- Jan 14, 2015
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Cognitive Dissonance is perhaps the most notorious thief out there because what he's after is more precious than all the gold in the world: he's after our minds. When we read or hear something that is inconsistent with our long cherished beliefs, healthy skepticism and suspicion initially keep us from bending whichever way the wind blows. However, when prayerful consideration of these new ideas leads to the inability to dismiss them as false, the resulting mental stress is known as Cognitive Dissonance.
The natural cure for this condition is simple: trust that the Spirit of Truth will lead us out of all error and into all truth. Unfortunately, the cure most people choose is the poisonous drug of "not as Thy will but my will." The desire to remain in ignorant bliss outweighs the desire to follow wherever the truth leads, be it a fiery chariot or fiery furnace.
A perfect example of this concerns the popular "Left Behind" belief that there will be a period known as the last seven years of tribulation following after Jesus comes "as a thief in the night" to rapture away the church. Rise of Antichrists, rebuilt temples, thrones, sacrifices, peace treaties, Armageddons, etc., are events that are to unfold during this time.
However, 2 Peter 3:10 KJV, says in no uncertain terms what will happen in the day that Jesus comes as a thief:
"But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10 KLV
The obvious question arises, "How can there be a last seven years of anything when there won't be much of anything left of this planet???!!!"
But, instead of immediately accepting that there is a serious problem with "Left Behind" theology and that further Bible study is needed, Christians allow Cognitive Dissonance set in. The brain begins to consider that a little compromise now is better than the pain and discomfort of whatever necessary changes may bring. Therefore, truth is discarded unloved and error is fast retained. I've actually heard someone suggest that Jesus will come as a thief in the night "two times, the first time at the rapture and the second time at the Second Coming". After I pointed out that there is no way that can happen twice because after His first coming there'll be a giant digital clock erected in Times Square called "7 Years Countdown To The Second Coming" complete with a celebratory ball encrusted with all the trappings of Ecumenicalism and a top billed CCMM rock band waiting in the wings. An apparent realization of how absurd his suggestion was must have kicked his Cognitive Dissonance into overdrive because the debate ended there. How sad that people would rather worship at the foot of popular ideas, robbed of their good sense, than at the foot of Jesus.
The natural cure for this condition is simple: trust that the Spirit of Truth will lead us out of all error and into all truth. Unfortunately, the cure most people choose is the poisonous drug of "not as Thy will but my will." The desire to remain in ignorant bliss outweighs the desire to follow wherever the truth leads, be it a fiery chariot or fiery furnace.
A perfect example of this concerns the popular "Left Behind" belief that there will be a period known as the last seven years of tribulation following after Jesus comes "as a thief in the night" to rapture away the church. Rise of Antichrists, rebuilt temples, thrones, sacrifices, peace treaties, Armageddons, etc., are events that are to unfold during this time.
However, 2 Peter 3:10 KJV, says in no uncertain terms what will happen in the day that Jesus comes as a thief:
"But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10 KLV
The obvious question arises, "How can there be a last seven years of anything when there won't be much of anything left of this planet???!!!"
But, instead of immediately accepting that there is a serious problem with "Left Behind" theology and that further Bible study is needed, Christians allow Cognitive Dissonance set in. The brain begins to consider that a little compromise now is better than the pain and discomfort of whatever necessary changes may bring. Therefore, truth is discarded unloved and error is fast retained. I've actually heard someone suggest that Jesus will come as a thief in the night "two times, the first time at the rapture and the second time at the Second Coming". After I pointed out that there is no way that can happen twice because after His first coming there'll be a giant digital clock erected in Times Square called "7 Years Countdown To The Second Coming" complete with a celebratory ball encrusted with all the trappings of Ecumenicalism and a top billed CCMM rock band waiting in the wings. An apparent realization of how absurd his suggestion was must have kicked his Cognitive Dissonance into overdrive because the debate ended there. How sad that people would rather worship at the foot of popular ideas, robbed of their good sense, than at the foot of Jesus.
