Religion is like soup: everyone has their favorite. For me, the word religion is difficult to define.
According to one source, religions have narratives and traditions, quoting roughly 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, faith groups, cultures, or concerns. The source doesn’t discern whether Satanism, Luciferianism, or other non-Christian faiths are one of the 4,200.
What does the Scripture say about religion? Jesus says in Matthew 6:1-4: “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Hypocrites, as referred to here, are those who do good acts for appearances only — not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may result in good, but their motives are empty and hollow. God teaches that our motives for helping others must be pure.
Do all religions lead to God? as Romans 8:35-39 details, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For your sake, we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What comforting promises the Scripture mentioned above holds. Paul claims it is impossible to be separate from Christ. His death for us is proof of his unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ’s constant presence with us. The powers spoken of are unseen forces of evil in the universe, forces like Satan and his fallen angels. Knowing Christ gives us superpowers, and His love will protect us from such forces.
So, whom will you serve? 1 John 4:1-3 warns: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
What is the actual litmus test? In the 5th chapter of John, Jesus explains that He is the Son of God. Beginning with verse 19, He says, “Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so, the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”
Jesus is the absolute litmus test for all religions, including Judaism.
There are demons and deceivers in this world, and the way to test all claims to truth in religion is Jesus Christ. Be alert. Read and study God’s word. Our responsibilities of being Christ-like are outlined in the 66 books, but if you don’t read and study, how will you know? You must not depend on someone else to interpret His holy word for you.
Local News
Comments / 0