False Religions

I see so many people today being deceived by false religions. One such religion is the " NAME IT & CLAIM IT" religion that so many televison evangelists preach. They tell you if you just pray for anything in faith, God will give it to you. Do you want a new car, or expensive clothes, or a big, new house? Just pray with faith, and it's yours! That's what they teach. As "proof" of the truth of their philosophy, they all walk around in $600 silk shirts and custom made shoes. They all drive big, fancy cars; you never see them in a tiny Chevy Neon or a Ford Taurus.

But does the Bible truly say that God is some kind of supernatural Santa Claus, just waiting to grant our every wish? Of course not! He promises to supply all our NEEDS, when we place our trust and faith in Him, but there is usually a whole world of difference between our needs and our wants! This type of praying generally tends to be self-centered; rather than truly seeking God's perfect will, it is more about "me" and what "I" want.

So what happens when somebody prays "in faith" for something, and he or she doesn't get whatever it is they've prayed for? What if they pray for a new job, but the job goes to someone else? Or what if they pray for healing for a loved one, and that person dies instead? What if they've prayed as hard as they can, as much as they can, with all the faith in the world, and yet they still don't get the answer they want? These television preachers would say that either they did not have enough faith, or there must be some hidden sin in their life, hindering their prayers. Either answer leaves people feeling like a spiritual failure, and causes them to turn away from God. That's the basic problem with this "name it & claim it" philosophy. When their self-centered prayers are not answered they way they expect, the only possible answer is that either they failed God, or God failed them.

Another false religion we see so much of today is the "I'M OKAY --- YOU"RE OKAY" movement. They think as long as you are sincere and honest in whatever you believe, it's all okay with Him. One religion, philosophy, or "ism" is just as good as the next to those who have bought into this lie. You can worship Father God, or Mother Earth, or Buddha, or Krishna, or Vishnu, or trees, stars, or ancient spirits........ as long as you are sincere, it's all equally valid.

This "religion" says that there is no absolute truth.... whatever you personally believe to be true is true for you. Those deceived by this philosophy think that there are many paths, but they all lead to the same Higher Being, call him/her/it whatever you choose. The problem is, that's not what the Bible says. Jesus plainly states: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) One way, not many. One truth, not many. One God, one Savior, and only one way.

Another popular pseudo-religion is the "FEEL GOOD" church. They only want to hear good things; little sermons that tickle their ears but don't hinder their lifestyle too much. The cornerstone of their feel-good religion is "God is good.... God is love". They will tell you they believe in a loving Heavenly Father, who would never send anyone to hell. These poor deluded people seem to think they can live any way they want, do anything they want, and it's all okay with God. Their loving God would never punish sin by sending them to hell. In fact, many of them don't even believe there is such a place, because a loving God wouldn't create a such a place.

Are you one of those who have been deceived by satan's lies? Remember, he is a liar and the father of all lies. He takes one tiny little shred of truth, and twists it until it doesn't even begin to come close to the absolute truth. Yes, God IS love; the Bible tells us that. (I John 4:8) But you cannot take just one tiny verse out of context and hang your entire faith on that. You need to be like Paul Harvey, and find out the rest of the story!

If you or someone you know has fallen into satan's trap and believed this lie, there are just a few things things you need to be aware of:

• First, God does not SEND anyone to hell. In fact, hell was never meant for human beings in the first place. It was created for satan and his angels, who rebelled against God. (Isaiah 14:12-14; II Peter 2:4) God never wanted for man to go to hell; we are created in His image, and are precious to Him. The Bible tells us that God is not willing for any to perish, but wants all of us to repent, and be saved. (II Peter 2:9)

• We each choose our eternal destiny. God never takes away our right to freedom of choice. (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Proverbs 1:29; Isaiah 7:15-16)

  Yes, God is love, but those who think God will perpetually smile on their sin and rebellion need to look closely at some of the other characteristics of the Almighty God.

  • He is a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him. (Exodus 20:5; Ex. 34:14; Deut. 4:24; Deut 5:9)

  • He will render vengeance upon His enemies, and will repay those that hate Him. (Deut. 32:41; Ezekiel 25:17, Romans 12:19 and many more)

  • He is angered by man's sin and rebellion. (Numbers 32:13; Deut. 6:15, Deut. 29:27; and many, many more)

  • He will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; (Isaiah 13:11) He will punish each according to their fruits (Jer. 21:14)
  • He will chastise you seven times over for your sins if you choose to walk contrary to Him. (Lev. 26:28)

  • God hates false shows of piety, (Amos 5:21) false oaths, and those who imagine evil in their hearts. (Zech. 8:17)

  • There are seven sins in particular that God HATES: (Proverbs 6:16-19)

These are just a few of the many verses which show us that while God is love, He will not smile upon our sin and rebellion. He is a holy and pure and righteous God, and will not allow sin to go unpunished. His very nature abhors sin. God hates the sin, even while loving the sinner. He hates sin today, every bit as much as He hated it in the days of Noah, when He destroyed the whole world, except for Noah and his family, because man was so sinful.

Don't let the devil deceive you into believing that God will wink at our little pet sins, or that one or two little transgressions will be overlooked. That's a lie straight from satan. The Bible warns us that in the last days there will be many that have a form of Godliness, but it is a false godliness, and we should turn away from it. (II Timothy 3:2-5)

Do not be deceived. The Bible tells us: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.(Prov. 14:12) God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. There will be a day of reckoning. On that day, none of these false religions will withstand God's pure and holy judgment.