The article you are about to read reveals a denigration of God that is seldom seen. It concerns a letter written by Tom Gattis, Paris, Arkansas, published on the Voices page of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on May 24-2007. (Excerpts from the letter are used under the Fair Use Doctrine with attribution to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas and Tom Gattis.) A few weeks ago a letter appeared with the question asking why Christians “go to church.” Mr. Gattis attempted to answer the letter, and then at the end he made one of the most despicable suggestions about God that can be made. That will be presented last, but suffice it to say that when a mind is turned against God, He becomes an irritant to many, so don’t be surprised at what comes forth.

The reasons for going to church presented by Gattis range from going to be seen to confessing problems, with socialization in between. Presuming that some do go to be seen, that will be learned by others soon enough. As for socialization, the Bible teaches that Christians are to fellowship with one another rather than with the unfruitful works of darkness. Paul wrote: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11) Based on the tone of the Gattis letter, it appears he thinks that Christian socialization is wrong. What should those who “go to church” to meet in holy socialization called fellowship do, meet in bars and other places devoted to immoral living and licentiousness so as to not offend those who disapprove of and make fun of holy living? But if they did go to those places, would they not be called hypocrites?

As for confessing problems, James 5:16 tells us: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The word faults is used to denote human failing to do right (which is sin), as opposed to the objective sin deliberately committed against God and his commandments due to rebellion and hard heartedness. Everyone needs help for all kinds of problems and there is no better help than caring fellow Christians to help the weak and the lame struggling to walk as God wants them to behave. But in the world of the self-righteous holiness and help isn’t needed is it? Jesus said: They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  (Luke 5:31-32)

Now we are close to the most despicable part of the letter. It begins with Gattis writing that he can’t understand why anyone would pay to be deceived (presumably he means remuneration to a preacher for his work). He then asks who has killed more people, God or Satan and gives the number killed by the flood; he includes Egypt’s first-born and Sodom and Gomorrah; the plagues and famines, and then he finished with Satan [killed] ten.

Never mind that the people God destroyed were the worst behaved people imaginable. The scriptures tell us: 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) Sodom and Gomorrah, the plagues, and Egypt’s first-born was done to wipe out unrighteous behavior called sin and because which God had every right to punish those who lived in a manner that would bring certain death to all of the creation if allowed to flourish.

Who is being deceived, the people who gather to hear God’s truth or Mr. Gattis and others who speak similarly against the righteousness of God? Paul wrote of those so deceived: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Now it is time for the ungodly despicable part in reference to the deaths at the hand of God versus Satan. “Maybe the term “loving God” is being applied to the wrong Bible character.” To even think that Satan is better than God shows certain alienation to God, but to write it in a letter to a publication for all to see is beyond my ability to comprehend. I’ll let Paul speak for me. The words in the following verses of I Timothy 6:3-5 are to Christians, but the principle applies to others as well: 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

It is plain that we live in a time when things holy are denigrated to the extreme and the words of Genesis 6:5 still apply: 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. In Sorting It Out, if thinking and saying that Satan is better than God isn’t evil, then there is no evil in the world.

05-24-2004 DEC