In our pluralistic society we as Christians need to be completely aware of those who would attempt to lead us astray from the Gospel message of Jesus crucified, risen, and coming again. Watching "Family Feud" yesterday for a brief few moments the question was asked, "Of all the classic rockers, who would you want to visit with first when you get to Heaven?" One name caught my eye and that was John Lennon. He specifically denounced God and unless he had a "death-bed" experience I doubt very much that he will be there to talk with. This is what I am worried about as a Christian. Our culture has continued to embrace all religions and assumes everyone is going to Heaven. One can get in a lot of "trouble" saying that Jesus is the only way of salvation.
We are supposed to be "tolerant" of everything. Am I saying that we go up to someone who embraces another religion and tell them that they are going to Hell? No, but as Ezekiel says in 3:18 "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." The next verse says: "Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."
We are supposed to be "tolerant" of everything. Am I saying that we go up to someone who embraces another religion and tell them that they are going to Hell? No, but as Ezekiel says in 3:18 "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." The next verse says: "Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul."
Am I saying people of other religions are wicked? Yes, and we were too, before we came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Psalms 51:5 says, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death."
Something that I heard on TV the other night refutes what I just quoted. This person said that we are born with "light" in us and that we receive more "light' as we are taught, etc. I have no problem with receiving more "light" as we progress as Christians and mature in the faith. However, the light they were talking about was supposed to be in us at birth and all people of all religions had some of this "light." Well, if Romans and Psalms are true, I understand that there is none righteous. Only Jesus was righteous and He was the light and because of what He did, can we become righteous.
In his book The Deceivers Josh McDowell states, "Rather than obeying God's Word, cults always contradict it with their new message." (p. 23) He goes on to talk about several who have added writings and works. "Thus, the Bible is not truly their final source of authority." (p. 23) As a Christian, I think we need to be extremely careful and aware how clever Satan is.
One of the things I believe Satan tries to do is convince us that we can obtain Heaven through a variety of means; good works, religious rituals, living a "good" life, loving people, being "tolerant", and in the case of some radical Muslims--committing suicide and killing others. I believe that he tries to do anything and everything to take attention away from the main premise of Christianity--Jesus died for our sins. We were sinners and we needed salvation that could only come through Him. Most don't teach repentance anymore which is being sorry for the sins we have committed. Some don't even acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior.
Dr. D. James Kennedy once gave this analogy. A man fell in a pit with a snake after him. A Buddhist walked by and said, "The reason you are unhappy, is because you need to not want anything that you can't get. So, accept where you are and do not want to get out of the pit and do not want to get away from the serpent and you will be happy."
A Hindu says that nothing is real. The pit doesn't exist and the serpent doesn't exist. The Confusionist is all about wisdom. "It is not wise to fall into pit with serpent. You will learn from mistake and never fall in pit again."
Jesus jumped into the pit and stood between the snake and the man. He threw the man out of the pit and was bitten by the serpent and died. Only Jesus gave Himself. Christianity is the only religion that has a Savior Who took our sins on Himself for us because we were inadequate.
Be extremely cautious of anything that sounds good, but adds or takes away from the Word, or rewrites scripture to eliminate those things which the Word says are sins. Satan is very slick and he will convince you that you are loving and kind while you are being "tolerant," but you are not showing true love if you do not warn those who think that salvation comes any other way than through Jesus Christ. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on His name." John 1:12 (italics mine) That includes daughters!
I know that those who speak of Jesus being the only way are often pictured as bigoted, hateful, intolerant, etc. Those of you who are parents--do you allow your children to do everything they want to do so that you can be "tolerant" of them? I would hope not. We protect our children from things that could harm them and we do it out of love for them. I am writing this out of love. I do not want anyone to be deceived by Satan. He knows how to use our particular ways of thinking to lead us down the path away from Jesus and His Word.
Something that I heard on TV the other night refutes what I just quoted. This person said that we are born with "light" in us and that we receive more "light' as we are taught, etc. I have no problem with receiving more "light" as we progress as Christians and mature in the faith. However, the light they were talking about was supposed to be in us at birth and all people of all religions had some of this "light." Well, if Romans and Psalms are true, I understand that there is none righteous. Only Jesus was righteous and He was the light and because of what He did, can we become righteous.
In his book The Deceivers Josh McDowell states, "Rather than obeying God's Word, cults always contradict it with their new message." (p. 23) He goes on to talk about several who have added writings and works. "Thus, the Bible is not truly their final source of authority." (p. 23) As a Christian, I think we need to be extremely careful and aware how clever Satan is.
One of the things I believe Satan tries to do is convince us that we can obtain Heaven through a variety of means; good works, religious rituals, living a "good" life, loving people, being "tolerant", and in the case of some radical Muslims--committing suicide and killing others. I believe that he tries to do anything and everything to take attention away from the main premise of Christianity--Jesus died for our sins. We were sinners and we needed salvation that could only come through Him. Most don't teach repentance anymore which is being sorry for the sins we have committed. Some don't even acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior.
Dr. D. James Kennedy once gave this analogy. A man fell in a pit with a snake after him. A Buddhist walked by and said, "The reason you are unhappy, is because you need to not want anything that you can't get. So, accept where you are and do not want to get out of the pit and do not want to get away from the serpent and you will be happy."
A Hindu says that nothing is real. The pit doesn't exist and the serpent doesn't exist. The Confusionist is all about wisdom. "It is not wise to fall into pit with serpent. You will learn from mistake and never fall in pit again."
Jesus jumped into the pit and stood between the snake and the man. He threw the man out of the pit and was bitten by the serpent and died. Only Jesus gave Himself. Christianity is the only religion that has a Savior Who took our sins on Himself for us because we were inadequate.
Be extremely cautious of anything that sounds good, but adds or takes away from the Word, or rewrites scripture to eliminate those things which the Word says are sins. Satan is very slick and he will convince you that you are loving and kind while you are being "tolerant," but you are not showing true love if you do not warn those who think that salvation comes any other way than through Jesus Christ. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on His name." John 1:12 (italics mine) That includes daughters!
I know that those who speak of Jesus being the only way are often pictured as bigoted, hateful, intolerant, etc. Those of you who are parents--do you allow your children to do everything they want to do so that you can be "tolerant" of them? I would hope not. We protect our children from things that could harm them and we do it out of love for them. I am writing this out of love. I do not want anyone to be deceived by Satan. He knows how to use our particular ways of thinking to lead us down the path away from Jesus and His Word.
I was raised in the church and for many years I was a very self-righteous person. I have since been made aware of how deceived I was. I was "okay." I didn't really need a Savior. I went to church 3 times a week. I tithed. I was a good citizen. I, I, I. The Lord had to break me and show me that I did need a Savior all the while showing me how much He loved me. It wasn't enough to do religious and "good" things. I didn't deserve salvation any more than anyone else. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
In cults, the cult leader becomes the "savior." Run away from anything that takes away from the message of Jesus as our Savior or adds any man's writings to the Word of God, or offers any way to Heaven other than Jesus. RUN!!!!!!!!!
KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON
KAREN
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Thank you for reading my blog of thoughts, encouragement and instructions the Lord speaks about to me. It is simply my therapy to write down these things as I walk my journey out with Him. I would love to hear back from you. Each new day is a blessing! Dorothy