Truthful individuals rarely level accusations; instead, they are known for uncovering untruths, often without any desire for acclaim. Their primary aim is to shed light on the truth rather than to discredit the misinformed. Rather than condemn the disseminators of falsehoods, they focus on disclosing the truth, allowing those who have been misled to make their own judgments based on the presented facts. This method is rooted in believing that no one, except Jesus, is without blemish. Allegations against Jesus do not hold, as His death and resurrection have absolved Him. Those pursuing truth refrain from self-defence, recognizing that their beliefs may be flawed.
To eradicate deceit globally, everyone must recognize the possibility of errors in their own beliefs. Humans are prone to mistakes, especially regarding spiritual matters. Biblical stories suggest that we are experiencing highly unpredictable times. Instead of assuming that peace will endure, Biblical prophecies indicate that we will face disturbing events. While many hope for global improvement, it is important to realize that, although peace may exist in some areas, anarchy is likely to occur. The emergence of anarchy can often be traced back to false accusations against those who strive to convey the truth. The Book of Revelation reveals the roots of this phenomenon.
“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV).
Understanding the enactment of deception is crucial if Satan is considered the deceiver of the world. As a spirit being, Satan is not physically visible, yet his influence is evident in human behaviour. Recognizing the principle of accusations is key to discerning such deception. Those who frequently blame others may be misperceived as defenders of truth, when in fact, they may be doing the opposite. Their focus lies on attacking personalities instead of eliminating untruths. It is important to distinguish between targeting a person and confronting the falsehood itself.
“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:10-12 NKJV)
The nature of Satan is to accuse individuals rather than correct mistakes. Satan seeks to undermine personalities, suggesting they are unworthy of life. In contrast, truthful individuals focus on rectifying mistakes instead; rather than fixating on those deemed blameworthy. Thus, those who engage in accusing others rather than embodying change, align themselves with the role of Satan. As they do so under Satan’s deception, they may be sincerely assuming to be right. Identifying such accusers is crucial for those committed to promoting divine truths. Truthful people remain undaunted even when accused, secure in their identity as God’s children.
A truthful individual takes on the responsibility of addressing injustices in their surroundings without pointing fingers. On the other hand, impostors strive to establish their correctness, often at the expense of others. The world abounds with those who desire to be seen as right, thereby implicating others as wrong. Regardless of one’s sincerity, claiming absolute righteousness equates to being an agent of malevolence. No physical person can ever be entirely right in every aspect. Some may be more correct than others, but the state of complete correctness is unattainable in the human condition.
When exploring the reasons, causing people to seek to make others wrong and themselves right; pride stands out as a dominant factor. The only way for deception to take hold is by inflating one’s ego. In this scenario, individuals often adopt a position of superiority over those they accuse of wrongdoing. Empathy is absent from their mindset. From this place of superiority, they become defensive, attempting to justify their own apparent mistakes. As a result, it becomes nearly impossible for them to change their perspective, as they would have already labelled the other person as wrong.
Rightness exists independently and requires no defence from anyone, just as wrongness stands alone. Humans do not determine what is right or wrong; instead, they become entangled in the complexities of these opposing concepts. When a person holds a belief they consider to be right, they often adopt a defensive stance, seeking to assert dominance over those who do not share the same viewpoint. This behaviour highlights the flawed condition of humanity, especially within church communities.
Denominations often thrive on assuming that they possess the ultimate truth while viewing others as wrong. This mindset fosters a culture of condemnation toward those who do not adhere to a specific denomination’s beliefs. Each denomination strives to uphold its own perspective, which can lead to blindness to other viewpoints. This tendency often obstructs the genuine understanding of Christian teachings as intended by God. Any lay member who approaches Church authorities with some truth faces backlash, censors, or is deemed an impostor.
The credibility of a denomination’s statements, especially when compared with others’ teachings, is considered crucial. Protecting the community from external influences, deemed incorrect is, therefore, a primary objective. Any attempt to highlight truths from external sources would be suppressed. The role of leadership within a denominational group is known to safeguard the group’s interests. However, those corporate interests are commonly aligned with those of the leader or the group’s founder. Regular members are subject to the dictates authorized by the group’s leadership.
