The big bad devil: deception

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Theology

The third in the triad: accusation, temptation and deception. This one is perhaps the most subtle one. Vey subtle when one of the doors in is the door of truth.

I discover that I have been deceived does not come at the moment that I might be deceived, rather it comes much later. I drive in my car, I am driving from A to B and I think I know the road fairly well. Location ‘C’ is not on the way… My radio is playing away, I enjoy the ride; I jump off at a service station, get back in and carry on my way… Two hours later I should be getting close now to ‘B’, so I check the next signpost to see if it will give me a distance marker. Shock, horror it states ‘C: 10 kilometers’. I am not deceived when I see the signpost – that is my moment of reality to let me know that some time back I took a wrong turn. The sign told me I was already deceived.

OUCH.

Back in 2005 I was in a particular country and somehow I saw the future about the political realm. ‘The candidate who enters your presidency in ’08 will not be the person you are hoping for, praying for, prophesying will be successful… but you need to embrace him (yes I used masculine language)… if you do not embrace him you will get a double blow in ’12’.

Lo and behold the ‘non-popular person to the Christian (charismatic) population’ got elected in ’08 and ’12. (Followed I consider by the ‘one God would really choose if we were God’ in 16… either then seen as we are back on track, or raising the question of where did we go wrong?)

Asking the question of where did we go wrong takes bravery because, as per my driving illustration above, we will probably find we are just a few kilometers from location ‘C’. Yes we were heading for ‘B’, but getting back to that path will take so long, and hey ‘C’ might just be a great place to get to.

When we discover we are deceived we need to go back to the wrong turn. Takes time, and the recent part of the journey seems such a waste. As far as the journey goes it was a waste; as far as God at work in us there is no such thing as wasted time. Go back is the best piece of advice.

And the ’08, ’12 scenario? I added at the end of what I brought that ‘this will happen to show that you are already deceived’. That is sobering. In the situation there is a truth, a door that was gone through, that the church is there with a responsibility to transform society… a door that is not a problem, but maybe the excitement of that understanding or undealt with issues of control, desire for power just messed it all up.

The devil deceives. Not normally with ‘jump off this cliff now…’ No. The door of appeal is something that is ‘of God’ and then our excesses, undealt with inner issues, naivety or whatever just takes us beyond where we should tread. It is said that all ‘error contains half-truths’.

Scepticism is healthy. If I hear, for example (big picture), of unreserved approval for a certain leader who has said some pretty damaging things about women, has a ‘gift’ to insult everyone who is different to themselves, I think the minimum response should be ‘I am not so sure’. (Such a disguised paragraph with no names added.)

We got to go deeper than naivety, enthusiasm.

Big picture, but at the smaller picture of my life, I want to get through the door that God opens, go through it with faith, and take along with me a measure of scepticism, and certainly healthy questioning. I might end up being deceived, if so I back up and just get on course again on my journey to ‘B’.

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The big bad devil: temptation

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Theology

Do not give in to temptation! But it looks so appealing.

The big ones – sex, money, power. Oh yes indeed – I have been behind the scenes in too many situations not to know the reality of those; the backroom where things are out of order, and the front stage where ‘God is present’ and the ‘anointing is breaking yokes’.

And there sits a dilemma. Useful, let’s be spiritual, being used by God, ‘proof’ that God approves and yet something later gets so uncovered and we end up disillusioned. Damaging to faith, and so it should be, damaging to that kind of faith that has a contorted view of God. The bells and whistles are not the proof.

Maybe more intense – and tying a little into yesterday also on accusation – it is easy to see where the big ones mentioned (sex, money and power) are present and yet also God is present… BUT it is very hard to see where there is continual discouragement and also the tangible presence of God. The big ones don’t really clobber us (though they obviously can) but the little and continual discouragements do.

Why temptation(s)? Well obviously to bring us down and into bondage. That is one perspective. However… let’s see the positive side for the pattern of Jesus being anointed by the Spirit immediately led to a series of temptations. The temptations were not a sign of failure, quite the opposite. Intense seasons – following the pattern of Jesus – are markers for a positive shift.

