When Reprobate Murderers Kill Reprobate Idolaters
Sadly, yet responsibly, we live in a world of sin and death. The Bible is clear that sin and death reign, as agents of the god of this world, who was a murderer from the beginning (Jn 8:44; Rom 5:14, 17; 2 Cor 4:4).
Satan is the inspiration behind human idolatry, too. In fact, it is often one’s own brand of idolatry that compels hatred for one’s neighbor, even to the point of murder. Think about it…Cain and Abel, the children of Adam and Eve, played out this idolater/murder scenario. Cain killed his brother, Abel, after they worshiped (Gen 4). His motive was hate.
Which sin does not lead to murder? Every sin carries potential for this end. Greed is idolatry, and history books are filled with someone’s lust for more, leading to the death of others. Add to jealousy and greed, the sins of envy, covetousness, pride, etc. Sin is the clear pathway to death.
News sources, at our fingertips, reveal the volume of deaths all around us, on any given day. The more sensational the death method and count, the better for ratings, which sells advertising. That aside, there are a great many people out there in the world; and there is more than a few dozen people out there dying every day. Death is stunningly commonplace, but rarely do our conversations invite the subject of sin. Sin leads to death, and death is caused by sin (Rom 6:23).
Death is on our dinner plates. It is along side the road to our workplace. It is on the daily obituary roster in our small-town newspaper. We come to expect death when people refuse to spread out, multiply, and fill the earth. Thus, our cities are filled with idolatry, strife, and murder. If a Cain builds a city (Gen 4:7), it will have a Lamech to murder those who offend him (Gen 4:23).
Altruists want to change the world. They hold seminars, conferences, conventions, parades, and marches for hope and change — unless they are suppressed by totalitarian statists, who desire absolute power, to maintain some semblance of order.
By way of example, Democratic Socialist dictators (an oxymoron but a reality) steal their unfair share of the cream, and people turn envious and angry. The despot’s genocide will only hold back the bloody revolution for so long. At the end of the day, every day, nothing changes. There is no new thing under the sun (Eccl 1:9). The world has been, and always will be filled with idolaters and murders.
Many men have created religions to pacify the souls of the masses (don’t forget to follow the money, the power, and the sex scandals). Religious entrepreneurs create idols for faithful adherents. They call the idol, “god,” and they add power to their god/idol by increasing the numbers of followers, either by allure or coercion. “Peace, Peace!” they advertise to the unwary and the weary, but there is no peace in religion.
Lost souls, grasping in the dark night for hope, will place their trust in smooth talking: capitalists; socialists; Islamists; educational elitists; activists; materialists; entertainment icons, sports heroes, game enthusiasts; zealous tourists; not to mention craft and gun show collectivists. Whew! Stated another way, the world is filled with demons, posing as gods, hiding behind man’s idols, demanding love and attention.
Even the consumption of media has become an addiction, which always points to an idol. Over-consumption of anything is a sure sign of imbalance, which purveyors of the religion of psychology neglect to call, “gluttony.” Everyone is a victim, and coping is the business of the day. Everyone else, apart from the round table of one’s intersectionality, is an oppressor. In other words, “If you don’t support my sins, then I hate you (which is murder, according to Jesus).” All of this leads to death, which we twist and label, “a celebration of life.” Positivists are idolaters, too! They are “killing me softly” with their words.
Jesus Christ said, “I am the life (Jn 14:6).” Are we celebrating Him? Jesus is God (Jn 1:1; 10:30); and God is true, while every man is a liar (Rom 3:4), which is in the image of man’s father, the devil, who is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). The truth is that sinners are killing themselves, and while they are in the process, they are killing others. Reprobates die in their sin. They suffer a just judgment at the bema seat of Christ, who is the righteous Judge (Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5; Rev 20:11). This is followed by eternal punishment in the fiery hell of the second death (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).
“What must I do to be saved?” is an excellent question at this juncture (Acts 16:30). The answer is that you must turn from all your killing and repent of your idolatrous coping. Jesus Christ is the only way out of your life of sin, in the world of sin leading to death. Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Moses, David, and Paul were all responsible parties in the death of others. God forgave them, by having mercy on them (Rom 9:15). He did not just excuse their wretched actions; He sent His only begotten Son to die in their place of punishment (Jn 3:16; 1 Pet 2:24). Jesus was the only One worthy of their trust.
Friend, are you focused on other men killing men, today? Who are you in the current process of killing, besides yourself? Are you focused on the foolish religion of others, today? Are you blind and ignorant to your own idolatrous behaviors?
With what little space I have left here, I can only point you to Jesus Christ. You will find Him on the pages of the Bible, and His Holy Spirit will guide you there by His grace, if He wills it. The Spirit will be your teacher as you read. You can also hear the Bible preached at a local Christian fellowship on the Lord’s Day. Pray and ask Jesus to help you know the truth that will set you free from your personal idolatry and sinful killing spree.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
May 18, 2022
