By Jim Josephsen
Mainstream Christians fit perfectly the Biblical portrayal of
individuals living in the end time; having a form of godliness but
denying the power thereof. The New Living Translation renders this
statement by the Apostle Paul as follows: “They will act as if they
are religious but will reject the power that could make them godly.”
It is obvious Christians at large, embody this prophetic
description; but none greater than American Christians.
A recent survey conducted by the
Pew Forum on
Religion & Public Life produced a most distressing finding. Seventy
percent of Americans with a religious affiliation (the majority
labeling themselves Christian) don’t feel their religion is the only
way to eternal life. Although it is thought this finding promotes a
positive view of an ever increasing “religious tolerance” within
America (you know, increased political correctness), the sad reality
is the Christian faith is becoming ever more transient, blending in
practice, diminished in power, empty and vain.
The survey also noted, within mainline Protestantism, 83 percent
believe more than one religion can provide the way to eternal life;
of the members of Black Protestant churches 59 percent agree.
Additionally, 79 percent of Catholics accept this concept.
Interestingly, of those of the Jewish faith, 82 percent think theirs
is not the only way to eternal life.
American Christianity needs to examine itself, to take a good hard
look at its beliefs and its commitment to its faith, doctrines and
tenets. The Pew Forum study is a wake up call, a necessary concern
to anyone who puts his or her trust in Jesus Christ, who calls him
or herself a Christian, especially if one lives in the United
States.
The concern is not with
Islam or
Buddhism or with those of the
Hindu
persuasion. The concern is not with
Taoism,
Shintoism,
Jainism or
Sikhism. The
concern is with none of the hundreds of other
pagan,
polytheistic,
nature and
humanistic-focused,
cult and
occult, vain
religions across this world; many of which are openly allowed within
the United States. The concern is with none who worship the created
and reject the Creator. The concern is with none of these heathen
practices.
The concern is with the Christian professing peoples and in
particular, Christian professing people within the United States.
The concern is with those who claim Jesus Christ as the only way to
salvation; for the absolute truth is Jesus Christ IS the only way to
salvation and Eternal Life – that is eternal life which comes after
the grave by way of the resurrection. The gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And there is no other way.
If your religion, your faith, does not humble itself before the feet
of Jesus Christ and does not promote what the Apostle Peter taught,
Repent and be converted – be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, then your religion is vain, empty and
temporal and is destined to fail; it doesn’t have the promise of and
cannot offer eternal life.
Belief in Jesus Christ is only the beginning for any one who seeks
eternal life. But in addition to belief is the practice of faithful
living, of righteous works, of obedience to God and to the Laws of
God and a fearful respect of the following: Whosoever therefore
shall be ashamed of me, said Jesus Christ, and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the son of man
be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy
angels. There is no horseplay or compromising with Jesus Christ and
His religion.
American Christians are growing increasingly confused and becoming
increasingly skeptical of their own faith. Americans are becoming
increasingly lazy when it comes to their own beliefs. A sort of
Christian paralysis, a Christian complacency is emerging. The
proverbial cliché – can’t we all get along – comes to mind. If we
are all “one big happy family,” then perhaps we can live in peace
and this country will find its way back to prosperity, unity,
purpose and worth. And no wonder! American Christians have itching
ears, stimulated by the desire to learn the ways of the other gods.
Christian
pacifism is becoming more omnipresent in America, as an emerging
national psyche encourages a requisite kindness and tolerance for
all other religions. In the past, a sort of Christian patriotism was
dominant. Bumper stickers with the words, God Bless America, were
proudly displayed. Now the newcomer among bumper stickers is one
which is worded, God Bless All Nations. Interestingly, on this
sticker is a display of some twenty or so of the major world
religious symbols. Let’s be nice to all these religions, seems the
prevailing mantra in America.
Now it goes without saying, America is a Christian (Protestant)
nation, although the percentages of other religions are
progressively on the rise. And why not, with the influx of
immigrants from the south, east and west, other religious practices
are becoming more noticeable, more tolerated.
Within the Christian faith, it has been noted that 57 percent of
evangelical church adherents also believe many religions can lead to
eternal life. This group of believers you would think would be most
adamant in their protection of the “faith once delivered.” But
evangelicals are still Protestants.
