Strong Delusion

Posted on September 8, 2025 by suemariericker

After creation, the story of mankind starts out in the book of Genesis with one BIG deception (the snake in the garden), and as you read through the Old Testament, you’ll encounter other situations with people being deceptive, such as the story of Jacob. …and there’s Gibeonites who deceived Joshua:

“…Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions but did not ask counsel from the Lord. So, Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live and the leaders of the community swore and oath to them. Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were their neighbors, living among them. …Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, ‘Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?’” (Joshua 9:14-16, 22)

Because Joshua neglected to seek God’s advice concerning the Gibeonites, the Israelites were duped into making a treaty without God’s direction. I have learned some difficult lessons by being defrauded out of money, and the enemy tampering with my emotions (the hardest!). I like to think that I have learned to seek the Lord’s wisdom and “…let the peace of Christ rule in (my) heart…. (Colossians 3:15), although, I find it very easy to go skipping through my days without seeking the Lord, His wisdom and counsel.

There are New Testament cautions about deception, too (this is not an exhaustive list of verses):

“Jesus replied to them, ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah,” and they will deceive many. …Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5, 11)

“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

As much as we would like them to, things are not going to get better! In fact, “…evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse….”

“The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

I’ve been hearing the word “delusion” quite a bit lately and I thought I would look up and see if there’s difference between deception and delusion. This is what I found:

Deception:

The act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. The act of deceiving.

Delusion:

1. Something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated.

2. A persistent false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary.

3. The act of tricking or deceiving someone; the state of being deluded.      

A delusion is a deception that is tenaciously held on to despite evidence to the contrary—it takes deception one step further – holding on to one side of the story and denying validity to any alternative view, no matter if it is true.

I think people don’t really know what the Bible says and what they do know, they don’t like; so, they change “God’s truth” to “my truth” – thus deluding themselves.

I’ve had my moments of believing faulty doctrine and falling into uneasy acceptance of lies. The media nowadays seems more concerned with spreading a phony narrative than delivering news. I am astounded at the number of people who buy the lie of antisemitism, especially while they are demanding equality for their own “minority” group.

There is a war going on and it is much more intense than the firing of munitions. The problem is with me—and everyone who doesn’t recognize the enemy’s tactics and the fact that he hates God. …and God’s people, both the Israelis, and the Christians who hold to the Word of God without compromise.

I think my problem is that the events of October 7, 2023, were so inhumane and barbaric that it is difficult to conceive, in this day and age, that anyone would behave so savagely. Yet denial doesn’t change things. What happened, happened. And once again, though it doesn’t make sense, an entire race of people—the Jewish people—are condemned by the popular media. If you consider that there are unseen forces, forces at work, and people are going along with them, then the depths of human depravity will be mined.

How is it possible that such uncivilized behavior can be perpetrated in this modern age? And how can these people use such powerful manipulation and deception? I’ve had to accept that just because their behavior is primitive, Hamas is strong in technology and psychological manipulation—and they use the media to spread lies of starving children and brutal IDF soldiers. With a skewed sense of justice, many want to see them vindicated by destroying Israel. If you think about it, though, a two-state solution is not possible.

So how do we avoid the lies that surround us? Love the truth! Seek God’s counsel and pray about it. What does God say in His Word?  …and do you have a reliable source of information? God made a promise to a man long ago—an everlasting covenant—and God who cannot lie, will not break it.

The Word tells us, “…God sends them a strong delusion.” Why? Because the truth was inconvenient for their narrative, they didn’t love the truth, they’d rather believe the lie.

I could go on. If this was one of those times I was talking instead of typing, I would probably launch into rambling. The thing is, deception is very real, and I don’t know anyone who wants to admit to having been deceived, though I’m quite sure we all have at one point or another. It is usually pride (being wise in our own eyes) that keeps us silent. It is essential, though, that we love the truth. …and Jesus is, “the way, the TRUTH, and the life.”

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More Like Them Than We May Think

Posted on July 5, 2025 by suemariericker

Every year I go through the same frustration; yet I know how the story goes, and I hope and pray that I learn from their mistakes—and don’t make the same ones! I have made the same or similar mistakes, though.  I have made little compromises, and I have tried to figure things out using “human” logic. I have let things or people, and their opinions take a substantial position in my life. And I have wrestled with legalism and grace.

