A biblical discussion of the significance of "thought crimes" as it relates to one's freedom of thought, personal faith, and the impending issuance . . . of the Mark of the Beast.

THOUGHT  CRIMES

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come . . .

II Timothy  3:1

            Thus begins the apostle Paul s cameo on what he foresaw as most deplorable, in the last days.  Our Lord cited earthquakes, famine, and persecution (Matt. 24:7-9). Paul, however, also familiar with the brutality that comes from the "religiously correct"—looks into their eyes, and down into their hearts, to see crimes of the Night, and the dark horror within.  They will be covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, . . . he cautions, even, disobedient to parents, . . . without natural affection, . . . (vs. 2,3).

            Yet, although the apostles (as well as our Lord) saw the wickedness of men's hearts, they never advocated judgment based solely on what is within our hearts.  In fact, our Lord, who knows even the hearts of His accusers, did not hesitate to pronounce judgment upon them, in the future tense, for their actions.  He said [paraphrasing], You really think you are better than your fathers, who killed the prophets, don't you?

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

   That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Matthew 23:34,35

            The same applies to less violent offenses.  But I tell you that men will give account on the day of judgment for every idle word . . .   (Matt. 12:36). Did you notice something?  The Lord, Who knows our hearts, does not judge us for our attitudes, but by our words and actions.  In other words, even God Who knows the hearts of all men (Ps. 139:1-4) judges according to every man s work (I Pet. 1:17).

    And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:12 [emphasis added]

            It is true that we love to emphasize that a person is saved by faith.  This is true, and the above quote (as we shall see) offers us great comfort, in that our lives are a testimony to what is in our hearts, and faith without works is dead .. . ( James 2:20,26).  Even faith is manifested by our lives and actions.  There is a difference in the application of faith, however, which the Law does not cover, and which thought crimes unlawfully violate, as shall be explained.  For the Law involves a man s actions, while faith is an operative of the heart, where worship originates.

            Therefore, when labeling recent legal decrees (commonly called  hate crime legislation) as matters dealing with thought crimes, we are directing our attention to the fact that such legislation actually attacks the way people think rather than they way they act.

            When speaking of thought crimes, therefore, we are speaking of the inner workings of humankind: of our heart and soul.  Surely, this area is so sacred that even the Lord Himself respects our right to privacy within our thoughts.  He can read them but does not judge us based on our inner musings.  In other words, God will never say to anyone, You are going to Hell for not being in agreement with Me.   No, all we have to do is obey the Law, and Heaven is ours.  Our thoughts are our own.  Our actions are judged according to God s righteous Law.

            It is only by our willing acknowledgment of our sinfulness as we see the just quality of His Law, and the wickedness of our own hearts that we are able to avail ourselves of the alternative: loving surrender to Him Who gave His all to save us.   

           

            The heart of a humankind, along with our thoughts, are sacred just as the marriage bed is sacred.  It may not be violated at a whim, or by unlawful authority.

            The same holds true for governing authority.  Government does not own the souls of its citizenry. The IRS may tax my paycheck, and bank account, but this in no way means that I must love the IRS (or government).  Civic obedience is required by God.  Patriotism, love of country, and affection for one s homeland is voluntary.  Respect is not.

            I must respect a police officer, but not (necessarily) like him, or her.  Respect is demanded.  Affection is voluntary.  We are all called upon to respect governing authority not reverence or worship it.  In this regard, please take note of what the following passage does, and does not, say.

    Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

   Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:7,8

            What is most interesting is what is not stated here.  The king is not to be worshipped (a common practice in the Roman empire).  Our hearts, and thoughts, are our own.  In fact, Paul says that love is so precious that one s affections may be parceled discriminately.  We many owe someone love, if this will conflict with our faithfulness to God.

            Thus far, we have highlighted three issues:         

1)   Even God judges us by our actions alone.

2)   A person s heart and thoughts are sacred.

3)   Government is not to be worshipped (God is).

One more point seems appropriate here.  It is this: the one who controls your heart, also controls your morals.

