October 5, 2012
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A narrow look at the World's religions
This is merely a reposting of something I just said as a Facebook status update. It is something I have been thinking about for years now (Like nearly 20+ years) and only just tonight decided to encapsulate into words. It comes on the heels of my dealing with a Mormon who is completely lost and going to hell in her sins because she believes herself *good enough* as a person (by what her "religion" has told her) to enter into Heaven.
What caused me to write this is because she is teaching these same damning lies to teens now... at her so-called church. Jesus said that those who teach falsely "In his name" ---- better that they had a boulder tied around their neck and were tossed into the ocean than to lead others into damnation by teaching falsely.... by teaching man-made lies. (Luke 17:2) Paul even took it a step further by saying that those who presume to teach a false gospel --- they will be ETERNALLY cursed by God. (Galatians 1:8-10)
I think many of us really need to consider that statement when we so carelessly toss our own thoughts into what we believe regarding biblical truth. The Bible likewise clearly states that anyone who assumes to be a teacher ---- will face a harsher judgment (James 3:1). How few of us would dare speak on behalf of God if we even for a second took that seriously.
Anyway, here's what I had to say, and I honestly and earnestly contend it's truth. There are only TWO world religions. Mormonism, Buddhism, Toaism, Islam, Jehovah's Witness, even Roman Catholicism in many respects ---- Every religion you could name EXCEPT Christianity ---- they all teach the same, damning lie. You can earn your way into Heaven by what you do.
Here's my thoughts.
There are ONLY two religions in this world.
The religion of human achievement and the religion of Divine accomplishment.
The first one says "Look at what I have done. Look at how good I am. Look at my efforts, surely it's good enough to --- MAKE --- God like me. I deserve Heaven because I'm not quite as bad as everyone else." (This is the very words of the parable Jesus gave in Luke 18:9-14)
The first one tries to make Heaven something they can take by force of their own "goodness".
The second centers not on what man has done, but what God did in Christ on the cross. The second one says "come to me, all who labor, and --- I WILL --- give you rest. (Jesus: Matthew 11:28)" It gives no place for men to boast of their "goodness" instead saying...This is the verdict, Light came into the world, but men loved darkness instead for --- THEIR DEEDS ---- were evil. (Jesus own words, John 3:19, right after that part about God loving the world...)
The religion of Divine accomplishment says to man --- Trust.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Only one way gets to Heaven.
And if you are in any way thinking you deserve to be there because of how "Good" you are.... you're not getting in. (Proverbs 14:12, 16:12; Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23)
The heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things. (Jeremiah 17:9)
For all our good works are like ---- filthy, dirty, foul, disgusting used tampons to God's sight. (Isaiah 64:6) (This is a literal translation of the Hebrew word used.....)
Or as Paul so aptly put it....
There is no one who is righteous (good enough) --- no, not even one. All have gone way, not one of us really seeks after God. .... for -- ALL -- have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. (Romans 3:10-18, 23)
There are only two religions in this world. The "I can do it myself"-er's ---- and those who fall at the foot of the cross and admit their utter inability to do any good.... apart from what Christ is able to work in that one who so comes to him.
For by grace have you been saved, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift from God lest any man should boast in his ability to do it himself. For we are God's creation, able to do only that which He desires to do in and through us. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
God calls to all men, telling us all equally to repent (Acts 17:30) and believe in what Jesus has done (Acts 4:12, 16:31; Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 3:11).
What "Repent" means, in it's most literal translation, is "To change your way of thinking" --- to stop thinking you're good enough and admit honestly that you're completely lost, completely blind and completely dead in your sins. It means to agree exactly with what God has said of you and your life and your "good works". It means, simply put,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)Even here, in this very verse, the promise isn't "God helps those who help themselves" --- it is "He WILL show you which path to take.... if you simply trust him."
I pray this hits home for my readers out there ---- cause it's the most important thing you can come face to face with....
Comments (1)
Yes, I agree. No other religion is by faith alone, but Christianity. Its something the Christians in Thailand struggle to understand because they are constantly trying to earn their salvation. They will say they believe in Jesus and they can't earn their salvation; they intellectually get that to a degree. But then week after week, at 99% of the churches, the Thai pastors will say if you do this, if you do that, if you do this and that, then God will bless you. If you don't, God won't. And we aren't talking about loving Jesus; we are talking about upright works, like tithing and stuff. And while tithing is good, it doesn't save us. Its hard for Buddhist to change their mindset because doing is all they know.