I’ve gotten into the “quiet time” habit with the Lord in the mornings—I read some, I write some, I pray, and I listen to a “through the Bible in a year” plan. My routine regularly gets shaken up a bit because I’m convinced that God doesn’t want me to slip into a religious habit without my heart getting involved; yet one thing is consistent—my commitment to reading and listening to the Word of God.

Every year, as I listen to 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles, my soul cries out “why?” Why did the Israelites turn away from the Lord? Why did they choose idols over the Living God? Why did they add bits and pieces of the cultures of surrounding nations and their pagan religions?

I tend to give them a bit of a pass because, you know, that was before the Holy Spirit was given to the church. And now we have the Holy Spirit to keep us out of trouble, guiding and leading us in the way we should go.

I’m fine when I finish with the Old Testament and get to read the joyous news of the gospels. …until I get to Revelation and I read the letters to the seven churches. Wait a minute! Jesus speaks to these New Testament, gifted with the Holy Spirit, Christian churches, and He admonishes them for their many problems (sins) that, like the ancient Israelites, they were guilty of committing! 

Over the past 15 years, I’ve moved quite a bit. I find a Bible-believing church and I tuck myself away in good Bible teaching and blessed worship times. I expand my horizons by following some online Bible teachers. Prophecy updates, and news from the Middle East. I’m pretty picky about who I listen to—it’s important that they teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). However, what I have heard, and some things I have seen, many modern churches have adopted many of the “inclusive” attitudes of the world and deceptions of the enemy. Gender delusion is the big one that comes to mind; however, just as serious is the addition of the occult and other “new age” or pagan practices to Christianity. …sort of like the ancient Israelites adopting many of the pagan practices of the surrounding nations.

I grew up in a church that taught (and believed) the Bible, plus extra stuff that contradicted what the Bible taught. Of course, there was a time I denied that, but when I took away the extra-biblical stuff, I was left with the conviction that I had been stretching the Word of God to the point that it wasn’t the Word of God anymore—it was “cleverly devised myths.”

“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, be we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16)

Similar problems to what the Israelites got into are found in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation—perhaps they were written to show that we are not so very different from ancient Israel.

I recognize that an understanding and familiarity with the Bible is essential to safeguard against false teachers and teachings; however, when I embarked on the journey of praying through scripture and started a habit of daily reading the Word, something even more magnificent began to happen—my heart started learning about God’s love. I didn’t have to earn it or work to keep it, and there is nothing that can separate me from His love. (Romans 8:31-19)

1 Corinthians 13 defines it; 1 John 4:16b states it, “…God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.”  And the whole of scripture demonstrates God’s love—even in correction and discipline.

I once thought that the Psalms were too good to be true; they (some of them) were just beautiful, idealistic poetry. Yet if God didn’t mean for us to take them to heart, why would Jesus, when He became a man, quote from that book more than any other? And as I began a yearly journey through the Bible, I began to see God from a changing perspective—and I recognized His kindness and grace, the times of abundance and lack, as well as the times of discipline and hardship through the lenses of God’s righteousness and love.

I cannot think of any other evidence of the patient, enduring aspect of God’s love than that of His relationship with the nation of Israel—His chosen people to demonstrate God’s faithfulness and love to the world. Millenia ago, God made an “everlasting promise” to a man, Abram (later called Abrahm – Genesis 12:1-3), and God, “who cannot lie,” still honors His promise:

“I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.” (Genesis 17:70)

We delude ourselves if we think we are not like them. We, like the Israelites are “prone to wander” in our own wildernesses; however, we have His promises to Israel—and to us—as guarantors of His Word, that:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

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Not Too Broken

Posted on April 24, 2025 by suemariericker

“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)

These precious verses are a part of the pro-life advocate’s arsenal of scripture texts pointing to the value and authenticity of human life starting at conception. And I believe that! I’ve given it a lot of thought because it is a good thing to think about scripture and “plumb it’s depths” in respect to life in this world. I have found by doing that, I have a choice to believe what I hear and see – or trust what God says in His Word, sometimes without the visible evidence.