Temptations are really helpful for they expose where God is coming to bring about healing. In all our lives there are areas that simply are not temptations. Maybe ‘bitterness’ when wronged is simply not a temptation for you, but for someone else it really is. This is where temptation is so helpful. I am tempted (using the example above) to be bitter and unforgiving, awesome – shows me where there is a weakness. So following the path of honesty I do not have to ‘do better’ but face the reality of what is inside and allow the Spirit of God into that space, for temptation appeals into the area of wounding, relational absence, wrong persepctives.

The temptations are real. We fall to the temptation. The devil as tempter is real. But even the fall is not too big an issue. The uncovering of where we fall is key; God loves to cover what we uncover.

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The big bad devil: accusation

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Theology

I am agnostic as to who / what is ‘the devil’, the one called ‘the Satan’ in the Hebrew text. Personal – ontological existence? Maybe. (My agnosticism also goes to ‘what / who are demons’… don’t worry I am pretty clear over God and humanity, and that seems enough to get me through to a place of reality. Maybe one day I will do a post on those agnostic areas of thought.)

Anyway back to the ‘big bad devil’. Glad the Bible personifies it all – Jesus tempted by the devil / the satan; Jesus casting out demons; Jesus explaining that houses should be cleaned and restored to purpose otherwise we end up creating all sorts of problems; of the warnings that ‘the devil goes about as a roaring lion’. All of that helps me to approach the whole real as if I am confronting personality.

There are three major ways by which the devil comes to us. To accuse, to tempt and to deceive. We can see that with such phrases as ‘the accuser of the family of God’; that ancient serpent – the deciever of the world; ‘the tempter tempted you’ / tempted by the Satan etc…

The ‘deception’ approach is the most subtle so I will leave it for the final post of these three.

Accusation

Ever faced the onslaught of accusation? If you haven’t I figure it could be that the devil has not got round to you yet, with limited energy and time maybe he is too occupied with me! Accusation, we should be able to recognise it:
‘Never’, ‘always’, ‘again’, ‘no good’. Some tell-tell words. Often feeding off a whole set of false values.

Maybe our distinctive personalities lay us open to different approaches. I love to pray for people, but am not too sharp at responiding myself to what I pray. I had opportunity two days ago and spoke of ‘false responsibility’. Taking on what is not theirs to bear. How clear I was.

And yet… most things in life I am responsible for. Even at times the war in the Ukraine. If only I had not done (can’t think what it would be, but what the heck) then I would not have contributed to the war in Ukraine, after all a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon contributes to the storm in…

I do have a theology of how due to the interwining / labyrinth of all things that my behaviour does make a difference; the woman’s two coins pulls down the big corrupt temple; the body of Christ has authority beyond anything else on the planet etc… And so maybe I have contributed to the war in Ukraine! But give me a break!!

Perfection, as I have not quite made it yet, imagine what damage I am causing. Not being perfect – there is the crack through which accusation comes.

Yes, to all who read these words, my big confession is about to follow – not perfect, guilty as charged. But to ‘the devil’, ‘the accuser’ naff off (a whole lot of ‘f’s in those last two words I noted).

Yes I do believe the solution to the world’s problems was always intended to be the body of Christ, the earth itself looking to the freedom of the children of God etc. BUT there is grace for the imperfections, the cross is not helpless to cover. At a very real level the cross is incomplete, for we are to fill up the afflictions of Christ, but the cross covers all the ‘you really are a Pratt, Martin’ stuff; it covers the ‘always getting it wrong’, ‘done it again’, ‘I will never be free’.

The cross of pain is to release the carefree laughter. Seems the irresponsible laughter is quite an antidote.

[Personal note to self: give that a go.]

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Off the Grid: Chris Cole

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Stories

I did a most enjoyable (for me at least) interview for a podcast that will come out in a few weeks time. The interview was with Martin Purnell. When that is uploaded to the ‘Off Grid Christianity’ site I will give a link. He also the day before interviewed Noel Richards – I am sure that was good but could not possibly be as good as the one with me… I am of course not into comparisons! Likewise I will give a link to that when uploaded.

This morning Martin’s interview with Chris Cole was uploaded – link following:

https://www.podash.com/podcast/5594148/

Chris is a good friend and am sure there will be some good stuff in there.

The podcasts are aimed to connect with believers who do not feel they can connect to church, and there were five questions that were starter questions I had to answer… including my most embarrasing moment. Enjoy.

