And here is what ticks me off about Satan … he hides his destructive plan in truth. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Light and truth are two sides of the same coin, so if Satan dresses in light,f it should be no surprise he also dresses his plans in truth.
Here’s what I mean. The mentality of the younger generation contains layers of truth. So does that of the older generation.
Youthful naivety is a legitimate concern for the church. On the other hand, the church must constantly reform worship styles and seek to live missionally in an ever-changing culture. This requires knowing the culture and speaking the culture’s language.
But we mess up when these truths become more important than the gospel. We mess up when generational concerns create wider gaps between generations.
You see, any truth from God will unite God’s people, not divide them.
The church must remain relevant. The church must avoid the mistakes that accompany youthful ways. But the only method to achieve this is to build out from the gospel. Everything must stem from the gospel. Christian living. Corporate worship. Leadership strategies. Everything.
Ultimately, the gospel says there are no generations. I am not saying generational concerns don’t need to be addressed. But the church must use the gospel as the foundation for answering these questions. All discussions must start and end with the gospel.
Otherwise, we allow the Accuser a place at the table.
2.) Racial Wall
I am not a racial reconciliation expert. But I am a child of God, so I know walls built under the banner of race or ethnicity are from Satan. As a white man, I have been oblivious to this wall most of my life. I represent the most privileged group on earth (not privileged meaning “I am better than you.” Privileged meaning “doors are open for me that aren’t open for others.”). And in many ways, I have refused to jump off my pedestal and get to know my brothers and sisters of other races.
For this, I repent. First to God, but also to those of other ethnicities.
There is no place for racism in the church. It is a work of the Accuser, and for too many years he has used this wall to fulfill his mission of dividing and destroying.
Racial segregation (intentionally or not) throws salt on the cross. When we refuse to get to know people of other backgrounds, we essentially tell Jesus, “You did a great job on the cross. But some walls not even God can destroy.”
Even worse, huddling in our groups by race robs us of seeing God’s fullness. When I sit down and listen to my friends of different ethnicities, a new layer of God’s nature is revealed to me. My black friends see God differently than I see God. Their experiences are different. The same could be said of my Chinese friends. Fill in the blank with any other ethnicity.
But Satan wants to shield us from seeing God’s fullness. It throws water on Satan’s blueprint. So, he leads us to believe the work is too difficult. He leads us to believe racial unity isn’t really important.
But in doing this, the evil one also leads us to believe the gospel isn’t important. Neither is seeing the fullness of God. Both are lies. Consistent behavior from the father of lies.
3.) Denominational Wall
Again, with the denominational wall, Satan paints a layer of truth. Denominations aren’t inherently evil. Names are just names. It is the labeling, judging, grouping and separating accompanying these names that build the wall of division.
Baptists associate with Baptists. When they travel, they worship at Baptist churches. They have Baptist friends. They send their children to Baptist schools. Pentecostals are the same. Methodists. Episcopalians. Church of Christ. Every group is basically the same.
And doing this has a devastating effect on us over time. The longer we huddle in denominational groups, the more likely we are to believe our group is superior.