For instance, I believe that I had been “knit together in my mother’s womb,” but when I got out, I was pretty broken up by life (and death) happening around me. I spent most of my life trying to be what others expected of me rather than settling into who I am and who God created me to be. I did not understand that I was letting other people, and their beliefs and opinions, define who I “should” be and what I should think. …it was more important to me to (attempt) to please people who I could see, but didn’t have a clue about pleasing God who I couldn’t see.

Having a “rough go of it” at the beginning and throughout my life didn’t help matters any.

About three and a half years ago I had a stroke and that was the beginning of a wake-up call for me. I decided that whatever led to that moment, I wanted to do something different from then on. Of course, that was not a sudden realization, but one I grew into. I made some changes, and some changes were made for me (because I was clueless about how to make them). And recently, I’ve concluded that I like God’s plans for me (a new creation. with a future and a hope) because they are a whole lot better than anything I (or anyone else) could come up with.

But what about it? Can a person be too broken to be used by God? I used to think so; however, my opinion has gradually changed (very gradually, I’m 74) over the years. The focus of what I write about is God; and in His great love and mercy through Jesus, He is redeeming the broken and scattered bits of each person and making a New Creation out of them:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For some of us it takes a long time, but we always have this assurance:

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  (Philippians 1:6)

And:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

What if – here’s a crazy thought – God didn’t quit knitting us together and forming us when we were born; instead, He has used, and is using, all the bumps and bruises, the physical, mental, and emotional wounds, defeats – and victories – to be the exact kind of person He wants in this world, “…and who knows whether you have not come…for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

There are several things that I have learned:

  • The evil one means us harm – he’d like us to just “curse God and die;” and he doesn’t play fair. In fact, “…your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
  • A way to distract and disorient the devil is to offer praise and give thanks to God in all things: “rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! …don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Positive evidence that we are trusting God, no matter what our circumstances look like, is our willingness to praise Him and give Him thanks even in the tough times. It isn’t easy, but I think that is where the “hard-fought Hallelujah” comes from.

  • If you are familiar with the life of Joseph in Genesis, you are aware that things went quite bad for him for a while. His brothers weren’t all too kind to him; in fact, some of them wanted him dead. However, later in life he was able to look them in the eyes and say, “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. Therefore, don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” (Genesis 50:20-21)
  • Sometimes it may not look like it or feel like it but we have this assurance from our Father: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”

There is no one and nothing so broken that a skilled potter cannot make something beautiful, and useful, out of it. We are more that just lumps of clay!

“Yet Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hands.”  (Isaiah 64:8)

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Sourdough Bread

Posted on April 7, 2025 by suemariericker

Lest you think I’m going to become a food blogger, rest assured that I am not. I started making sourdough bread (something I have wanted to do for a long time) about 6 or 7 months ago. It has been a learning process for me, learning about myself, who I am, and how to bake a successful, appetizing loaf of sourdough bread. I did not know that I would learn to relax so much into who I am and what works for me as I did—it has been an amazing journey, I’ve heard it called that, but I didn’t know just how true it is.

Of course, for most people, the first loaf (or loaves) doesn’t look like any loaves of bread we’ve seen in the grocery store or the local farmer’s market. It is frequently flat, dense, over-proofed or under-proofed, burnt or underbaked…  You get the idea. Mine was a bit dense (as I am sometimes) because I was in a hurry to have some sourdough bread, and my starter was only seven days old (it ended up taking several weeks until it was strong enough to use).

So, I did the only thing I could think of to learn more about the magic of baking sourdough bread—I joined some beginner sourdough bread baking groups on Facebook and scoured the pages of comments and pleas for help to find out the definitive techniques and tricks to making sourdough bread. I learned some things such as the importance of a strong starter, the difference between over-proofing and under-proofing (although that is still a bit of a mystery to me), and bulk fermentation (still a little mystified).

Some people take a very scientific approach to baking sourdough, and for other people, rules do not apply. Other people have a warm environment, some people (like me), prefer the thermostat in my tiny apartment to not go over 68 or 69 degrees. …and humidity (or lack of it) can affect your outcome.

I learned a few useful things in the groups, and I’ve written them down.

