LIE: Resistance to assimilation is futile

Lie:      Resistance to assimilation is futile.

Truth: Resistance to assimilation may be deadly, but faithful Christians are triumphant even in death.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:24–25

We live in a time of massive deception.

The ruling powers have pulled off the biggest hoax in the history of the world: COVID-19. Billions of people have fallen for it; but millions, perhaps billions, have not. Those who’ve listened and implicitly trusted the major corporate media wonks — CBS, NBC, FOX, BBC, CNN, Facebook, YouTube, The New York Times, etc — have unwittingly allowed themselves to be brainwashed, their minds controlled by highly-produced, repetitive, incessant, visual propaganda.

The deceived includes millions of Christian people who believe that the vaccines are ‘safe and effective.’ What they’re not told is the fact that hundreds of thousands have died or been permanently injured by the very vaccines that were promised to ‘be the only way we get back to normal’ (which we all now know to be false).

The incessant drum beat of COVID statistics and graphs; number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths; the endless images of needles going into arms; the constant haranguing to get the shot; all is designed to wear our resistance down, to normalize, to desensitize, and to induce a sense of learned helplessness in the face of the overwhelming avalanche of controlled and coordinated messaging.

Behind the surface messages of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, this non-stop messaging is designed to do one thing — to get you to believe that: ‘resistance is futile.’

The handsome and beautiful, likeable, tastefully-dressed, articulate, passionate, apparently sincere and objective presenters, quoting scientific ‘facts’ (more on that later) — are all designed to render you powerless to rebut anything. They claim to answer all of your questions, your doubts, and fact-check every dissenting voice. They do not allow any discussion or dialog. Therefore rendering you powerless again, subliminally beaming the message: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

But there is good news.

For millions, the propaganda has not worked so well and in some cases, has backfired. Many people are waking up to the deception. Since the Internet is still a platform for a wide range of voices (though the dissenting voices are now certainly harder to find), the truth is still quite accessible if we’re willing to work hard to look for it. But it takes discernment, humility, persistence, and a willingness to admit we’ve been wrong, that we’ve been duped and duped big time!

But for those who’re willing to face the quite scary proposition that the ‘conspiracy theorists’ may have been right all along (at least on some things) and that a global cabal or cabals do actually exist (in some shadowy form), and that the COVID pandemic may be a hoax after all, for them, for the first time, they can start to listen and learn. For them, as they ‘wake up’ and truly open their eyes, the world suddenly takes a very different and biblically true shape. Paul was certainly aware of the dark powers in his own time.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. — Ephesians 6:10–13

So this article is for those of you who see that something is not quite right, but are so muddled and befuddled, the subliminal message — resistance is futile — is an unspeakable dread. But the truth is, most who believe this message or are in danger of believing it, are not aware of it at all. Perhaps they feel depressed or lost or confused, escaping into any number of blind alleys — addictions, perversions, violence, etc.

This article is for you if this strikes a cord. In this article I’ll show you that this subliminal messaging — ‘resistance is futile’ — is a lie. And particularly the message: resistance to assimilation is futile. I say assimilation because that is the grand goal of the beast and is the central meaning behind ‘the mark of the beast.’ For more on that please see my article series, What is the Mark of the Beast?, part 1, part 2, and part 3.

What it feels like to believe that ‘resistance is futile’

Believing that resistance to assimilation is futile, manifests in various ways and to various degrees. But this belief is often unspoken or not allowed to be acknowledged. Here are eight ways that it manifests. See if any of these sound familiar to you. All these mentalities are based in fear, but we are told over and over in the Word: ‘Fear not!’

Survival mentality. This mentality says, ‘If I can only just hold on for a little longer, or hold on for as long as I can. If I can only dodge the bullets, I can survive. Just keep a low profile and don’t make waves.’

Passivity. Without purpose or intention; floating aimlessly, not engaged, avoiding the hard word of seeking God, of thinking clearly, of engaging with others on the real issues, personal and social.

