Worldwide, there are many religions, called by many different names. Those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the one Savior of the world are often greatly criticized for their "narrow mindedness". To say that there is only one God, or to affirm, as Jesus said of Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6), is to bring on oneself the loathing of the "politically (spiritual) correct (so they believe) elite". We just can't be so judgmental and exclusive, they say. They would argue that there are many gods, many ways to God, and that no one has the right to pass judgment on another person's religion. Actually, the real belief of such people is one of three:
1) Either they at heart are unbelievers, or
2) They believe in the exclusiveness of their own religion, or
3) They believe that it is ultimately one's own goodness that matters - not a "god" or a "savior".
Leaders in the denominational world who speak out in response to charges of bigotry, and who would defend the fact that Jesus is the only way to God --- realize that the "Christian" world is coming under attack and that persecution for our faith may lie in our future. They feel the pressure from the outside world because of the exclusive doctrine they preach. But, realizing that Jesus boldly claimed to be the only way to God, and that He died as our Savior, they are compelled to stay with what has become a very unpopular teaching.
Did Jesus say, "I am the way the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" ? If He did, and if we believe in Him, we must have the courage to stand with Him and to say with conviction, "He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him" To make that statement makes one bigoted in the eyes of many, but so be it.
But what other exclusive statement did Jesus make? He said, "I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). Again, He was very specific and exclusive. His church exists in the world, even today, because He promised that it would never be destroyed, that He will come back one day to receive it unto Himself, "... a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish " (Ephesians 5:27).
When members of the church of Christ make the statement, "Jesus established only one church, and we should not have all the division and confusion that exists among believers in Christ today," they are criticized and condemned for being bigoted. But the parallel is there: just as we must remain firm in our affirmation that there is only one way to God, Jesus Christ. We must be just as adamant in our affirmation that He meant what He said when He promised to build only one church. We must not deny that truth, even though it causes anger and even hatred in the hearts of those who don't want to hear it. What can we do? We can't re-write the Scriptures. And we can't be honest with ourselves while denying the plain statements made by our Lord.
Members of the denominational world have no trouble seeing that "Shintoism", "Zoroastriainisin", "Hinduism", "Buddhism", "Sikhism", "Islam", and the many other religions of the present age are just as empty as the worship of Zeus, Aphrodite, Hermes, Re , Osiris, Ptah, Apollo, and Diana. Why? Because these gods and religions are not to be found in the pages of God's Word.
They are right about that. The Bible is our source book for identifying God, our Savior, and His family of people who are called out of the world to live for Him and to be His bride, the “called out,” the church belonging to Jesus Christ.
But those same religious leaders have taken the "idea" of God, of Christ, and of the church, and they have corrupted those teachings to the point that they have created religions just as foreign to the Scriptures as others have done with their pagan religions. After all, if men are presuming to create churches and doctrines in contradiction to the one way that has been established in Scripture, is this not "preaching another Gospel", and "adding to what has been written", as is condemned in Galatians 1:8 and Revelation 22:18-19?
Where in Scripture do we read the religious names applied to men: reverend, archbishop, cardinal, pope? Where in Scripture do we read of the Holy Roman Catholic Church? the Methodist Church? the Presbyterian Church? the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints? the Jehovah's Witnesses? the Lutheran Church? the Salvation Army? the Church of the Nazarene? and, all of the community churches that may be called such names as "The New Light Church" or "The Church on the Rock" or "The Saddleback Community Church" or the "Willow Creek Community Church"?
Not only do all of these names violate the claim of Scripture that it is only in the name of Christ that salvation can be found (Acts 4:12), but all of them represent doctrinal division. They vary from each other and from Scripture in what they would teach people to do to have their sins forgiven; their worship varies from one to the other; their organization is according to laws and rules they have developed; their standard of morals and values varies from one to the other.
All of these differences, identified as spiritual division by the very names they have invented for themselves, are condemned by God. They show the world that these denominations deny the bold statement of the Savior they claim to follow. He said the church is one (Matthew 16:18), the church is His body (Colossians 1:18,24), the church is His family (Ephesians 3:15), the church is His bride (Ephesians 5:27), the church is His kingdom (Matthew 16:18,19; 1 Timothy 6:15).
Denominational religious leaders feel the pressure of disfavor in the eyes of the world when they affirm that there is only one way to God. Why, at the same time, are they adamant in denying the oneness of the church?
--- And Added to the Lord's Church?
2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins. (Romans 5:8; John 1:12; Mark 1:15; 16:16; John 5:24; 8:24; Acts 16:31; Galatians 3:26).
3. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ before Men. (Romans 10:9, Matthew 10:32).
4. Repent, turn away from your sins, & follow God. (Acts 17:30-31, 2:38, 3:19)).
5. Be baptized (Burial by immersion in water) for the forgiveness of your sins: (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:34-38; Romans 6:3-4; Matthew 28:19; Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:26-27).
6. Continue walking daily in obedience to God's Word. (Romans 2:13; Matthew 7:21: Romans 12:1-2,Galatians 6:6-10; James 1:22; Hebrews 5:9; 1 Peter 1:4-10; 3:17-8; 1 John 1 :9; Matthew 25:31-46).
A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.
If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please contact me at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell). Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor. .
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