Just Common Sense-Episode 73 (Your Vote Counts - Even in a Landslide)

"One way to tell if you've been captured" is when you have no desire to read Scripture because you do not believe that the Bible is accurate."

This is a profound statement on spiritual complacency and the subtle ways individuals can be led away from their faith.

Dr. Hunter uses the term "captured" metaphorically to describe a state in which a person has become spiritually ensnared or misled. The idea is that when someone no longer feels compelled to engage with God through His Word, especially because they doubt its accuracy or relevance, it signals that they have fallen into a spiritual trap. This "capture" is not just about losing interest; it's about a deeper spiritual disengagement, where the individual begins to drift away from the core tenets of their faith.

Key Points:

1. Spiritual Apathy: The loss of desire to read Scripture is a key indicator of spiritual apathy. It reflects a disconnect not just from the act of reading, but from the belief in the power and truth of God's word.
2. Deception: Dr. Hunter implies that this state of being "captured" is often the result of deception, either by worldly influences or internal doubts. When a person begins to question the accuracy of the Bible, they are more susceptible to influences that pull them away from their faith.
3. Imprisonment: He goes further to describe this state as being in "the devil's prison." This stark imagery emphasizes the severity of spiritual disengagement. It's a warning that turning away from Scripture can lead to a kind of spiritual imprisonment where the person is no longer free to experience the fullness of their faith.
4. Call to Awareness: The statement serves as a call to awareness for believers to examine their spiritual practices. If someone recognizes these signs in themselves, it is a prompt to re-engage with their faith, seek out truth, and resist the forces that seek to "capture" them.

Dr. Hunter’s message is a reminder to remain vigilant in one's spiritual life, actively seeking to engage with Scripture and maintain a strong, unwavering faith. The consequences of neglecting this can lead to a slow drift into spiritual complacency and ultimately, a disconnect from the core beliefs that should guide a Christian's life.