Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Universalism ??

Because of the day in which we live, Christians need to make a stand for the Word of God more than ever. I feel just as Jeremiah who said ‘His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones’. Friends, there are a lot of liars and deceivers out there who are attempting to seduce and entice you into hell. It is my prayer that God will reveal to you His truth and that no one will be able to deceive you.



The devil is leading people away from the truth through the influence of celebrities with wishy-washy feel-good spiritualism. One example is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah, who is reported to have an audience of 15 to 20 million people, claims that she is a Christian. In 2002, Christianity Today declared she “has become one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America.” Oprah talks about Christ- consciousness rather than speaking about salvation through Christ. Likewise, she describes heaven not as an eternal destination but an inner realm of consciousness. She also dismisses the idea that there is “one way” to God, when she says, “There couldn’t possibly be just one way.” Oprah stated, “One of the mistakes that human beings make is believing that there is only one way to live.” She goes on to say, “there are many paths to what you call God.” Multiple false ideas by man are circulating in the world today. One of those false doctrines is Universalism, which is a religion that believes that all creatures and persons will be reconciled to God. They accept all religions as a pathway to God.



Are there many pathways to God? God, through His infinite mercy, has given us the Bible, which is a road map to heaven. 2 Timothy 3:16 states “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”



So what does the Word of God say about this New Age Idea that Oprah Winfrey is ‘preaching’? John 14:16 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. The majority of non-believers and many people who claim to be ‘Christians’ say that fundamental Christianity is ‘intolerant’ and ‘narrow-minded’ because we say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. If you were about to drink poison, and I say, ‘Don’t drink that because it will kill you’. Is that ‘intolerant’? If a building was on fire and there was only one exit and I point you to that one way of escape, is that being ‘narrow-minded’? No it is not. The truth is the truth. Two plus two equals four. It has always equaled four. It will equal four in the future. God is truth. Romans 3:4 says ‘ let God be true, but every man a liar.’ If being ‘intolerant’ and ‘narrow-minded’ means that I refuse to accept a lie, then call me intolerant and narrow-minded. I refuse to accept a lie and I choose to believe Jesus Christ.



In John 17:17, Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. We are told that the Bible-the Word of God is truth. Therefore, to live as a sanctified Christian, we are to study and adhere to the Word of God, which is truth. God calls us to be wise to the works of Satan. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” 2 Timothy 4:3,4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Why do some people, such as Oprah Winfrey tag themselves with the name ‘Christian’? It is because they accept the ‘love’ part of the gospel. They like the part that says ‘God so loved the world’; however, they refuse the Word, which says “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

By Faith Noles

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