Quenching the Spirit

Quenching is a metallurgical term. As metal is heated in can get red hot! When at that high temperature the metal is put in some liquid, basically "to put out the fire". Quick cooling of the red hot metal leaves a hardened material.

Church is much the same way. When God's word is preached the Holy Spirit draws near.

Hebrews 12:29  "For our God is a consuming fire."

Throughout scripture God and his Holy Spirit is associated or likened to a fire, and as we are touched by God's presence, we feel that fire of the Holy Spirit within our own chest:

 Luke 24:32 "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"

Christians can feel the presence of God when they worship him. Communion with God truly sets a fire within those who are standing on holy ground in the presence of God.  Oftentimes, when people worship, those who are in communion with God feel his presence! That's a wonderful thing: feeling the presence of the Lord who created each one of us. The presence of God can only be felt when the truth of his word is revealed to the hearts of those craving his presence. As Christians become "on fire" for God's truth, unbelievers sense God's presence and the call of the Holy Spirit. Many unsaved persons will respond to God' gracious call because of the efficacy of truth! The Spirit is ignited just a small spark even in the unbeliever!

Sometimes Satan disrupts that communion. It undermines God when the presence of God's Spirit goes unnoticed. This is most likely to happen when people's hearts are burning within! Satan senses the heat of the Holy Spirit and causes things to happen to quench the Spirit. Sometimes it may be a crying baby, too many people causing commotion or pride somewhere raising its ugly head.

The songs sang, the music played, the teachings taught or the words spoken by preachers play a crucial role in the reception of the Holy Spirit. Satan will look for an opening and use it to destroy the mood of the service. Satan is patient! He will wait as long as he needs to for weak humans to slip! Babies will cry, congregants will move around and disrupt, and people will fail to love as they should. Any of those things will quench the Spirit.

All words spoken must be spoken in truth and must be scriptural. Once personal criticism is spoken from up front, or out back for that matter, Satan throws cold water on the fire of God. I once listened to a preacher spend an half-hour condemning people he knew. The Spirit was immediately quenched. Satan stepped forward when criticism replaced truth, and caused disruption. The pulpit is holy. It's the symbolic "burning bush" from which God speaks. When words are at odds with or words spoken in the wrong spirit,  that burning bush fizzles. The cold water of darkness supplants the heat of light. When that happens the Holy Spirit is quenched. The fire is put out and a quenched fire ignites only with difficulty!

There is much truth in scripture which needs to be spoken. There is no cause to inject critical opinions. Criticism of benign subjects fails to magnify God and to demonstrate love. For instance, I personally don't care for drums in the church. If I was to condemn those who do enjoy drums, and that subject is benign, so to speak, if I offend others by subjecting them to my opinion, I create an atmosphere of resentment. Criticism quenches the Spirit!

There are certain things which should not be allowed in church. Jesus was quick to be angry with the buyers and sellers in God's house. He likened them to a den of thieves. Why did Jesus do that? Because their love of money was an idol before God! Jesus had reason, from a scriptural standpoint, to criticize and rebuke. However, Jesus never condemned sincere Christians trying to worship. He encouraged them.

What we "like" or "prefer" must never be confused with what pleases God.  The best way to quench the Spirit is when we criticize others for deviating from what we prefer. Grownup people have Christian liberty to exercise worship which suits them. As long as worship magnifies God and is orderly, then God will be pleased!

1 Corinthians 14:40 (ESV) "But all things should be done decently and in order."

As long as things are decent and are done in an orderly fashion there should be little to criticize! Sure, bass guitarists gyrating on stage are not exhibiting decent behavior. Likewise, there may be little order with such musicians. However, on the other hand, if someone is reading scripture, for example, while songs are being sung or the preacher is preaching, and are not causing a commotion, that's their worship preference. To criticize those diligently pursuing truth quenches the Spirit, introducing in its stead, a critical spirit.

