Spiritual Seduction
The story of an apostasy, in the beginning stages, is the story of how people are seduced into endeavoring to attempt to live for God by their own abilities. The enemy of our souls labors ceaselessly to induce a reliance upon something other than God in our lives. Oh, how vital it is that we are actually led and guarded by the Holy Spirit—and that we are sensitive and responsive to his instruction!
The sad part, which made him Mr. Hypocrisy, happened just as the meeting was over. Mrs. Simpleton came forward in her overmuch zeal and presented him with a bottle of “great praise” ointment. This, if taken moderately, will revive a drooping spirit under certain conditions; but if taken excessively it brings on blindness, a swelling of the head, and consequently a wandering of the feet into forbidden paths.
[Lottie L. Jarvis; A true Story in Allegory, “Hypocrisy’s Visit to the Great Camp”]
“How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” (John 5:44)
Again, we quote from Brother Orr:
Two men went to hear a preacher preach one Sunday morning. One said to the other after the preaching, “That was an eloquent discourse; he is a wonderful preacher.” In the evening they went to hear another preacher. After the services one said to the other, “What a wonderful Savior is Jesus.”
[Charles E. Orr; Helps to Holy Living, “Lifting Up Jesus”]
Spiritually-minded people are quick to give praise to God. They see Him at work in numberless ways and esteem His workings far beyond human attempts and abilities. “To God be the glory” is their constant cry. The closer we get to God, the more we discredit all our own sacrifices, labors, abilities. We learn that “not to think of [ourselves] more highly than [we] ought to think” (Romans 12:3) is to realize that “man at his best state is altogether vanity.” (Psalm 39:5) We marvel that God condescends to deal and work with us. How wonderful that He interests Himself in us!
There is a carefulness in the hearts of those who walk with God—a carefulness to give all the glory to God. A careful avoidance of receiving what is realized to rightly belong to Him alone. A carefulness to avoid giving praise to individuals which rightfully belongs only to Him who worketh all in all. And this carefulness puts a certain quality in the lives and labors of all who practice it—a quality that exalts God and counts that which is highly esteemed among men as nothing. “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung.” (Philippians 3:8) “Jesus is a wonderful Savior” instead of “What a wonderful preacher.”
It has been the blessed privilege of this writer to have known a number of godly men and women; and without exception, each has been self-effacing and extremely careful on this point. A brother began to praise two ministers in a meeting. “I want to offer a little bouquet to A——,” he said. Without hesitation, the reply was, “We don’t need it.” This was stated with a firm and humble air of rejection. It was obvious that the ministers rejecting the praise felt that all credit belonged to God, and to God alone.
How we have appreciated the cautious avoidance of human praise by our brothers and sisters in the church. They knew full well how the devil works to try to either exalt or discourage any of God’s laborers, and they did not want to hinder us by unwise expressions of appreciation. So they praised the Lord for His goodness and His benefits in a way that helped us all to stay low and humble before the Lord. When the work of the Lord is done rightly, there is no room for the flesh to glory.
There is great safety in this stance—safety from fleshly pride. Note: pride cometh before the fall. Just as it is hazardous to our physical health to be insufficiently clad, so it is extremely hazardous to our spiritual health to be inadequately covered with lowliness of mind. Yea, “be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) Lord, help us to feel our need, seek Thee for what Thou dost have to bestow, and, to Thee, dear Lord, belongeth all the glory!
Sister Jarvis characterizes the spirit of pride as being fed by a Mrs. Simpleton. In other words, those who do not understand the effects of what they are doing. If every step away from God was taken in willful rebellion against Him and His ways, each step could more easily be identified. We simply do not understand what is involved in many steps that we take in life. By the time that we began to have enough experience to understand, we are already involved—the things we have accepted or done are beginning to bear fruit. How crucial it is to be led by the Lord!
In John 12:42-43, we read this account: “Among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” The acceptance of men’s praise had worked on their hearts in such a way that they valued their association with others in the synagogues more than being absolutely true to God.
How innocent it must have seemed—at least on the surface. “If I stay in the synagogue, I can do good. I can influence others toward the Christ…. It would hurt so-and-so. They have always been rather weak anyway. How can I do this that will result in me being put out?… Surely the Lord understands that I love Him.”
In the ninth chapter of John, we have the story of the man that was born blind. It is also the story of the parents of the man that was born blind. In verses eighteen through twenty-three, the Bible records their reaction to the work of God wrought on their son (what joy it must have brought to the long-suffering hearts of this mother and father), and the fear of man that caused them to be so evasive. For if I receive the praise of men and value it highly, then I also open myself to their criticism. Truly, it bringeth a snare. Oh, the blessing of perfect love (for God) which casteth out fear! With the apostle, we can then say, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment.” (1 Corinthians 4:3) Would it not have been better for these parents if they had valued the work of God more, and testified accordingly, even if they did get thrown out? Their son did—he paid the price to be true to what God had done for him. And—what a precious thought—we read, “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him….” (John 9:35) Has anyone ever stood true to God, and the Lord deserted him? Oh, no, no, a thousand times no. He is ever mindful of His own. He knew what it would take to sustain and keep this man before any of this happened. Jesus knew what the man’s parents would do, also.