Paralysis of analysis. This mentality (to which I myself am prone) endlessly studies about the issues, but does not take action or commit to a different direction.

Resignation. Quietly, tacitly giving up; one step beyond passivity. It’s a passivity that doesn’t ask questions and is content to consistently avoid the real issues.

Equivocating. Endlessly waffling, finessing, tossed to and fro. ‘I can certainly see both sides,’ never committing the time and effort to reach a conviction, to truly believe something one way or the other. It’s close to duplicitousness, saying one thing with one group, but saying something else to another group.

Capitulation. Simply giving in to social, economic or political pressures. ‘Well, you know what they say — “no jab, no job.”’

Helplessness. Or ‘learned helplessness,’ being worn down, either by constant exposure to propaganda or some combination of any of the above. ‘Well, I can’t do anything anyway.’ or ‘what’s the use?’

Avoidance/denial. ‘It’s not really a problem,’ or ‘It’s not that big a deal,’ or ‘hey, we’re not doing that bad.’ Unwillingness to look squarely at the problem, its effects and its potential long-term consequences.

The truth is our mentality is backwards when we think resistance is futile. It’s a mentality that should be corrected and inverted. Resistance to tyranny and assimilation is not futile because in faithful death we triumph as Christ triumphed on the cross and in the resurrection.

Paul described this paradox to the Corinthian church:

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? — 2 Corinthians 2:14–16

Resistance to assimilation is not futile because, even if resistance ends in death, the death is the ‘fragrance of Christ’ to those are perishing. It’s a martyr’s death, which though it may initially look like a defeat, in the end it is a triumph.

Resistance to assimilation is not futile because, as long as we are willing to die, the ultimate sacrifice, or endure any kind or amount of suffering, we can resist the world’s attempt to assimilate us. We will see it for what it is and not delude ourselves to take the easy way out. Only in this can we face our fears.

The ruling powers, backed by demonic forces, know that the only opposing force they ultimately have to worry about are the faithful Christians who don’t back down to the fear of evil, to suffering or death. So how do the powers try to overcome the fearlessness of Christians? They target the mind and emotions and work to impair and ultimately disable our powers of discernment. If they can appear — primarily through sophisticated propaganda — to be good, benevolent, or at least benign, then they will have accomplished their intent.

The fact that many church leaders do not name or address these evil forces, amounts to acquiescence, or at least sends the message that those forces are tolerable, or pose no threat. But Jesus, in his messages to the churches was both general and specific in naming evils.

So in order to not lose our faithfulness, we must have acute powers of discernment by the Holy Spirit. If we lose our discernment, we will also lose our faithfulness in the face of overwhelming deception.

Now, to those who have their eyes open, here are seven ways to avoid believing ‘resistance to assimilation is futile.’

1  Change your mentality: death in Christ is a triumph

Yes, it’s easy to say, but hard to do.[1] What this really requires is learning to die every day. Jesus said it like this:

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. — Luke 9:23–24

And Paul said it like this:

And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. — I Corinthians 15:30–31

My article, LIE: I am defeated, part 2, explains this new mentality:

When Christ calls us to take up our cross, he calls us to be willing to go to any length to love and serve, even if it means being embarrassed, humiliated, misunderstood, rejected or even to be injured or killed.

In our lives we do not easily reveal our weaknesses and sins. Usually we go to great lengths to hide them, defend them, minimize them, or try to compensate for them. We will use any number of ways to protect ourselves and reduce our exposure and vulnerability. But God calls us to avoid all of this prevarication. Rather, he calls us to simply but appropriately admit them.

Taking this posture for ourselves obviously puts us into a vulnerable position; it’s a position that others can easily take advantage of. And yes, people will take advantage of us in ways large and small.

Our enemies use our weaknesses, failures and sins as leverage against us, many times without realizing what they’re doing. But when we relinquish the right to hide or defend our weaknesses, but instead acknowledge them, it removes the ground on which the enemy can effectively oppose us. This may seem purely tactical, but it’s much more than that. When we take this posture of vulnerability, we are simply agreeing with God and being honest with who we truly are.