Churches are holy ground. The aisles must always be tread with caution. God is to be respected and revered! Decency and order is the way to stand on holy ground. Undue criticism isn't conducive to keeping the Spirit's fire burning in the hearts of sincere Christians. Never should the cold water of personal criticism attempt to temper worship, thereby quenching the Spirit! A quenched Spirit in the hearts of devoted Christians hardens hearts. That's why Satan laughs when spirits are dampened.

Guarded Hearts

Kasey Kahl on the Bachelorette reality show, told told his paramour, Ali, that he would "guard and protect her heart"! He was so serious and certain of her love that he had an heart symbol with that promise tattooed on his arm. This man was committed! But where in the world did he get such an idea?

Philippians 4:6 (ESV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Kasey implied that he would protect Ali from the pain of unrequited love. Rejection and infidelity hurt! Kasey desired to protect Ali from that pain, but alas, Mighty Kasey struck out! Ali rejected Kasey and no one protected Kasey's heart!

In Philippians above Paul offers the definition first, and afterwards the saying.: "God... will guard your hearts..." and then added "and your minds". The guard is Christ Jesus. He is our protector!

Having the "heart guarded" as well as the "mind" is: 1) protection from anxiety, 2) inner peace. In effect Kasey meant that for Ali, but he wasn't the one who is able to do that! That lofty assignment belongs to Christ Jesus; "I know Jesus, and Kasey, you're no Jesus!"

Anxiety is the flawed workings of the mind. It's irrational thinking sometimes even about rational things! Anxiety is manifested by a cluttered mind with repetitive thoughts, a severe sickness in the pit of the stomach, insomnia, and even weakness, hurt and agitation. People, when there is high anxiety, may even have feelings of desperation strong enough to consider suicide. In short high anxiety is an utter lack of hope and feelings of helplessness. Christ Jesus, if we have faith, will guard our hearts from emotional pain and our minds from destructive thinking!

My anxieties are livable! In finance, romance, friendships, health, family, church and so forth, I can endure. All these things may weigh heavily and make me ill with worry, but many like all before me, can somehow squeak through! Sometimes I endure on my own and sometimes I lean on Jesus. Others turn to anti-depressants and stress medicines. Some turn to illicit drugs.

There is one thought which occurs, three times in my long life, which is profound! What if there is no heaven and my soul floats in darkness for eternity, or worse yet, what if my faith isn't sufficient to be saved from hell!

Eternal punishment is the justice to be suffered by those who fail to submit to Jesus. Imagine what you will, but hell is a real physical place in a spiritual realm with real pain, torment, isolation and hate. It lasts forever! That is enough to "scare the hell" out of anyone, if they only stop and consider! I came to Jesus to save my lousy soul and now love Jesus, the best I can, for saving me!

Consider an eternity of nothingness, if you don't believe in hell. However, because you don't believe doesn't change the reality of hell! "Nothingness" is a forgotten  _________ (your name here) with no existence. It's the destiny of carrots, trees and lizards; once here, now your not. Once being now no being. A lack of the universe having YOU is high anxiety if you're only stop and think about it! Even if you're cognizant after death, that makes matters even worse. In death you would be entirely alone in the expanse of nothing, an existence without end and in total isolation. That too is high anxiety!

 Jesus Christ "will guard your hearts and your minds". That is what "hope" does. Faith in Jesus is what protects Christians from anxiety and gives us peace. Peace is a condition where, due to hope, we don't worry about death and the afterlife. Where sinners imagine destitution, Christians hearts and minds are guarded!

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Romans 15:13 (ESV) "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Hope is having faith in what one cannot see! I believe heaven is there, because God has plans for me and within those plans are an eternal future and hope that what God promises is what reality is to be! Jesus "guards our hearts and minds" by the power of the Holy Spirit, who remains here to comfort Christians. When we are in despair, yet see light at the end of the tunnel, that's the Holy Spirit comforting us! When we doubt, but faith is restored, that's the power of the Holy Spirit!  No, we're not alone! We have a comforter and if we seek comfort, God has the power to do that. As Philippians says, our "hearts are guarded" by supplication and prayer.  "Supplication" is simply asking God and "prayer" is asking, listening and meditating on.  Those two things are communing with God.

