[continued from previous message]   
      
   manipulate atoms, then no telling what they are able to do.   
      
   In the Bible, they helped to duplicate some of the plagues that God   
   performed by way of magic Egyptian priests.   
      
   >   
   >“What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God.” (1   
   >Corinthians 10:20, ESV)   
   >   
   >Demons receive worship; they do not create realities. They corrupt by   
   >deception, not by ownership. To claim that demons can permanently taint   
   >God’s creation grants them authority Scripture denies.   
      
   If by creating realities, they sure can. They do that all over the   
   world by appearing as dead humans (ghosts), poltergeists, creating   
   sounds, making people sick, etc.   
      
   Of course the Bible has them possessing people, which creates a   
   reality. They can create lights in the sky. (like the 'star' that led   
   them the child Jesus in that house)   
      
   >   
   >Third, Scripture commands believers to live distinctly without   
   >retreating from the world.   
      
   One can't get out of this world unless you qualify to ride in a space   
   vessel.   
      
   >   
   >The Bible never calls believers to withdraw from ordinary human   
   >practices because pagans exist.   
   >   
   >“I wrote to you not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at   
   >all meaning the sexually immoral of this world… since then you would   
   >need to go out of the world.” (1 Corinthians 5:9–10, ESV)   
      
   OK.   
      
   >   
   >The pagan-association argument demands what Scripture rejects: total   
   >withdrawal from normal life. That standard is unbiblical.   
   >   
   >Jesus Himself ate meals, attended weddings, observed feasts, and used   
   >common cultural forms while remaining perfectly holy.   
      
   OK.   
      
   >   
   >“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’”   
   >(Matthew 9:13, ESV)   
   >   
   >Holiness flows from obedience and faith, not from fear of contamination.   
      
   Tell that to the preachers in the churches who teach hellfire sermons   
   to scare the flock into giving till it hurts.   
      
   >   
   >Fourth, Scripture identifies the real source of this teaching.   
   >   
   >The Bible consistently links obsessive rule-making and external   
   >prohibitions to false spirituality.   
      
   Yes, the Scribes and Pharisees were notorious for this.   
      
      
   >   
   >“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch… according to human precepts   
   >and teachings?” (Colossians 2:21–22, ESV)   
   >   
   >Paul names this mindset for what it is.   
   >   
   >“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made   
   >religion and asceticism… but they are of no value in stopping the   
   >indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:23, ESV)   
      
   OK.   
      
   >   
   >This practice promotes self-made religion. It replaces obedience to   
   >Christ with suspicion toward creation.   
      
   ?? What suspicion toward creation.   
      
   >   
   >Scripture also exposes the spiritual danger behind it.   
   >   
   >“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising   
   >themselves as apostles of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:13, ESV)   
   >   
   >Poisoning believers against ordinary acts of gratitude, joy, and   
   >remembrance fractures conscience, undermines freedom, and shifts focus   
   >away from Christ’s finished work.   
      
   OK, I guess.   
      
   >   
   >Fifth, Scripture anchors Christian practice in Christ, not in origins.   
   >   
   >The New Testament never evaluates Christian practices by tracing their   
   >cultural ancestry. It evaluates them by whether they honor Christ.   
      
   And don't forget Jesus' God, Jehovah. (1 John 2:17)   
      
   >   
   >“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory   
   >of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)   
      
   Absolutely.   
      
   >   
   >Meaning comes from purpose, not from counterfeit parallels. Idolatry   
   >depends on worship, not on resemblance. Two people can use the same   
   >object with opposite meanings because the heart determines worship.   
      
   The Bible says the heart is devious. We can't always trust it:   
      
   -- New King James   
   Jeremiah 17:9  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and   
   desperately wicked; Who can know it?   
      
   >   
   >“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and   
   >truth.” (John 4:24, ESV)   
      
   YES BIBLE TRUTH IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO GOD. (John 4:23)   
      
   So things like that 4th century Trinity, immortal soul, a fiery place   
   known as hellfire, are all extra-Biblical. As long as people believe   
   such false things, John 4:23 is not being applied.   
      
   >   
   >Finally, Scripture reveals the lie at the root.   
   >   
   >The pagan-association argument denies the sufficiency of Christ’s   
   >victory. It acts as if Satan retains authority over creation after the   
   >cross.   
      
   Cross = a upright pole (staurus)   
      
   Satan is presently the ruler of this world, which gives him authority   
   over creation. (John 12:31)   
      
   >   
   >“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by   
   >triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15, ESV)   
   >   
   >Christ did not leave the world demon-owned and believer-forbidden. He   
   >redeemed people, restored conscience, and reclaimed creation for   
   >grateful use.   
      
   John 12:31   
      
   >   
   >“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if   
   >it is received with thanksgiving.” (1 Timothy 4:4, ESV)   
      
   OK.   
      
   >   
   >This teaching settles the issue. God does not command believers to trace   
   >pagan shadows. He commands believers to walk in faith, truth, and   
   >gratitude centered on Christ.   
      
   OK.   
      
   >   
   >The attempt to poison minds against everything Christians do by invoking   
   >pagan associations contradicts Scripture, undermines Christian freedom,   
   >and replaces the gospel with fear. It is not zeal for holiness. It is a   
   >denial of the lordship of Christ over His world.   
      
   Right now Satan is the ruler god of this world. (John 12:31; 2 Cor   
   4:4)   
      
      
   " The Good News According to Jesus   
   Learn more about Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior "of mankind,   
   in this exciting video series."   
   Watch Now".   
   See jw.org (12/25/2025)   
   James: zebrabible@proton.me   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)