I’ve also wasted a lot of time listening to people arguing about things you are “supposed to do” or things you are “not supposed” to do. Admittedly, I’ve been more confused by the volumes of comments that I read than helped. I’ve also got some books by professional bakers who give detailed instructions for making sourdough bread.

I’ve given some thought to the many hours of conflicting voices that I’ve listened to about bread baking (I’ve baked bread for over 50 years, but I had some relearning to do with baking sourdough bread). It caused my mind to wander (it does that frequently) and I thought, “how similar this is to the Bible, to truth.”

Everyone has an opinion about religion, Christianity, what it means to be a Christian, and how a Christian is supposed to live and be. However, it doesn’t really matter what anyone thinks or their opinions and belief systems. The only thing that matters is God’s opinion, because frankly, the older I get, the more broken I see that the world and its people have become.

Even in churches.

My church journey has been interesting, too.

I was brought up in a church that made its doctrine the main point of salvation. God graciously led me to more scripturally aligned churches, and I have found in my later years, I prefer a church that reads/teaches verse by verse through books of the Bible. Having come to that point in my walk with Jesus, I am rather aghast at much of the instruction “Christian” leaders teach as truth.

Our God is both a God of mercy and justice, yet many people either rely on his mercy and explain away his justice; or they call our God’s justice and would hold back his mercy. There are other unbiblical views of God and “doctrines”, but I really don’t want to go into them here—that’s not my point, because I’m of the opinion that taking a positive approach to knowing our Father in heaven has much more appeal.

So, like with my sourdough, I go to the book, to the ones who know the topic and can give me an accurate answer. And the only answers to the ever-increasing opinions, “doctrines”, teachings, and whatever else the enemy has in his bag of tricks to throw us off tract (There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12), is to know our Bible—the Word of God.

I listen to it on various apps because my eyes are a little wonky nowadays and it is easier to have it read to me. You can listen to it or read it, but whatever you do, let it become a part of you!

Paul warns Timothy, “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars who consciences are seared.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

It is the last days! Things are going to get worse before they get better, no matter what the deceiver says—because that it what the Bible says. Now (today) is the best time I can think of to fortify our deception prevention!

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Ashamed

Posted on November 14, 2024 by suemariericker

[This is the last blog I wrote, and I didn’t post it. If you look at the date of my last post, you’ll notice that I have written much less frequently as time went on. Then I started writing this and I stopped completely—because posting this about such a vulnerable spot in my soul was like exposing a fresh wound, and I just wanted to hide it and protect it. I do not know the depths of my injuries, but I know that Jesus came “…to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners….” I know first-hand God’s healing power and I thank Him and give Him praise for the healing work He has done in me.]

Just so you know, I am not a “trained professional”; what I have learned, I have learned the hard way—experience. I admit that shame has been my constant companion and “motivator” most of my life. Shame is both interesting and insidious, and it tends to stick to us (me, anyway) like super glue. There are all sorts of ways shame comes calling and establishes residence in our lives. I have no doubt it is one of the enemy’s favorite tools to keep us stuck in the past, stuck in our wounds, and stuck in unforgiveness. Shaking free of it is a work of grace and healing, and forgiveness—sometimes for the unthinkable.

Of course, we all know that there is “good” shame, when we lie or steal or disobey God in some way or another and are convicted of our sin. However, shame insinuates itself into our lives and makes us feel bad for just being ourselves, by making faux pas (not sin, just human), feeling humiliation deep down into the very core of us. It is not merely embarrassment; instead, it subtly insinuates that, I didn’t just make a mistake; rather, I am a mistake. I “should” be better than this.

It can establish roots in our hearts from an early age, and it intertwines its roots and branches in our thoughts, our perceptions, and our emotions. I can think of a couple of specific occasions when I was a child that I was deeply shamed. And it grew in me as I got older. One way shame manifested itself through me was as a people pleaser. It has been difficult for me to have opinions or do things for myself because I was wrong. People told me so.

But that is not how God intended me to be. Here are some descriptions that describe believers in Jesus (that’s me!), those who have committed their lives to Him and now have a place prepared for them in His kingdom:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

I am chosen.

“The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—” (Romans 8:16-17a)

I am a child of God, a coheir with Christ.

