Having established that satan is the governing authority in this world, having governed by false idols and wicked political authorities throughout the Old Testament, and right up into this present dispensation of God’s grace. We examine the scriptural instructions on how we operate in this present evil world, how we serve God and one another, and how we trust God through it!

Paul quotes the law a lot. But he isn’t a teacher of the law. Paul instead shows us how God manifests the righteousness of the law in us, (because the righteousness of the law is God’s righteousness, which never changed. -and is a witness to grace, along with the prophets).

We examine the spirit by which the devil’s minions rule principalities and the high places of the present world. We then study through God’s instruction and means of protection for believers in this spiritual war.

We then home in on what a snare is, and why the scripture uses a snare to describe the operation of the devil. And then on the protection God provides us against it. And that protection, “the armor” starts with the truth, that’s the Word of God. Get it in you and it will also be on you. It will protect you inside and out! Then righteousness. Who’s righteousness. The righteousness of Christ, which is the breastplate, protecting the vital organs against a fatal body blow. And the preparation of the gospel of peace. Knowing the gospel gives you the ability to turn the enemy soldier into an ally. But you’ve got to prepare. That means study to show yourself approved unto God. Then faith! Who’s faith? The faith of Christ which never fails, even when shots are being fired! Then salvation, which protects your mind like a helmet protects your head. And this helmet can even be fitted onto the enemy, converting him to an ally! And finally the sword of the spirit, which circles you right back to the truth, the sword is the word of God, providing omnidirectional  protection and offensive capability.

We then look at scriptures on charity, keeping in mind the snares the devil might construct to capture the church, and the culture, and the government, and you and me, in order to get us working against the manifestation of God’s righteousness by our charity.

And this leads us back to the matter of the 501c3 so-called charitable deduction. Put simply: it’s the course of this world causing us to apply the calculations of a business transaction to “charity.” But business isn’t charity. So we shouldn’t call business charity. We should not defile anyone’s understanding by confusing business with charity.

The charity that suffers long, and is kind; that never envies, doesn’t vaunt itself and isn’t not puffed up, that never behaves itself unseemly, never seeks her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, rejoices in the truth; the charity that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; the charity that never fails must be kept pure from the business of the world. To conflate the two is to be entangled in the snare of the devil.

If one experiences the pain of rebuke and correction and responds in godly humility, he is receiving training from God for his soul. Respond godly and your soul will do better, here and in eternity. And you might attract more people to go there with you. Because you might demonstrate charity out of a pure heart.

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