Friday, August 15, 2008

Spiritual Autism: The Puzzle Solved

I have noticed that a lot of spiritual and doctrinal problems result from something I call spiritual autism. This is characterized by an almost exclusive focus upon one concept or idea.
Satan tried, I believe, to get Jesus on the "spectrum." By attempting to get him to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple, the devil wanted to get Jesus locked on to the one verse in Psalm 91: "He will give his angels charge over you, and they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot upon a stone." Jesus would have none of it. "It is written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test."
So we should not be surprised to face attempts by our corrupt flesh and Satan to lock on to a verse or part of a verse, as if all the theology we need could be wrung from it.
Let's see how it works:
Satan's attack--induce victim to conclude the day of grace is passed, that he is hardened beyond repentance, that God gave up on him a long time ago--so just live in despair and blame God.
After all it is written in Proverbs 1: 28. "Then they will call to me, but I will not answer, they will look for me but will not find me."
The Sword of the Spirit: "Today, if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as you did in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:15). "Now God commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). Are you a people? You have his command. Repent.

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