Landmines are one of the most insidious devices man has come up with and are responsible for killing or maiming over one million people since 1975. A landmine is usually placed just below the surface of the ground and is designed to be exploded usually by the weight of vehicles or troops passing over it. Even after a war is over, and everyone has gone home, these undetonated mines remain active for decades to come as an ever present danger to unsuspecting civilians.
The landscape of Christianity is littered with "spiritual" landmines just waiting to be stepped on. They were placed there by Satan who comes to steal, kill and to destroy (John 10:10). I'd like to set forth a few of the areas where landmines surely exist and hopefully help to expose some of these spiritual booby traps.
Satan is the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2). Not many folks think about this, but this means he pretty much controls all of the radio and television media with a few exceptions. He also controls most of Hollywood along with a vast majority of the internet; which allow us instant access to any foul temptation imaginable.
Unless we as Christians are very discerning, and are walking in holiness of heart, we will step on these spiritual landmines. These mines are made up of subtle (and not so subtle) immorality that plays itself out over and over every day before our very eyes, and ears.
99% of all the movies that Hollywood produces are unfit for the spiritual heart. The flesh of loose women and men desiring recognition, fame and fortune is peddled by Satan for his pernicious goal of bringing devastation to the kingdom of God and his archenemy Jesus, the Christ of God. If he can't defeat Jesus then he'll settle for us, His followers.
Watch out for the commercials:
Even if a Christian is discerning in his, or her, choice of programming, guess what, the commercials will slay them! Many commercials prey on the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh in order to sell their products and thereby further encourage immorality.
Compromise is a killer:
There are many Christians who knowingly and deliberately watch questionable programming in order to "feed their flesh" or to "just relax a bit." These Christians have convinced themselves that they can handle it and that those sitcoms, reality shows and Hollywood masterpieces wont effect them spiritually. To those I quote 1 Cor 10:12 "Therefore let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall." And fall we will; it's just a matter of time. We can be confident in one thing: our sin will surely find us out and will ultimately undermine our spirituality.
Satan shows no mercy:
These spiritual landmines know no age in the Lord. Whether we are baby Christians or so-called veteran Christians who have experienced the warfare; all are apt to step on a mine, at any time -- that is unless you are dialed in in terms of discernment, committed to Christ and Spirit-led (Gal 5:16).
Sad to say that many Christian do not truly understand the importance of living in true righteousness and holiness before the Lord. As a result their senses slowly become dulled over time until the appetites of their flesh go on a pornographic feeding frenzy, or something worse. In times like these they have learned to treat the Holy Spirit's calls to holiness as mere "legalism," in order to justify their sin-binge not realizing that the landmine is about to blow any second and maim them for life spiritually.
Sin leaves scars:
I was once told, early on in my Christian walk, that "sin leaves scars." It is of course true that if we truly repent of sin Christ will be faithful to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteous. However, spiritual scar tissue remains as a reminder of the ravaging effect that sin had on us. We have witnessed TV evangelists who have fallen into sin and have risen again in the media, but their past remains and their lives will never be the same. God forgives and forgets 100%, society doesn't. Although we know we're forgiven Satan will attempt to surface our past over and over again and kick us with it when we're down.
Sexual Temptation
Unless we as Christians are very discerning, and are walking in holiness of heart, we will step on these spiritual landmines. These mines are made up of subtle (and not so subtle) immorality that plays itself out over and over every day before our very eyes, and ears.
99% of all the movies that Hollywood produces are unfit for the spiritual heart. The flesh of loose women and men desiring recognition, fame and fortune is peddled by Satan for his pernicious goal of bringing devastation to the kingdom of God and his archenemy Jesus, the Christ of God. If he can't defeat Jesus then he'll settle for us, His followers.
Watch out for the commercials:
Even if a Christian is discerning in his, or her, choice of programming, guess what, the commercials will slay them! Many commercials prey on the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh in order to sell their products and thereby further encourage immorality.
