June 30, 2014

The Art of Self-Deception

About 8 years ago, I read a book called, "Why I Am A Christian" by Norman L. Gesler & Paul K. Hoffman.  It was some pretty tough reading as it is a methodical book, but it had some very good information in it.

In it, was a chapter called, Why I am Not an Atheist.  It was about a man who was raised in a Christian home as a child, later became an atheist and was then lead back to Christ.  He explained this topic from his own personal experience. As such, he started talking about how an atheist would deceive themselves into believing what they want even though they have knowledge otherwise. Below is a excerpt from this chapter:
"Self-deception means playing dumb. It means pretending to ourselves that we don't know what we really do; it means playing at being ignorant though we are really in the know. I suggest that we human beings play dumb with God. We lie to ourselves, and one of the things we lie about is our knowledge of his reality. Psalm 14 opens with a remark that is often misunderstood: 'The fool says in his heart There is no God.' The psalmist is not calling the man a fool for thinking there is no God but for telling himself there is no God, though deep in his mind he knows better. Unbelievers do not disbelieve, they reject".
What? OK, so let's get this straight. Humans can play dumb with Yahweh?! Well, in short - yes! Think about it.  Let's go beyond the atheist and look at it in a different perspective.   Every time you know that God says turn right and you "pretend" not to hear Him and you turn left, you are playing dumb. If you know the Holy Spirit told you to stop eating deep fried food when you know you have digestive problems, why do you continue to do it?

One thing about this concept is that the enemy knows if he can get you to question Yahweh's existence and/or will, he has a foothold in the door. If he can kindly assist you into ignoring what you know to be true, then he got you. All you have to do, is turn on a television, listen to the news, are read the internet.  People are bashing Yahweh's existence and believe that man has all the answers.  You are told that man is the superior being of reason, right?  In fact, some will read this and say that I and all those who believe in fairy tales are foolish.  We are not being reasonable for believing such things.  Some will say that we are not living in the real world and need to live in the modern world.  Well, I think Romans 1:19-21 says it best:
"(19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (21) because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (NKJV)
No one can deny Yahweh's existence.  In the end, if no one else knows, you know in the back of your mind what's right and true.  When you deceive yourself, you reject God and to reject Him is foolish.


Antoine E. Hall





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