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Roger: interview on ‘Woke’

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Reports

Roger (Mitchell) recently presented a paper at the Oxford Symposium on Religious Studies at Queens College and met Asger Trier, a Danish Jewish independent scholar and journalist, on the subject of “Woke.” Asgier raised several important questions about cancel culture and platforming but then shocked me by suggesting that the pulling down of the statue of the Bristol slave trader Edward Colston was a step too far. Roger challenged him on this in the discussion after his paper who then asked if he could interview me for his TV channel, which we recorded the following afternoon. It raises interesting points about love’s response to conspiracy theories, populism and the reality of evil. The brief introduction is in Danish, of course, but the rest is English.

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A non-apology?

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

I recently posted on the pope’s apology to native Americans in a Canadian context. Experience shows that such an apology is part of a chain of events, there being responses that precede and further, deeper apologies that will flow subsequently. Today I read a response from a native American (Lori Campbell) who called the apology a ‘non-apology’. Wow and does she make some points… oh yes.

Here is the link to her article: https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2022/08/05/pope-apology-indigenous-canadians-catholic-church

I still maintain that the pope’s apology is significant, it is part of a chain, but the article highlights major shortfalls, and I think a comment such as:

Money flows where priorities go, and the Catholic Church clearly prioritizes renovations over reconciliation.

opens up the difficulties all institutions have. Survival is the name of the game for institutions. Having life taken from someone / (maybe I also thnnk from something?) is named as a sin, and Jesus did not allow that to happen to him… but the day came when he lay donw his life. Nature, with diverse plants growing together, the end of one set in its right season provides life to the plant growing next to it; maybe during the life cycle it also provided shade. Diversity co-habiting space… but not one of dominance and survival at the cost to others.

Yes I remain positive about the apology… but sobered at the journey we have to make. I wonder will we ever make it back to a major root apology – an apology to the planet / creation? And apparently Lori would suggest that money, apology and reconciliation have to journey together.

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Just a few thoughts

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

We have a lot going on, not least of which is seeking to avoid too much sun, for at 34+° each day with a heat wave to come (so what was the last 10 days?)… anyway as an outside observer to the UK here are a few thoughts.

Churchill has reluctantly gone, and might try to re-appear (Boris as ‘Churchill’); we are about to get a reincarnation of a former Prime Minister, the one ‘who was not for turning’. (I have been convinced for some time that the next was going to be a woman.) The England football team have won the Euros with the help of a certain Dutch woman: Sarina Wiegman. As one smart person responded to the suggestion that she become the next English men’s coach – why would she want to do that and take a step down? (And on the game, apologies to our European German family – I think that was a hand ball not given…) But my comments this day are not about football so moving on.

I am thankfully not a politician and of course it is very easy to criticise from an armchair, so my comments are not personal to those involved, simply noting that they seem to act as signs. So much hope / hype from certain Christians about Churchill back in the person of Boris; and I am sure that our next will act (hopefully a little tempered) Maggie-esque. Male commentators will come along saying ‘I have always supported the women’s game’, thus getting in on the act…

It all illustrates the issue we are currently seeing in many places, the battle for true humanity, with a true balancing of the masculine and feminine; without it toxic-masculinity and also toxic-femininity manifest.

I have a chapter in one of the books I wrote about the ‘new creation’ being feminine. Or at least I went on to qualify that statement that it will appear ‘feminine’ as it is in contrast to the patriarchial one that is around us (a fallen creation). One of the Scriptures that I hold as central is the transformation that takes place for those who are in Christ:

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Cor. 5:16,17).

A new creation is our context, and that affects sight. Old categories prove inadequate, with ‘a human point of view’ falling away. Indeed Paul uses stronger language – has passed away… everything becoming new.

Looking in from the outside there are signs in the UK around the masculine / feminine. Paul looking in on that one-world-government anti-Christ system challenged them – and challenges us – with regard to our sight.

Sometimes something (someone) inadequate holds space, but there has to come a time when that space is filled. Perhaps the creaks and groans will give way to substance. It is a time (when was it not?) for imagination, for a way of seeing that registers a new reality though it remains invisible if one holds to a human point of view. Imagined, responded to with repositioning, so that it truly rises.