We must not hide the brokenness of our lives because this is the reality of the Adam-flesh that we still inhabit. But when we also shine the light and love of Christ through these broken vessels, it allows the glory of God to shine through as nothing else can.

Another, perhaps more accessible way to train for death is what happens every night: we sleep. Sleep has always been understood as a metaphor for death; it’s a dress rehearsal for death in that, every night, we relinquish and accept the loss of all control. We best do this by voluntarily laying down, turning off the light, closing our eyes and yielding our body and soul to God.[2]

It may seem simple, but many people will not do this; instead, in trying to avoid God, and out of sheer exhaustion, they collapse into sleep while watching TV or scrolling on their device.

So actually, resistance to God is futile, but, unlike the beast, he will not assimilate or absorb us. He does not consume us so that we lose ourselves. No, in surrendering to him, we find our true self.

2  Don’t React, ACT — Act according to the will of God

As I said earlier, the slick propaganda to which we’re all exposed is designed to provoke us to react in a predictable way, or that is, to react by ‘shutting down’ (resistance is futile).

So instead of shutting down and isolating ourselves, we act according to the will of God: we gather together, we greet one another, we love one another. Instead of reacting in fear of the virus or of government lockdowns and restrictions, we speak the truth boldly. Instead of reacting in anger to the anti-vaxxers, the anti-maskers, or even in anger toward the governing authorities, we love our enemies and do good to those who spitefully use us.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. — Matthew 5:10–12

3  Distinguish between so-called ‘facts’ and truth

Truth cannot be reduced to ‘facts.’ Truth is an elevated domain all its own. You will not arrive at the truth by simply consuming and regurgitating facts.

Let me explain what I mean:

Facts are at the surface; facts are objective reality; facts are that which simply is and is not even questioned or allowed to be questioned. There are many facts today that are assumed to be undeniable. It apparently does no good to question whether they should be or should not be; they simply are and the sooner we accept that ‘fact,’ the better, or so the wisdom of the age says.

But I’m not talking about small facts; I’m talking about ‘facts’ that exist only as described, such as these:

• The SARS-Cov-2 virus
• the PCR test
• the COVID-19 vaccine
• vaccine passports
• outer space
• September 11th attacks
• nuclear bomb
• voting in elections
• gender identity
• suffering is bad
• self-promotion is necessary for success
• passive use of the internet is harmless
• and many more!

If you question any of these, the fact checkers will unleash a torrent of facts to put you back in your proper place. And actually, the fact checkers pose themselves as a ‘fact’ — the self-important, final arbiters of ‘truth’ — that cannot be questioned.

For a tutorial on why and how fact checkers often miss the point, cherry-pick evidence, ignore the larger point or focus on a minor point, misdirect, etc, see James Corbett’s excellent podcast on the subject: Episode 381 — Who Will Fact Check the Fact Checkers?

The truth is, any significant issue is simply too complex — with thousands of interlocking ‘facts’ — and too far-reaching to even begin to see the deeper truth. But the fact checkers simply want to utter a few details, while wearing their white coats and claiming to have told you the whole truth. But nothing could be further from it.

Jacques Ellul, in his seminal book, The Presence of the Kingdom, states that the first step in revolution is seeing through what he calls the ‘respect for facts.’

Now . . .we have a right to ask: “What is the general motive which — at the present time — leads man to this blindness about the world in which he lives?” There is no doubt that the most powerful motive — which weighs upon us like an interdict, the motive which prevents us from questioning the elements of this civilization, and from starting on the road leading to this necessary revolution — is our respect for facts. It is well known that in other civilizations men did not respect facts to the same extent, nor did they conceive facts in the same way. At the present time the fact — whatever it is — the established fact, is the final reason, the criterion of truth. All that is a fact is justified, because it is a fact. People think that they have no right to judge a fact — all they have to do is to accept it.

