John 3:5-7, “J.”
It is sad, but very true, that people don't normally care about a problem
until it costs them money. I think sometimes people don't even mind if
something posses a threat to their loved one's safety, except that they'll
have to pay expensive hospital bills! I mean, really, the Bible supports my
claim...
Acts 16:16-24, “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”
The local townsmen couldn't care less what the apostles were teaching, until it cost them their money, and then all mayhem broke out in the village! The men who had greatly profited from the demon-possessed girl because infuriated with vengeful anger, when Paul and Silas through the power of God cast the devil out of her, and her supernatural psychic powers abated. The Bible says Paul and Silas were apprehended by an angry mob, tried and convicted in a heathen court, and the judge had their clothes stripped off, beaten with a whip, cast into a maximum-security prison, and had their feet bound in stocks (shackles). What crime had Paul and Silas committed? They simply helped an afflicted woman to be rid of the demon that vexed her.
Think about the preceding true story with me, if you will. These ungodly men were pimps, using and abusing this afflicted woman for their own selfish financial gain. What kind of wicked judge (magistrates) would punish good men like Paul and Silas for helping an afflicted woman? Well, the magistrates were misinformed and placed under tremendous pressure from an angry public. Sound familiar today? As is so typical of depraved humanity, the Roman magistrates foolishly responded with a knee-jerk ruling against two godly men, falsely accursed of sedition by the wicked men who were angry at Paul and Silas for costing them lots of money. The truth is that those wicked men were criminals from the very start, taking advantage of an afflicted woman for their own personal greed. Don't even think for a second that the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God of the universe won't execute justice in this matter (and all matters pertaining to mankind) in eternity (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Justice is very human, and earthly courts aren't always righteous and fair, but God is the highest Judge in the universe. Ecclesiastes 5:8, “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.” There is much injustice in the world today, but God is still on His throne, and He will definitely have the final word, judgment and power!!!
I think the preceding story is tragic and sad, but often repeated throughout history. Here we see some ungodly greedy men taking advantage of a woman's misfortunate, exploiting her calamity for their own personal financial gain. We also see two godly Christian men helping the afflicted woman. As a result of the good deed that they did, the money stopped coming into the hands of those wicked men. Consequently, those ungodly men knew they couldn't hurt Paul and Silas directly, lest they go to prison; so instead they manipulated the existing local court system, accusing Paul and Silas of sedition (anarchy and social disturbance), inciting the judges to prosecute and punish them, and they did harshly.
There are so many practical and spiritual lessons that we can take away from this true Biblical account. Judges ought never make quick decisions without all the facts. Paul and Silas were wrongly accused of violating Roman customs, and of causing trouble everywhere they went. Since when does peacefully preaching THE GOSPEL constitute trouble? Those ungodly wicked men deceived the judges—just as wicked Haman who deceived king Ahasuerus in the book of Esther, just as the wicked men who deceived king Darius concerning the prophet Daniel, just as wicked Potiphar's wife who lied concerning Joseph, in an attempt to have him executed to satisfy her whims. In every one of these criminal cases, God will be their final Judge (Hebrews 9:27). Most criminals are never caught and prosecuted, but the Word of God promises they won't escape justice. 1st Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” What an awesome God!!!
Love of Money Saturates Bible Colleges and
Churches, Not Love of Truth
As
I thought about this sad true story from Acts 16:16-24 of abuse, corruption
and injustice, I was reminded of a similar form of abuse in most Bible
colleges and churches today. Tragically, professed Christians have become
indifferent, complacent and arrogant in their dead churches, merely going
along to get along for the sake of making money. I speak of the shameful Bob
Jones University and Moody Bible Institute crowd, to name but a few of
thousands! Satan is a beautiful liar!
The Devil's greatest accomplishment over the past 140 years (since Brooke Westcott and Fenton Hort introduced their corrupt Greek New Testament in 1881) has been corrupting the inspired Word of God, by use of the modern Bible versions. Sadly, Bob Jones University (BJU) and their shameful alumni sanction, use and sell the Devil's CORRUPTIBLE SEED, spitting on the Lord Jesus Christ! Tragically, Pensacola Christian College (PCC) and their shallow interns don't care either, complicit concerning the Devil's modern PERversions! PCC are A.W.O.L. from The Battle Of The Ages!!! I have met PCC interns, who are woefully ignorant about what is wrong with today's corrupt Bible revisions; therefore, they bid Godspeed to Bob Jones University. I wouldn't give you a dime for the phony type of indifferent pseudo-Christianity of Pensacola Christian College, who promote the illegitimate bastard religious professors at BJU, and their apostate alumni on the island of Guam.
We see in this story in Acts 16:16-24 how easily persuaded the magistrates were to prosecute innocent men, all because of public pressure. It is due to this same pressure, albeit ecclesiastical pressure from peers in the clergy, that BJU and PCC tolerate and go along with these evils. BJU promotes the Devil's revisions. PCC are cowards and have nothing to say. Hyles-Anderson College (HAC) are as PCC, cowards who won't take a stand anymore since Pastor Jack Hyles went to Heaven, trying to avoid the issue entirely (but they cannot). We are in a battle today over the inspiration of the King James Bible!!! BJU, PCC, and HAC all deny that we have an inspired Holy Bible today, which is why you're a fool to attend any of those institutions of lower learning! Any so-called “Bible college” or “church” that denies the inspiration of the King James Bible is pulling on the same rope as the Devil. Instead of taking advantage of an afflicted woman with a demon, religious clergy and church employees today take advantage of people for money. The Devil is behind the onslaught of corrupt modern Bible revisions, but you can't talk any sense to today's religious leaders.