Compromise is a killer:
There are many Christians who knowingly and deliberately watch questionable programming in order to "feed their flesh" or to "just relax a bit." These Christians have convinced themselves that they can handle it and that those sitcoms, reality shows and Hollywood masterpieces wont effect them spiritually. To those I quote 1 Cor 10:12 "Therefore let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall." And fall we will; it's just a matter of time. We can be confident in one thing: our sin will surely find us out and will ultimately undermine our spirituality.
Satan shows no mercy:
These spiritual landmines know no age in the Lord. Whether we are baby Christians or so-called veteran Christians who have experienced the warfare; all are apt to step on a mine, at any time -- that is unless you are dialed in in terms of discernment, committed to Christ and Spirit-led (Gal 5:16).
Sad to say that many Christian do not truly understand the importance of living in true righteousness and holiness before the Lord. As a result their senses slowly become dulled over time until the appetites of their flesh go on a pornographic feeding frenzy, or something worse. In times like these they have learned to treat the Holy Spirit's calls to holiness as mere "legalism," in order to justify their sin-binge not realizing that the landmine is about to blow any second and maim them for life spiritually.
Sin leaves scars:
I was once told, early on in my Christian walk, that "sin leaves scars." It is of course true that if we truly repent of sin Christ will be faithful to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteous. However, spiritual scar tissue remains as a reminder of the ravaging effect that sin had on us. We have witnessed TV evangelists who have fallen into sin and have risen again in the media, but their past remains and their lives will never be the same. God forgives and forgets 100%, society doesn't. Although we know we're forgiven Satan will attempt to surface our past over and over again and kick us with it when we're down.
Intimidation
This spiritual landmine is designed to make us feel timid or fearful. It preys on our insecurity and on our past in an attempt to neutralize our full potential in Christ.
A personal testimony:
- "You're a loser"
- "You're not spiritual enough"
- "You don't know enough"
- "You haven't really changed"
A personal testimony:
I once walked in a serious insecurity that affected every area of my life, but when I came to Christ, and was baptized in water I purposed to leave my old self (whom I disliked very much because I felt I was a weak person) dead and buried beneath the waters of said baptism. I emerged having purposed to put on Christ. I now see myself "in" Christ. I now draw my identity from Christ -- literally! I now desire to be looking out through His eyes, speaking through His heart, touching with His touch and walking as led by the Holy Spirit.
It's not about us! It's all about Christ. Yes, I was timid and weak, but now I consider myself dead to self and alive in Christ! Now He has become my strength, my song and my victory!
There is absolutely no need for the Christian to walk in defeat. We are complete in Him -- if we are in Him (Col 2:10)! Don't fool around with Christianity, it doesn't work. Be either all the way in or all the way out. The middle ground is a tormenting hell on earth.
It's not about us! It's all about Christ. Yes, I was timid and weak, but now I consider myself dead to self and alive in Christ! Now He has become my strength, my song and my victory!
There is absolutely no need for the Christian to walk in defeat. We are complete in Him -- if we are in Him (Col 2:10)! Don't fool around with Christianity, it doesn't work. Be either all the way in or all the way out. The middle ground is a tormenting hell on earth.
Substitution
Oh, watch out for this one, beloved. The hand is quicker than the eye. Satan is the master of spiritual prestidigitation and can make himself appear as an angel of light and deceive even the very elect -- he does it all the time. These variety of spiritual landmines are very tricky to spot because their made up of subtle half-truths. Here are a few types of mines that are worthy to ponder:
Most religious folks believe that God has a scale up in heaven where he will place your bad works at one end and your good works in the other and whichever outweighs the other will determine your destiny. The Bible teaches us that it is by grace that we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves. It is a gift of God and not of works lest anyone should boast (Eph 2: 8-9).
