A few weeks ago the second Sophia conference was held. Once again our denomination endorsed the conference. It is plainly a frontal assault on the faith of the church catholic. Peter maintains that sin is so relentless in its approach and so alluring in its appeal that we must be watchful without letup. Paul uses the word in Acts as he warns the congregation that smooth-talking teachers will infiltrate the congregation and seduce it with false doctrine and corrupt practice.
Temptation is subtle.
If we can't be tempted to say outright that theft is good, we are tempted to whisper to ourselves that the little bit of creative bookkeeping needed to get past the cashflow-squeeze isn't wrong. If we can't be tempted to say outright that self-indulgence is good, we are tempted to whisper to ourselves that at our age we've paid our dues and need not respond to any claim upon us whether for time or energy or money or prayer. He doesn't mean we are to be anxious or paranoid. But he does mean our spiritual antennae are to be tuned in to genuine spiritual threat, whether frontal or subtle. Hitler and others have thought there to be, but as long as all men and women are created in the image of God there can be no subhumans.