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

He designed and created us in Christ Jesus for good works—we are His workmanship, there is nothing to be ashamed of in Him!

“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

What He started, He will finish—He said so—it’s just up to me to “believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

It is a journey, a faith journey, to Jesus. To know and understand that He bore my sins and my shame on Calvary’s cross. To be set free, because “if the Son sets you free, you really will be free!” (John 8:36)

May we all enjoy the peace, joy, and freedom found only in Jesus!

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A Conundrum

Posted on February 9, 2024 by suemariericker

Something Jesus said has bothered me for quite a while. Well, I don’t necessarily have a problem with Jesus making the statement as I do with understanding what He said—it is concerning a conversation Jesus had one day when He was walking with His disciples to Jerusalem:

“On the way to Jerusalem He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ When He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back praising God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well.’” (Luke 17:11-19)

The struggle I’ve had with this is that the nine were doing what Jesus told them to do—they were also obeying the Mosaic law (Leviticus 13) —and they were still exercising faith by doing so. Yet Jesus acknowledged the Samaritan for returning, praising God, and giving thanks.

The Samaritan didn’t have the constraints of the law that the Jews had, yet he had Jesus’ instructions. He also had a grateful heart.

Is there something deeper than the “do’s and don’ts” of religion that Jesus is looking for in our lives? One thing that came to me loud and clear through this story is that there is always time to praise the Lord and thank Him for what He has done. We may have places to be and things to do; but there is always time to fall on our faces at Jesus’ feet and give thanks.

I’ve had a “law-based” mindset for a very long time, without even being aware of the laws I’ve set out for myself. Laws to prove my worth—like how much I should accomplish each day (which I fail miserably). What I should be doing for Jesus (law-based people are really vulnerable to “should do’s”!) And when I fail (which is often), then I need to try better the next day. My worth tends to be wrapped up in what I do or don’t do.

But Jesus is more concerned with our hearts. This man, the Samaritan’s grateful heart is what blessed Him.

I’ve kind of looked at this story as Jesus comparing the Jews with the Gentiles, but I think it goes deeper than that—He was, through this experience letting the Jewish people who were following Him, know that Samaritan believers have a place in God’s kingdom, too; and that a relationship with God is more than obeying rules. When we compare ourselves to others, we may want to remember that it is our hearts God wants, not just our performance.

I wonder if, when our primary focus is on obeying laws, then thanking and praising God becomes a law, too. When all we see is what Jesus did for us and is doing for us, then praise is a natural outflow of our lives, not just something we’re “supposed to do.”

“Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him [Jesus], since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25)

It is always about faith. As easy as it is to figure that God will or God should answer our prayers because we “are doing it right”—the right words, doing the right things, obeying the right laws—when the subtle, unconscious expectation slips in of “God owes me”—for whatever reason, then it quits being about faith and becomes about a wage.

There is a lot going on when Jesus is involved in peoples’ lives, in His interactions with people—both in the Biblical record of His life, and now. Spending time with Him, contemplating the scriptures, and grasping the fact that He is involved in our world and our lives now is difficult to do with so many distractions, yet nothing compares to the awareness that He is in us and with us and working all things together for our good because we “are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) How can we help but praise Him?

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Hard to Understand

Posted on September 30, 2023 by suemariericker

If anyone understood the grace of God, the apostle Paul did!

“I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. …and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:12-15)

Because of his extensive training and experience in the Mosaic law and all things Jewish, he was uniquely qualified to make his missionary journeys, planting and visiting churches, encouraging believers, and writing letters of teaching, training in righteousness, and exhortation. I recognize, though, that Paul would be nothing and not able to teach accurately without the Holy Spirit dwelling in him and working through him.

He wrote some quite intense letters! The apostle Peter thought so, too:

“And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (2 Peter 3:15-17)

I’ve seen a couple of responses to this passage; one response where there is agreement with the statement, “yes, Paul writes some things that are difficult to understand…. In fact, normal, everyday people cannot understand them, they need a special revelation from God to fully understand what Paul is saying, a revelation only certain people have.” That argument is often used to support the need to adhere to the Jewish law or some made-up doctrine.

