Tony Loeffler asks, which God are we following?

Many people today are following fakes and don't know the difference. I am amazed when I speak in some churches and hear of some of the things that people are thinking about. Astrology, Karma, Positive Thinking, Psychology, Mediums, Meditation, etc., etc.. The list goes on and on and on. How pathetic!

Some counselors spend hours upon hours counseling demon-possessed people instead of casting out demons. They find themselves trying to rationalize with these demons through cause and effect relationships instead of doing what Jesus said to do. Looking down the corridor of "cause and effect" will always lead to the doorstep of Adam and Eve. The solution to that catastrophe in Genesis chapter 3 is found at the cross of Calvary.

Because of a lack of understanding and belief in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, our neighborhoods and families suffer. Too many people are following the prophets of Baal and not the Lord. Wow! We have really become a civilized church instead of a people of radical faith.

I had someone make a statement to me one day saying, "The leadership in our churches is the problem, isn't it Tony? Isn't the problem leadership?" And I said, "No" while I looked at a blank stare on his face, a totally blank stare. He was completely confused at my response.

I said again "No it is not leadership". If we want to say it is leadership, then we need to ask the leaders how we got in this position and where did their direction come from and many of them would direct us to the places where they received education. So then, we need to go to the colleges and universities and scream at them for causing our problems. We can all say in unison, "Why did you do this?"

But then we would have to ask the question, "How did the colleges and universities ever get to that point? And, if you push this cause and effect chain far enough back, you will find yourself once again at Adam and Eve's doorstep. Then and only then, we will begin to see the real problem. Then and only then, will we begin to find a real solution!

Now in order to release some of the tension I created in this thinking, I would like to suggest that the study of "cause and effect" relationships have their place. The problem generally occurs when the results of cause and effect override the principles of God. The problem is sin and we need to call it what it is and stop making all the excuses.

Sin has been dealt with and demons need to be reminded that they do not have the power to do what they are doing at any given time. We have been given the authority to cast out demons by the Lord himself when he reconciled us to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our dominion has been restored and the demons of hell know that and tremble at the very mention of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Demons don't like to be reminded of this historical fact, for their kingdom was crushed. Why don't we exercise this authority? We are not radical enough. We have become too civilized in our faith. Our faith is too sterile and we are too afraid.

(To be continued Radical Faith, part 3)