Opposing Faiths Confuse Many People
In spite of the fact there is only one divinely inspired
Bible, we all interpret God very differently.
Consequently, many different religions, philosophies, denominations, and
churches have formed. In fact, many of
these worldviews do not even teach the doctrine of God, Christ, or the Trinity
accurately, nor do they acknowledge faith through grace and a Substitute (Jesus
Christ) as being the only means of salvation.
For example: (1) Montanism regards the humanity of Christ as
apparent rather than historically real (Docetism) (2) Monarchianism
opposes the Trinitarian concept when affirming the unity of the Godhead (3) Neoplatanism
objects the incarnation of Jesus Christ (4) Monasticism constitutes
the Christian pursuit of perfection through withdrawal from the world, (5) Apollinarianism teaches that in Jesus the Word of God replaces human minds
(6) Arianism which
claims that Christ was created by and is subordinate to God the Father (7) Pelagianism which teaches that an individual could take the first
steps towards salvation unaided by grace (8) Semi-Pelagianism
which says that Christ is of one substance with God, but not with humankind (9)
Monophysitism which
teaches in Christ’s person there is one rather than two natures (10) Nestorianism which holds that in Christ there are two distinct
natures and two distinct persons (11) Scholasticism which attempts to reconcile
Christian doctrine and human reason, and to arrange the teachings of the church
in an orderly system (12) Gnosticism which
says the human problem does not originate from “guilt,” which needs
forgiveness, but from “ignorance,” which needs replacement with special
knowledge, and also believes spirit is entirely good and matter is entirely
evil (13) Asceticism
which suppresses bodily passions because of their connection with evil matter
(14) Libertinism or Sensualism which
indulges in bodily passions because of the unimportance of matter (15) Epicureanism which teaches pleasure (not necessarily sensual) is
the chief goal in life (16) Stoicism which teaches dutiful acceptance of one’s
fate as determined by an impersonal Reason which rules the universe and of
which all human beings are a part (17) Cynicism which regards the supreme virtue as a
simple, unconventional life in rejection of the popular pursuits of comfort,
affluence, and social prestige (18) Skepticism which abandons belief in anything
absolute and succumbs to doubt and conformity to prevailing custom (19) Naturalism
which believes values are manmade (20) Nihilism which
believes the human predicament or problem lies within the fact that human
beings do not possess the ability to choose their own destiny (21) Eastern
Pantheistic Monism which believes at death an individual soul loses
its bodily residence, but is reincarnated in another individual (22) New Age
which believes the external universe exists not to be manipulated from the
outside by a transcendent God, but to be manipulated from the inside by the
self (23) Postmodernism which believes the truth about the reality itself is
forever hidden from us (24) Wicca which is a polytheistic Neo-Pagan nature
religion inspired by various pre-Christian western European beliefs whose
central deity is a mother goddess and which includes the use of herbal magic
and witchcraft (25) Witchcraft which
practices sorcery, enchantments, and intercourse with evil spirits (26) Islam which is a monotheistic religion of Muslims based on
the Koran, not the Bible, and accepts the doctrine of submission to God and to
Muhammad, not Jesus (27) Buddhism which is
the religion based upon the doctrine originally taught by the Hindu sage, Gautama Siddartha, surnamed
Buddha, ``the awakened or enlightened one,'' which says that life is permeated
with suffering caused by desire; that suffering ceases when desire ceases; and
that enlightenment obtained through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation releases
one from desire, suffering, and rebirth (28) Baptists which follow the reformed
tradition in worship; deny the validity of infant baptism and sprinkling; and
maintain that baptism should be administered to believers alone, and should be
done only by immersion (29) Anabaptists which view baptism solely as an
external witness to a believer's conscious profession of faith; reject infant
baptism; and believe in the separation of church from state, in the shunning of
nonbelievers, and in simplicity of life (30) Seventh-day Baptists which are a
sect of Baptists who keep the seventh day of the week, or Saturday, as the
Sabbath (31) Arminians which reject the doctrines of
predestination and election; believe that human free will is compatible with
God's sovereignty; universal redemption or the atonement was made by Christ for
all mankind, though none but believers can be partakers of the benefit; that
man, in order to exercise true faith, must be regenerated and renewed by the
operation of the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of God; that man may resist
divine grace; and that man may relapse from a state of grace (32) Calvinists
which believe in the doctrines of predestination and election, and emphasize
the omnipotence of God and the salvation of the elect by God's grace alone (33)
Jehovah's Witness’ whom participate in active evangelism, and the
imminent approach of the millennium (34) Methodists which are characterized by active
concern with social welfare and public moral values, and insist on systematic
procedure when carrying out religious duties within the church (35) Lutheran which pertains to Martin Luther or his teachings:
"the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith alone" (36) Pentecostals
which believes a person who does not speak in tongues is not filled with the
Holy Ghost (37) Roman
Catholicism which is characterized by authority within the church (a
hierarchy with the pope as its head), and has faith in seven sacraments, which
are: baptism (necessary for church membership and is done by pouring water or
by immersion); confirmation (laying on of hands by the bishop or the priest);
Eucharist (receiving bread and wine and through this process, the actually body
and blood of Jesus Christ are considered to be present in the elements at this
time); reconciliation (any sins after baptism are forgiven); anointing of the
sick (is for the seriously ill, injured, or aged); holy orders (is for the
ordination of deacons, priests, and bishops); marriage (cannot be remarried
after divorce) (38) Protestant which
believes the following principles of faith: the inspiration and trustworthiness
of the Bible as the sole rule of life; the Lordship of Jesus Christ; the
ability for any person to approach God for themselves; the granting of
salvation through faith by way of grace and contact with the Holy Spirit; two
ordinances- the Lord's Supper and the baptism of believers by being immersed in
water; the church as a group of believers in Christ who are baptized upon
confession of faith; complete separation of church and state; infant baptism as
unscriptural and not to be practiced; life after death; the royal law of God;
the need of redemption from sin; and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.
As evidenced by the many different religions, philosophies, denominations,
and churches, we all interpret God very differently. Some of us believe in a cruel and malicious
God who wants to destroy the sinners in this world, while others of us believe
in a friendly and compassionate God who wants to help this world. Some of us have a very deistic worldview and
believe in a very distant God who can never have a relationship with humanity,
while others of us believe in a God who is very close and personal to humanity. Some of us believe in a God that has died,
while others of us believe in a God that is alive. Some of us believe miracles can never happen,
while others of us believe miracles occur each and every day. Some of us believe God is willing to accept
us into heaven provided we live a good life, while others of us believe God
will only accept us into heaven if we maintain genuine faith in His Son, Jesus
Christ, as the only means of salvation.
Some of us pray, “God bless
Considering this, what do you believe? Who do you believe in? Why do you believe what you do? Does your belief have any significant value
or worth? Can your belief save you from
eternal damnation in the fiery pits of Hell?
Can your church rectify your disunity from God? Can your denomination reunite your soul with
its Creator? Can your religion save you
from the Devil?
Have you entrusted your soul to your religion or have you given your life to Jesus? This is your decision and it is an eternal choice between heaven and hell forever! What do you believe?