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©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
Dangerous Misconceptions Concerning Satan
Marion H. Reynolds, Jr.
April 19, 1919 - Sept. 3, 1997
©FOUNDATION Magazine Editorial, May-June 1996
AS BELIEVERS, we are warned that if we are ignorant of Satan’s devices, he
will take advantage of us (2 Cor. 2:11). Most Christians today, however, are totally
unaware of the most successful devices Satan uses to deceive hundreds of leaders and
millions of God's people. This dangerous ignorance is partly the fault of Christian
leaders who have become "positive only" teachers, failing to warn their
followers about Satan's tactics because they know such preaching is not well received
today. Other leaders are willfully ignorant. They have not only rejected God's biblical
warnings but have actually declared that such warnings are unloving and unproductive. In
either case, it is safe to say that most believers today are woefully ignorant concerning
the past, present and future of Satan. Therefore, they hold many dangerous misconceptions
concerning the enemy of our souls.
God's Word tells us that Satan originally fell from his exalted position as "the
anointed cherub that covereth" (Ezek. 28:11-19). This text, coupled with Isaiah
14:12-15, makes it clear that Satan fell because of pride. He was filled with self (note
his seven "I wills"). But are believers today being warned against pride? No,
instead there is talk of the absolute necessity of self-affirmation, self-esteem and
self-worth. What does God's Word say about loving the world and the things of the world?
Read carefully 1 John 2:15-17 and note the emphasis on "the pride of life" in
verse 16 which "is not of the Father, but of the world. " Are God's children
today being warned about the dangers of worldliness? No they are not. Many leaders say it
is proper to use the world to reach the people of the world for Christ. This philosophy is
a lie of Satan, yet multitudes are being taken in by it.
It is important to realize that throughout history, Satan has used and continues to use
two approaches to deceive God's children. First, there is Satan's approach (and that of
his ministers) as an angel of light and minister of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Today
it seems that everyone is clamoring for "light" but looking for it in all the
wrong places. People are turning to New Age teachings, Science of Mind delusions,
psychological theories, Roman Catholic shrines and apparitions, Charismatic
"revelations," and even the Lesbian/Gay defenders and promoters within the
churches who falsely claim their sinful practices are the result of their having found
"more light." What delusions all of these are! Genuine light can only be found
in Jesus Christ who is "the Light of the World" (Jn. 8:12), and in the light of
His Word (Psa. 119:105, 130). All other supposed sources of light are spurious: "To
the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20).
The second major approach of the devil is that of "a roaring lion" walking
about seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8, 9). Believers are therefore instructed to be
sober and vigilant and to resist our adversary steadfastly in the faith. In his
"roaring lion" approach, the devil is intimidating many pastors who are afraid
to warn God’s people concerning satanic deceptions for fear of losing their pulpits
of pensions. True, they could lose their position or financial security, but as one man of
God correctly observed years ago, "The cost of doing God’s will is never greater
than the cost of not doing His will." Many individual believers are also yielding to
the devil's intimidations. They continue to support and attend compromising churches
because it is too hard to be alone and too difficult to lose life-long friends and valued
companions; it is too difficult to bear their derisive, hurtful, unjustified criticisms.
Never forget, however, that Jesus Christ said the devil "is a liar, and the father of
it" (Jn. 8:44), whereas we serve and worship the One who "cannot lie"
(Titus 1:2). He has promised never to leave us alone or comfortless (Jn. 14:15-18).
However varied and attractively disguised Satan's deceptions may be, every believer
must realize that Satan's major attack is upon the Word of God, just as he attacked God's
Word in the Garden of Eden. First, he raised a question about what God had actually said,.
Then, he denied the truth of what God said. Finally, he offered an appealing and
attractive alternative to what God said. The result was disobedience to God's Word which
resulted in God's judgment (Gen. 3:1-19). Today, Satan is following this exact same
pattern and millions are being deceived. Dozens of modern Bible versions, translations and
paraphrases, each claiming to be more accurate, more readable and more understandable, are
foisted upon unsuspecting believers so they cannot really be sure whether they have the
true, pure Word of God or not. "Biblical" scholars not only attack the
inspiration and infallibility of the original autographs, but also the divine preservation
of God's Word to our day. It is understandable that unbelieving scholars like those of the
Jesus Seminar attack every teaching of the Bible, but what a tragedy it is to find those
who claim to be evangelical scholars not only doubting but rejecting the wonderful truth
of divine preservation of God's Word at this very moment. Recently, Larry Oates of
Maranatha Baptist College in Wisconsin, an institution that formerly supported the fact of
the preserved Word of God in the King James Version, made the following amazing denial of
divine preservation. Oates said, "God could have preserved His Word but history
proves He did not." No wonder an increasing number of believers are being misled
and deceived.
The increasing claims of supposed messages from God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, or
angels disseminated by Charismatic leaders only complicate and compound present-day
deceptions. These men and women supplant and contradict the authority, unchangeableness
and eternality of God's written Word, the Bible. These extra-biblical
"revelations" they claim to receive constitute direct attacks upon God's Word.
Miracles and healings, supposedly done in the Christ, are offered as proof that they are
of God. In reality, the exact opposite may be true as Jesus Christ warned in Matthew
7:21-23. God's curse upon all who add to or take from God's Word is set forth in
Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18, 19.
God's Word specifically warns about and commands believers to separate from false
prophets (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11), disobedient brethren (2 Thess. 3:6), and worldly
brethren (1 Jn. 2:15-17). Instead of practicing biblical separation as God commands, Satan
has enticed most major leaders to practice and advocate unbiblical fellowship. In fact, in
surveying the ministries of those who are influencing the largest number of people today
by their books, articles, tapes rallies, crusades and radio and television programs, not
one of them giving God-commanded warnings concerning most of the major satanic deceptions
of our day. On the contrary, they are all blinding the spiritual eyes of their millions of
followers and supporters and robbing them of needed spiritual discernment.
Not one of the following leaders is warning about the dangers of modern Bible versions;
not one is warning about the false gospel being preached by the pope and Roman Catholics;
not one is warning about charismatic heresies; not one is warning about the dangers of
so-called Christian psychology; not one is warning about the dangers of worldliness in the
churches (music, programs, speakers, etc.); not one is warning about the dangers of mixing
truth and error; therefore not one is fully obeying the Word of God: Billy Graham, Bill
Bright, Jack Van Impe, Jerry Falwell, Hal Lindsey, Robert Schuller, Chuck Swindoll, James
Dobson, Charles Colson, Pat Robertson, Paul Crouch, Oral and Richard Roberts, Reinhard
Bonnke, John Wimber, and Rodney Howard Browne. Others who practice and espouse the
unscriptural silence could be mentioned but those above are reaching and influencing the
largest number of people today. Some of them, such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell and Jack
Van Impe have departed from previously held biblical positions. On the other hand, many
others have chosen to compromise on vital issues from the beginning.
Although we realize that some may be offended by our warnings, we are only seeking to
speak the truth in love. God's people need to know how and where Satan is working today.
In addition to the articles in this issue of FOUNDATION, we have prepared a 90-minute tape
on the subject of Satanic Deceptions which is available upon request ($5.00 per tape).
While it is true that Satan's final doom is assured, he is more active today than ever
before, knowing the time is short. We must thank God for His divine protection and
preservation in all circumstances and situations but recognize the importance of trusting
God's Word completely, not our own feelings (Phil. 4:13,19). May our dear Lord help every
true believer to stand fast, labor faithfully and keep looking up. He could come at any
moment. What a Blessed Hope He has given us!
M.H. Reynolds, Jr.
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