By Jim Schneider
Executive Director
VCY America
Deception is running rampant, taking on many forms and bombarding an unsuspecting public from every angle.
At present, the nation is in an intense political season where the true position of candidates is being masked in order to moderate the public’s perception of them. Many scrub their social media sites for fear that many years of posting their true thoughts and positions will be found out and exposed. Often empty promises are made to secure votes hoping the voter will forget about it following the election.
There are many social buzz phrases that are engaging our culture and designed to deceive one’s thinking. “Reproductive freedom” really means sexual promiscuity and abortion on demand. “Gender equality” really means biological males playing in women’s sports and having access to the private spaces of women including restrooms, locker rooms and showers. “Economic justice” is a means to reward some individuals using the funds and resources taken from those who have meaningfully worked and invested. “Fair housing for all” means leveling an attack on private property owners. Even “food justice” is a means for the government to use tax dollars to challenge and undercut private business owners. The list is endless.
Another area of deception occurs regularly in the legacy media with slanted news stories giving listeners and viewers a perception that runs afoul of the truth. They often promote the myths of man-caused global climate change, critical race theory, anti-law enforcement and smear those who hold conservative values.
Much of the educational system indoctrinates children to hate our country and our nation’s founding as a Constitutional Republic. American history has often been distorted. Schools have been turned into emotional learning centers even as the mental health of students is in a freefall.
Many schools introduce innocent minds to the false thinking that you might truly be a girl in a boy’s body or you are a boy in a girl’s body. The secret transitioning of children is often kept from parents. Many force the use of false pronouns in the school setting apart from what happens outside of school hours. Students are often told that though their parents don’t understand them, they can come and speak to the teacher or guidance counselor at any time about any issue as they are “judgment free.” With an education system out of sorts, many then wonder how it is that young people are advanced through the education system and college without the ability to read or write or adequately perform mathematical equations.
Many entertainers and sports figures showcase their disdain for our country in order to gain a following and promote an attitude of rebellion.
And tragically, there is much deception happening in religious settings. A growing number of pastors and churches are denying the authority of God’s Word. Recently a female “pastor” likened the Scriptures to Aesop’s Fables where they are not accepted as truth or as something that actually happened. She declared the Bible is just stories from which one can draw moral lessons from. Such aberrant teachings refer to God as “mother.” Some blaspheme the work of Christ. Some distort the Scriptures which provide a universal salvation for all while denying the existence of a literal hell. Some proclaim “social justice” over Biblical truth. Yet others give sway to the teachings of evolution and deny that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is within them. Doctrine after doctrine is being distorted in order to make everyone just feel good and to live a life free from any accountability toward God.
The prophet Isaiah warned, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) The Apostle Paul also warned, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (II Timothy 3:13)
It is necessary to look at the source of deception; Satan himself. Jesus said of Satan, “There is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44b) Satan is also described as one “which deceiveth the whole world:” (Revelation 12:9) One day Satan will meet his final judgment. Until then he is seeking to take as many as he can with him to eternal destruction. Satan also desires to derail true Christians and minimize their impact for Christ.
It is imperative for truth to be proclaimed from pulpits across the nation and to proceed from the lips of every Christian. If believers in Christ fail to declare truth, the world will cave even faster to the destructive grip of deception. Biblical truth is a counter to the deception and ungodly lies of our time. But the question looms: will it be proclaimed?
In this age of deception consider these important truths from the inspired Word:
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (Psalm 119:160)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
It is the Word of God that must be proclaimed! May every believer be a purveyor of truth and expose the deception that is taking many captives!
