The answer to the question as to “Why isn’t God fixing this?” leads us to ask another question before
we can answer properly. Which God
would you like to fix it? Recently, The Daily News stated that ”God is not
fixing this”. Well, which God is not fixing this? http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/gop-candidates-call-prayers-calf-massacre-article-1.2453261
Because we assume that when we hear the title “God”, this means
“Creator”, we have erroneously been blaming the wrong God for the mess the
earth is in. There isn’t just one God, there are many. According to the Bible
the Creator is God, the devil is god, angels are god, demons are god, humans
are god, the Holy Spirit is God, and Jesus is God. But in an effort to erase
Jesus from the position of Elohim/Theos some groups have announced to the world
there is only one God. But the Bible declares many gods. As we also know the
word Elohim is plural in Hebrew and Theos is plural in Greek, we Christians
have neglected to inform the world of those facts. God is a title like king, ruler, or magistrate, not a personal
name. With this information, we can now answer the question properly. The god of
this world is not fixing this. This is now a true statement and is absolutely
correct. The devil has been the god of this world for almost 6,000 years, if
you’re thinking you want him to fix things, he won’t because he is the first
murderer. He likes creating the chaos
that humans mistakenly blame on the Creator, God (Yahweh). The Creator, God, is
not in charge of the world at the moment, but rest assured He will be again.
Albeit the Creator God has emissaries, who are other gods, that will help and
intervene for humans on the earth when able. But the god of this world, the
prince of the power of the air, the prince of this world, has a vested interest
in humans rejecting Jesus as Messiah and he uses his gods, who are under his
control, to multiply earthly mayhem.
We, the church, have done a terrible job of teaching this.
Most likely, the Daily News headline was not written by someone who actually
believes there is a Creator God, but none the less, here are a few past blog
posts to study if this is new information to you.
When we see horrific acts of murder, whether done by a lone
individual, multiple members of a gang, or a married religious couple, we
scratch our heads wondering why God isn’t fixing this. It is actually a good
question and the blame goes far and wide. We have preachers, who in an attempt
to make money, stir people up emotionally, causing some individuals to become
violent to fulfill their beliefs and to appease their god. We have people who
have been led to believe that we have to cluster in gangs and become
territorial, inciting gang wars to appease the gang leaders, even when the
gangs take their violent acts to city parks where children play. We also have
enraged religious leaders who invoke their listeners to violent acts against
those who do not live as they do, as a way to appease their god. We have
religious, social, or community leaders who are narcissistic self-promotors and
provoke followers to murderous acts. But who listens to these crazy people?
It seems that without rational thought, there are many
people trying to appease someone or something because of the belief system they
have been coerced into believing. The people following these ideas, whether
social or religious, are fundamentalists. They follow, to the letter, the
preacher, politician, the cult leader, without taking rational thought for
their actions. We must look at the type of people who follow or are followers
to this degree. Mostly, they are not leaders but followers, easily influenced
and swayed emotionally. In many areas of their lives they might function
normally, but in one or two areas they allow themselves to “drink the kool-aid”
so to speak. It doesn’t matter what the tool for murder is, guns, knives, bare
hands, the follower will do what he or she is told because if they follow what
these big-headed arrogant leaders say, they will “win the prize”, whatever it
may be.
Jesus’ words still make a lot of people mad because the
things he said are different from what we see on the extreme side of churches.
While we can’t prevent crazy people from gathering a following and pressuring
followers into enacting horrible murders, we can attempt to decipher what makes
some people become murderers. And then we can teach the world why the god of
this world isn’t fixing gun violence, but is instead provoking it.
Luke 6:9-11 Then Jesus said to them, I ask you, is it
lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good [so that someone derives advantage
from it] or to do evil, to save a life [and make a soul safe] or to destroy it?
10 Then He glanced around at them all and said to the man, Stretch out your
hand! And he did so, and his hand was fully restored like the other one. 11 But
they were filled with lack of understanding and senseless rage [454] and
discussed (consulted) with one another what they might do to Jesus. AMP
NT:454 anoia (an'-oy-ah); from a compound of NT:1 (as a
negative particle) and NT:3563; stupidity; by implication, rage: KJV - folly,
madness.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Luke 6:11 And they were filled with madness [454]; and
communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. KJV
Luke 6:11G1473But
they G1161 G4130were
filled G454with
thoughtlessness; G2532and G1255they
discussed G4314with G240one
another G5100what G302they
might G4160do G3588to G*Jesus
We see the word anoia
translated in different ways, “lack of understanding and senseless rage”, “madness”,
or “thoughtlessness”, and by definition “stupidity”. It is interesting that the law was more
important to these Pharisees than this man’s withered hand being healed. They
had an allegiance to laws rather than a compassion for hurting humans. Jesus
confronted their thinking and they got mad. Which is right? The answer to that
will depend on one’s ideology. Therefore, is it better to listen to a religious
leader who demands adherence to rules and laws or is it better to think
independently for one’s self in each matter?
