A meme (/ˈmiːm/ meem) is "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture".
The existence of so many religions is not an argument against God's existence or an argument that truth about God is not clear. Rather, the existence of so many religions is demonstration of humanity's rejection of the one true God. Mankind has replaced Him with gods that are more to their liking. This is a dangerous enterprise. The desire to recreate God in our own image comes from the sin nature within us—a nature that will eventually “reap destruction”.
Many people do not want to believe in a God who demands righteousness and morality, so they invent a God who makes no such requirements. Many people do not want to believe in a God who declares it impossible for people to earn their own way to heaven. So they invent a God who accepts people into heaven if they have completed certain steps, followed certain rules, and/or obeyed certain laws, at least to the best of their ability. Many people do not want a relationship with a God who is sovereign and omnipotent. So they imagine God as being more of a mystical force than a personal and sovereign ruler.
Do all religions lead to God? Actually they do. All but one leads to His judgment. Only one—Christianity—leads to His forgiveness and eternal life. No matter what religion one embraces, everyone will meet God after death. All religions lead to God, but only one religion will result in God's acceptance, because only through His salvation through faith in Jesus Christ can anyone approach Him with confidence. The decision to embrace the truth about God is important for a simple reason: eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong.
22 comments:
That's a wonderful example of brainwashing.
So all the Jews, Buddhists, Muslims etc etc have no chance to go to heaven? How about those who have never been exposed to Christianity? All lost...
This is why people are leaving religion.
You always seemed much more open minded.
Jesus said:
"If I had not come and spoken unto them,
they had not had sin:
but now they have no cloak for their sin."
(John 15:22)
Sam, if that were true then he did us no favor by speaking to us. Had he kept his mouth shut we would all be sinless. Sounds like a jerk to me.
"... God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:8)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
(Romans 10:13)
But, as I said, it would have been unnecessary. You're completely sinless unless witnessed to, but he wants you to be a sinner so that you must depend on him. Not very loving. Would you do something like that to your child?
Very well put, J. All those living, breathing human beings, all over the world, who have to burn in hell forever when they die, in the most terrible torment without a moment's relief, simply because some missionary has not yet gotten to them with word of the "one true god". Their sin is neither one of commission or omission. It's that we are all born defective, according to the teachings of christianity, and we in the West are the lucky ones, because we hear the message of "salvation" constantly.
That we are born defective is what makes the apparatus of christianity necessary; never mind the millions who get tortured eternally for their unwitting ignorance.
So god creates defective sentient beings, with the certain foreknowledge that millions of these wholly innocent beings will be tortured horribly without end in the torture chambers run by his disgraced lackey.
Is god really in charge? Does his eye see the fall of the sparrow, but miss the horrible lives of refugees, who upon dying enter a region of inconceivably worse pain and suffering that never ends? Does this sound like a loving, caring, righteous god to you?
God does not want any to die without knowing about him. If one looks to the heavens or to nature around him and wonders, “Where did this come from?” or “Is there more to this world than what I see?” then he has knowledge of God. God will make a way for that person, tribe, or nation to get answers and to hear about his plan of salvation which provides what God requires through Jesus Christ (Acts 8:32-38). God is not willing that any should perish but that all come to a saving knowledge of the Creator God.
The New Testament makes it clear that people will be judged according to the light (knowledge of God) that they have". All people have a law, a value system, or an ethic “written on their hearts” (Romans 2:15). These people are not judged for having never heard about Christ, but for the rejection of God of whom they have heard and for the disobedience to the law that is written in their hearts. The question is, “What will you do now that you have heard about Jesus?”
I deeply regret that my posting of John 15:22 above out of its Biblical context
may lead to its misinterpretation. I'm sorry.
I truly hope anyone interested will use the link below to read the entire chapter and/or book of John.
I hope God will bless you and guide your understanding of His Word.
The Gospel According to St. John, Chapter 15
John 15.
this is why I characterize this as "man-created" Religion. Only man can be so ignorant and arrogant as to believe they can tell other men that they will burn in hell because they don't believe the same God they do. It's the bane of civilization.
Our host said “What will you do now that you have heard about Jesus?” If you believe the bible, that quote proves the point that we would all be better off not ever having heard of him.
Christianity is a carrot and stick deal. The thing is, many have woken to realize that they don't want the carrot and are not afraid of the stick.
where's the Like button for Susan Reid? Well said
Humbly submitted with brotherly love and genuine concern:
"All scripture is given by the inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ..."
(2 Timothy 3:16)
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
(2 Peter 1:21)
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope."
(Romans 15:4)
"... blessed are they that hear the word of God,
and keep it."
(Luke 11:28)
I have never understood the need to post scripture. Those who know it, know it. Those who don't, don't
pw, it's the way members of the cult try to scare more people into joining the cult.
J, quite possibly. The sad part is that browbeating does not work and even sadder, so many people miss the beautiful songs and poetry
"The religious views of Thomas Jefferson diverged widely from the orthodox Christianity of his era. Throughout his life Jefferson was intensely interested in theology, religious studies, and morality.[1] Jefferson was most closely connected with Unitarianism.[2] He was sympathetic to and in general agreement with the moral precepts of Christianity, believed in an afterlife[3] and in the active involvement, or guidance, of God in the affairs of mankind.[4] He considered the teachings of Jesus as having "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man,"[5] yet he held that the pure teachings of Jesus appeared to have been appropriated by some of Jesus' early followers, resulting in a Bible that contained both "diamonds" of wisdom and the "dung" of ancient political agendas"
and there ya have it.
love to have your citations, Larry
Very well written. Thank you.
John, you wrote: "The decision to embrace the truth about God is important for a simple reason: eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong."
Then you are motivated by fear.
I've often wondered why seemingly intelligent folks embrace this old-Testament form of Christianity, when the new Testament so clearly appeals to our better, compassionate nature. Some just seem to love the whip on their back. And it also explains how you could so brutally abandon Buddy to the kill box. Fire and brimstone is the way of your world. Surrender Dorothy!
"...eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong." But christians just might be among those who are wrong. Or maybe there is no eternity. We have one life here that usually lasts less than 100 years. I will enjoy it, and not risk wasting this precious time on what are likely just superstitions.
When all is said and done all that really matters is what do you do with Jesus Christ...He is either a liar and deceiver because He accepted worship and equated Himself with God, or a lunatic because He clearly claimed to be one with the Father. Or He might just be who He claimed to be- God in human flesh. If John Wells is wrong and all the others Christians what have they lost? But if those who rejected Christ are wrong and hell is real...which belief system is the greater gamble? Consider what is really at stake...I am not a Christian because of some wonderful arguments. I am compelled and transfixed by the person of Jesus Christ. His love his gracious mercy how he reached out to what we're considered the dregs of society at that time...the untouchables, not necessarily the middle class bourgeois. The way He interacted with women and touched the diseased with no fear or disgust. If for one moment you can tell me that humanity doesn't have a sickness in it's soul that I call sin, how can you deny it. All I can ask you is if you don't believe in sin then why do you have locks on your cars and the doors of your houses?
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