Oh, watch out for this one, beloved. The hand is quicker than the eye. Satan is the master of spiritual prestidigitation and can make himself appear as an angel of light and deceive even the very elect -- he does it all the time. These variety of spiritual landmines are very tricky to spot because their made up of subtle half-truths. Here are a few types of mines that are worthy to ponder:- Substituting grace with works (Eph 2:8-9) (Gal 3:1-4).
- Substituting works with grace (Rom 6:1).
- Substituting the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:3).
The devil loves to tell the world that salvation is by works and that all roads (religions) lead to heaven. The Bible presents one, and only one, road and it's the narrow way that leads straight to, and through the cross of Jesus Christ. This might seem obvious to you, but how about all those professing Christian sects that believe in works such as sacraments, liturgy and adherence to legalistic doctrines being the only way into heaven (Gal 5:18).
Salvation is a free gift. It's free simply because we could never earn it on our own merits. Jesus took our place and earned it for us -- freely.
Substituting works with grace:
While it is true that salvation is a free gift, once saved we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God which is our reasonable service (Rom 12:1). There is a plague rippling it's way through the church and it is that of hiding behind grace as a license to sin and to justify fleshly habits.
Many Christians couples are living together, having sex outside of commitment to each other or to God. Others fill their senses with filth. While still others continue in ungodly associations and ungodly habits justifying them all by grace. Grace, beloved, is primarily for salvation, because without it you could never get saved.
God doesn't expect us to be perfect once we become a Christian, but He does expect us to desire with an insatiable desire to be pure. This is the mark of God on the human heart at salvation -- a spiritual hunger to want to know God and to be like Him! This is our part -- and the rest the Holy Spirit will take us through and ultimately empower us to become more than conquerors in Christ in every area of our lives.
Substituting for the Holy Spirit:
This is a very subtle spiritual landmine and sometimes very hard to detect. For instance, have you ever been so caught up in studying your Bible or doing things for God that weeks go by where you spend no time in worship, praise or prayer with God? Or do you do what the Bible says by wrote and never really submit yourself and wait on the Holy Spirit to direct your path?
These are spiritual landmines and great errors in judgment -- subtle schemes whispered by the devil into our thinking to divert us from the power of Holy Spirit. We must remember that the kingdom of God is within us. It's all supposed to happen from the inside out and not the other way around. We must learn to be Spirit-led.
It is truly amazing how many times I have personally missed God over the years doing things with all my might and commitment for Him because I assumed He would honor my works. Well, it didn't work.
What was I doing? I was substituting for the Holy Spirit. How foolish I was! I'm doing better now waiting on the Lord until I feel the breeze of the Holy Spirit before I move out. I just wish someone had taken me aside and told me all this many years ago. I was deceived into believing that God would bless what I did for Him whether He wanted me to do it or not. I had stepped right smack dab into the middle of a spiritual landmine, not only once mind you, but many, many times.
These are spiritual landmines and great errors in judgment -- subtle schemes whispered by the devil into our thinking to divert us from the power of Holy Spirit. We must remember that the kingdom of God is within us. It's all supposed to happen from the inside out and not the other way around. We must learn to be Spirit-led.
It is truly amazing how many times I have personally missed God over the years doing things with all my might and commitment for Him because I assumed He would honor my works. Well, it didn't work.
What was I doing? I was substituting for the Holy Spirit. How foolish I was! I'm doing better now waiting on the Lord until I feel the breeze of the Holy Spirit before I move out. I just wish someone had taken me aside and told me all this many years ago. I was deceived into believing that God would bless what I did for Him whether He wanted me to do it or not. I had stepped right smack dab into the middle of a spiritual landmine, not only once mind you, but many, many times.
Conclusion:
Well, I sure hope that all this has opened up your thinking a bit more and that I wasn't just rambling on for nothing. We sometimes find it hard to believe that spiritual things are so ever-present all around us and if we don't pay attention we could in fact step on a mine at any time (1 Pet 5:8) ...
