ARTICLES FROM THE PERSUADER
VOLUME VI (2003-2008)
The Trojan Horse Principle Is Operating In Our Churches
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4
Most of us have heard of the legend of the Trojan horse. Some say it is a myth but it is recorded in the encyclopedia. The Greeks besieged the city of Troy (in present day Turkey) for ten years but could not overthrow it. Therefore, they resorted to a plan to deceive the inhabitants of Troy. A Greek spy (Sinon by name) had slipped into the city while the Greeks built a large, hollow, wooden horse and left it outside the city filled with warriors while the rest of the army sailed away. Sinon persuaded the Trojans to take the horse into the city, convincing them that to do so would mysteriously make Troy invulnerable. They did so and that night Sinon let out the armed Greek warriors, who killed the guards and opened the gates to let in the Greeks who had returned. As a result Troy was captured and burned.
Also there is a computer virus called the Trojan horse. It is sent in a hidden manner but when you open up the attached file containing the virus, your computer will be destroyed.
In like manner Satan has spies who have infiltrated every facet of our lives and then set a Trojan horse before us. And if we are not careful, we’ll take in the Trojan horse and open it up and allow the enemy to outnumber us and destroy us.
Let me say, most facets of our lives have already been infiltrated and are in the process of being destroyed or are already destroyed. Our government has already been infiltrated as well as our public school system and our churches for the most part. Also our homes and even our hearts have been infiltrated.
In this article I want to deal with the Trojan horse principle operating in our churches. Mat. 16:18 says that the church should attack the gates of the enemy (Mat. 16:18: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”), but we have failed to do so the last 50 years. Thus, we have been besieged by the enemy for years. Also we have been infiltrated by false professors who have persuaded churches for the most part to take the Trojan horse of the enemy inside our walls and open it up which has allowed divers gospels to be preached which are contrary to the Scripture. Paul said if any man or angel preach any other gospel than what he preached, just let them go on to hell. (Gal. 1:8-9: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”)
I believe that the gospel I call “easy believism” has already destroyed most churches. It would take 10 books to describe the various forms of this false gospel and then there would be many variations unmentioned. When preachers tell you all you have to do is “believe” and leave out repentance and Holy Ghost conviction, they have been captured by the Trojan horse principle. Some say raise your hand and repeat after me--captured. Some use the Roman Road “so called” plan of salvation but short circuit the work of the Holy Spirit--captured. Some say you are saved by works--captured. Some say speak in tongues--captured. Some say just be baptized--captured. Even some who say you have to repent have changed the definition of real Biblical repentance--captured. Some preach basic truth then turn around and practice “easy believism”--captured. And on and on we could go. The Trojan horse principle is operating in our churches.
Then, you have churches who speak of “grace.” Grace is a good word and a good thing. But, Jude warned in our text verse that those who crept in unawares have turned the grace of God into “lasciviousness.” Those who have done so have the Trojan horse principle operating in their churches.
I will try to explain “lasciviousness” to you. The word is defined as unbridled lust and shamelessness. One who practices such acknowledges no restraints and refuses to acknowledge the authority of God’s Word. Their so called liberty is used as a license to sin. (Gal. 5:1,13: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”)
An example of “lasciviousness” is fornication, which is misdirected physical desires or sensual sins. Fornication is a general word for wrong sex relations of any kind--incest, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, sex with animals and corpses, and it includes adultery. (Heb. 13:4: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”)
Rom. 12:1 states that we are to present our bodies holy--separated from the world and separated unto God. (Rom. 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”) Paul said “grace” will teach you to deny some things and teach you how to live. (Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”) “Lasciviousness” refuses to acknowledge the authority of God’s word. God’s Word has something to say about how you clothe your body. Men and women are to dress in modest apparel. This means your clothing is not to draw attention to the flesh and curves of your body for that causes the opposite sex to lust. This means men’s pants are not to be too tight so as to show his privates. Also, he is not to bear his chest in public. This would forbid shorts and tank tops. Women are not to wear in public low cut blouses, swimming suits, shorts, short skirts or dresses, and blue jeans and pants for they are immodest. You say preacher that is “legalism.” No, that is right according to God’s Word and not to practice such would be “lasciviousness”--refusing to acknowledge the authority of God’s Word.
Men are not to have long hair (I Cor. 11:14: “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”), tattoos, body piercings, and ears pierced (Lev. 19:28: “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”), for those who do such are identifying with the world and the homosexual movement. (Rom. 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”) Women are to have long hair (I Cor. 11:15: “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”) and not to have tattoos and body piercings (this includes pierced ears; Lev. 19:28: “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”). We are not to be gluttons (Pro. 23:1-2: “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.”) nor wine bibbers--this includes social drinking for the Word says not to even look on it, let alone drink it. (Pro. 23:31: “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.”) We are not to play the lottery or games of chance, or go to the casinos. All of this is according to what God says in His word. The music we listen to should not be country, rock, or rap even if it has “so called” Christian words to it. Our music should be according to Eph. 5:19: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
You say I’m under grace, not law, and I have liberty. It is true if you are saved you are not under law but it is also true you are not to use your grace and liberty as a license to sin. For if you do, that is “lasciviousness”--refusing to acknowledge the authority of God’s word. If you and your church practice these things, you have opened the Trojan horse of the Devil and are allowing that principle to operate in your churches.
The outcome is destruction just like the city of Troy was destroyed. Read Rom. 1:19-28 and you will see that if you practice “lasciviousness,” what light you have will be turned into ignorance and God will pull back the hedge He has around you and you will be given over to “uncleanness,” “vile affections,” and “reprobate minds” which means you are not saved and will “not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:21: “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”) The Lord admonished His people in Jer. 6:16 to “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” But they plainly said, “We will not walk therein.” Now that you have been admonished “What will you say and do?”
I am not condemning you but just trying to let you see that the Trojan horse principle is operating in our churches and it will destroy them. All I’m trying to do is hold the fort to have a place where truth will prevail. I’m vexed and grieved when I see “lasciviousness” being practice by those who claim to be saved. Also, let me say there is good news for there is hope and help at the foot of the cross. I long to say like John in III John 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
This article is a very thin skeleton of a series called “The Trojan Horse Principle” I preached in our church. I would be glad to send you the series on CD's without charge. Also the series is on our web site under video messages. If I can be of help please let me know.
THE PERSUADER - Oct.-Dec., 2007