Satan resorts to many stratagems in his attempt to destroy the Church of God in the world. Sometimes we see him working in open outward attack by raising up forces to oppose and persecute the people of God. On other occasions he comes to tempt and to try the people of God in the hope that by the fall of any of them he may further the interests of his own kingdom. There is another way, however, and a more subtle way, by which Satan seeks to destroy the Church of God. This is by planting in the Church of God those who have never experienced the grace of God in their hearts. We know from Scripture that the visible Church of God in the world will always contain elements of the tares in her midst. Christ tells of the enemy, the devil, who sowed these tares, and how both wheat and tares must grow together until the harvest. We are thinking, however, more of the situation where in any church or denomination in the world, Satan so secures a place for those who still belong to his own kingdom that the world is exercising a considerable, or even a predominant influence in the Church.
When Satan succeeds in planting his own servants in the Church in this way the effect on the Church, whether it be in a congregation or in a denomination, is devastating. It means that men with unsubdued hearts, hearts still under the reigning power of sin and death, hearts still subject to Satan, are now exercising a considerable or even a predominant influence in that congregation or Church. Ostensibly such are engaged in advancing the kingdom of Christ, while in reality, whether known to themselves or not, they are advancing the kingdom of sin and Satan. Not being governed by the reigning power of divine grace, it cannot be expected that they are to be used in the building up of the Church of God in the world but in pulling it down. As pride has never been subdued in them it means that they are motivated by carnal ambition or false zeal as they actively engage in seeking to promote Christ’s interests.
The situation where worldly men exercise a considerable influence in the Church of God will almost certainly lead to conflict. The true people of God in the Church, not being of one mind with those who, though in the Church of God and even in influential positions in it, are still in the kingdom of darkness, discern that things are not right and seek to oppose the carnal schemes of unconverted men in the Church for advancing Christ’s kingdom. In opposing these schemes the true believers can expect to be exposed to the enmity of unregenerate hearts. Who is so sure that he has the Spirit and that he is far ahead of others in advancing the Lord’s kingdom than the professing Christian who is still in Satan’s kingdom? Only let the child of God oppose his schemes and he will soon see the self-righteous indignation which this arouses.
In situations of this kind, particularly in congregations but also in churches, what happens is that the true believer is soon made to feel a stranger in his own house. It is not the subverter of Christ’s Cause who feels ashamed, but the child of God is made to feel ashamed because he will not join in with the worldling in breaking down the carved work or rather will not join in carnal schemes devised supposedly to build up the Church of God.
That the situation referred to is a rare one would be a dangerous conclusion to arrive at. In our view it is far more common that we might be ready to admit. Satan, a past master at deception, is more active today than ever, and we may readily conclude that if he was at this work in other days, he will be even more actively engaged in it today. Again it would be dangerous for any church in the world to conclude that they are free from this particular aspect of Satan’s activity. Rather should we be very much on our guard lest Satan has succeeded in sowing these tares while we slept.
This is a matter which calls everyone to close searching and self-examination lest we ourselves are found having a name to live, yet being dead. It was said of another: “He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Isaiah 44:20. Will it turn out in the end, each one should ask himself, that I am just a tare which Satan has planted in the Church? Am I acting all the time against the interests of Christ’s Cause and Kingdom while professing to be one of the builders on the walls of Zion? If we know anything of the deceit of our own hearts we will not lightly come to a conclusion in this matter whatever place we may occupy in Christ’s Cause. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. This being so, the more responsible place we occupy in the Church of God in the world, the greater need for self-examination. If in reality we are not born again while occupying such a place, then we can do greater damage to the Church of God than if we occupied a less-responsible place. If we are honest in our searching we may conclude that the Lord will confirm our interest in Him if we are His. Where this takes place what humbleness of mind and brokenness of spirit this will create in us. On the other hand, if after all we have until now deceived ourselves then can we not expect that the Lord who is faithful will undeceive us and show us where we stand? May we be led each one to this searching in order that the Church may be purified from all that retards its work and witness. Let that person beware, however, who, whatever place he occupies in the Church of God or for whatever time he has occupied it, short or long, is unready to say: “Is it I.”