So Many Religions to Choose From
So many doors but only one leads to God
I know someone who shopped around for a religion to follow and found one that fit her needs. She found a perfect religion that accommodated her views and her lifestyle. She became religious. Another person I know took a little from this religion and a little from that religion and she too became religious. In essence, what these two did was, in their desire to have a relationship with God, found something that worked for them and then expected God to submit to their beliefs. With so many religions to choose from, how do we know what to choose? Well, that’s a little tricky because with so many religions to choose from, it’s like looking at all the cereal boxes on display at the supermarket and trying to figure out which one is best. Sometimes it’s a little bit easier because we have heard about a particular religion and it’ suits our needs so we join. People like the idea of Universalism. It fits their ideology. But God is not going to conform to us and our ideology. The question I hear and many Christians hear is surly with all those religions, they can’t all be wrong. Is it not rather arrogant for Christians to claim that Christianity is the only way to eternal life?
First, if we’re going to shop around for religion that fits our lifestyle, I am left wondering what is the purpose of ‘religion.’ Certainly it cannot be salvation for that would mean submitting to God, not what fits our lifestyle and expect Him to submit to our beliefs. Might as well get a good self-help book and follow that. God has not created a supermarket of ways to Him and then informs folks to go on a shopping spree and find what fits their needs.
Second, Christians are not claiming that Christianity is the only way to eternal life, Jesus made that claim. We’re simply repeating His truth for all that would hear.
- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)
Most people believe in an afterlife of some sort. I have never met anyone who desires hell as their afterlife. In fact, most people believe that they will go to heaven. It’s just that they believe their way will work whether it is through good works, a hodgepodge of different religions mixed together or whatever means a person chooses. That’s really unfortunate for God has given a way to Him and we are to submit to His way, not the other way around. He does not submit to the beliefs of His creation.
Religion never saves, not even Christianity. Yes, you read that right. Jesus is the way to salvation and His teachings can be found in the New Testament. A Christian is a follower of Christ, and that is how we get the word ‘Christianity.’
Another unfortunate complaint I hear is that there are too many rules and one cannot have fun if they are to follow Christian rules. I will shock you again – I agree. However, Christianity is not a set of rules that one must follow to be saved. Christianity is an acknowledgment that one is a sinner by our very nature and that man is in need of redemption. Christians acknowledge that they are sinners and repent and turn to the only one who can save them. They become a new creature in Christ.
Christianity is not about a bunch of rules. It is about a relationship with God through salvation that comes through Jesus who paid the penalty of our sin. A Christian has a new nature and simply does not want to do the things of the world. I do not need to pull out my book of rules to see if something is allowed or not and think to myself “oh drats, can’t do that.” Christians who are following the Lord do not want to – it is not their desire. It’s a change that takes place over the lifetime of the Christian. They see the world through the lens of the Bible. That is why Christian views and the views of the world butt heads. The world wants to do things their way and it will, and I say this with sadness, to their destruction. Man cannot go against God and come out the winner.
What this whole post really is about is if you’re looking for a religion to make your life better, there’s a whole lot of religions in which to choose. In fact, psychiatry, self-help books or seminars would be helpful as well. If you’re really looking to gain eternal life and spend eternity in the presence of God, that can only happen through Christ who paid the penalty for all of mankind who are sinners by nature. Following a list of rules is not going to cut it. No one can measure up. In fact, the only ‘rule’ that Adam and Eve had was to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. That’s it. And they broke that one rule and that was before sin had become part of their nature. If they couldn’t do it, what on earth makes us believe that we can follow a whole slew of rules without a single mistake?
If you’re really wondering where you are going after you leave this earth, now is the time to be sure you get this one correct for this is the only chance you will have. Once you leave, it’s too late. Those that leave this earth in their sins will perish. Those that leave this earth in Christ, will have everlasting life in the presence of God.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Wicked versus the Righteous
- Why I left Islam
- All about SinJustification and Sanctification
- Sin and Eternal Consequences
- When the Day is Done – None are Righteous
- The Right View
- Recommend Now that I Believe
- Wall of Partition
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a8e46137-f1f7-4851-88df-8d624acbc1cd)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tishrei,
I’ve always found it to be the height of arrogance to expect God to submit someone’s way, rather than His. I’ve even found that attitude in professing Christians who give their stamp of approval to some parts of the Bible and openly disdain other parts that they do no like or do not understand (usually the latter breeds the former, in my opinion).
There was a story about (I think) Josh McDowel engaged a college professor who in the end confessed that no matter what evidence McDowel gave he would not accept it because then he would have to change the way he lived. So I think it is a moral choice rather than an evidentiary one. I must add that it was the work of the Holy Spirit unbidden into my life that saved me, and not because I was moral (I was not) or that I couldn’t miss the evidence because I’m so smart (I am, but that’s not what happened
).