Another thought comes to mind. The exchange of praise between men builds a relationship between them. Not a relationship with God in the middle—as when all praise is given to Him. Receiving (and giving) honour to men results in an identifiable group. There are those who are part of the exchange, and those who are not. This is the beginning of parties (groups). It is part of the foundation of a sect, a human system which includes and excludes. The acceptance of other’s good opinions of you or your efforts which are offered to you naturally brings about an affinity which takes on a life of its own unless all praise and honour is given to God only. This hinders giver and receiver spiritually. “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” (John 5:44)
In the Corinthian congregation, this desire to praise different brethren was producing parties of feeling. “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:4) “Carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3) This is the normal way of human organizations. Admiration of individuals and these individuals receiving of that admiration leads to placing members in a body as it pleases us. We decide who we admire, and why we admire them, and give them a place.
Again, quoting from Sister Jarvis:
Now Father Discernment was held in very high esteem both by the fathers and by the faithful ones, and because of this they had presented to him a castle called “Influence,” upon a very high hill called “Position.” In this hill was also a gold mine….
Now for a long time the faithful ones had formed the habit of leaning entirely upon the understanding of Father Discernment, as it was much easier to inquire of him concerning a matter, than to seek an interview directly with the King; and because of this they had given him the castle and somewhat undue prominence.
[Lottie L. Jarvis; A True Story in Allegory, “Father Discernment’s Unprecedented Conduct”]
It is a serious mistake to receive the honour that cometh from one another, instead of the honour that cometh from God only. Father Discernment should have declined these honors, just as Jesus departed lest they make Him a king (John 6:14-15).
It is easier. How much spiritual trouble has been sown where it is easier! “Oh, to be but emptier, lowlier, / Mean, unnoticed, and unknown, / And to God a vessel holier, / Filled with Christ, and Christ alone!”*
Now the antidote for human pride, both personal pride and organizational pride (family pride, and every other kind, as well), is to realize from the heart that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father,” (James 1:17) but our hearts must be purified by the precious blood and carnality purged before we can truly see God in this way. Then, as the Master said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) And Brother Paul, a true minister of the Lord, was faithful to the non-purified hearts at Corinth, telling them plainly that they were carnal, and walked as men. He, having a purified heart, was able to see God where they saw only men, and he wielded the sword of the Lord in this fashion: “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos?… I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7) Do you note the strong tendency to downplay the ministry and to give all the glory to God? “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you.” (1 John 2:27) Not Apollos, not Paul, not even John himself. So greatly did Brother John esteem the anointing, given of God and received by those to whom he was writing, that he stated “ye need not that any man teach you.” That is, God can easily do His work without our help. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)
But the spirit of a group of people who receive honour one of another tends to exalt the capabilities within that group. And lest someone get an inferior impression, or “not understand” the rare and wonderful qualities which are considered to be within the organization, those who think this way feel it necessary to speak out, honour, and receive honour in a manner that seems appropriate to them. How dangerous it is to have an impure heart and not see God!
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:1) Unspiritual conditions prevailed in the Corinth congregation to the extent that spiritual brethren could not speak to these members of the congregation as spiritual, “but as unto carnal.” These carnal members of God’s family were not in apostasy; they simply were not spiritual. The ministry was not receiving their impure ideas of God’s work, but was being used of God to deal with them to come higher, i.e., to become spiritual themselves.
Brother Paul did not join in with these carnal Christians in praising Brother Apollos—he simply stated that all praise belonged to God. “That ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another… and what hast thou that didst not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:6-7)
Although unwise esteem was offered, he did not receive it. Indeed, if Brother Paul (or anyone else) had received it, he would have taken that which did not belong to him, and would have fallen.
Not all Christians have the wonderful privilege of being under a ministry which is identical with the ministry of the New Testament. Many may not see much harm in the exchange of compliments, appreciation, etc., which are a common feature of human correspondence. Only if we see the overwhelming importance of God receiving all the glory—then the great potential damage becomes apparent as what should only be given to Him is given to each other instead.
It is hard to overstate the criticalness of this stand. Failure to be careful along this line opens the door to a vast host of errors and weaknesses—the many facets of leaning to our own understanding. And once we are trying to live for God according to our own understanding, we speedily prove that we are no match for the devil, and he gets the advantage of us over and over again.
Quoting again from A True Story in Allegory:
Upon their arrival at the great camp, Mrs. Apostasy and Mr. Policy were extremely pleased to find a better welcome than they had expected, and they were able to discern that some of the “main” ones had been taking some of the same “great praise” dope that had caused Mr. Hypocrisy’s downfall. Consequently there had been considerable disturbance among the faithful ones there, and some of the Sincerity family had been quietly renounced and set aside in other parts, also.
Mr. Policy thereupon was given the freedom of the pulpit. Now he, like his father, Beelzebub, was very expert at twisting scriptures. His first sermon was, “That your faith may stand in the wisdom of men.” He showed how many of the customs of the faithful ones were neither according to the wisdom of men, nor common sense. Then in his witty way, he held up some of their peculiar views to great ridicule, saying, “Where is your scripture for this? See, you are doing this, and have given up that for no reason whatever.” Many, quite forgetting that the Word cannot be understood properly except by the Spirit, began to consider it from a human standpoint and were thus persuaded by him. Some of the “main” ones sat on the front seat smiling and rejoicing at the new light which had come at such an opportune time.
[Lottie L. Jarvis; A True Story in Allegory, “Visit to the Great Camp”]
The flavor, or focus, of the preaching begins to change. And the change is accepted because too much room has been given to the flesh. A failure to follow the Spirit of God is always at the bottom of these disasters.