Luke 11:38-42 The Pharisee noticed and was astonished [to
see] that Jesus did not first wash before dinner. 39 But the Lord said to him,
Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside
you yourselves are full of greed and robbery and extortion and malice and
wickedness. 40 You senseless (foolish, stupid) [878] ones [acting without
reflection or intelligence]! Did not He Who made the outside make the inside
also? 41 But [dedicate your inner self and] give as donations to the poor of
those things which are within [of inward righteousness] and behold, everything
is purified and clean for you. 42 But woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint
and rue and every [little] herb, but disregard and neglect justice and the love
of God. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone. [Lev
27:30; Mic 6:8.] AMP
NT:878 aphron (af'-rone); from NT:1 (as a negative
particle) and NT:5424; properly, mindless, i.e. stupid, (by implication)
ignorant, (specially) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving:
KJV - fool (-ish), unwise.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Jesus tells these Pharisees that they are senseless,
mindless, stupid, and/or ignorant. Think about that, Jesus’s opinion of these
leaders is that they are mindless. Jesus says they are stupid. Jesus wants us
to know that they are ignorant. Jesus’ point is that they are full of greed and
robbery and they act without intelligence. So who would follow someone like
this? Unfortunately many people.
Have you ever heard of the prosperity gospel? The idea that
if you give to a certain preacher or church, God will multiply the money you
gave back to you. Certainly Jesus says if we give it will be given back in good
measure. But there are some sly preachers who pressure their congregants to
give with empty promises of returned wealth. What is being preached to the
church is backward. Consider this, the preacher wants money for himself or his
organization so the preacher says to the people give and God will multiply your
money 100 fold (preacher talk for 100 times, as if your $20 dollar donation
would increase to $2,000). This idea of giving money and receiving 100 fold is
not actually in the Bible, yet this is the “magic formula” the people are told
to believe. If the preacher or the organization needs money, the preacher
should send out $20 to all the congregation so that God will multiply the money
back to the church. If a pastor needs a plane, then the pastor should send out
1/100th of the full amount he needs to the congregants. When it
multiplies by magic, he will have the money to buy his plane. If that truly is
a “magic formula” for average church goers, why doesn’t the preacher follow the
same prescribed plan? If this were an exact science, the giving, tithing,
church goers would be monetarily wealthy, above and beyond anyone else. The key
to understanding here is coerced giving as compared to giving from the heart by
the direction of the Holy Spirit. We should give and we should be generous
because that is where blessings come from, but if the “magic formula” was an
absolute, we would all be financially wealthy. There are some very wealthy
preachers out there, but the Bible tells us the Levites were not to own
property or possessions. Few well-to-do preachers give away all their wealth
and live at the income level of the average congregant. We are to give when the
Lord tells us to, and we are to do it cheerfully, but we should not give if a
man makes us feel obligated, forced, or shamed into doing so. Likewise we should
not give to manipulate God so that he will multiply our giving. Logic sometimes
hurts, doesn’t it?
It’s not just leaders who are senseless, but all of
humanity became senseless at the time of Nimrod when everyone started making
their own idol gods and forgot the Creator God.
Rom 1:21-22 Because when they knew and recognized Him as
God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead
they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish
reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless [878] minds were
darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart,
they made simpletons of themselves]. AMP
Truly the people became simpletons.
That is a good word to describe people who follow lies and distortions. Paul points
out that what the people thought they were doing was better than recognizing
the Creator God, glorifying Him, and giving Him thanks. At the time, Nimrod
made it a cultural norm to mock the people who believed in the Creator God and
mock the people who gave the Creator thanks for the rain for their crops. Paul
was pointing out to the Romans that they themselves, at that time, were stupid
and ignorant.
We have the same Greek word here and the same context
regarding people becoming senseless or stupid.
