Confronting With Kindness

You′ve met them before, haven′t you? They are usually polite people and enthusiastic about religion. In fact, though their religious beliefs differ from yours, with warmth they will make it clear that our differences don′t matter. Their standard line is: "Well, it′s not what church you are a member of, but what′s in your heart that counts. We′re all trying to get to heaven, we just each travel a different road." In spite of their goodwill, their concept of the religion of Jesus Christ is WRONG! Consider five reasons why their broadminded philosophy is in error:


1.

  

It emphasizes sincerity as a standard above God′s Word. But the Bible teaches a person could be sincerely wrong and lost, (Acts 26:9Acts 26:9
  9. I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.; I Timothy 1:13I Timothy 1:13
  13. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.; Matthew 7:21–23Matthew 7:21–23
  21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
  22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
  23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.; I Corinthians 4:4I Corinthians 4:4
  4. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.).

2.

  

It devalues truth by destroying its absolute nature and its necessity. But the Bible admonishes, "Buy the truth and sell it not," (Proverbs 23:23Proverbs 23:23
  23. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.), and warns us about the consequences of not loving the truth, (II Thessalonians 2:9–12II Thessalonians 2:9–12
  9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
  10. And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
  11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
  12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.).

3.

  

It endorses divisiveness and implies that God is satisfied with all the confusion of religious division. But the Bible teaches that God condemns such divisiveness as sinful, (I Corinthians 1:10–13I Corinthians 1:10–13
  10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
  11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
  12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
  13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?; Galatians 5:19–20Galatians 5:19–20
  19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
  20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,; I Corinthians 14:33I Corinthians 14:33
  33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.).

4.

  

It suggests that there are many ways to go to heaven. But the Bible teaches that Jesus told us THE WAY and that there is no other, (John 14:6John 14:6
  6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.; Acts 4:12Acts 4:12
  12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.; Mark 16:15–16Mark 16:15–16
  15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
  16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.; Galatians 1:6–9Galatians 1:6–9
  6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
  7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
  8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
  9. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.; Ephesians 4:3–6Ephesians 4:3–6
  3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
  4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
  5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
  6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.).

5.

  

It ignores the idea that the different churches with differing doctrines are the result of false teaching. But the Bible sounds a solemn warning about our responsibility to recognize and reject those who pervert the truth, (I John 4:1I John 4:1
  1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.;
I Timothy 4:1–3I Timothy 4:1–3
  1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
  2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
  3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.; II Corinthians 11:13–15II Corinthians 11:13–15
  13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
  14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
  15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.; II Peter 2:1–3II Peter 2:1–3
  1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
  2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
  3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.; Romans 16:17Romans 16:17
  17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.; Revelation 2:20Revelation 2:20
  20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.).

We, too, can smile and present the "truth in love" with the spirit of Jesus Christ who "was going about all the cities and villages teaching...and seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd," (Matthew 9:35–36Matthew 9:35–36
  35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
  36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.). But by all means, let′s confront them knowing that we are doing them no kindness if we leave them in a state of ignorance.









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