Having a personal relationship with God through his mediator, Jesus, is how our hearts are guarded.  We are not alone!

Insidiousness of Sin

Things which are "insidious" cause harm in a subliminal process. It's gradual and before one knows it, the trap has sprung. Most thieves don't initiate their career by robbing banks. It's a process!

James 1:13 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

First off, temptation is never of God! Who then tempts? It's the subliminal being Satan.  He convinces one to sin through deceit. His petitioning people to sin is temptation, and his toolbox only has need of one tool: lust!

I believe that all sin, as inferred at the time of the eating of "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil", has three categories: pleasure, power and wealth. These three sins are prefaced by lust! Without that strong desire within one's heart, temptation would not be there. People think on "lust" as sexual, but it pertains to all three category of sin. The knowledge that we have choices is "reason", and with the partaking of the fruit, we, as does God, have reason. The curse of mankind is "reason" and cognitive processes are involved in lust.

People "reason" that sin will be pleasurable and desire it. They reason that money will make them happy and they desire it. They reason that power will make them happy and they desire power. It's not a pleasant thing, endeavoring to be as God, because God is supreme to Satan, and we're mere pawns which Satan uses for insidious nefarious purposes. Knowing that he is doomed, Satan is content to undermine God and control growth in the population of the kingdom of God!

The process is laid out for "creeping sin", sin growing through insidiousness:

• You exist.
• Satan tempts.
• Man lusts.
• Satan makes his case through deception.
• Lust wins out over God's will by reason (rationalizing).
• You sin.
• Sin begets sin.
• A life of sin leads to death.
• Satan's goals are met and you were the collateral damage!

That's the process of sin. In his interview with Dr. James Dobson, Ted Bundy said that his perversion began with benign (sic) girlie magazines and was consummated by serial thrill killing. What Satan did in his life was the insidious indoctrination of Mr. Bundy using the lusts of sin. 

Drug users are enticed by the same contrivances of the devil. "Marijuana is okay", Satan tells you, then before one is aware, hard drugs are the master or drive is stolen from the user. Sin is a process and it's method is insidiousness! Here's additional knowledge from God through Paul:

Romans 7:11 (AMP) | "For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the commandment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using it [as a weapon], killed me."

The "opportunity" is the temptation. If we flee from temptation, sin will be left behind! "Getting a hold on me" is the growth of sin in the life of a sinner. It's the acclimation process where the sinner does Satan's will without being aware that sin is taking over their life. Yes, man becomes a slave to sin and their servitude isn't realized until sin is an addiction!

Satan is insidious in how he entraps. Men are beguiled, entrapped and cheated! Satan is much as the symbolic cop behind the billboard. He knows that sometime you will be tempted to "speed" and all he has to do is be there, hiding of course, such that you feel safe from detection. At the moment your mind is on other things, you speed, and out he comes; then you're trapped!

Sometimes you don't get caught! You speed on without a second thought. Your new "safe" speed grows from 65 to 90! No authority will get you. Then when you're cruise along at about 100 mph, here comes that blue (or red) light! You're caught and your guilty!  Satan, as the clever cop, leaves you alone in your sin until the penalty is worth it for him. At 100 mph the habitual speeder belongs to Satan! Only through relearning will the speeder change, and for the sinner, that is sorrow and repentance!

Is sin growing in your life and you are calloused from dealing unsuccessfully with guilt? You may be reprobate. Your heart may be hardened to the extent that sin "killed you". Bundy went from sins of sexual lust to serial killing. He may have died reprobate (damned) because men can't change their own heart. It must be done by God on his time. When he's ready, our hearts may not be willing! That's what Satan counts on and that's his insidious method of operation!

Celebrating Diversity?

Today it is demanded that we are to "celebrate diversity"! That's the politically correct thing to do. At one time cultural diversity was the watchword. Now it includes sexual persuasions and gender bending. With diversity it seems that people are always, according to the thought police anyway, offending some cultural group. Does celebrating diversity unite or divide?