Another response that I’ve witnessed is the “Paul didn’t really mean what he seems to be saying” response, particularly when the manner which some people choose to live is a lifestyle condemned by scripture. Essentially making up excuses to justify what God identifies as sin. Paul’s writings are difficult to hear and receive because they are not what the hearer wants to hear. In that case, “…the ignorant and unstable twist [Paul’s letters] to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

There has been some fancy footwork dancing around Romans 1—example: gay people (or LGBTQ+) going directly to that letter written by Paul condemning that lifestyle, yet using the very words of Paul to justify their sin. I guess taking the scripture head on and then twisting it (to their own destruction) in a way to justify their own perversion (God’s perspective) works somehow for them.

Of course, that is a radical example of what I’m saying. The problem with the example is the tendency to adopt a judgy attitude and err by hating not only the sin but also the sinner. The only solution I know of easing the tension between loving the sinner with their “in your face” sin is to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit—No compromise with sin, but also no compromise with loving sinners (after all, that is who we are). The life of Jesus is our example—we need to know Him well.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

If you want to be wise, fear the Lord. If you want to understand Paul’s letters, be filled with the same Holy Spirit that spoke to Paul. Wisdom will not contradict or twist scriptures, but as things are winding down on earth, you can be sure the enemy is working hard to deceive people by twisting and undermining scripture.

How could God love a sinner such as I? I cannot comprehend the love, the mercy and grace of Him, who died for me. And yet I accept it because it is His gift to me, and to all who call on His Name.

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The Leaven of Herod

Posted on August 4, 2023 by suemariericker

The Leaven of the Pharisees

Interestingly, I (and I am sure not only I) think about Jesus’ teaching concerning the Pharisees, particularly the admonition to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,” as relating to the followers of Jesus then, but not particularly relevant to me now, especially since I am not Jewish. However, I am familiar with those who live by the motto, “do as I say, not as I do”—and I wonder who it is they think they’re fooling? …and the sad reality is that many are being fooled. However, when, in my estimation, I think someone is acting like a Pharisee, it is usually me being judgmental.

We all know people like the Pharisees, and if we’re honest, we’ve all been people whose lifestyle doesn’t match up to our words. …or we expect more of others than we are willing or able to do ourselves. We don’t like people we consider “Pharisees” and can often see through their self-righteousness, though we can rarely see through our own. I’m learning that when I am critical of others, my attitudes and actions tend to mirror those who I am quick to judge; often, I accept more grace for myself than I am willing to extend to others.

Another characteristic of the Pharisees was that they often added rules and expanded laws to make a burdensome religion God never intended to bind upon humanity.

I don’t want to have my perception dulled to the point where I begin to reflect a Pharisaical attitude or take up some of the habits, attitudes, and teachings that reflect what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” I don’t want to try to cover myself with self-righteousness instead of Christ’s righteousness!

“Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And He cautioned them saying, ‘Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’ And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? …’” (Mark 8:14-18)

We really need the grace to perceive and understand that the things Jesus was teaching the disciples is relevant to us, too. I do not want blind eyes, deaf ears, or a hard heart when it comes to my relationship to Jesus and the words He spoke!

The leaven of Herod

 Recently, as I was reading the gospel of Mark and I noticed this scripture, I really noticed it. I was familiar with scriptures referring to the leaven of the Pharisees, but not to the leaven of Herod, When I consider the leaven of the Pharisees, I think of covert sin and hypocrisy, but Herod? He was a political leader.

In fact, Jesus called him a fox.

“At that time some Pharisees came and told him, ‘Go, get out of here. Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go tell that fox, “Look, I’m driving out demons and performing healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work….” (Luke 13:31-32)

They were trying to get rid of Jesus because what He was saying and doing did not fit their agenda. It is interesting that Jesus referred to Herod as a fox. A fox is considered a sly creature, sneaky and deceptive. Stealing hens from the henhouse. Not to be trusted.

While the leaven of the Pharisees had to do with religious and spiritual matters, Herod was concerned with power and politics. We are familiar with the story of Herod divorcing his Nabataean wife and marrying Herodias, the wife of his half-brother, Philip. Though confronted by John the Baptist (and having John beheaded) and later, when hearing about the miracles of Jesus, he thought maybe Jesus was John back from the dead—but not concerned enough to repent.

