Embracing Lies but Still Orthodox?

Embracing Lies but Still Orthodox?

A man named David Barton wrote a book that claims that Thomas Jefferson was sympathetic to the Christian faith and the implication being he may have even been a secret believer. The claims in his book were so preposterous that the Thomas Nelson company has refused to publish it anymore. Many will call this "persecution". 

Here is the article.

Men are prone to endorse lies if those lies support their version of anything. The enemy of my enemy becomes my friend regardless. To suggest Jefferson was anything close to a believer is also to suggest Benjamin Franklin was chaste. But when you have a fanciful view of America, and when America has become your idol, then men like Barton can become a millionaire through the support of evangelical ministers. But let us also be very clear. Almost none of the “founding fathers” could be considered evangelical or born again believers as defined by the New Testament or even in the evangelical understanding of today.
That does not mean none were saved, only God knows that. However even men like George Washington wrote about God in stilted and formal language and never with a genuine hint of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And Washington, the human idol in all of this, never once suggested that Franklin was not saved and never requested prayer for the salvation of his soul. Is that the heart of a man who is inhabited by the Spirit which seeks to save that which was lost?
I have written about George Washington here -
HERE

To suggest that Jefferson was sympathetic toward Christ is not only disingenuous, but it is absurd. But watch what is happening. Nationalism is rapidly becoming a major bridge to all sorts of heresies. Mormonism is now embraced because of politics and nationalism. Health and wealth preachers are now invited into mainstream evangelicalism because they love America. Do you think the devil is content to use only the cults and liberals and the emergent movement as vehicles of deception? Nationalism is very subtle and seemingly innocuous and even portrayed as a piece in the divine puzzle, when in reality it just may turn out to be the greatest western deception of all.
The antichrist just may be an evangelical American, and if so, he will have little trouble deceiving the church if he is openly patriotic. I can remember when I also was trapped inside the deception of nationalism and patriotism. Who could ever believe that the word “patriotism”, which is antithetical to Biblical principles, would become a badge of honor among professing believers? But the devil is profoundly clever and not satisfied to just deceive men and women, but he desires complete control until they embrace his deception as divine.
Those who constructed the “high places” in Israel had nothing on the western church. Christian schools by the thousands hang pictures of the founding fathers on their walls including Jefferson and Franklin. And our children are told fairy tales concerning their commitments to Christ as well as concocted nonsense about God orchestrating the Revolutionary War. If God desires His followers to kill people over higher taxes then let us take up arms even now. But first we must burn the New Testament.
This is no minor doctrinal disagreement, and nationalism is widely practiced and promoted even among the most vociferous heresy hunters in other areas. Peruse the internet and you will find self proclaimed “discernment” blogs which have absolutely no discernment on this particular issue. The same people who castigate Rob Bell and Rick Warren and Joel Osteen will place their hands over their hearts and pledge allegiance to a secular nation and in so doing they emulate what Bell, Warren, and Osteen do as well. And they remain blind to it all.
They can exegete Scripture linguistically and in context, but they are blind to some of its teachings. I know what that feels like. When God opens your eyes to such things you feel like a fool because it suddenly becomes so clear. And in the past year the fruits of the deception have deepened. A member of a cult that spreads the spirit of antichrist is supported by all kinds of evangelical ministers. No small matter, indeed. But it does openly reveal how far men will reach to join hands with heretics if those same heretics sing “America the Beautiful”.
I write with a chastening and scolding tone, but my heart grieves as well. I see how the church follows after the heretics that are listed as categories on discernment blogs, but I also see how the church has succumbed to open disobedience to God’s Word and the Person of Christ through the deceit and compromise of nationalism. We now even label some wars as “just” which in and of itself obliterates the teachings of Jesus unless of course you read through American glasses. You should not murderer your neighbor unless he lives somewhere other than America. It is difficult to see just how far this thing will go.
The western church. What used to be a distinct departure from the culture is now a participating patron. What used to be a sanctuary for prayer is now a vehicle for parades. What used to be a place untainted by outside influences is now a patched member of the secular culture. What used to be led by humble men of God is now organized by loud patriots. What used to see believers weep over lost souls now sees believers weep over the flag.
Last year the Southern Baptist church in our area had a Fourth of July extravaganza as did tens of thousands of church across America. During the service many patriotic songs were sung which had nothing to do with following or worshiping Christ (my son attended). When the congregation had been sufficiently whipped up into a patriotic frenzy, several men in military uniforms were dropped down from above the stage. The applause grew. These men were carrying automatic weapons that are carried by some military personnel. The applause grew even louder. Finally these men recreated the famous picture of Iwo Jima with men holding up the American flag. The crowd rose to their feet with unbridled effervescence and with many, many tears.
Perhaps next year we can recreate Hiroshima complete with the smell of burning flesh while the congregation wears T-shirts that say “These Colors Don’t Run” and while they energetically eat Chick-Fil-A sandwiches.
Yes, Jesus will not be there.