1G2036 [2said
G8781 The fool]
G1722inG2588his
heart, G1473 G3756There
is no G1510.2.3 G2316God. G1311They
were corrupted G2532and G948abhorrent
G1722in G2006.1their
practices. G3756There
is not G1510.2.3 G4160one
doing G5544that
which is good
People who do not believe in the Creator God are called
stupid and mindless. Yet people who do believe in the Creator today are mocked
and sarcastically told not to bother praying. It may be that the non-believers
simply have a louder voice within the media than the believers. In context here
in Psalms we see the rest of the story of Romans.
Ps 14:1-4 THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart,
There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is
none that does good or right. [Rom 3:10.] 2 The Lord looked down from heaven
upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, dealt wisely,
and sought after God, inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him [of vital
necessity]. 3 They are all gone aside, they have all together become filthy;
there is none that does good or right, no, not one. [Rom 3:11,12.] 4 Have all
the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread
and who do not call on the Lord? AMP
This text is also reiterated in Psalm 53. Those who don’t
know the Creator behave as if they themselves are in charge and take matters
into their own hands, whether it is declaring via media that there is no God or
murdering people who disagree. The simple minded quiet follower has the same
problem as the simple minded violent follower, neither know the Creator God
whose name is Yahweh. Paul asks the Galatians why they are senseless, stupid
and ignorant.
Gal 3:1-4 O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and
unreflecting and senseless [878] Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or
cast a spell over you, unto whom — right before your very eyes — Jesus Christ
(the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? 2
Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the
result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the
message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of
rituals or from a message of faith?] 3 Are you so foolish and so senseless
[878] and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy]
Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? 4 Have
you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing (to no
purpose) — if it really is to no purpose and in vain? AMP
We see that it is easy to become a non-thinker. The unscrupulous
leader, whether religious, political, or cultural seems to have a bewitching
effect on some. We have to allow ourselves to actually think for ourselves. We
have to educate ourselves so as not to fall into this trap of being stupid and
believing everything we are told. It is alright not to agree with a religious
leader or political leader or a community or cultural leader. If we do not
agree with our leader it simply means we have our own mind and our own life to
live. Aside from abiding by the laws of the nation we live in, we do not have
to do things we disagree with, such as religious or spiritual practices. I
think Paul said it well when he asked who
has bewitched you.
We have to consider the coercive psychological system some
leaders institute over their followers. A true leader does not need to force
anyone to follow, but an egotistical leader will do just that. In order to
force one to follow, a system of manipulations has to be implemented. Usually
this entails a set of ideas proclaimed as true that originate with
superstitions to shape the way the followers are to think so that they are
“triggered” to behave in the manner the self-important leader wants. By
perpetuating the same ideas over and over, the followers’ defenses are worn
down and they become simpletons. This is brainwashing. Have we been brainwashed
into the prosperity gospel, or to follow the old covenant law? Have we been
programmed to believe that the Creator God (Yahweh) is the only God and he is
punishing everyone? Have we been brainwashed into thinking that the Creator God
is “allowing” bad things to happen when we declare tragedies are an “act of God”?
What if the Bible does not affirm these things but we believe what someone told
us? We won’t know if we are mistaken if we don’t educate ourselves and allow
ourselves to think for ourselves.
What if someone coerces us into believing that killing
others is acceptable? Even if we do not use the Bible as our guide for faith
and practice, is it ever acceptable to promote a religious or social agenda by
murder? Socially the answer is no. Culturally the answer is no. Therefore
whoever is usurping logical or rational thought over a follower is bewitching
that follower. Murder is not a legal act in the world except at a time of war. If
the follower believes what the narcissistic leader is promoting, such as murder,
the follower has been brainwashed. We discussed the idea of people who are weak
in faith and strong in faith. Clearly, the weak do not think for themselves,
while the strong are not suckered into stupidity. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/11/edification-weak-faith-holy-day.html
If we look back at the word stupidity or rage from
the Greek, we see a few more interesting ideas. Here in Proverbs stupidity leads to “delusion”.
