Religion

Counterfeiting and Wartime Operations

Could it be possible that such extreme differences in religious opinion could actually be a part of systematic plan? Is it possible that religions and their opposed views could be more of an act of counterfeit and wartime operations conducted on a wide scale? If so, why would anyone do such a thing? How could such a thing be conducted? And who would be sufficiently malevolent enough to undertake such a clandestine effort?

The benefits of counterfeiting
To begin, let’s discuss the meaning of counterfeit. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, counterfeit carries the meaning of “made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive.” There are many such counterfeited things in human society ranging from counterfeit money to watches to footwear—many counterfeits exist. Astoundingly, people even publicly dress as armed forces personnel and wear military decorations portraying themselves as someone they are not, all to deceive people. Shortly put, counterfeiting is simply intentionally presenting plausible but inaccurate information with the goal to deceive people into believing something that is not true.

This leads to the question of why people counterfeit and deceive? There is always only one answer—for personal gain. The gain may be monetary. The gain may be for public recognition. The gain may be for advancement in a thousand different possibilities. Regardless, counterfeiting always has at its core an attempt to gain something. And if counterfeiting exists for such things as money and shoes, would it not be expected that the most critical aspect of human existence would draw even greater attention and be the target of counterfeiting activities? And what is the most critical aspect of human life? The truth about God. After all, every person gives enormous thought about God and will make a determination about God based upon the information selected from the array of information provided. But what if that source of information is counterfeit?

Satan’s propensity to counterfeit and deceive
There is a war raging in the universe between God and his arch enemy, Satan. As mentioned previously, human beings are involved in this war, both as bystanders and as active participants. On this battlefield many casualties are produced: many are injured, many are taken captive; many are destroyed. If God, who made mankind, is for man, then it could only be the enemy who attempts to deceive and destroy mankind. For anyone wishing to read a good explanation of this war, I recommend reading Donald Gray Barnhouse’s, The Invisible War.

As with any war, deception, misinformation, and clandestine efforts are an integral and invaluable part of waging warfare. For anyone who accepts this cosmic war as real and active, it should not come as any surprise that Satan counterfeits to gain tactical advantage.

When we consider the vast differences and arguments of religions, their diametrically opposed views coupled with the growing idea that all religions lead to the same end, could we simply be looking at a countefeit operation of global proportions? And if religions were counterfeited from a true product, who would gain? The one who opposes the authentic, Satan. And if people are influenced and redirected away from the truth or authentic, who stands to lose? The people who are deceived by such counterfeit efforts.

To understand the Bible’s announcements of the enemy’s character and deceitful efforts in the world against people, consider the following statements (italics added).

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:42-44 ESV).

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8 ESV).

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV).

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV).

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV).

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 ESV).

The Scriptures are clear on this matter. Satan is the source of deceit, misinformation, counterfeiting, all with the goal of blinding people’s minds and taking them captive through wicked deception. Ultimately this counterfeiting and deceptive efforts prevent people from coming to the knowledge of the truth that is found in Jesus Christ. Religion is one of those deceitful efforts.

What would be counterfeited?
Finally, if Satan were counterfeiting the things pertaining to God, and packaging lies to deceive people, what would he counterfeited? May I suggest to you it is the very things that the differing religions hold as truth.

    a. Who God is (all religions differ in this explanation except Christianity and Judaism; and Judaism denies that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world as do the other religions).

    b. The explanation of where mankind and all things originated.

    c. The explanation about God's plan of redemption for humanity.

    d. The explanation of what God desires and expects from people.

    e. The explanation of God's authorized source (the Bible) for information about him, the war humanity is involved in, the sides that oppose each other, and the conclusion to the war that rages.

All religions answer these questions but they oppose each other in such degree that either all are incorrect, or many are counterfeited from the one authentic—as is the case for all counterfeiting. The Scriptures offer a good piece of advice to protect us from falling prey to Satan’s counterfeiting, misinformation, and direct assaults (emphasis added): “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11 ESV).

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV).

For a final thought, I offer this.

In 1965 Paul Harvey wrote a short paper in which he titled, "If I Were the Devil." Amazingly, the words of Harvey's words ring truer now than in his day. I have provided both the text (here) and the audio recording can be found here.

Finally, let's turn our thoughts to why religion appeals to so many.

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