|
|
|
We live in an age of ecumenism in which everyone tries to find moral and religious equivalence
between the one true religion of New Testament Christianity and flawed systems of belief. It
reminds me of the title of a pop-psychology book of a few years ago, I’m OK, You’re OK.
Using this flawed philosophy, some today ascertain that “one church is as good as another,” or “one religion is as good as another, since they all lead to God.” This religious nonsense has led many, concerned by the war on Southwest Asia, to exclaim that “Islam believes in the same God as Christianity does.” Yet, almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ laid this argument to rest in his conversation with the Samaritan woman recorded in John 4. To this thirsty woman, Jesus offered “living water.” He then caused her to recognize that she was living in sin. She tried to change the conversation to a religious on, but the Master quickly corrected her misconceptions regarding religion and God. Jesus was no relativist. “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22). In other words, at the moment Jesus spoke, the Samaritan religion was incorrect and inferior to Judaism. Today’s modern ecumenist would notice the many similarities between the Samaritan religion and Judaism: 1) Both claimed to worship one God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 2) Both revered the first five books of the Bible, the Penta-teuch. 3) Both worshipped God, using animal sacrifice. 4) Both looked forward to the coming Messiah. But Modern ecumenists only look at the surface, and not the problems in the religion of Samaria. Notice the differences: 1) The Samaritans did not accept the entire Old Testament, as did most of the Jews. 2) The Samaritans’ concept of God was corrupted by Paganism. 3) The Samaritans worshipped God in the wrong place, and not according to God’s word (“the truth” John 17:17). 4) Salvation (the Messiah) was of the Jews, not the Samaritans. Today, the Law of Moses, or the Old Covenant, has been done away (Col. 2:14-17). Now, the New Testament, or Covenant of Jesus Christ is God’s standard for judging religion. And New Testament Christianity is far superior to Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, Buddhism, and certainly any form of pseudo-Christianity known as denominationalism. It is “the way” (Acts 24:14; Prov. 14:12) and the only way to God (John 14:6). New Testament Christianity is vastly superior to Judaism, Islam, or any other religion, in the following ways: 1) It worships the one true God of the Bible—not Allah. 2) It accepts the completed revelation of God—the Bible. 3) It proclaims Jesus as the Son of God, the Christ—not Mohammed. 4) It preaches forgiveness of sins and removal of guilt by the blood of Christ. 5) It preaches justification by faith—not by works of merit. 6) It worships God “in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24). The idea that all religions are equal with Christianity is foreign to the Gospel of Christ. There is no such thing “another gospel” (Gal. 1:6-7) or another way to God and salvation. Christianity is a “narrow way” and a “strait” or confining gate which leads to everlasting life. (Matt. 7:13-14). To delude oneself into the pollyannaish idea that God is some affectionate grandfather figure who accepts anyone and everyone—even those who are in rebellion to Him—is heresy. Does this mean that we are to take up arms against “the infidel?” No! Our fight is against the devil and his hell-bound kingdom (Eph. 6:12). We are to love our enemies and do good. (Matt. 5:44). Yet, neither are we to be spiritual pacifists. We must “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3) in the marketplace of ideas. We must strive to bring those to freedom who are bound to false religion and philosophies. They are the lost offspring of God (Acts 17:28-29) and deserve our concern. They deserve the light of Christ, rather than the darkness of ignorance (Acts 26:18). May God bless us in our quest! |