Thus from the moment that technics, the State, or production, are facts, we must worship them as facts, and we must try to adapt ourselves to them. This is the very heart of modern religion, the religion of the established fact, the religion on which depend the lesser religions of the dollar, race, or the proletariat, which are only expressions of the great modern divinity, the Moloch of fact. . . . Everyone takes it for granted that fact and truth are one; and if God is no longer regarded as true in our day it is because he does not seem to be a fact.[3]

We will resist assimilation by discerning and seeing through the world’s claim to the truth by its appeal to ‘facts.’ How to discern whether something is a fact? Well, are you ‘allowed’ or encouraged to question it? Or are you ridiculed or ignored if you do? If you’re not allowed to question it, it’s a ‘fact’ that Ellul says is ‘the great modern divinity, the Moloch of fact.’

4  Hate evil

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. — Romans 12:9

We are called, not only to love the brethren and the good, and to even love our enemies, but we are also called to hate evil.[4]

In his instructions to the Apostle John to write to the angel of the church of Ephesus, Jesus says this:

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. — Revelation 2:6

We do not know specifically what those deeds were, but we at least know that some deeds should be hated and it is commendable to do so. Jesus was also not bashful about naming the people who committed these deeds.

As I wrote in my article, LIE: We should not hate, hatred of an evil is a good and necessary reaction when we recognize it as such.

So Jesus was free to show his anger and grief and then let those true and righteous emotions flow into the good and loving work of healing and restoration. [See Mark 3:1–6 for the context of this quote]

Too often we stop the motivation, the desire and the intent to do good when we don’t allow ourselves to feel the hate by seeing the evil right in front of us. Too often we refuse to really see the evil because we know that seeing it confers a responsibility to do something about it. We often cowardly do not want to accept that responsibility. The burden to do something is fraught with fears and unknowns. Consequently, we play it safe and our opportunity soon dissipates. Also consequently, another injured soul goes undefended and undelivered, and our God is not glorified.

How then does hating evil counteract the lie that resistance is futile? It counteracts the lie by allowing the expression of emotion of what it means to resist. As strange as it may sound, we cannot fully resist without the emotion of hatred toward evil.

It is evil to intentionally assimilate, absorb and consume, because thereby our individual identity is destroyed, which is what the ruling powers are intent upon doing. Each one of us is a unique expression of God’s image in the world. He created us as individuals who bear his image and represent him as individuals in the world. This is central to his loving will.

This evil of assimilation has many tentacles which we need to recognize. We must recognize them for what they are; otherwise, we will not be able to hate the deeds of evil assimilation.

Here are some of the deeds of assimilation:

• COVID-19 vaccine
• masks
• blockchain digital identity
• transgenderism
• AI/robotics/transhumanism
• mass virtualization
• mass digitalization

5  Persevere patiently

On the heels of the hatred of evil, we should not neglect the resulting positive expression. And in an environment dominated by evil, where it becomes impossible to fully escape from it, the attitude and posture we take is necessarily one of patient perseverance.

Because much of life consists of the apparently mundane of commuting to work, going to the store, checking email, mowing the lawn, fixing a meal, etc; patient perseverance is probably the most important way to push back on the lie of resistance is futile — in so many times and places we will need to take on the attitude of patient perseverance. And when the Spirit of God enables us, we persevere also with love and truth and grace and compassion.

The Apostle Paul, giving Timothy, his son in the faith, his voice of experience, said it this way:

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of . . . — 2 Timothy 3:10–14a

6  Create an alternate society — a culture of life[5]

What this means in practice now is that we create an alternate form of life and lifestyle; we create a parallel society of love, joy and peace; we create resources grounded in God’s provision — resources of food, housing, trade, healing, education, protection, etc.

We create these alternate resources out of necessity because we would otherwise (eventually) participate in systems of assimilation.

