The Fallen Image is Everything:
Image and Imagination in the Church and in the Media -
The Staging of the Worship of Antichrist
It has been said that images are “powerful.” And not too many years ago we were told by a well-known tennis star in a camera advertisement that “image is everything.” The sad fact is there are many times in our lives that the “realities” we observe are simply outward images or symbols. And then we or someone else ascribes to these images a reality that is not truly present - a “false” reality. Religious icons like statues of Mary or St. Christopher medals have historically been used in this way. Even the “symbol” of incense may fall into this “sensory” category. Mankind loves the “feelings” elicited in the heart in observing and meditating on the icon or symbol. Man loves being carried away in his imagination to the worship of an idol because of the great “feelings” that can be associated with those things. But the image is false. This is why images of God are strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses.
We are living in the midst of an entire generation of people who are immersed in the power of image versus the power of truth. This “power of image” exists and continues in the world. And it is greatly enhanced through modern technologies in our immersion in movies, television, video games, and, now with the advent of Harry Potter, even books for young people. And this power of image immerses this generation in “spiritually powerful” deception. And the really sad fact is that a growing apostate church has taken up the “power of image” to “win them to Christ.” The apostate church is not winning them to Jesus Christ. It is immersing them in their own fallen corrupt worship, their own self-help seminars, their own I’m Okay-Your Okay consensus building fellowships, their own sensual and iconic “faith” - and then saying to whoever joins in - it is their “salvation.” The images say to the fallen human heart: Never mind the facts of the revelation of God in Scripture. We want the image. We want the idol our fallen human natures wish to know.
In my seminary classes I was reminded of the fact that revelation in Scripture is God acting, and then explaining the meaning of His act and explaining His nature in the midst of that act, and also the condition of those that observed the act. It is called the written Word of God and it is revelatory! He had to do it because fallen man can not come up with the truth on his own! Not about God or himself! Any observance of man “by himself” is always skewed by the sinful heart. Always! Modern mankind is well content in seeing an image or symbol and then gaining a feeling or ascribing a meaning to it themselves. This is why we can never “appeal to” or “stroke” the fallen human heart in our gospel preaching.
The purpose-driven® model rejects the revelation by proof-text and then by human effort they support their model with slick marketing schemes toward ecumenism. The emergent model rejects the revelation by first rejecting the purpose-driven® model. But then it embraces a “narrative model” (non-objective truth) of Scripture interpretation which it then humanly supports with group consensus-building and mysticism. Both reject the revelation. One currently rejects the other. But both will happily converge toward Catholicism!
In fact, the preaching of the cross (the facts about its meaning) is foolishness to those who are perishing. The Spirit of God brings the conviction of a need of a Savior from sin. All other “gospel” preaching is ultimately a sham. Our preaching should never try to “compete” for fallen human hearts with the same weapons of an iconic faith. Our weapons are spiritual truth for the destroying of these false images. These images are powerful enough on their own to the fallen human heart. Yet there is the god of this present evil age: ever ready and present to “spiritually energize” these lying strongholds of captivity. Some pastors reject the real warfare associated with proclaiming the truth. They think they win souls by wowing them with things like “Christian” rock and then by wooing them with a message about a slobbering God of love who is evidently not very holy! They believe they have to do this because they can not get nor keep their attention any other way! So the cross of Jesus Christ as the “true symbol” of our fallen condition before a Holy God and His redeeming love in the sacrifice of His only Son is out the door in the apostate church! If the reality of that “symbol” is removed it is replaced with something else! Always! And when the cross is robbed of its true meaning it is replaced with a man-centered “gospel.” So things like self-esteem, self-worth, self-fulfillment through purpose, the building of man’s kingdom on earth as if it were God’s, and other such things become the hallmarks of this false gospel. If we don’t receive the One who has revealed Himself in truth we will receive a LIE as if it is true and the resultant false life and worship. Then Jesus words become critical. Be careful that the light in you is not darkness, for how great is the darkness! (See Matthew 6:23 and context)
For the world, “fantasy” is becoming “reality” as we are plummeting headlong toward the full revelation of the Antichrist. And this is the sad truth. By the time he is being revealed he will simply be able to appeal to that which Lucifer (“light” bearer) has already set up in the hearts of fallen mankind. Satan’s man is the visible embodiment which God allows to arise as a great “statue” of each individual’s self-obsession, self-love and self-deification. That is why Revelation 13 says that the whole world loves and follows the beast and makes an “image” to him. Even now, image-making kits; worldly, religious and “supposedly-Christian” (Satan is an “equal-opportunity deceiver”) are being sold world-wide through conferences, movies, tapes, music, and books. And this work is “seamless” to the fallen human heart! The world will gladly follow the Antichrist because he is the embodiment of each person’s own ultimate self-worship! The phrase in Scripture in Genesis 3:5 is “you shall be as god.” The human heart can then be moved to say: instead of God I can worship ME and even call it “Christian” if I want. Repent of the growing delusion before it is too late! Place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior! Being incarnate deity He is the TRUE image of the invisible God. Because for mankind, the False Prophet and their new head the Antichrist - The Fallen Image is Everything!
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1:18 ESV
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14 KJV
Copyright 2006, David Sheldon, all rights reserved. Can be photocopied and distributed for free. Can not be published for profit in any form. Can be linked. www.atrueandfaithfulwitness.com/fallenimage.htm
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