Man hates God's word and will do all he can to either ignore it, ban it, or dilute it, in order to remove its edge and striking conviction against man.  In a nutshell, this reflects mans fallen condition and as the word of God cannot be bound or eradicated, mans object then becomes an exercise of 'a dumbing down strategy', until the scripture becomes of no effect.  In conclusion this is what the written word of God has got to say in reference to this condition ...  Ec 9:3:

"This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead."

Yes, this is the reality of the situation according to God's word.  This is also a historic reality ...  At the beginning of the church age when the apostasy was slipping into the church at its very onset, and those who had been responsible for its incredible announcement and commencement were now caving into these new religious demands, and as an antidote, an apostle, of one born out of due time, brought the total and only remedy necessary to the people of God ... 1 Cor. 2:2:

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

Three very important questions I raise here in regards to the Bible believers perspective during his earthly pilgrimage, with the obvious answers backed up by the written word:

Question 1:  What did Paul set himself out to only glory in and centralize his faith in?  Yes, it was the cross without hesitation and without anything else diverting himself from this objective or complicating the issue (Gal. 6:14, Eph 2:16, Phil. 2:8 & 3:18, Heb 12:2)!

Question 2:  During Paul's earthly day and for the rest of the church's pilgrimage throughout time, how was the power of the gospel lost in its effect and preaching?  Yes, it was by omission of the cross from the message, rendering it bloodless, powerless and without conviction strength (1 Cor. 1: 17-18)!

Question 3:  Lastly, what was the diminishing factor in Christians avoiding persecution while concentrating more on popularity and making a name for themselfs?  Yes, it was by removing the cross from the gospel as in every instance.  Otherwise known as the apostasy (the falling away).  Or going with the backward flow (Gal. 5:11 & 6:12)!

Two millennia on and this apostasy is now reaching full blown status as it has become very structured and organized and now offers a very clever manmade alternative to the kingdom (from all spectrums of life under the universal umbrella of Christendom) that new converts were supposed to have entered into upon spiritual rebirth.  This is why we need to be more diligent and discerning than ever, being fully aware of Satan's mimicking tactics (like counterfeiting the move of God) and "safety nets" ("snares" are a better word) he is putting in place in order for catching those who slip through the holes in Christendom's walls.  These are those who have burnt out or become dejected or despondent by going through the mechanisms of the religious vicious circle Christendom has provided, as well as various splinter groups.  Or those who have been shunned and rejected through their non compliant stance to both modern and traditional religion, and opted out.

The delusional distractions put in place are the likes of the false movements that have come along at the opportunistic time such as 'the word of faith movement' (which includes 'the prosperity gospel'), 'the restoration movement', 'the sacred/Hebraic/Messianic name movement' or 'the emerging church movement', and so on.  These act as funnel away from the kingdom and into cultist replacements.  There are also many more side movements that function in the same way, and are all recognized by the way they first undermine the Holy Bible as the believers ultimate authority, then cunningly point you to the latest revelations of a man, in order for their flesh and blood teacher to become your ultimate authority.

This same clever tactic was used at the turn of the 20th Century in places like Wales and Asura Street when the move of the Spirit was hijacked by the system.  Or counterfeit rival groups were set up to captivate those who were responding to the move of God.  The same happened over three decades ago during what was to be termed 'the Jesus movement' when the likes of 'the Children of God', 'the Way', 'the Army of God', and other sects were raised up within.  The most successful and prominent not being a sect at all, but a "bona fide" mainstream phenomena, namely 'the Charismatic movement'.

These bogus counterfeit movements also create a perfect breeding ground for professional hucksters to arrive on the scene, capitalizing on the moment, by funnelling the naive and non discerning back into the IC (the institutional church).  A very effective method in which few dare to question!  The very reason both fear and guilt tactics, clothed in good intentions, are constantly used hand in hand to manipulate fallen man into religious substitutes.  The very reason we are warned in the NT to avoid and reject such as heretics, who come in array of all fashions, from the slick and smooth trendy to the polished traditionalist.  What the NT calls in fact false witnesses, false apostles, false prophets, false brethren, false accusers, false teachers, and so forth.  They are also refereed to as deceitful workers, whose job is to deceive, trick, exploit and make merchandise of people, through undermining their faith with warm and plausible speech.  They are spotted at functions and religious 'get-togethers' as beguiling unstable souls, using feigned words, fair speech and flattering of lips, and speaking great swelling words of vanity, all the while they feast with you as 2 Peter says, and using proper biblical terminology!

Others prefer to stay entrenched within the system, believing they are being faithful to something that was never of God in the first place ...  the great 'obligation trap' (or 'trip').  This is the reason large portions of Christendom are being inundated with massive wave surges over its walls of denominational distinctions, that have defined their rolls in the world as "Christian" and "biblical".  Ring a bell (or bells) in anyway?

Did not Jesus talk about the new wine bottles for the new (non intoxicating) wine?  The whole purpose was for the Spirit of God to be poured into new pure vessels made up of the new followers of Jesus, and not into rigid human structures (hierarchical set-ups, buildings and institutions) as of old.  These rigid human structures are where the new wine could not be contained, but would turn sower, corrupt and burst out as wasted wine from heaven.  Only good for those who prefer to be stupefied or intoxicated by religion (fantasy or wishful thinking could be other used terms here).  If the new wine was kept within the confines of the word and the people of God (its flexible structures), then there would be ongoing refreshment and blessing.  The reason why Jesus also used the allegory of new cloth when He warned against patching up old cloth (the structure of the old covenant, akin to religion in our day) when He provided new cloth that would never wear out.