Where is all this pluralism, this tolerance and acceptance of
others’ faiths, this political nicety taking this country? Can any
good come out of it?
Would Jesus Christ accept this nation’s attitudes and beliefs? After
all, it is His religion (His way of life), His teachings, His
doctrines, His Words which are actually being called into question.
The irony is, American Christians are leading the charge with their
double-mindedness, their uncertainty.
The absolute truth, which should be bedrock, without doubt, in the
minds of Christians is that Jesus Christ is the only way to Eternal
Life. When the Apostle John recorded the words which Christ spoke, I
am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the Father
except by me, John was preserving absolute truth. John also
witnessed that he that believes on the Son has everlasting life and
he that believes not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God
abides on him (or her).
Jesus Christ, called the Messiah, the very Son of God, the one who
is the God of the Old Testament, the God of Judah and Israel, who
came in the flesh to redeem His creation, taught a faith, a religion
(actually a way of life), introducing the New covenant, and did so
requiring no compromise, no deviation. This is a reality that
American Christians have to accept and practice or their doom is
sure.
When the Apostles went about preaching the Truth of God and the
Gospel of the Kingdom, these teachings were specific and matter of
fact. There is one body (referring to the Body of Christ which is
the Church), one spirit, one calling one Lord, one faith, one God
the Father of all. Many church leaders throughout America have
perverted this plain truth.
The shame and mockery of American Christianity today is manifest in
the feeble doctrines fashioned by both men and women who have
contrived teachings that are in direct opposition to the doctrines
Jesus Christ taught, the faith once delivered to the elect.
Certainly the shame set across America is found in the multiple
religions, including the hundreds of Christian denominations dotting
our cities and confusing our populace. A house divided shall not
stand. And America’s religious house is crumbling. Not so
surprisingly, just like America’s housing and financial institutions
because all are built on sand, mud and mire.
With over two decades now of required diversity training, with the
steady repetitious drone of higher education and liberal
Christianity showcasing rejection and contempt for the
Judeo-Christian God while promoting humanism, pluralism,
inclusivism
and secularism,
it is little wonder why our country has lost its knowledge of the
true God.
God has a controversy with the inhabitants of this land. There is no
knowledge of God and this nation will be destroyed for lack of
knowledge of God and his laws.
How true is the prophetic injunction, forasmuch as this people draw
near with their mouths and with their lips do they honor me but have
removed their heart far from me and their fear toward me is taught
by the precepts of men.
The Pew Forum reported the facts as they are. There is no getting
around the reality that American Christians are ambivalent toward
their faith and disassociated from the teachings of their namesake,
Jesus Christ.
The years of constantly promoting a Jesus who is all love and
nothing but; of Jesus psycho-Babel, of what He can do for you
psychologically; of preaching smooth things, things the people want
to hear to satisfy their personal immorality; of God’s tender
mercies and nothing but; of can’t we all get along, after all Jesus
loves the little children mindset, has taken the power out of
American Christianity.
The same Jesus Christ who taught mercy, love and forgiveness also
taught, if you will enter into life (eternal life), keep the
commandments. That same Jesus, the real Jesus, was emphatic when he
said “think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets;
I came not to destroy but to fulfill.”
Protestant Christianity in America has run amuck clearly because
Protestant Christianity has incorporated into its manufactured
worship of Jesus many pagan beliefs and rituals (which it continued
to perform after protesting from its Mother Catholic Church).
Christmas, Easter, Sunday-worship, the immortal soul, the trinity,
are doctrines that quickly come to mind.
The same Jesus Christ who taught mercy, love and forgiveness is also
warning an ambivalent America, “I know thy works that you are
neither cold nor hot: I would you were either cold or hot, so then
because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you
out of my mouth”. Jesus Christ will not tolerate being second to
anything. He will not tolerate your uncertainty. He alone is to be
worshipped and through Him alone is salvation.
American Christians had better wake up. You had better wake up.
American Christians have a form of godliness but deny the words, the
teachings and commands of Jesus Christ. There is only one faith and
one Savior. In Jesus Christ only is the way of salvation and eternal
life. There is no compromise. No other religion or religion’s gods
will save you.
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