‘From now on…’ That is a time reference if ever there was one.

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Foundational Story / Stories

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by Martin Scott
Posted in Personal Perspectives

At a personal level we all have stories, some of which we would love to have a measure of amnesia over. The young Martin is an embarrassment – ‘did I really say… no surely that was not me’. (Thankfully I have a birthday soon so will on that day no longer be young… never again to make a mistake. I am ever hopeful that one day soon I will enter the ‘second half of life’.)

Pragmatism. I am where I am today because of the journey I have taken, mistakes, wrong turns included. I am not suggesting ‘fate’ (or predestination!) but I do believe there is a God who works in all things, through all things for redemptive purposes. Some of my foundational stories I have outgrown. They were in Chapter 1 of my book, and I am now in Chapter 10… however, in this post I am going to press into the corporate area.

Many corporations (if they claim to have purpose that does not have money as the bottom line) have a foundational story – the why for which they are doing what they are doing. As time develops (thank you Walter Wink) changes take place, the corporation takes on a personality that if left unchecked is increasingly separate from the founders / foundational story. I have tracked with three organisations where I consider this is the case. I have noted in one of them that around 25 years after the start the foundational story had become unknown by those who joined from that time on.

We can legitimately move on from a foundational story, in the sense of ‘that was the young Martin’ and thankfully I have matured. We can move on by saying – that was at the core but I could not live up to that, so no longer am pushing for that. I have no issue with that. Honesty counts high in the kingdom of God; probably counts higher than getting it right (but what do I know?).

We can move on… but I consider if we move on by simply ignoring it we will find ourselves with a movement / corporation that decides the future, a future that does not fulfil the foundational story but deviates from it.

I am pondering if boards / leadership teams / eldership / blah blah blah have a couple of functions: to ensure the foundational story is alive (even if it has developed and been adapted) so that any movement does not veer off from the foundations (not a good idea for buildings… look at the Temple built on sand: although the claim was it was rock, Jesus spoke of the flood coming and the true foundations would be revealed). And maybe the second aspect is that such a board / leadership is there to hear the voice of the practitioners and seek to ensure that as much as possible is in place to help provide a decent shape for the river to flow. The foundational story brought to a suitable next level but through some centralisation but through the ‘practitioners’. In Ephesians language: growth; filling; built on the foundation of.

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Yes! An apology

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by Martin Scott
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The pope has travelled to Canada and to lift a few sentences from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62296834

In his first public remarks in Canada, Pope Francis has asked indigenous residential school survivors for forgiveness.
“I am deeply sorry,” the Pope said on the grounds of a former residential school in Maskwacis, near Edmonton.
He said his apology is a first step, and that a “serious investigation” into abuses must occur to foster healing.
The pontiff is in Canada to apologise for the Church’s role in schools meant to assimilate indigenous children.

A start.

And that is what apology from the heart does, and when it comes from someone / a group who are in relationship to the original perpetrators it is so powerful. This, I know, is not the first work done on apologies into the first nations people of Canada (who of course do not recognise the artificial border).

Plenty of Old Testament passages that can be pulled up – forgive us our sins and the sins of our forefathers / mothers. And all of it seems to undergird the work of Jesus, from his baptism that launched a movement. John was very reluctant to baptise ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ in a baptism for the ‘forgiveness of sins’. Understandably so! But once Jesus said it was to fulfil all righteousness, into the water John plunged Jesus. Jesus, confessed sin – for that was the baptism of John – not his own sin, but the sin of the nation. Going all the way back to the wanderings in the wilderness, for therein lies the background to the 40 days in the wilderness and his meditations on those passages of Scripture. A door was opened, not all came through it, for to do so they had to separate themselves from this perverse generation.

First nations peoples. We need this start that the pope has taken on in and through his apology. The land is crying out for it. Talk to anyone in our neighbourhood who is over 60 years old and they will verbalise (in non-scientific language) the earth / climate has changed beyond all recognition. Sit as we do in 39°C (98°F) heat without air-conditioning and we do not need much to persuade us of the changes! Ask first nations people and they without scientific language will tell us.

I wonder what might happen if the start gets momentum. In Canada a nation of mercy, then beyond?

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