Dear Beachside Family and Friends,
In January of 1969 the acid rock/psychedelic rock/heavy metal band Led Zeppelin released a song entitled "Dazed and Confused." One of several successful songs on their self-named debut album, "Dazed and Confused" not only reflected the thoughts of the author and performers, but also was a commentary on the state of society in the late 60's, at least among young "progressives".
Almost fifty years later it can easily be observed that our culture has not improved from "dazed and confused". If anything, society seems more confused and detached from reality than five decades ago. Children are wantonly slain in the womb for the convenience of their mothers, individuals mutilate their God-created bodies in a fruitless attempt to change their sex, and some pastors teach that the contents of the Bible are not moral absolutes, but guidelines, as if the scripture was an evolved "pirate code". Arrgh!
Confusion is never the work of God. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.." He is a protector of life, not the purveyor of death, as Jesus revealed in John 10:10, declaring that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy: I am come that they may have life and more abundant life". God is never confused. He did not inspire advances in medicines and medical technology for the purpose of ending the lives of innocent children. He did not give talent and highly developed skills to surgeons for the purpose of attempting to change what He created.
How is it that we accept these things and call them progress? Progress should be defined as forward momentum, not a decent into confusion and destruction. Progress should embody the advancement of life, the life through which God blesses mankind and delivers us from our own folly. Is it not sensible to believe that children are conceived to live and not die, and that God's natural order of sexuality is established at the moment of conception? He never makes a mistake, and only those blinded to the truth could embrace the confusion so readlly accepted by many who say they know and love Him.
Paul wrote "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) The God of this age is none other than the deceiver Lucifer, who believed that he could dethrone God. We know him as Satan, and his blindness has infected humanity, whom he deceives into believing that they themselves are God, free to reject Divine plan and purpose without consequence.
Satan was so dazed and confused that he had Jesus murdered, crucified by clueless Roman authorities. He believed that he had dealt with his "Jesus problem" permanently. In his pride and confusion, he made the second greatest mistake in his existence. The Word reveals "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7-8) in Satan's arrogance he killed Jesus, facilitating the resurrection of the Lord of Glory and establishing His Church, and "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
Since Satan and his confusion cannot prevail against both-again believers in Jesus, we can remain at peace in the midst of the cultural storm. We should exercise our faith, take authority over the devil, and speak words of truth and life into the storm of confusion that besets our society and nation. Peace will prevail, and sense will return if we stand for life and the truth of God's Word. We need never be "dazed and confused". We can be confident in our future as believers. By the way, I've read the back of the Book, and WE WIN!
Pastor Ramon