Never, in the  post-Reconstruction era has the United States been more divided and that division is proportional to the degree which the nation focuses on differences! True, I don't have data to support this argument, but any fool can see the rain coming down! As my college calculus teacher always said "It should be intuitively obvious!"

During the time I was working on my undergraduate degree social science focused on assimilation. America always welcomed immigration, some of it forced, and most people  blended into mainstream culture as time passed. America was called "The Great Melting Pot"! Social scientists and government encouraged a homogeneous nation, living in harmony, all with the same culture. Immigrants were encouraged to assimilate and become Americans. Those nationalities, cultures and ethnicities who migrated to the United States were fused into one. American Indians have also been encouraged to assimilate at different times. As for the black race, assimilation has been much harder.

Although it's generally said that prejudice is because of the pigmentation of the skin, it seems that skin color is the obvious tag for those of a different culture. It has been exponentially more difficult for blacks to assimilate because of their previous heritage of primitive societies and slavery. Although all blacks are not descended from slaves, the black skin targets them. It would seem that black prejudice is more cultural than physical.

On August 14, 1862, Abraham Lincoln spoke to a group of black ministers to encourage their resettlement. Here are the reasons given:

"You and we are different races. We have between us a broader difference than exists between almost any other two races. Whether it is right or wrong I need not discuss, but this physical difference is a great disadvantage to us both, as I think your race suffers very greatly, many of them, by living among us, while ours suffers from your presence. In a word, we suffer on each side. If this is admitted, it affords a reason at least why we should be separated.

... Even when you cease to be slaves, you are yet far removed from being placed on an equality with the white race ... The aspiration of men is to enjoy equality with the best when free, but on this broad continent, not a single man of your race is made the equal of a single man of ours. Go where you are treated the best, and the ban is still upon you."

 Lincoln spoke in terms of color, but the implication was the culture "We have between us a broader difference". Of course skin color is the marker that points toward the culture.

Now for my point: Constant illumination of our differences divides the races! Celebrating diversity divides.

Those who proudly proclaim themselves "African-Americans" are partially responsible for other races constantly reacting to racial differences. All races are "bros", not just black to black!  Although it is supposed by the Judeo-Christian world that God created the races equal, mankind has done the utmost to dwell on our inequality. The Negro race is not inferior to the Caucasoid for God created us all equal. There is one common denominator in God's eyes. His mercy is for all of us!

Acts 10:33 b "...we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

God wills that people of all nations become one. The "oneness" in which we're united is being "accepted with him". We assimilate under the nation of Jesus. As Christians become citizens of the kingdom of God, diversity is left behind. Those who kneel to God in heaven won't be slaves:

 Romans 14:11 "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."

Kings and slaves shall bow to Jesus, side by side, with no thought on diversity.  In unison each and every person of the various nations with their "tongue shall confess to God"!   That was always the case and always will be. It was first said long ago: "For it is written"... where?

Isaiah 45:22 "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."

And just what is it that every tongue will confess or swear?

Isaiah 45:24 "... in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed."

The focus is taken off man and placed on God!  Righteousness blurs any differences between the peoples of the earth.

Let's take a look at citizens in the kingdom of God. They will be as they were on earth, but in heaven there will be a melting pot. The Ethiopian of color baptized by Philip will be a servant to God, although he was a centurion in the world. The lowly mixed race Samaritan will kneel beside Emperor Constantine as equals as they credit God for his grace and their strength.

Skin color and racial features will always be. Those in heaven will be recognizable as they appeared on earth. Although physical differences will continue to exist the culture of all will be the same. There will be no racial hatred nor jealousies. There won't be rich and poor. Everyone will be blessed! What's more, everyone will be servants to God and to one another! With the culture of meekness comes equality and that's where glorified men will gather.

Let's return for a minute to earth! It is said in The Lord's Prayer:

Matthew 6:10 "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

What God is saying is "Why wait? Do my will now!" To love one another is an earthly thing which we do in order to get to heaven. If we don't love people here we can't even be citizens of heaven! Sin cannot be in the presence of God.

