[Paul Vusik]

Matt,
I appreciate your input and I can see how you would come to those conclusions. I actually did think and prayed about whether the people do this “unknowingly or without full awareness”, but after, I realized it’s not so. When Paul wrote those two verses, there is a clear mention in there, that’s referring to their conscience. If they didn’t know or had no awareness then why would their conscience become seared? Why is that the end result?

I believe that people who go on that path, are fully aware of what’s going on. Holy Spirit works in born again believers, and conscience is one of the avenues that’s used for warning and alarming people that they are starting to depart, listening and heeding to other things, and so on. It is when all of those things are ignored and thrown into trash, because it fits them and their hearts desires better, then the warnings are no longer can be heard. From that point, there is no longer any awareness of what’s going on.

Also, I think that there is a huge difference between deception, and lack of knowledge and understanding. I can fully admit, that there are subjects I will not touch or comment on, and not because I think a certain way or I believe that I’m “deceived” as you stated. I can say, I haven’t prayed or studied about a particular matter/doctrines, and have nothing that I can offer to the discussion. Spiritual maturity doesn’t come instantly or over night, and while you or I or anyone else is growing in knowledge of Him and His ways, that doesn’t mean that this process is deceiving. Some need milk, and some need meat, as Paul states in his writings, or as John said, children, young men, fathers.

But also I see a very big difference between deception and seduction, just look what deception is:

-the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.

Vs

What is seduction or being seduced is:

-to persuade to disobedience or disloyalty.
-to lead astray usually by persuasion or false promises.

Paul, used the word “seducing” spirits, and not people being deceived in this particular situation. As a basic definition of it above, there are things that are offered, promises made, satisfaction guarantees and encouragement and persuasion that takes place. It requires one to give something up or “depart for greener pasture”, or disloyalty / disobedience, to gain something in return. This is what “seduction” is, and it’s done with full consent. Usually or in most cases, spiritual seduction happens because people are seeking higher “spiritual satisfactions”, that are not offered or found anywhere in the Bible.

It’s very easy to dismiss it or just chalk it up to “I didn’t know”, but based even on my own experience and what I did, I knew, I was aware to some extent, maybe not to what I know now, but enough to say no. But I counted my worldly pleasures and how people will look at me, and what they think of me, way more important that what God had said. I know it’s different in situations where you were born into something, so I can’t imagine those conversations that you have to have with God, and I’m sure we all learn things differently and God works differently in everyone’s life, unlike the LC, one size/template fits all.