It’s important to remember that making others wrong while trying to prove oneself right is a trick of deception, often associated with Satan. Seeking to stand firm in the truth can be challenging—making those attempting to do so feel vulnerable and unsettled. Instead of finding comfort in the teachings of Jesus, ordinary Christians often avoid further study out of fear of alienating themselves from their group. This spells out the real challenge faced by many Christians. Consequently, they resort to relying on misinterpretations of the Scriptures, such as those captured in Paul’s teachings.
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’s sake. Because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour” (Romans 13:1-7NKJV).
The passage of Scripture mentioned above is particularly appealing to government dictators. It is important to bear in mind that this letter was addressed to the Romans to address specific issues they faced. Everything requires comparison with Jesus’ teachings, regardless of who says it. Many of Paul’s teachings in those epistles do not apply to modern Christianity. For example, some of those teachings were primarily intended to address cultural traditions rather than designed for doctrinal adoption. Or that the group being addressed may comprise those not yet baptized. This scripture grants an opportunity for Satan’s deceptive usage, as highlighted in Revelation 12:7-9.
Authoritarian leaders in Christianity prefer disregarding various Scriptures, yet cling to those that seem to endorse their authority. However, Jesus was clear about the principles of Christianity, especially in what He conveyed to His disciples. Such principles are emphasized in passages like Matthew 20:25-28 and Matthew 23:8-13. Paul also shared this important truth, affirming the significance of Christianity. Upon close analysis of Paul’s teachings, it becomes clear that he consistently championed equality, possibly except for those who had not yet been baptized.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29 NKJV).
How can an ordinary individual impose structures on God’s Children? The Scripture above, as affirmed by Paul, acknowledges the equality of Christians. Essentially, a Christian baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is accountable directly to God. This precludes any external authority over such an individual. If Christ Himself was not beholden to earthly authorities, neither were His disciples. Hence, spiritual responsibilities within Christianity are distributed through divine guidance, not necessarily human decision-making.
Truthful individuals preserve their autonomy from all, irrespective of status. However, they consider anyone as a potential authority if they appear to serve as an instrument of God. Failure to make such distinctions is a failure to adhere to principles. Therefore, any message from a Christian should be measured against Jesus’ teachings. If it aligns with His teachings, it is not merely the individual speaking, but Jesus through them. If Christ resides in every Christian, then each one should be seen as embodying Christ. This significant Christian tenet demands thoughtful reflection by those earnestly wishing to adhere to His teachings. Indeed, Christianity stands apart from worldly comparisons.
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV).
Some individuals assert they hold authoritative positions in the Church, claiming to be selected by Christ based on personal dreams or visions. However, within Christianity, Jesus Christ is recognized as the supreme authority. Whilst Christ can communicate with an individual in various ways, as in the case of Paul, adherence to His teachings remains crucial. Jesus laid down the foundational structure using the twelve apostles, with Christ, Himself, serving as the principal cornerstone. Any teachings not built upon this foundation are not consistent with the original doctrines of Christ. True representation requires alignment with the teachings of Jesus as documented in the Bible.
A common misconception is that by doing or contributing to God’s work, one would be entitled to obligate God to acknowledge their service. This leads to entitlement when compared with others, based on contributions. Jesus mentioned that some would attempt to remind Him of their deeds. However, He would profess not to recognize them, no matter how impressive their actions might seem (Matthew 7:21-23). To illustrate the standard of true Christianity, He provided a specific parable.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the labourers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:1-16NKJV).
In Christianity, there is no distinction in how Jesus views those who are called to follow Him. This eliminates any basis for claims of superiority or inferiority among believers. All members of God’s Church are treated equally, without regard to rank or tenure. It can be confidently stated that any notion of respect based on seniority implies a misunderstanding of His teachings. A Christian is a new creation, judged not by earthly measures but by the standards of God, as taught by Jesus. May the Lord bless those who seek guidance from Him, rather than from worldly influences.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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