Satan is a master of subterfuge (deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal). In today’s environment there are many elements contributing to social disorder – some clearly with substance, but others that are part of a long-term agenda. We need to be careful to separate the wheat from the chaff and not be deceived as to what Satan really wants to achieve.
God’s word introduces us to God as a family – Elohim. The God family created a human family in its image. Within that human family is the nucleus of God’s intention in creating mankind. God is creating His eternal family. Satan, by his own choices, has placed himself outside of God’s family, now and forever. Satan hates God’s family plan and in his blind hatred, seeks at every opportunity to subvert the development of God’s plan. He does this, knowing that it cannot succeed and that in the end he will be banished forever. This only fuels his hatred even more.
There are two main issues that underlie where we are as a society today. God and family. Both are under attack in an effort to undermine the bedrock of God’s forward seeking plan. If a human mind can be separated from God and family, it is like a ship at sea in a storm without a rudder. Chaos ensues. We have chaos on our streets right now.
“And yet, the natural family – part of the created order, imprinted on our natures, the source of bountiful joy, the fountain of new life, the bulwark of ordered liberty – stands reviled and threatened in the early twenty-first century … More critically, new ideas emerged over the same years that rejected the natural family … other theorists argued that the isolated self, … was actually oppressed by institutions such as the family and the church.” (The Natural Family, pages 6, 8).
The above-mentioned book was published in 2007. Since then the attack on God and the family have become more blatant and aggressive. “Western civilization was made up of many mansions – the morality derived from the Old and New Testaments, the traditional family … Of these obstacles, the two greatest were God and the family” (Cry Havoc, page 26).
A well-known name in American educational circles is James Bryant Conant, a former president of Harvard University, U.S. High Commissioner in West Germany after World War II, scientist and investigator in education for Carnegie Foundation. With those credentials and influence it is incredible that he saw the family as the roadblock to a more enlightened society. Conant wrote:
“Wherever the institution of the family is still a powerful force, as it is in this country, surely inequality of opportunity is automatically, and often unconsciously, a basic principle of the nation; the more favored parents endeavor to obtain even greater favors for their children. Therefore, when we Americans proclaim an adherence to the doctrine of equality of opportunity, we face the necessity for a perpetual compromise. Now it seems to me important to recognize both the inevitable conflict and the continuing nature of the compromise.”
Our belief in the family nature of godly government is right on for addressing the core issues we face in society. Godly government draws God and family together as a central core for our spiritual strength and welfare. God’s Church is a family – a living spiritual organism. The Plan of God is about expanding that family to include all mankind as one – as God the Father and Jesus Christ are One.
In his article “Affection, Protection and Emotional Support,” Dr Radhika Kapur of the University of Delhi wrote:
“These factors are vital for the existence of the individuals. In order to develop the aspects of uprightness, morality and values, an individual requires affection, cordiality, protection and emotional support. The family members possess these responsibilities of improving self-confidence, and support in relation to difficulties and problems. In the absence of psychological requirements, a person can encounter a lot of problems in leading to operative growth and development. Family members are emotionally bound to each other, they provide all the care, affection and protection for each other and are always willing to make sacrifices for each other’s wellbeing… the family provides instruction, direction and guidance to a person about how to deal with the outside world.” (Dr. Radhika Kapur, University of Delhi – Department of Adult, Continuing Education & Extension)
Thankfully, we can read this with Spirit-led minds and see the human family application and the spiritual Church family application as well. The Apostle John tells us, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! … Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3, emphasis added).
John went on to add, “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).
Let us hold the ground on the unity of God’s family because Satan would like to have us all under his sway.
Brian Orchard
