By David Faust
Do you ever receive a call from an unfamiliar number that your cellphone identified as “Scam Likely”? Sometimes I glance at my phone and joke, “Yep, it’s another call from my friend ‘Scam.’” But of course, it’s not really a friend.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023. Impostors use e-mail, phone calls, text messages, and social media to steal from consumers, enticing them with fake deals, nonexistent prizes, and phony investments or job opportunities. “Digital tools are making it easier than ever to target hard-working Americans,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Altogether, the FTC received fraud reports from 2.6 million consumers last year, and many more incidents go unreported.
Recognizing the Danger
Financial swindles aren’t the only problem. Spiritual scams abound as well, and though modern technology makes them easier to spread, they are nothing new. They might look appealing at first, but they are deadly in the long run. “Go ahead and eat the forbidden fruit,” the devil tempted Eve. “It looks and tastes good, and it will make you smarter.” (See Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7.) How can you keep from falling for Satan’s scams? What are the marks of a faith-related hoax?
Spiritual scams sound reasonable on the surface, but closer scrutiny unveils their fallacies. Satan tried to plant doubts about God’s instructions, whispering seductively to Eve, “Did God really say . . .?”
Spiritual scams are enticing, but deceptive. “You will not certainly die,” the serpent insisted, directly contradicting God’s words. Satan is a counterfeiter. He misinterprets Scripture and makes deceptive promises, appealing to our lust and pride (see 1 John 2:16). He twists the truth to make lies sound plausible.
Spiritual scams make foolish ideas appear smart, popular, and trendy. In Revelation 17 and 18, Babylon represents blasphemy against God, the spread of evil, and the persecution of God’s people. In the Old Testament, Babylon enjoyed great success for a time, but eventually it was destroyed because of its arrogance, idolatry, and lust for power and wealth. Like a prostitute, the bewitching beauty of self-serving governments, businesses, and manmade religions intoxicates the earth’s inhabitants (including its rulers, “the kings”) so they get in bed with her (Revelation 17:1-2, 18:3).
Steering Away
To avoid falling prey to spiritual scams, we must be honest about the danger. We live in a time when sin isn’t taken seriously. By minimizing the consequences of sin, we become more vulnerable to Satan’s scams. We should recognize sin for what it is:
- an arrogant, prideful attitude
- rebellion and disobedience toward our Creator
- denial of the truth
- choosing darkness instead of light
- missing the mark and transgressing God’s law
- loving self above the Lord and others
- blame-shifting to avoid accountability
- embracing what God disapproves and neglecting what he desires.
Satan’s scams entice his victims to make foolish and costly decisions. His scams should stir revulsion, not attraction. It takes faith, discernment, and determination to resist Babylon’s seductive ways. John heard a voice from heaven exhort, “‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues’” (Revelation 18:4).
When we’re exposed to ideas that contradict God’s Word, a warning sign should flash in our hearts that says, “Scam Likely.”
Personal Challenge:
What spiritual scams do you recognize in our culture right now? What steps are you taking to guard your heart against them? How can you help others resist the devil’s lies?
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