A Rebel

Every one of us either is one, or has been one. A rebel against God. Fighting the very idea of Him, kicking and screaming against His existence and involvement. There are some sophisticated rebels out there, claiming to be highly spiritual and religious, and yet denying God for the sake of spiritism, magic, sexual practices, eastern cults - you name it, anything without the name JESUS in it.

Then there are those even more cunning, claiming to have the exclusive right to the Truth and understanding, due to the supremacy of a pontiff and their looooooong Tradition. Nobody, apart from their Magisterium, has the right to interpret the Scriptures. Hence, anybody daring to do that, is accursed by them.

Rebels.

And the wolves in sheep's clothing, my TV is full of them, they show up at almost every religious channel, deceiving the naive and seeking, offering them prosperity and happiness, luring the viewer by the multitudes of their followers, making signs and miracles more spectacular than those described in the Bible...

Rebels.

And, of course, the most obvious kind, the atheists. The most pitiful kind, actually, claiming to be rational, and being the most irrational of all people. I suggest you listen to The Narrow Mind Radio this coming Wednesday. Pastor Gene is interviewing Paul Manata. A gem to listen to. (I have already listened to the program - the advantages of podcasting...).

Any other word for rebel? A sinner, a lost soul, a dead person.

The more human society develops, the more elaborate the schemes become. Is there a way to avoid to be deceived? Yes, by clinging to your local church, by studying the Word of God, by praying diligently and sincerely. By having Jesus as your only asset. By not gathering too much on the material side of things. By telling others about the Gospel.

Mat 5:3-14
(3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
(8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
(12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
(14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.