Transference

One way or another, the Devil works his magic, manipulating minds in an attempt to have them work harder than is necessary, to solve already resolved issues, turning topics into riddles, where plain language has been clearly spoken.  

In the book of Acts, Pharisees that believed in Jesus but really savoured their religion. and the pride of being known as God's peculiar people, were unwilling to give up their status; as a result, they deviously worked at yoking fledgling Gentile converts to Christianity, by suggesting that in order to be saved, they must first be circumcised and secondly, follow the laws of Moses. Why, pray tell, would someone, anyone, saved by the grace of God, with the Holy Ghost dwelling within, have to jump through human hoops, that God Almighty had already removed? 

Consider a little game I would like you to play. Here are the rules you must follow in order to succeed, based on my standards. 

1. I hand you a map. I stand at home base, the return spot that you must come to after following instructions on the back of the map. Go now, following each set of numbered instructions, without looking at the next. 

2. On my map, look for point A, then travel over the hills and into the woods, to a treasure box located at point B. Once you have opened the box and retrieved what is inside, you may return to me at home base, and I will check your progress. If you have that certain something found in the treasure box, I will give you a yes nod. If I look you straight in the eye, without uttering a word, you are required to return to point B, once there, look more deeply into the treasure box. Upon your return, if you indeed, have found that certain something, I will give you the nod, and you may proceed. *You may have to repeat this process several times. 

3. Return directly to point B, and travel next to point C. At point C, you will climb a tree and pull down a kite with words written on it. Return to me at home base with the kite. Refrain from reading the kite until you stand before me. Next, you must read what is written on the kite, and give me your interpretation; I will determine if what you say, is accurate and approval worthy. Do not fret, I can help you with the words and give you my expert guidance; but, it may just be that you are not ready to understand what I tell you, in which case, you can sit before me, for some time, until such time, as I deem you ready to speak as I speak, and understand as I deem it necessary, for you to travel to point D. 

Dear reader, the Devil knows what The Bible states, Galatians 3:1-29

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, forseeeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy see, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that I should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abrahams's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

Since circumcision is no longer a marker setting the Jewish people apart from the Gentiles, and since Christians belong to Christ via saving grace faith provided by the Holy Ghost, Satan has had to come up with ways to re-enslave, by instituting rules, laws, human regulations, instigated by demonic forces, to impede progress: this, is sinful transference. When pastors prevent converts from being baptized by having them play by rules they have written in invisible ink, they are indicating that there is a private club that prohibits entrance, unless of course, an entrance fee is paid; unless of course, wannabe Christians step to the left, hop to the right, raise and wave left arm, shake and swirl right wrist. The self-appointed gate-keepers have added to scripture to their peril, when they stand in the way of someone that wants to profess their faith, in private - just as the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized by Philip after they had this exchange, found in Acts 8:37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest (be baptized), And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God - or publicly with other believers as celebratory witnesses. If a person wants to be baptized, because they profess faith in Christ as Saviour, they must be considered saved, regardless of their age: God speaks for and through them, when they express interest in the next step of their walk of faith, evidenced by their desire to be baptized.

Transference, in psychological terms, is defined thusly: 

The redirection to a substitute, usually a therapist, of emotions that were originally felt in childhood

I am purposefully suggesting to you, that weak and wilful humans want to redirect spiritual attention away from God, swapping out what is good and true and right, for a cheap substitute. Childlike faith is astoundingly pure, innocent, pristine: to throw a yoke upon the young, drops a heavy millstone upon the one that imposes manmade stratum to trip them up. 

We must question pastors that refuse to baptize children. They err, and must repent, for regulating what God has instituted as a right of passage for the faithful. We must always lead people to the throne room and trust that God will take most excellent care of them, while we encourage and edify. We must never, ever, be stumbling blocks to the new convert: we must never, ever, have them look to mere men for a nod, and for gold star approval based on manmade game play rules, to enter into the kingdom of God. 

God forbid we keep people out from where he wants them to go, and in their childlike faith, excitedly approach.