Their Own Eyes
What if there were no rules ?
Let's play the devil's advocate for a minute. Consider the following supposition.
Given : That there is a God, Devil, Heaven and Hell. That the Bible is correct and that unrepented of sin would separate you from God and thus to Hell mankind has a choice. God has provided salvation, all man has to do is accept it the most obvious way man would learn of this is through the Bible man likes to do what his flesh says, not what the Bible says but man's conscience reminds him of what is right & wrong
Let's suppose there is a Devil, and you were the Devil, and you wanted mankind to go to hell, and you knew that without God's intervention in his life (salvation) he would, and that this meant he must not develop a relationship with God. What could you do to get mankind in this position ? What if there were no rules ? Mankind could do what he wanted without feeling guilty. How could you make it all right to do anything you wanted without feeling guilty ? First , you could created an era of Political correctness and attitudes of wide spread "tolerance" (acceptance of anything , or be accused of being a narrow minded bigot) ! Second, you could arrange to make the Christians the outcasts. Make them the criminals and everyone in the world who had no compunction about immorality or unethical or illegal behavior would flock to you ! Nero, the Roman emperor and the Jewish Pharisees during the time of Christianity, tried this blatantly but it was to obvious even to the sinning public and Christians flourished under their persecution.
Throughout history, there have been shameful periods where, due to the Church's lack of discipline, the church leadership has become corrupted, Catholic offices that at one time were sold to the highest paying person, cults, Bakkers etc.)
He has used those who acted in Christ name, but whose actions proved that they weren't truly Christians, as bad examples. Those who instituted slavery, the crusades, the Holocaust. Individuals like Adolph Hitler, Jim Jones, David Koresh, and so many others
But his most devious plan yet has been the subtle infiltration into our education systems, literature, entertainment
Today's schools are teaching * that there are no definite rules everything is open to personal interpretation. * there are no definitions of poetry, acceptable literature & morality * that it is wrong to judge another's actions * that the "Christian view" is narrow minded and intolerant and must not be tolerated (now whose intolerant !!!)
In essence that there are no rules !
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death. (Prov 12:15) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. (Prov 21:2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. (Judg 17:6) & (Judg 21:25) In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 3:1-4 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.