The great deceptions

I have been convinced that many modern churches, and I dare say the majority of the Church have fallen into two deceptions.

1) The fact that they think they are a New Covernant people just because they teach out of the New Testament.

2) Christians are convinced by the accuser that they are not worthy NOW. That they still have to do more, pray more, be kinder....before they are worthy and loved by our Father. This in effect nuteralizes their abilities and giftings and calling.

Recently, while reading Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey (Hodder & Stoughton 2001), I came across another deception. This possibly combines the two mentioned above, but I feel that it deserves its own special mention. I have quoted from page 53 in this book, as I could not possible write better that this.

"Evil's greatest triumph may be its success in portraying religion as an enemy of pleasure when, in fact, religion accounts for its source: every good thing that we enjoy is the invention of a Creator who lavished gifts on the world.