tries to solve the world's woes by using the same thinking that created them, we will go nowhere. The scripture says that Jesus will return, not when Christianity is spread throughout the world but rather the good news of the Kingdom that shows us just how backwards we are. Could be some time yet at the rate we are going.
Matthew 24: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
© ...timothyu
