He Tricked Himself

My son and I met a man in a collar today. Do I dare suggest that you look with suspicion upon a man posing as a priest? Not all men in collars are to be trusted, and fortunately, there are some that love the Lord and his word so deeply, that when they are out and about, the collar let's observers know that the man is open to conversations about faith - the collar is an ice breaker. In the case of the man we met during our walk, he couldn't be counted on as a truth teller, because he lied openly about women and their position/role, within the body of Christ. 

The man called me The Mother Superior... laughable really. Sure thing, I am Queen in my household and my son honours me as his mother, but I was not inclined to accept the fraudulent theology the man espoused shortly after trying to elevate me to the state of majesty as a Christ follower. Lifting my arms skyward, I used the air to create steps, on which I placed Jesus at the highest level as the head, man just below him, and women and children one step below man, giving the collared man a clear picture, a biblical picture, of God's hierarchy. 

Well wouldn't you know it, he believes in the ordination of women! Now I ask you, which Bible is he reading, and where did he get that monstrosity of a thought? Clearly, Paul did not ordain women, and this was his suggestion - I read The Bible, and I have got to tell you, no where in God's Word do women and ordination go together in a sentence, in fact, it is quite the opposite. 

Now that we have a backstory, I will tell you what my son had to say after we left the collared man behind: He tricked himself. I have to laugh at this simple observation - He tricked himself! Dear reader, one of the worst forms of deception, is self-deception, and this man manages to not only lie to himself, but he attempts to propagate lies that are damnable. If Jesus is not the head of the body, Christians are hopelessly lost. If Jesus isn't the Word of God incarnate, without sin, pure and trustworthy - if the Word of God isn't worthy of being believed and heeded - we have nothing onto which we can place our faith, and no one leading the way. 

This meeting with the man in the collar was disturbing on so many levels. He appears to have dedicated his life to God with that white thing around his neck, and yet, he is unsound in his mind, he has misplaced his affections, his soul lacks spiritual manna, and he cannot be trusted as a Christ follower, because he is not, a Christ follower - he is a man of the world, a worldly man that feigns affection for the Sovereign while wearing a costume. True men of the "clothe" speak scripture as though it is honey dripping from their tongue and lips, but this man figuratively grabbed at Jesus' cloak, attempting to yank him from his heavenly abode, demeaning him as Master, making him equal with his creatures, and lower yet, by suggesting that women can be ordained and teach men, when The Bible forbids this very thing. 

This quick chat took minutes before we were off in different directions, the collared man going his way, while my son and I took the pathway that leads home...

The pathway home, dear reader, is not paved with golden stones of equity and equality: the pathway home is blood stained, and the unfairness of Christ having died, as an innocent lamb of God, for your sins and mine, is evident with every crimson droplet. It is a liberty taken, to deny him as the King of kings, Lord of lords, by suggesting that The Bible can be torn and twisted to accommodate weak willed men that self, and other deceive. 

He tricked himself, and in his arrogance, he attempted to trick us too...

This, dear reader, is why you and I must be very familiar with what is in scripture, to ensure that we are confident in our faith, and where we place our trust. The tripe coming from this stranger made me feel like gagging. On the upswing following this exchange, I am grateful for the many Bibles in my home, Matthew Henry's Commentary on The Bible, and truth prevailing in my mind, in my heart, and in my spirit so greatly, that when I consider self-deception, my conscience acts as sandpaper on my soul, keeping me going back into God's Word for regular bouts of course correction when needed, and recalibration to Christ. 

Humans are slippery fish, but when we see Jesus as Saviour, we get pinned down and find it hard to squirm away - besides, we just don't want to - I just don't want to trick myself or be tricked. 

How about you? 

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Mark 1:17

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Lastly, before you and I go about our business, I must say this: The Spirit of God is not split, one way this moment, and another way the next. For truth to prevail in relationship, there must be agreement on the meaning of God's Word doctrinally. When there is a chasm between two that say they are Christians, The Bible is the place to go to determine who is an infidel. and who is faithful in their devotion to God and his Word; self-trickery becomes evident when a man or woman speaks what is not in The Bible. The man we met today made things up to accommodate a world view that runs counter to God's Word and will. We could not agree, no matter how long we spoke, considering he spewed blatantly lies, and lives a life contrary to God's commands. 

Read your Bible... If this sounds bossy, well, I guess I don't feel too badly, if you actually get out your Bible, and read!