Open Blasphemy

OPEN BLASPHEMY

Can you be arrested? I use the word “arrested” not in the sense of being arrested, but can your being be arrested? Can you feel or sense the fear of God anymore when you see and hear what is taking place this very day around the world? I am going to provide you with two evidences of overt demonic activity, both from different genres, but both which have the same source. One may arrest your being while the other to which we have become insulated. One is disturbing while the other we can just disagree with over coffee. One seems incredulous while the other may not move us as much. One may shock you while the other may provide a forum for doctrinal disagreement.

But I identify the difference between the two examples I will provide only because I want us all to see how easy it is to feel a sense of doctrinal outrage without it having a life changing impact upon us. And the other will seem so far out and so demonic that we may be shocked. However both are demonic in nature and both should open our hearts to the Spirit’s voice in these last days. However both revelations of the demonic seem to have no observable affect upon the church even though many could provide ample exegetical evidence that Biblically refutes these demonic manifestations.

And using Scripture to confront error must always be our foundation, however it must not end there. But for this study let us proceed further.

I Tim.4: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Matt.24: ⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Remember these teachings as you watch this first video. Fast forward to 15:48 and watch for a few minutes HERE.

Now does that send chills up your spine? Do you think that is an isolated case? There are literally hundreds if not thousands of cults such as these fully operating around the world. Could you feel the demonic presence in that so called festival? Oh yes, we all can agree with something as blasphemous as that. Someone pretending to be Jesus Christ reincarnated is an easy target for our discernment antenna. You can feel the demonic in an event such as this. But can you sense the same level of demonic activity in this next video? Fast forward to 23:00 and listen for a few minutes HERE.

 

The man being interviewed is a pastor named Shane Hipps. He was hired by Rob Bell as an assistant and subsequently took over as pastor when Bell left. He is no longer the pastor at Mars Hill Church. But let us dissect his assertion that just because he is a Christian does not mean he is closer to Jesus than a Muslim. Do you know that the overwhelming majority of Muslims do not believe that Jesus was crucified, and that much of Islam teaches God presented someone else who looked like Jesus on the cross? Did you know that? Hipps I’m sure knows that.

So in an open interview Hipps maligns the crucifixion of Christ and counts it as nothing as it pertains to being close to Jesus. Can there be any greater blasphemy? All these pretenders are nothing more than religious philosophers. Men like Hipps and Bell have millions of followers, and Bell’s materials have made him wealthy. But to be sure, all who support them are partakers of their evil deeds. And their blasphemies are every bit as diabolical as the man who pretends to be Jesus. Both are presenting another Jesus.

Now who is more dangerous, the man pretending to be Jesus or the man pointing to a false Jesus? Yes, they are both blasphemers, however the man being interviewed is having much more influence and is embraced by much of the evangelical community. The man in Siberia is affecting a few thousand while Hipps is reaching millions. And unless you believe in predetermination the stakes here are for the souls of men.

Surely the end as prophesied by Jesus is upon us. And the evangelical community goes about its business with no more concern that they show for higher gas prices. The wolves have not snuck in; they have been invited in. And the video shares a discernment group's review of Hipp’s blasphemy, however they fail to ask this penetrating question, “How could this have happened?” Why is the church in America, yes our church, so benign and powerless that heresies like this can be spoken openly and publicly without even blushing?

This kind of theology is nothing more than a works salvation that doesn’t even need Jesus anymore. The Scriptures are now irrelevant. All religions lead to God now. And yet even with this kind of open blasphemy who will lose any sleep? Tens of millions of people will file out of church today smiling and shaking hands and heading for the football festivities. Look around, you may have seen the last breath of the evangelical church. Weep now if the tears will come.