With the existence of over 220 religious denominations
in the USA and Canada, and more than 1,000 splinter churches (not
counting Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the other world religions),
is it any wonder that many good and honest people are confused,
lost, and bewildered in their search for the right way to heaven?
(Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13, 14). Did God establish all of these
different ways (faiths)? This is not a question of Constitutional
Rights, but it is a matter of Biblical truth!
Religious pluralism argues "Follow your conscience."
"Go to the church of your choice." Did the Lord build
more than one church? Did God leave the terms of salvation up
to man? Can man legislate for God? God is explicit: "You
shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take anything
from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God
which I command you." Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV). Friends, the
Bible is right, and the Bible can be understood! Romans 1:16;
Ephesians 5:17.
It would be the height of immorality, deception,
and a great evil, indeed, if our Creator (Who is a loving God,
1 John 4:8), would make man in His own image, then mystify him
as to how to please Him in worship and to judge him with a Book
(Bible) that he could not understand correctly. John 12:48. Jesus
said, "If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven
give good things to those who ask Him?" Matthew 7:11. "For
God is good ..." Psalm 100:5. The Bible is inspired. It teaches
the right ways of God. "There is a way that seems right to
a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12.
God's Word is a lamp to our feet and pathway.
Has Almighty God created mankind and then left
him in spiritual darkness and religious confusion? No, no, a million
times, no! The Bible is the inspired (God breathed, 2 Timothy
3:16-17), all-sufficient (abundant, nothing lacking, 1
Timothy 1:14), all-effective (capable, 1 Thessalonians
2:13), all-powerful (God's dynamite, Hebrews 4:12), all-saving
(redeeming, James 1:21), complete (once for all time delivered,
Jude 3), ever-lasting (never-ending, Matthew 24:35) Word
of God! The Bible truly is our roadmap to heaven! What else do
we need? 2 Peter 1:3. Our Creator would be a weak and mean God
for sure if He could not (or would not) communicate with His "crowning
creation" (mankind) through the economy of sound words (the
Bible.)
Friends, religious divisions (confusion) are man's
doings, not God's. "For God is not the author of confusion
..." 1 Corinthians 14:33. Our Savior prayed, "... that
they all might be one ..." John 17:21. The inspired apostle
Paul wrote, "... that you all speak the same thing, and that
there be no divisions among you." 1 Corinthians 1:10. And,
"... if we (apostles) or an angel from heaven preach any
other gospel ... let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8. Almighty
God said what He meant, and He means exactly what He says in His
word, the Bible. Religious divisions are the major cause of atheism,
agnosticism, and infidelity in the world today. We call on all
men to unite on the Bible only!
The Lord said, in answer to Peter's good confession
that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, "...
and upon this rock I will build my church." Matthew 16:18.
A very short time later the church of Christ became a reality
on the day of Pentecost, at Jerusalem, when Peter and the rest
of the apostles opened the door of the Lord's church for the very
first time (using the "keys" of Matthew 16:19), when
they proclaimed, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Acts
2:38. "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized
... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being
saved." Acts 2:41, 47.
One cannot join the Lord's church. The saved are
added to the church when they completely obey God's commandments.
Romans 6:17-18. Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep my commandments."
John 14:15. An alien sinner must hear the gospel (Romans 10:14);
he must believe the good news (John 8:24); he must repent of all
sins (Luke 13:3); he must confess the name of Christ before men
(Romans 10:10). Then, and only then, can one be baptized (immersed)
"for the remission of sins." Acts 2:38. This is God's
plan of salvation. Who is weak, sinful man to argue with God concerning
his salvation? The Bible is right. It will judge us all in the
last day. 4384 Baer Rd., Marion, OH 43302-9309.