Culture is a continuum. It includes all patterns of living from barbarian to saint. Those who are saints (the saved) must assist those that are barbarians. The Great Commission is to pull them along into Christ's culture; a condition of righteousness. It's understandable that people don't like the culture of riot, theft, drugs, sex, broken homes, and lack of education. However, for that to change will take great effort on the part of society and the black community. It's God's will that the culture barrier be broken down, Lincoln proved wrong and there be unity in Christ. As nations turn to God animosities will be stilled!  Citizens of the City of God will be blind to diversity and proud of assimilation into the righteousness of God!

Death Is Their Peace

Forces of darkness lurk about.
Evil armies swarm in the eastern sky
"Allahu Akbar" is what they shout!
Shouting evil as good men die!

Principalities bow to prophets of evil.
The darkness of death makes men fear.
A vile religion from the devil,
The devil's the one evil holds dear!

Fear's the weapon which men flee.
Terror in men is fear inflamed.
Close our eyes to what we see!
But let our sanity be reclaimed!

A "religion of peace" is always said!
For those afraid, they lie outright.
They convert, tax or make men dead!
Earth is infested by a deadly blight!

Crescent flags wave over the White House.
The home of patriots before this time.
Our leader praises and on knee he bows.
Kneeling east in sand pirates grime!

It's time now to restore all our sanity!
It's time to dispose of the garbage heap!
It's time to save all humanity.
It's time the truth we are to keep!

God, help a nation led by fools.
Restore wisdom to those who lead.
Help us honor all God's rules.
And sow to all Christ's holy seed!

High Ranking Persons: Ambassadors

If you're a Christian there becomes a career change! You're a notable person. Whereas, before you represented the "evil empire", now things have changed:

2 Corinthians 5:20a "...we are ambassadors for Christ."

That's a pretty lofty job assignment. Meriam-Webster Dictionary says it is:

"the highest-ranking person who represents his or her own government while living in another country."

Let's take a look at the prestige which you now have. Firstly, what is your "own government" as a Christian?

 John 18:36 (ESV) "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'”

The "kingdom of God" is where God resides!

 Romans 14:17 (ESV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

In the kingdom of God importance will not be on the physical, but on spiritual matters: righteousness, peace and joy while communing with God's Holy Spirit. Although, it's a physical place, it's situated in a spiritual realm. Some believe that when a sinner becomes a new creature in Christ, that the person becomes a citizen of the kingdom of God. That's true. While Christians don't reside physically in the kingdom of God, they are bona fide citizens of God's realm.  That's the case because an ambassador represents their own government, not another.

The song says "This world is not my home... I'm just passing through!" (Albert Brumley, 1937).  While we're here, we hold two offices: 1) ambassador to the Air (world) whose Prince is Satan  (a sinner), and then for the new creature: 2) ambassador to the kingdom of God. The rewards of sinner can be nothing, but could be pleasure, wealth or power. Unfortunately, those rewards are mere promises, never coming to fruition for most! On the other hand, the rewards for being an "ambassador for the kingdom o God" is hope, joy, peace, happiness and maybe even true pleasure, wealth and power! After all, an ambassador, according to the definition is "the highest ranking person"!

In effect Christians are citizens of God's Kingdom, but are here with special privileges! We have "diplomatic immunity". We are given safe haven in the foreign country (this world) and are not susceptible to lawsuits or prosecution. The only avenue against us is expulsion, and as Christians, that will happen someday and then we will be able to travel to our eternal home! For the Christian ambassador, God puts a hedge around us to protect us from utter destruction by the Prince of the Air, just as he did for Job. The only difference between a worldly ambassador and a Christian ambassador, is that we may very well be persecuted, but ultimately, it's a privilege to be a "defender of the faith" . Our living sacrifice as ambassadors to the kingdom of God may very well be us!

Secondly, ambassadors are in another realm. The "world" is our "another country". Ambassadors are expected to represent their government with dignity while they're visiting abroad. Our country's behavior is called righteousness. That's what we're to be while we're representing God!

