4 Minute Devotions: Just Another Belief?

2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

One of the major battles that Christianity is currently fighting within itself, is a creeping form of universalism. Universalism is a belief that no matter what people believe, God will forgive them, accept them, and bestow all of His eternal blessings upon them. Therefore universalists believe that if you’re Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, or of any other religion on the planet, it’s all the same thing in God’s eyes.

This happens because the world is a much smaller place these days and a cross-fertilization of cultures, beliefs, and traditions is happening all of the time. Rather than accepting Christianity as the absolutely true religion, people want to believe in tolerance, acceptance, and respect. It makes the world a whole lot easier and religion becomes a private pursuit.

The trouble with this is twofold: firstly, it causes people to lose their faith altogether in God, and replaces it with a faith in themselves. Secondly, we forget that Christianity emerged in a world where there were countless Roman, Greek, and Egyptian gods and goddesses. If Christianity was meant to be universalist, its first followers and devotees would never have undergone persecution and death. Rather than profess their sole allegiance to Christ, they would have gladly accepted Caesar as a god, too.

We tend to arrogantly think that just because we want it to be so, then God grants us a divine exemption from following the foundational beliefs in the Christian church. The temptation to be Christian universalists in the past is no different from today’s multi-cultural world. However, Christianity is an absolutist faith, whether we like it or not. Jesus is Lord absolutely, and not co-equally with any other religious leader, figurehead, or deity.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the King of all Creation and the Ruler of the Universe. Whenever we forget that, we are in danger of falling down a slippery slope that will take us away from You and into the morass of a world gone wrong. Remind us constantly of the courage of the First Christians, and help us to avoid the same old temptations of secularism, syncretism, and universalism. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

A Cautionary Tale

From the Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. - A once prominent leader in the charismatic movement has been forced to shut down his church in the wake of a radical change in his theological beliefs.

Eight years ago, Bishop Carlton Pearson's Higher Dimensions Church had about 6,000 members. He served as a guest host on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, was a member of the Oral Roberts University board of trustees, and was among group of black religious leaders who advised President-elect George W. Bush after the 2000 election.

But Pearson then began preaching that everyone goes to heaven, a theology he calls "the gospel of inclusion." Not long after, evangelical leaders rejected Pearson, the membership in his church fell to a few hundred, and the church's property was lost in foreclosure.

Its few remaining members have now been merged into a Unitarian congregation.

U.S Episcopal Bishop Apologizes to Hindus worldwide

“There are far too many Christians in the world,” Episcopal priest declares.

The Bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles has issued an apology to Hindus worldwide for what he called "centuries-old acts of religious discrimination by Christians, including attempts to convert them" reports India Abroad. The apology was given in a statement read to over 100 Hindu spiritual leaders at a mass from Right Reverend J John Bruno.

The ceremony started with a Hindu priestess blowing a conch shell three times and included sacred chants.

This meeting was the result of a dialogue, started three years ago, between Hindu leaders and Rev. Karen MacQueen, who was deeply influenced by Hindu Vedanta philosophy and opposes cultivating conversions. "There are enough Christians in the world," she said. "What we need to see is more Christians leading an exemplary life and truly loving their fellow man."

However the apology has triggered considerable debate among pastors across the US.

Article source: India Abroad

Sand Lines

Scottish accent audio version here

Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (NIV)

The gloves are coming off. I’ve about had it with those who are leading the church astray. In recent weeks, a Presbyterian pastor in another part of Tennessee had declared on Easter to his congregation that Jesus’ body decayed just like everyone else who died in the past. Now he is promoting Pluralism Sunday this Sunday, which is the Day of Pentecost, proclaiming that the Holy Spirit’s gift of languages was to let people of other religions and cultures know that their ways, their faith, and their beliefs were alright with God.

We’ve a word for that kind of accommodating, universalist preacher in Scotland – a numpty. Pentecost was the day when the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles to declare the Gospel in different languages. The message was the same, only the languages were different. For too long, we allowed universalists to bend, twist, and malign the truth that Christ presented. If they want to preach and teach that God has changed His mind and no longer validates His Son’s ministry, mission, death and resurrection, then they can go and do it elsewhere. A line of faith has been drawn in the sand, so this pandering to the world’s insistence of what Christianity should be must come to a halt.

To me, when Jesus says “I am the Truth, the Way and the Life,” He really means it. There’s no room for negotiation, compromise or accommodation. If He had said, “I am a way, a truth, and a life,” things might have been different, but the scriptures included “the” – the definite article – to show us how definite He was. Those who cannot accept this, cannot accept Him. And those who cannot accept Him, cannot be accepted by Him.

So, I’m drawing a line in the sand and I’m not retreating any further. This is far enough, not fair enough. It’s time to fight the good fight and win people back to Christ. It’s time to boldly go and preach the Gospel. There is no other way, no other truth, and no other life. There is no ‘my way’ on the King’s Highway! It’s either His way or dismay.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, for too long we have been spiritually asleep and have let go of priceless articles of faith and precious words of salvation. Awaken us from our slumber and restore us to Your work. Combat our poor witness and overcome our stubborn pride. Teach us to be soldiers, as well as servants, for Your Church and Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.