WHY THE CHURCH MUST DISMANTLE THE FALSE BELIEF SYSTEMS OF THIS GENERATION

I recently sat with a small group in a circle that included Rafael Cruz, the father of TX Senator Ted Cruz, and his niece, Bibi Loyola, who is Ted’s cousin and grassroots coordinator. We were having an informal interactive Bible study and the conversation turned to the role of politics in changing American culture.

I suggested that it will take more than politics and an election to change America. Everyone heartily agreed and Rafael pointed out that the church in America needs to understand spiritual warfare, and he quoted II Corinthians 10:4-5, which reads,

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God . . ..

A New Belief System is a Must

I then shared a powerful truth I discovered while studying this passage about eight years ago. I told them how the word “imaginations” is a poor translation of the Greek word logismous, which actually refers to a way of thinking or a belief system. This is why the NKJV and NIV translate the word as “arguments” and Marshall’s Greek-English Interlinear translates it as “reasonings.

The Greek word for “casting down” is kathairesin and is a very intense word. It means “to take down” or “demolish” or “dismantle.”

Paul is here saying that we are to dismantle those false belief systems by which Satan holds people, cities, churches, and nations in bondage. We have a model of how this can happen in Luke’s account of Paul’s ministry in the pagan, idolatrous city of Ephesus

Paul’s Modus Operandi in Ephesus

Ephesus was a very idolatrous and occultic city. It was home of the massive and ornate temple of the famous mother goddess, called Diana by the Romans and Artemis by the Greeks. Luke says that Paul, while in Ephesus, spent two years “reasoning daily” in a public lecture hall known as the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9-10).

The word “reasoning” in this passage is from the Greek word dialegomenos and it means to “dialogue” or “reason.” This indicates that Paul gave time and space for people to comment, challenge and ask questions about his message. He did this because he knew that if there was to be ultimate change in their lives, he would have to dismantle their present belief system or way of thinking.

This is why Paul would dialogue with these pagans for several hours per day, every day. It was not enough for them to come forward, repeat a prayer and fill out a card. They must be given a whole new way of thinking. By dismantling their false belief systems, Satan would no longer be able to hold them in bondage.

Interestingly, Luke makes no mention of Paul utilizing any of the modern, popular methods of spiritual warfare. There is no mention of Paul screaming at principalities and powers over Ephesus or casting down a Diana spirit over the city.

Paul was aware that Satan has no real power for he suffered absolute and total defeat through the cross, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Satan’s only power is in lies and deceptions. That is why Revelation 12:9 refers to him as, that serpent of old, the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

Satan is the author of false belief systems by which he holds people, cities, and nations in bondage. Paul knew that the stronghold by which the Ephesians were held in bondage was a false belief system. Only a new way of thinking—a Biblical way of thinking—would free them from Satan’s grasp.

His method worked and before too long people began bringing their books of sorcery and magic, piled them up and burned them publicly. Luke says the books were valued at 50,000 pieces of silver, and I have seen modern estimates of anywhere from five-hundred thousand to two million dollars. In addition, the economy, which was based on the tourism related to the temple of Diana, began to collapse. This happened because Paul spent two years dismantling their false belief systems.

Today’s Church Must Dismantle the False Belief Systems of this Generation

Ever since that experience in the Bible study, it has been resonating and reverberating in my heart that the modern church must be about the business of dismantling the false belief systems of this world by which Satan holds the masses in bondage.

This is no time for a consumer-friendly approach. This is no time to be overly concerned about offending people and being “liked” by contemporary culture. We must take seriously the words of Jesus in John 8:31-32, If you continue in My word, you are My disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

It's time for Christians in America, and the world, to rise up, take the truth of God’s word, and dismantle the false belief systems of this generation.

To read about America's founding within a Christian belief system, which made it possible for the nation to abolish slavery, survive a civil war, defeat Jim Crow, and become a nation that attracts millions from all over the world, read Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.