Of Rats and Their Flutes

Most people are familiar with the fairy tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The infamous rat catcher, who lured rodents from the village with his magical pipe, was then denied the fee he had requested. Enraged, he led the children from their homes, just as he had the rats, never to be seen again. What wonders, what delights, the children must have imagined when they heard him play! Whatever it was, they heard his music, and followed him, destination unknown.

I used to converse with a woman who claimed to be psychic. I asked her how she knew she was talking to the spirit of the dead, rather than, for example, something demonic. "Well," she responded. "You trust your feelings. Good spirits give you a feeling of warmth and love, while evil spirits make you feel anxious or afraid."

That explanation, I'm afraid, doesn't make sense on any level.

Wouldn't it be nice if bad people acted in such a way that you just immediately knew they were bad? The Deposed Prince of Whereeverstan, for example, could start his constant emails to you with, "Dear sir or madam, I'm a con-man, and I'd like to give you the opportunity to send me your bank account information so I can steal from you." But that's not how it works. Instead, they try to appeal to your nature: your greed, perhaps, or even your generosity. They find a way into your life, and then turn you against yourself and reap the rewards.

Doesn't it make sense that the enemy of God would work the same way? Doesn't it make sense that, if Satan were to appear to you in an attempt to lead you astray, he would come in a way that would be comforting and inviting? Doesn't it make sense that the wrong thing to do would be made to seem like the right thing?

And indeed, not only Satan, but all who work (knowingly or otherwise) in his service act in exactly that manner.

 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

Sin seems right. Nobody wants to think of himself as a "bad person," and so we convince ourselves of the rightness of what we want to do. But do not be deceived. Sin feels good for the exact purpose of leading you away from God's will. False teachers tickle your ears and make you feel good about yourself because they (whether they know it or not) are leading you away from God. God's truths are hard. The way to Heaven is narrow and difficult. Ear-tickling sermons and feel-good temptations are nothing more than a pied piper, leading you away from the Truth of God.

Mistaken Identity Can Be Deadly

Do you know what Black swallow-wort is?

Native to European countries, the Black swallow-wort -- a cousin of North American species of milkweed,
is invasive to this continent, having been introduced by a plant collector in Massachusetts, and recorded as spreading by accident since around 1864.

So why are we talking about native Milkweed's annoying cousin? Entomologists and butterfly enthusiasts have noted another marked difference between what is also called "Black dog-strangling vine" (how's that for an evocative name?) and the native plant. While Monarch butterflies more or less live and thrive on native milkweed, its European cousin is actually deadly to the insect.

It turns out, this invasive plant registers to the butterfly as similar to its usual nutrition source, providing similar stimuli. However, when mama butterfly lays her eggs on the Black swallow-wort, the caterpillars who hatch are killed by the toxins in the plant. To the Monarch butterfly, this European vine looks like her usual milkweed. It smells like it. But it is certain death to any Monarch who eats it.

As Christians, we are inundated by teachings that sound an awful lot like Scripture. Sometimes, these things are throw-away lines, heard in our day-to-day lives. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." "God helps those who help themselves." But sometimes, they are in the form of teaching -- often right from the pulpit. We are lulled by the spiritual-sounding words. Maybe they promise health and wealth (after all, didn't Jesus say He wanted us to have an abundant life?). Maybe they promise blessing in exchange for financial gifts (God loves a cheerful giver!). Maybe the words make us feel good about ourselves by condemning all those sinners out there.

It sure does sound like Scripture. But it's poison.

The apostle Peter issued a stern warning against those who would lead God's flock astray.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

Don't be fooled! These so-called teachers and preachers may come in with pretty words, and tickle your ears with happy thoughts, but feeding on their teachings will poison your soul and lead you to death. The Gardener is coming, and these fake weeds will soon be rooted out. In the meantime, keep watch, and see that you are checking what you learn, not just against what sounds good, but against the truth of Scripture.  


(Thanks to Wikipedia's entries on the Monarch Butterfly and Black swallow-wort)