The Real Enemy

By this time, after reading my articles and seeing the blogs and sites that link to them, people may be thinking that I am a member of the movement that has formed to protest what is called "The Emergent Church". Many of my articles are of an anti-Emergent genre. I disagree with many, if not all, of the tenets of the belief system promoted by the Emergent Church, and I feel that it presents a real danger to youth. That is why I have spent so much time discussing people that are a part of it (Rob Bell, for example).

In spite of this, however, I am not a "member" of those who have banded together to fight the Emergent Church. I appreciate their interest in and support of my blog, but I cannot really "join" their ranks because I disagree with them on two main points. First of all, their approach to the Emergent Church is often wholly unbiblical, in violation of 1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully." (Amplified Version, emphasis mine.) Making snide or insulting comments about the leaders of the Emergent Church will make their efforts to stop it ineffectual, even if their central message is correct. They give those Christians who disagree with Emergent philosophy a bad name.

But there is one other important point on which I disagree with these people. It is a mistake to limit the work of Satan against the body of Christ to the Emergent Church. It is a mistake to limit the work of Satan to anything. He does not remain within the confines of a specific group, religion, or nation. His influence is everywhere. While we are fighting him in the false ideas in a new Bible study at church, he may be attacking us in the form of a new "Christian" novel with an incorrect interpretation of the Bible. While we are struggling to keep Islam from pervading our schools, we may ignore the new witchcraft-related material added to the shelves of the school library. While we are trying to war with a threat from outside Christianity, he may be launching a campaign within the church itself. While we are dealing with the named, black-and-white dangers that come at us, Satan may be taking control of our own hearts.

Be vigilant! There is more to this world than what we can label and file away. We must be ever on our guard against any attack of the enemy on any front. If we fail to do this, it may prove fatal to our cause, and to our faith.