What he did, he did to gain power and influence in the Roman empire. When spiritual integrity or Biblical ethics don’t fit the political agenda, then those who seek to serve the Creator God become enemies of the state.

Knowing that the scripture is as relevant today as it was when it was written, I can’t help but think about how “the leaven of Herod” influences us today. How do we “beware” of the leaven of Herod? What political influences and challenges do we face these days that we need to take note of and avoid? Are we more concerned with being politically correct than Biblically correct?

Have we become so wrapped up in the politics of this world that we are forgetting Jesus’ commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”? (Matthew 28:19, 20)

As we navigate these last days with our faith in God and confidence in the Scriptures, we need to recognize that there are foxes amongst us—the twisting of scripture, the new “tolerance” instead of God’s righteous love for humanity. Anyone or anything that doesn’t align with the Word of God is set to lead us down the path of deception. That could be a whole other discussion, couldn’t it? I’ve heard the rationalizing, discounting, and twisting of scripture to justify particular sins. It’s not going to get better! That’s why staying close to Jesus and immersed in His Word are the best things we can do!

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My “Jesus Revolution”

Posted on April 19, 2023 by suemariericker

The theater was dark, though we got there early. A few people trickled in, but not many folks for the first showing Saturday morning. There were some young people, including my daughter and granddaughter, though I’m not so sure my daughter would consider herself a “young person”. Most of the people I noticed were like me, older and had gray hair; one person had a walker.

The thing is, the movie was about us old folks in a younger time. A time that was full of color and questions, when we seemed so full of life, yet death was never far away. It brought back memories, both sweet and sad. Friendships were transitory, yet there are a few names that I still hold in my memories and my heart.

Haight-Ashbury. How did a (somewhat) good, religious girl end up there? I say religious because religion was all I knew—and I was just as empty as those seeking enlightenment with drugs and pursuing meaningless relationships.

I played the guitar and sang over the PA systems of Greyhound buses. I sang on street corners in San Francisco. I hitchhiked around California trying to convince people to join me in the legalistic bondage I thought was Christianity. But it wasn’t. I was driven to please a man-made god, not recognizable as the God described throughout the Bible.

For me, home wasn’t good; in fact, I was sent to boarding school in Washington state (I was originally from Oregon) when I was 13, almost 14 years old. When I graduated from the academy, the thought of returning home terrified me, so I pleaded with my dad and stepmom to send me to college in California. It was 1968.

I was socially awkward and never seemed to fit in there. I thought I wanted to serve God (though I didn’t know Him) and didn’t have any other plans for my future. I’m not sure why I went to college other than to avoid an unpleasant home life.

I made it through about three years of college with no guidance before I realized my various activities weren’t conducive to academics. I remember going to one of my religion professors and asking him why we needed the cross since we had the law. I figured that all we needed to do was go to church on the right day of the week, and all would be good. I don’t remember what he answered me.

I eventually dropped out of college and got involved with a vegetarian restaurant down in Haight-Ashbury. It was a quasi-Christian outreach—I don’t know what else to say about it because as we were trying to promote vegetarianism, while at the same time some people from girl’s Teen Challenge in the area were witnessing to us. The reality of the situation is that they had the words of life. We had a dead religion that could not protect us in the face of the demonic activity and darkness of that area.

Memories flit through my brain as I try to piece the confusion of those years together. I didn’t stay in one place very long because my restless, searching soul found little peace. Once when I was still in school yet hitchhiking back and forth to San Francisco, I took every pill I could find because I couldn’t handle the emptiness and confusion inside myself—I was suicidal and had been for a long time. I lost a day but not my life—God seemed to have other plans for me.

I bounced around between “the Haight” and an inner-city ministry in S. California. I didn’t find what I was looking for at either place. Finally, one night when I was back in San Francisco, I knew that I had come to the end. This restlessness and the emptiness in my soul was so strong that, when the restaurant closed for the evening, I was going to silence the tyranny inside me by walking to the Golden Gate bridge and jumping off. I was silently screaming, yet I calmly closed the door and walked away. But then… God has a way of interrupting our plans!

Someone stopped me. They invited me up to one of the Christian communes in the area because a group of people there were going to be praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That was something novel I hadn’t tried, so I thought, “sure, why not?”

