Same Ol’, Same Ol’ Ashtar Tale

The pridefully imagined… (and then re-imagined)… God-substitutes, those idol philosophies of “enlightened” Secular Humanism, have been around in many shapes, sizes and guises since the days of Nimrod on the Babylonian plains of Shinar.

Rising up from the plains of Shinar.

And, obviously, the re-imagining continues unabated today.

The Bible warns the Church (The Bride of Christ) to beware of the spiritual subterfuge that has, does and will threaten her from without and from within….

One of those very clear warnings is spelled out dramatically in the second chapter of the Book of Revelation. In a message to the Church in Thyatira, a church that had for the most part lost her way in the wide-open, deceptive and confusing maze of sexually promiscuous “open-mindedness”, and world-approved, self-gratifying spiritualities, the Lord sends a stern,and yes,…dare I say it?... VERY judgmental warning:

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Jezebel of ThyatiraNevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
—Revelation 2: 18-29

Jesus, only meek and mild?

Perhaps, today’s Pollyanna Church of Wishful Thinking and Bright Sunny Days may need to re-examine that position and heed the warning.

Asherah/Ashtar

Same Ol’, Same Ol’ Ashtar Tale

In the church of Thyatira,
You’ll see writing on the wall,
Witness there Big Brother’s rising,
While the Father takes a fall.

It’s where Jezebel-ish leanings
Have been sown for far too long.
It’s where tares are deeply rooted,
And The Word’s considered “Wrong!”

It’s where trouble is a-brewing
In the rebel-rouser’s stew,
Where “deep secrets” are emerging…
And “progressive” truth is new.

It’s where compromise is cherished,
It’s where narrow now is wide…
It’s where Adam’s in the bushes
Where he’s trying still to hide.¹

It’s where “tolerance” is reigning
Idol waters rising high.
Where the blessed Hope is fading,
Truth abandoned…and denied.²

It’s where church ‘n State’s united,
And adulteries abound….
Ears a-tickle, co-existing,
Solid doctrine run aground.³

It’s a “marriage” consecrated,
Re-imagined pompously.
It’s a world-dictated union…
Sailing Blind Aposta-Seas.

It’s where tiny ones are offered
In the scorching fires of Baal…
Roe v Wading in the quagmire.
Same ol’ same ol’ Ashtar Tale.⁴

It’s where wisdom now is called for…
Where discernment needs to be,
It’s the Valley of Decision
That the Prophet Joel could see.⁵

It’s a time at last for choosing
Where there’s no more “in-between”…
Time to open up the Good Book:
Revelation Seventeen.⁶

We’ve been drinking lukewarm water,⁷
Lord, we’ve drifted far away….
Help us find The Way that’s narrow,
Keep us from Broad Lies today.

Take us up to Mount Moriah…
Place us there upon our knees.
Give us grace there to surrender
Tightly held idolatries.

Take us to the Cross of Calv’ry,
Help us recognize our sin…
Holy Spirit, chase the darkness,
That we may be born again.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
—John 3: 3-8

“To refuse limits on sexual desire is to make an idol of lust.”
—J. Budziszewski

"For God so loved the world..."

¹ Genesis 3:8
² 2Timothy 4:4
³ 2Timothy 4: 3-4
⁴ 1Kings 11:33
⁵ Joel 3:14
⁶ Revelation 17:1-2
⁷ Revelation 3: 14-16