Proverbs 14:8G4678The wisdom
G3835of the astute
G1921will
realize G3588 G3598their
ways; G1473 G454but
the thoughtlessness G1161 G878of
fools G1722leads unto
G4106delusion
This sums up the problem of why followers keep following
bad leaders, because thoughtlessness or stupidity leads to delusion. As we
studied a few weeks ago, people become addicted to delusion. Delusions simply
perpetuate the cycle of deeper and deeper stupidity. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/09/addicted-to-delusion-craft-of-delusion.html
Ecc 11:10G2532And G868leave G2372rage G575from G2588your
heart, G1473 G2532and G3855pass
off G4189wickedness
G575from G4561your
flesh! G1473 G3754for G3588 G3503youth G2532and G3588 G454thoughtlessness
G3153are folly
Solomon’s words here are interesting. Thoughtlessness can
be a trait of youth. Young people all reach an age where they outgrow their
parent’s ideals and determine to think for themselves. This is a good time for
growth in a young person, but it can also leave them susceptible to
brainwashing by conniving manipulative individuals if the youth is not careful.
Folly is vanity or moral depravity. Some groups indoctrinate young children to
become murderers, there is always a hope that as they grow into adulthood they
will learn to think for themselves and not become mass murderers. Unfortunately,
the weak seem to gravitate to murderous groups because they do not think for
themselves.
Let’s answer the question as to who is causing the chaos on
the earth. Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders who were denying that he
could be the Messiah, instead they were calling him a bastard child. Notice
Jesus’ words to these religious leaders, he points out that the Creator God is
not their Father but instead the devil is their father.
John 8:41-44 You are doing the works of your [own] father.
They said to Him, We are not illegitimate children and born out of fornication;
we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father,
you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came
forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own
authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me. 43 Why do
you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am
saying. [You cannot bear to listen to My message; your ears are shut to My
teaching.] 44 You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to
practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your
father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is
natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all
that is false. AMP
The devil was a murderer from the beginning, and he is a
liar and the father of lies. Yes, the devil sits on a throne of lies. So who do
you suppose is propagating a murderous agenda on the earth? Who do you suppose
is raising up arrogant egotistical leaders to psychologically coerce and incite
the simple minded to commit violent mass murder? This lack of knowledge is
dangerous to all followers, but especially to the youth because most youth have
not grown in wisdom to discern who is behind the religious garb, or the smooth
talker on the street, or in the political hierarchy.
Paul explains to us what/who changed us from being
thoughtless and senseless individuals, Jesus.
Titus 3:3-9 For we also were once thoughtless and
senseless, obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too were once]
slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures, wasting our days in malice and
jealousy and envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating one another. 4 But
when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man]
appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had
done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the
new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 Which He poured out
[so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 [And He did it in order]
that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved),
[that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in
purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life
according to [our] hope. 8 This message is most trustworthy, and concerning
these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed
in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honorable
occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and
right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people. 9 But
avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and
wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile. AMP
It is because of Jesus’ loving kindness to us that changes
us from being hateful towards others, stupid, and deluded, to people who are
justified, and His heirs. Peter also gives us the direction we need in
turbulent times when some people don’t believe in the Creator and others
believe murder is their directive.
1 Peter 2:15 For it is God's will and intention that by
doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the
ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish [878] persons. AMP
Our directive is clear, Christians are to continue to live
good and honest lives regardless of the stupidity of the media or the stupidity
of murderers. To criticize someone who is living a good and honest life shows
the criticizer as foolish. Yahweh is not fixing gun violence. The devil is
promoting gun violence. One can ask the devil to discontinue his campaign to
murder innocent people but he probably won’t. And since he is the god of this
world for a little longer, we can continue to hold back as much violence as
possible through prayer. Only someone who is ignorant of the Bible and its
directives would think that national laws can stop violence. The obvious
problem we face is weak minded, stupid, followers of egocentric self-absorbed
narcissists. If we could shut the mouths of those posers we could make some
progress in ending senseless mass murders. We keep looking in the wrong place
for solutions to things that are not problems. We pretend national laws and
regulations can change a murderous heart, but they can’t. We allow dominant
people to use coercive psychological tactics on followers to incite murder, but
somehow do not put the responsibility for murder back on those doing the
brainwashing. This is not just a religious problem, it is cultural, social, and
political, as well. Yahweh loves humans and He wants to save humans. This life
on earth is not all there is, there is life after death, a life we can live
with Him, eternally. The devil does not have the power or the ability to
create; he himself was a created being. All the devil can affect is the present,
not the future. But the Creator, Yahweh, has a plan, and He told us about it,
having the Holy Spirit record it for us. While tragedies occur and we mourn and
have sorrow on this earth, they will not last forever for the believer in Jesus
Christ, the Lord and Messiah.