            When the heart steps over the line from love, into lust, the body goes into bed before it steps down the altar.  The heart was compromised, and the actions followed.  By sheer force, however, some of this activity may be altered.

            It is this form of  forced virtue from which the totalitarian state gets its morality (at least externally).  For the state they live, die, love and breed.  Externally, at least, the state controlled heart produces order.  Such was the basis of the Komosols, and youth camps, within the former Soviet Union, and of the arching Zieg Heil! (Roman salute) of Hitler s Third Reich: total submission of its citizenry for the advancement of society. Also laying the groundwork for the brutalizing of all in disagreement, for:

  They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

Jonah 2:8

In other words, God notifies us that a society or person founded on a lie loses its ability to be compassionate towards the weak, and unfortunate.  They become useless eaters and vagrants, who must be sent off to camps (or worst).  Let us not shake our heads, and tsk, tsk, our tongues It applies to us all, and  to the ceremonially religious, as well as to the perverse.  None of us has a right to look up towards Heaven with dry eye, and unrepentant heart, when we have forsaken the heart of Him Who truly loves us.

   Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Ezekiel 16:48

            Government handouts do not strengthen the hand of the poor, as love does.  Welfare would institutionalize the poor.  The gospel redeems us.  However, let us not miss the first two attributes highlighted above: pride and fullness of bread.  Praise God for this instruction (!) for it tells us how to avoid falling prey to moral exhaustion, as we shall soon see.  For, although  humility is anathema within modern society it is still the first step on the road to biblical repentance, and redemption.  Self-esteem and pride, however, form the basis for modern fulfillment.

            Pride also forms the basis for contention, since every man now desires worship (secretly, or otherwise Prov. 13:10).  Society, as such, begins to pull the plug, and start to unravel.  Law and order soon demand an iron fist (to subdue the little gods ) and real love shrivels into the corners. A totalitarian regime starts to loom as a necessity.  We talk more about love, and experience ever less warmth.

  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Matthew 24:12

It is not surprising, therefore, that as our society becomes increasingly self centered, and lawless, and as morals continue to decline that our government start to look for new ways to control its citizenry.  Having rejected God s laws, humankind now seeks its own morality (Rom. 10:1-3).  What is somewhat novel, in our day, is the way this is coming about within our increasingly secularized society: not by armed insurrection, or by obvious revolution, but by the simple passage of a new kind of law.  As may be deduced from the preceding discussion, these new laws are designed to do more than curtail violence within society.

Consciously, or otherwise, they are also designed to create a worship of the secular authority, as well and eventually, of someone else.

     Antichrist will be a bombastic, daring, and charismatic figure on the international stage.  He will openly challenge God, while blaspheming and belittling His authority and rule.  Paradoxically, this same individual will also ride a platform of moral reform: reforming society to Hell s standards.

    And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand [for a time].

Daniel 7:25

Having answered our original question, regarding the civic dangers of thought crimes.  Allow a word to the saints, concerning what to expect within such a society.  Notice, if you will (in the text above) the effect of such leadership.  It will wear out the saints. . . .  How is such possible?

The problem is two fold: one valid, the other involving compromise.  The valid issue involves Christians attempting to be good and lawful citizens within a society that is shifting the meaning of right and wrong. 

   Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

   They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

  But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

Psalm 94:20-22

            Quite simply, if our trust and strength is in the things of this world, or even in the economy of this world, we will not be able to stand in that hour.  The Lord must be our Rock, upon which we stand.  Period.  Short of this absolute, the second problem becomes immediately apparent.

            Religious people will wear themselves out trying to conform, and discern the good, while avoiding the bad.  The problem seems simple, but the solution most difficult, since it demands our all.  Promised health, prosperity, and continued ease for a little understanding (compromise) the formerly faithful . . . slip.  Christ s words, which so many ignore today, will echo throughout eternity:

 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:31-33

            Yes, I know, I have mentioned worship, but not the Mark of the Beast and the above verses seem destined to tie these matters together.  The design is to bring awareness that the two go hand-in-hand (money lust and worship ) like hand in glove.  Compromise naturally follows.

            Beyond this, we cannot go, for our space has run out, in this issue.

            Watch and pray!

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