The Christian Journey

Discerning These Times

By Pastor Doug Gilford

If I were to author this essay in 1991, people would have scoffed. But, today in 2021, I am confident to find those who would agree with me. The Christian church is experiencing a large-scale attack from diabolic, societal, and political sources. The ultimate attack is from the enemy of our soul that Christ talks about and described throughout the scripture. The devil.

John, in his first epistle addresses him this way: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.”

(1 John 2:18)

John calls the last day enemy to the Church, the Antichrist, yet then declares “even now many antichrists have come.” He continues in chapter four to say, “the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:3)

Many have labored for hours, and calculated and opined who the Antichrist is, or will be to come. Yet today it is more important to recognize who the antichrist spirits are that are already working.

First, what is an antichrist spirit? Well…anti Jesus. Anti-Christianity. Anti-Salvation by mercy and grace from the cross. Anti-church. Antireligious institutions altogether. My belief it is the goal of the antichrist spirits is to coerce the human to deny and denounce Jesus as Lord. These spirits are in action today.

Universalism, Relativism, Materialism and Religionism have all worked together to coerce and convince humans that Jesus is not Lord. That absolute truth does not exist, and salvation of works is all one needs for entrance into eternal life. These have pulled at the minds and hearts of countless people and have successfully waged a campaign to take our eyes of simple faith off the Christ of the Bible and onto human opinions derived from out of the rebellious author’s life.

There is one antichrist spirit that has permeated the landscape of America almost unnoticed. The antichrist spirit of Marxism. Karl Marx who lived from 1818 to 1883 was a philosopher, historian, sociologist and political theorist from Trier, Germany.

Marx hated two things, capitalism, and Christianity. He is quoted as saying, “My object in life is to

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dethrone God and destroy capitalism.” Marx together with his friend Friedrich Engals are responsible for the Communist Manifesto which theorizes that Socialism and ultimately Communism is far better than a Capitalist system. In this book they project that Christianity must end so that religion will disappear. Marx is quoted, “Communism begins where atheism begins.”

This Marxist theory of government is what motivated Stalin and Hitler to murder millions of people to lead their respective countries into the Socialist systems. Obviously, I am leaving out a lot of detail so I can get to my ultimate point quickly. Marx and Engels touted the destruction of all things must take place before their change to socialism can happen.

This destruction of things is happening today in our present time. Consider the destruction of traditional families. The destruction of biological genders. The defunding of, and the disrespect for law enforcement. The destruction and confusion of sexual orientation. The destruction of parental rights over their children. The destruction of historical figures and statues. The rewriting and destruction of American history. The destruction of our financial systems. The destruction of and faith in the integrity of voting systems. The dividing of humans today by class, race, political leanings, vaccinated, non-vaccinated, pro masks and anti-maskers is destroying us from within. With Covid there has been a destruction in the trust and integrity of our national doctors, science, and the like.

My point, as rudimentary as it seems is Karl Marx is succeeding in 2021. His antichrist, anti-capitalism – “destroy everything” philosophy is happening right before our eyes.

When one tears at the fabric of God’s Word and causes a young man to doubt God or His Word, it is antichrist. Adam and Eve listened to the serpent of Genesis ask, “Did God really say you must not eat…?” (Genesis 3:1) Adam and Eve fell for the trap, doubted God, and believed the serpent.

We must realize the systems that are working against us so that we can know how to stop them from affecting us. Knowledge is the key to anything. Never let go of the simple foundation of God’s Word. Do not be a loaner during these times, find a good church family to be a part of. Most of all reestablish and make strong your relationship with Christ.>

Doug Gilford, Senior Pastor, Cornerstone Church -23051 Hwy 1088, Mandeville, La 70448. 985-624-8652, www.cornerstonenola.com>

MARCH

Continued from Page 3 culed and excluded because they are different. But some are out of step because they are marching to the beat of a different drummer.

Fellow Christians, we believe that there is a trumpet call going on right now to Christians who want to make a more unified stand for Jesus Christ in these End Times. As you read this article, are you feeling the Holy Spirit stirring in you? If so, I suggest you do not delay in seeking His will for your life now. You may have been called for a time such as this.

I think it comes down to a question of focus. We are called to be single-minded, set apart for one purpose, God’s purpose for our lives. It rules us and is on-call 24 hours a day, even as we sleep.

It is the Christian's duty to follow Christ, to listen for the beat of the different drum, to follow God wherever you are. And for those who have waited for the Lord, they shall have their strength renewed, they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isa 40:31)

What we seek determines the direction we will look and ultimately the direction we will go. Those who desire to be rich fall into harmful snares and are lead astray. Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them.

There are those who seek His hands and His blessing, and there are those who seek His face. What we seek, will determine what drummer we listen to, and set the course of our eternal destiny. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit."

(John 15:16)

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