2 Timothy 2:22 (ESV) "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."

As ambassadors on behalf of God, we are to be as God is. No, we are never to act as if we're God in this world, but we are to do God's bidding. Because he has us represent him, we are to do that while we're here! Those ambassadors who use filthy language, get drunk, curse, or are licentious and vile, are misrepresenting their King! The sinners in the world will never recognize vile people as ambassadors if righteousness is never  pursued!

Romans 14:21 (ESV) "It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble."

Good ambassadors represent God well. We are to be the model which draws others to our country. We're to go out into the world and tell others about our own country (The Great  Commission), but our only tourist brochure besides scripture, is our own lives. Do you talk filthy? Then some will think you represent a filthy country. Are you lascivious? Then citizens of this world will believe your kingdom is hedonistic! I hope Christians who casually sin, can see that sin isn't casual. We are at liberty to do wrong, but that doesn't magnify our Kingdom!

Thirdly, we are "the highest ranking person" in our temporary home! What rank are we? Christians are "Royal Priests"!

1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light..."

In kingdoms there are Estates-General:  the clergy (First Estate), the nobles (Second Estate), and the common people (Third Estate). The First Estate are the most powerful, followed by rulers and lastly, the ruled. As "royal priests" Christians are of the First Estate! We are "the highest ranking person" in the kingdom of God, although in that kingdom there are only two estates: the King and royal priests. There are no commoners in the kingdom of God!

At first I believed that Christians have visas here on earth issued by our home county: the kingdom of God, but we are more than that! We are here because God authorized us to be his ambassadors. We are powerful and as such, we are to use that power to represent our King as he should be honored. We are groomed to be as Christ and represent him well. He's the emissary who gave us our ambassadorship and our mediator with the King!

John 14:6 (ESV) "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.", speaking of the "kingdom of God"!

We are anointed by Jesus to our ambassadorship. We represent God by being Christlike in this foreign country. We are to be righteous, seek peace and not war, and deal with these aliens with love and charity. That's a high office we hold! Are you up to it?

Stepford Childen

I write mostly about mankind's disobedience because that's what we do best! We have perfected the art of gratification and self-aggrandisement. However, God, for some reason, still loves us! Of that love do I seldom write, but it's that love which provides hope for mankind, for although we're sinners of the worst kind, God loves us in the worst way! He died for us!

Why does God love us so? He made us, he wants us to succeed, he wants us to be immortal and he desires to have love from his creation. Because we failed in loving him by honoring his will for us, we are now mere mortals and fail him, and ourselves, in every conceivable way. We live with ourselves at our own peril for we are our own worst enemies.

I marvel at the thought of what it would be like to have "Stepford Women". These thoughts are derived from the movie Stepford Wives. These women were altered to be perfect subservient women to the needs and wants of their husbands. They served with a smile and men were patronized with perfect obedience. Truly this is the ultimate woman!

In reality think how bland it would be if our wives catered to us only because they were programmed to be that way. Think on the consequences of perfect obedience and reverence. However, while you're thinking consider that the Stepford wives were not programmed to love, but only to strictly obey! There would be little satisfaction of having automatons for wives!

Christians (the Church)are symbolically God's wives. Jesus is the Bridegroom so to speak. John the Baptist, denying that he is the one to honor, said this about Jesus:

John 3:29 "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled."

It's clear that when we repent and are saved, we are new creatures in Jesus! This is being "born-again" and is the "new birth". However, symbolically speaking, when we are born-again we enter into a marriage! We become the bride of Jesus and our relationship is not only Father to child, but also Groom to bride. Even us Christian men are brides to The Groom, and as such Jesus desires not  Stepford wives. He wants the real deal.

Stepford wives are always obedient since they are programmed to be that way. Good wives are obedient because they desire to show love and honor to their husbands! God could have programmed us all to love and honor him, but it is his desire that we love and honor because we choose to love and honor. He knew in advance that his children would fail him, but that those who do love him, it's a sincere unprogrammed love!

Those who fail to voluntarily love God seem to be Stepford children. Those are the majority who fail to love God, but blindly obey their own master. This master has a controller functioning from afar. It beams out offers of pleasure, power and wealth to automatons whose receiver sub-consciously welcomes it and turns those remote signals into actions. The Stepford child then serves! The master controller is Satan. His transmission is temptation. Sinners are the receiver and sin is the automation. As such, sinners serve the devil, but believe they are acting on their own. They can't see the controller nor detect his signal, so in their naivety they believe they are being "true to self"!