Even as Christians we struggle and fail as our faith is worked out, but our peace comes when we know we are right with God. A fascinating woman spoke at our church a year ago and I will never forget this: “If what you’re doing is making you feel stressed and unhappy then praise Jesus! That means the Holy Spirit is still working in you! He hasn’t given up. And if you aren’t then you’re in trouble, because He’s left.”
The Universalists always crack me up. “Everything but Jesus.” How is that universal?
In Christ,
Kent
Hi Kent,
I had to laugh, I really did laugh out loud at “I’ve always found it to be the height of arrogance to expect God to submit someone’s way, rather than His.” Sometimes something is so unbelievable and out there that there’s nothing I can do but laugh. It’s sad but when you think about it, that is what man is doing.
That’s a really, really sad story about the college professor. He will be able to keep his lifestyle as long as he lives. That’s his choice. But he will have to answer to it one day and if his choice is to reject salvation because he wants to keep his lifestyle, that is the ultimate tragedy.
Happy new year to you and Jennifer
What a fantastic post, preach it!
I read something in the newspaper a few weeks ago that truly summed up man’s view of what he thinks religion ought to be. The article was about how many practicing homosexuals are “struggling” with the fact that the church they attend regards homosexuality as a sin. According to the article, a pro-gay and lesbian organization is now offering these individuals free “counseling” to help them with this issue. And what is their advice? “We are advising them to seek out churches which are more accommodating to their sexual preference”, a spokesman for the group said.
That’s it. That’s the world’s answer. If you are attending a church that you feel teaches a morality that you personally don’t like, change churches. If you don’t like the service at your bank, change banks. If the prices are too high at the grocery store you shop at, shop somewhere else. If the church you attend teaches what the Bible says about how your lifestyle is sinful in the eyes of God, find a “church” that approves of your sin. People definitely have a consumer attitude when it comes to religion!
Hi Loren,
People shop for churches that agree with their lifestyles. How sad because while they can and do find those churches, and they fit right in and their fellow congregants agree and support sinful lifestyles, the One that the need to agree with them doesn’t.
We can always find someone that will agree with us but in the end, what I think, you think or anyone else thinks doesn’t do us a whole lot of good when standing before the Righteous Judge of mankind.
Loren,
The sad part is there are plenty of churches that tell homosexuals, “Don’t worry about it. You’re fine.” It’s chilling to contemplate their eternal fate; both of them.
Our first church was part of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). They recently adopted this view full bore but had been working on it for years. When they considering it we left because we couldn’t be a part of a “Christian” church that would seriously consider such a departure from what Scripture teaches and in that process we discovered how very little regard they have for the Bible.
In Christ,
Kent
Hi Kent,
I understand about leaving your first church. When churches start leaving God’s Word behind to accommodate man’s desires, it’s time to move on.
I think churches forget their purpose.
Happy New Year!!!
Tishrei,
Like you said once awhile back, — there’s nothing new under the sun….. Even back in the Old Testament times people were mixing idol worship with their so-called worship of the Lord….. I think it’s in Ezekiel that he talks about the awful things the people and priests were doing in the Temple, probably because they felt the prescribed way of worship was boring….. Then the Sadducees decided there was no resurrection or immortality of the soul…..
I’ve even seen people shop for another church because they didn’t like some people at their church, based on income level, physical appearance, or whatever…. They were not worshiping God — only trying to promote their social standing in the community.
God knows our every thought and our hearts….. Since even we can get off track, we need to pray every day for a clean heart and right spirit.
Margaret
Hi Margaret,
Yeah, I’ve seen people shop for churches based on things that — well — just have nothing to do with God but more self related. Man will always put himself above God first — that’s the fallen nature.
On a happier note, have a blessed New Year!
Kent,
That is so unfortunate that some churches are compromising the Word of God in an effort to be more “appealing.” Starting in the late 19th century, some began to adopt liberal theologies in an effort to appease the “scientifically” minded, now others are doing so to appease those desiring to cling to their immorality.
At some point, many of these churches that were formerly grounded in God’s Word decided that the praise of man and the approval of society was of greater import than pleasing God and obeying Him. I, too, am chilled to think of what this decision shall cost them. Praise God that there are those such as yourself who will not go along with the departure from the Faith that these organizations are entering into and will not continue to fellowship with those who exchange light for darkness.
You are absolutely right: once a church compromises the clear teachings of the Word of God, they have lost their anchor and utter shipwreck is inevitable.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Tim. 4:3)
God bless you,
Loren