Yes, the dyke is full of flaws as the cracks and holes appear from top to bottom, and the old corrupted wine of spiritual delusion is bursting at the seams, to inundate the world with more darkness and woe, in the name of God, to be used as more ammunition against the gospel by trying to come across as supportive of the gospel.  Religion is like that ...  full of oxymoron's and contradictions!  Never able to rightly divide the word of truth because its aim is to complicate it then replace it.  You have heard the saying before no doubt ...  "it is all in the marketing!"  Or, in other words ...  the art is in how you can flaunt yourself with such ease, and look spiritual and becoming at the same time, all for the benefit of milking the populace with mercenary or hireling intentions!  In contrast, God has made a wonderful promise to us (that's His chosen remnant) outside all these side shenanigans going on, to embrace with our whole heart, while both the secular and religious world plunges into further spiritual darkness and decadence:

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

Or the NT following equivalent we can take to heart and find solace and strength in the inner man from such comforting promises:

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (not great tribulation) draweth nigh."

Here is another equally important promise I keep using in tandem to the above verses in order to reinforce hope and courage to the people of God in these perilous times:

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him."

This standard of course is not the so-called (now defunct) "moral majority" or another "new revelation" from a new group appearing in town.  Nor stamping your own version of democracy by invading and imposing it on another peoples group.  Nor religions trading off their past dogma, rigid "values" and infallible "truths", in order to emerge as a one world united, super religious front, to impress the world with both constitutional and social forte.  Nor is it anything to do with setting up role models or good mentors in society for Nanny State's acknowledgement and approval.  Nor running graphic, foul, violent and disgusting ads on telly (in parallel to all the other anti-life and self-indulgent 'in your face' stuff being dished up in the name of "entertainment" or "being informed") to sell the lie it is to counteract that which it is equivalent to.  As if an inoculation against all the of images of disgust, disgrace (even done in style or as "tasteful" erotic art) and violent tragedies forced in everyone's face every night on TV and the rest of the media, is somehow going to build up a revulsion to these things God is handing the world over to anyhow.  Nor is voting in the right party or politician into office going to remedy the ills of society and the world in general.  It has got absolutely nothing to do with mans form of standards or code of conduct or behaviour patterns that need to be socially engineered into the populace, with mass spending, marketing and advertising campaigns, as if the answer was to be found in stealthily changing peoples behavioural patterns and modes.

The standard the Bible is talking about is God's remnant on earth, Jesus' little flock, the righteous seed line that goes right back through history to the beginning, also known as the seed of Abraham, the light on a hill and the salt of the world, rightly dividing the word of truth.  This is the people of God who only see one plume line for guidance and life ...  the word of God!  Placing our finger in the dyke or using mans methodologies to combat mans depravity or rebellion against truth and righteousness, or bandaging up the system, will not work.  Jesus is still the great physician and nothing outside Him will remedy anything.  There is no hope outside His gospel nor lasting peace to be found.  The crux of the matter, as always ...  the cross!  Moreover, unless the individual is prepared to bear his own and follow the Saviour unconditionally, there will be NO redemption and NO salvation as well as NO lasting peace!

You can grovel over your prized pets and pamper your cute wee animals till the end, even the most grotesque and dangerous ones, which is now an acceptable trend (thanks ET!).  You can give yourself as a noble martyr in order to save the planet, protest all you like against wearing fur (animal skin) and boycott as many butchers or meat eaters as you like.  You can hug a thousand trees, sacrificing a few months or years of your life to secure them (make sure its not Christmas time though), but it will avail to nothing in the end.  No one can save the planet.  Nor its wildlife of trees and whales, etc.!   The earth has been cursed and is reserved for the fire anyway and man is free (according to Genesis the first book of the Bible) to wear fur and eat meat, due to man falling from grace when he rebelled against God, with God making accommodation as always.  Caring for beasts is good and biblical, but it is a sham and a distortion of natural affection to place beasts above children or people in general.  Animals were made for man, as was the planet, and man was made for God.  Saving man is the paramount thing.  How can the world be saved if man is not saved first?  Furthermore, how can we save mankind if we can't save ourselves first?  However, I know someone who can!  Save us that is!  His name being Jesus!  Trouble is ...  too many He remains a cuss and defamed word, and has no relevance to modern, sophisticated technological man at all, outside the Christmas, Easter, or Sunday experience.  Or being some sort of educational historic reference point, in a roundabout way.

Bottom line ...  man has bought the lie he is evolving into improvement and betterment, until he reaches a place of mastering his own destiny and overcoming all ill and disaster without his Maker.  God has other plans, and they are not good but spell doom nevertheless.  Unless one is prepared to fall down and wash his enemies feet after turning to His Maker in remorse first, for the way he has treated Jesus let alone his fellow man.  Yes, there is real hope.  Moreover, there is true deliverance and salvation.  Here it is ...  believe on the name of the Lord and they shalt be saved.  This means you can be part of the answer and no longer part of the problem, as well as enter paradise on the new day, bathing in the presence of God for all eternity.

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new."