Automatons do nothing by themselves. Every move his programmed. They aren't aware that they're not the master of their own domain, but they serve the one who controls. The power of the controller lies in the signal it employs. Deceit is the strength of the signal and it is fueled by promises of delight. Sinners are automatons much as Pavlovian dogs who have conditional reflexes. When a bell was rang and food proffered, the dog would salivate. With repeated conditioning the dog would salivate when only the bell rang without the reward of food. The dog responded to pleasure even when no pleasure was forthcoming! That's the way of Stepford children. That's the way of those obedient to Satan! Satan promises much, but fulfills nothing!

Why then does God love us? He does, you know?

Romans 5:8"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Here we have it! Sinners walk around as Stepford children, being automatons controlled by their master. They do his every wish and his wish is that God be undermined. Consequently, Satan's automatons perform sin, doing all those things against God's will. To obey Satan is to disobey God, and to disobey God is to obey Satan!  While we're yet servants of Satan, God  loves us! He sees potential! Those who are relieved of their Stepford condition the most, seem to love him the most!

 Luke 7:47 "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her (woman who washed Jesus' feet) sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

It seems that the forgiven person's love is in direct proportion to what they're forgiven! The best Stepford child does all the bidding to the one who controls. Their servant-like (conditioned) responses amount to programmed slavery.

John 8:34 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."

Stepford children are slaves to their master who controls their every move and thought! Sinners merely blindly follow the signals of temptation which their antennae anxiously accept. Yes, they have a master controller. He is their father and this verse tells how they follow their master:

John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."

This is a description of the sinner; the Stepford child. The sinner is that automaton who does the "lusts of your father" and that "father is the devil"! What are the lusts which the sinner follows: disobedience, irreverence, lasciviousness, homosexuality, fornication or any other things which demeans the rule of God's law! Even one "lust", if followed, in God's eyes is like following them all. So you only have one problem area with sin? Then as a Stepford child, you're merely malfunctioning! Your father has programmed you to do them all, and with a little tinkering with your sub-routine, you soon will be!

Satan prefers Stepford children who follow blindly without question! God, however, prefers that what you do is willingly, and based on the power of truth, not the reception of deceit! God tells you how he controls: it's by persuasion and love:

2 Peter 1:10 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Our "calling" is God  speaking with us through his Spirit. We are all elected to reside in "the everlasting kingdom" (heaven), but as such, most refuse to serve! Unlike Satan, God doesn't deceive and control, he merely offers a free gift. The person elected can either accept or reject that gift:

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

As you can see from this verse "eternal life" is a "gift of God" which we can either accept or reject. Rejection is our choice to remain "controlled", a slave to Satan; a Stepford child. As such at some point in time Satan's needs will have been met and he repays you with death. Satan sets the controller on "die" and that you do, because "the wages of sin is death"! Just as Rev. Jim Jones followers drank the Kool-Aid unto death, by rejecting God's gift, you have unknowingly been outwitted. You, as did the legions of evil spirits in the Bible, jumped over the cliff and joined your father the devil in death!

Why does God love us? It's because God is love! That's his inherent nature. He's just that way because he IS:

Psalm 103:8 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."

God loves us as we are with no expectations other than after we are his, that we love him back. He expects that, but oftentimes he doesn't get it from his children. How do I know that? Because Christians don't obey God and that's the only way we have to show our love!

Someday when the lord who sinners serve has his signal interrupted by divine protection, people can quit being Stepford children and become alive! Rather than blindly obeying killer instructions, children of God who obey out of love, will have hope which fuels their destiny.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (hope in the ESV)."

Satan controls. God offers hope! Satan enslaves. Hope frees! The devil delights in hate. God rejoices in love. Satan provides death. God offers eternal life. Stepford child, who would you rather serve? Which master is in your best interest? Who loves you?