Here again is Ellul on this point of living:

We have lost the meaning of true action, which is the testimony of a profound life, action which comes from the heart, which is the product of faith, and not of myth, or of propaganda, or of Mammon! What matters is to live, and not to act. In this world, this is a revolutionary attitude, for the world only desires (utilitarian) action and has no desire for life at all. We cannot exaggerate the significance of the fact of being spiritually alive. . . . What hinders us is that we can only conceive this action in the rational form of mechanical means. We no longer conceive it in the form which is constantly suggested in the Scriptures: the corn that grows, the leaven at work within the bread, the light that banishes the darkness . . . . Yet it is this kind of action which we can really have, because this is how the Holy Spirit works. Thus it is the fact of living, with all its consequence, with all that it involves, which is the revolutionary act par excellence; at the same time this is the solution of the problem of the end and the means. In a civilization which has lost the meaning of life, the most useful thing a Christian can do is to live — and life, understood from the point of view of faith, has an extraordinary explosive force. We are not aware of it, because we only believe in “efficiency,” and life is not efficient. But this life alone can break the illusions of the modern world by showing everyone the utter powerlessness of a mechanistic view.[6]

To truly live a life in the midst of the world is the ultimate revolutionary act but one that may end up making us a martyr. But again, by this we will triumph and be privileged to participate in the glorious triumph of Jesus Christ himself.

7  Fear and worship God alone

To sufficiently resist — without suffering — the massive effort by the powers of the world to assimilate us, is beyond our own abilities or of any single effort that we may attempt. We are on a much bigger stage than we are competent to play upon.

But ultimately the evil powers of the world will fall under the righteous judgment of God. And unless he judges it, we are truly powerless to resist them.

But there is only One who is truly invincible! And we are on HIS SIDE! Fear not! The powers of Google, Facebook, the UN, WHO, CDC, CIA, NSA and the powers behind them — both human and non-human — want you to believe that they are invincible and that resistance is futile. But this is a lie. This is idolatry. And it should be obvious that there is actually no contest between these powers and God himself. No amount of posturing or apparent invincibility on their part will ever make it so.

So then we must see through this posturing, this bravado, and simply worship at the throne of our awesome God. This is what Daniel did when the great Babylonian emperor decreed a new restriction:

Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

We know how the story ends. Daniel had counted the cost and refused to worship the ‘almighty’ Darius and instead continued to quietly pray and worship his God. Although he was aware of their plot against him and the consequences of his ‘defiance’ — his civil disobedience — he was not intimidated. He simply continued to live the life that God had given him.

We also must learn this lesson well: no one is invincible and therefore worthy of worship, other than One, who is our Father in the heavens.

The Long Defeat

by Sara Groves

I have joined the long defeat
That falling set in motion
And all my strength and energy
Are raindrops in the ocean

So conditioned for the win
To share in victor’s stories
But in the place of ambition’s din
I’ve heard of other glories

And I pray for an idea
And the way I cannot see
It’s too heavy to carry
And impossible to leave

I can’t just fight when I think I’ll win
That’s the end of all belief
Nothing has provoked it more
Than a possible defeat

And I pray for an idea
And the way I cannot see
It’s too heavy to carry
And impossible to leave

Walk a while, we sit and rest
Lay it on the altar
I won’t pretend to know what’s next
What I have I’ve offered

And I pray for a vision
And the way I cannot see
It’s too heavy to carry
And impossible to leave

And I pray for inspiration
And the way I cannot see
It’s too heavy to carry
And impossible to leave
It’s too heavy to carry
And I will never leave

There’s a way I cannot see
There’s a way I cannot see
There’s a way I cannot see

---

[1] See also my article, LIE: I am defeated, part 1, and part 2

[2] See also my article: LIE: Sleep is a waste.

[3] Ellul, Jacques, The Presence of the Kingdom, Helmers & Howard, Colorado Springs, pg 27.

[4] See also my article, LIE: We should not hate.

[5] The world now is intent on dividing and fragmenting populations so that it effectively establishes a two-tier society. So we will likely be forced into an alternate life and lifestyle anyway.

[6] Ellul, Presence, pgs 76–77.