Something radical happened to me that night. I’d like to explain it, but I can’t. Jesus met me in a powerful way, and He saved my life—in more ways than I can count. The obsession with suicide was gone, though the battles were not over.

That night began a faith journey for me, and it was completely unfamiliar and very difficult. I began letting go of my reliance on my performance for salvation and started to rely on the finished work of Jesus.

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8)

“I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height, and depth of God’s love.” (Ephesians 3:16-18)

It has been a faith journey. I was a slow learner, and about 20 years later when my life seemed to fall apart, I walked away from Him—my old acquaintance suicide returned, though he didn’t stay. I came back to the Lord even stronger. …even though I walked away from Him, He did not forsake me!

From my past, my family and my religious upbringing, the most difficult aspect of having a relationship with Jesus is believing in and receiving His unconditional, undeniable love for me. Uninhibited, unrestrained unlimited love and acceptance. Yes, that’s what the cross did for me and will do for anyone who comes to Him.

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Adversity

Posted on March 21, 2023 by suemariericker

Adversity is a word that I don’t use, or I haven’t used very much. I think it is somewhere outside of the familiar with me, something extreme that hasn’t often been my experience. It is used in the Bible, in the Old Testament anyway, and I wonder if, although the word isn’t a particularly a common one, the experience of adversity is.

“One who is righteous has many adversities, but the LORD rescues him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19)

Adversity is defined as a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty—a more familiar way to understand adversity is to identify it as “trials”, and we are very familiar with that word and the experience! …the one who is righteous has many trials, but the Lord is our deliverer.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2)

Another word in line with adversity, is adverse—something or someone acting against or in a contrary direction…hostile. Sometimes, people we love will say or do something to us that has an adverse (antagonistic or harmful) effect. It hurts! …and it is our inclination to hurt back. It’s one thing when strangers or people we don’t know very well say or do something that hurts us, but when it is close to home, we (at least I do) tend to react more than when our emotions aren’t so involved.

Another word that runs along the same line and has a lot to do with adversity and adverse situations is “adversary”. We of course, know who the adversary is—and it isn’t a person who lives in our house, a divisive person on social media, or the person holding a differing political view; it isn’t anyone we can see, for that matter.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

I cannot begin to list all the adversities and deceptive schemes the devil has in his portfolio to devour and destroy people—yet we know that is his goal. Jesus, in contrasting the life He offers those who call on His Name to the activity of the enemy, said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11) The thief comes for our destruction; the Shepherd came for our salvation.

The caution here (I’m talking to myself), is to make sure that we recognize who our adversary is. We need to consider our attitudes when we are drawn into conflict or controversy. When we feel the need to defend ourselves and our point of view. When we snap at someone for making a mistake or saying something wrong, or we don’t agree with what is said. …and when we let the little things, or not so important things people do or say, annoy us.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens….” (Ephesians 6:12)

I’m convinced that the enemy seeks to insert a wedge amongst friends and family members. Yet for the most part, people are much too important to us than to let whispers of division, animosity, and the feelings of being slighted cause rifts in our relationships. We’ve learned to respect and talk about the things that divide us. However, the enemy also seeks to cause division on a larger scale…

“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.” (Romans 16-18)

It appears that the closer we get to meeting up with Jesus in the air, the harder the enemy is trying to divide us, causing offense and conflict, and destroying unity in the body of Christ. Not just between friends and family members, but also in churches, communities, and within nations.

Someone I respect and follow on social media recently called out some well-known pastors, condemning them and their ministry. Not so called “prosperity” teachers or the proponents of false doctrines, but Bible teachers she has a personal issue with. Calling them false teachers and insinuating that they are not saved. We need to be careful that the “righteous cause” we support or promote on one hand isn’t causing divisions within the body of Jesus on the other. “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4)

We each come to Jesus with our unique personalities. We are formed by God, knitted together in our mother’s womb— “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:13, 14) God didn’t use a cookie cutter, and we bring to Jesus our different life experiences and brokenness. We are naturally divided, yet the Holy Spirit brings us together in one body, the body of Christ. “Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

My desire is to be aware of adversity, acknowledge who inflames it, and avoid divisions amongst family and friends —and within the body of Christ.

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