False religions

[tjogs]

I run into one thread here where certain people were talking about a religion and why that religion is false? What made me feel little uneasy was that the conversation started after a certain member here said to go meetings of a particular church.

When I was at my teen years I found myself in a middle of 3 different churches. Lutheran, where I was baptized as a child, orthodox that was church of my grandparents and one other.
at age of 17 I felt God calling me to join this 3rd church and saying that baptism is something that I have to want to have for myself not that someone did it to me when i was infant and understood nothing.
I strongly felt that the infant baptism meant nothing and this thought made all my lutheran relatives upset. My grandparents who were orthodox I never told I had baptized because I feared the shock would be too much for them to handle. (the type of people they were)

Not more than 2 years maybe from this I ran into a person from yet another church. We had a nice chat as fellow Christians now could have until the point when he learned that I don't believe in eternal torture of hell but termination of their existence in there. That made him soooo mad that he condemn me to hell unless I change my belief immediately and said that all my religion and belief is false and from satan himself.
I was sad and disappointed to this man who said to be pastor.

Years later to this I was thinking back my experiences and thinking the question about different christian religions. Each to them think they are right one, why else people would stay there (unless by social pressure) but the hostility to others kept bugging me alot.
At this point God spoke to me. What he said exactly is something I cannot translate to english word by word but meaning was something like this: "Your ignorance to religions and state of man heart is so great that it's not your to worry about these things. What is meant to be between man and God is between man and God. For you my son love them like fellow christian and follow my word".

Have you encountered something similar you wanna share or what do you think about this im right and your is false thing in general and how you have dealt with that?

 

[Vernon]

I believe you are listening to the Lord, well said.

some believe you are saved by how you believe, and condemn all who disagree with how they believe. It's a way to control others.

 

[Kaycie]

I believe you are listening to the Lord, well said.

some believe you are saved by how you believe, and condemn all who disagree with how they believe. It's a way to control others.

What if their intention is pure, and instead of wanting to control people, they are just trying to save people from going to hell for all eternity? Are false religions real? Does it matter what church you go to as long as you believe in God? What if it did matter, and you would not inherit salvation if you were in one? What if God said, "They worship Me in vain- their doctrine is merely human rules."? And what if Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY those who do the will of My Father."? Wouldn't you see the danger? And wouldn't you want to make sure that you and those you care about are not following one of these false doctrines in order to save souls from eternal torment? ...


... I would.

 

[tjogs]

I had very similar thoughts in the time I was thinking the behavior of that person.
The verse: "from the fruits you know the tree" was specially shocking with that pastor. Instead of encouraging and telling that hey you are not living according to bible, he told me that im basically heretic satan worshiper just because im from different church than him and with few words he was ready to tear down everything I ever have known about God. I felt that in that moment the devil was in him rather than me. (christian to fellow christian: "your God is not god, my God is the only true GOD!") I doubt that's the way we should behave towards each other.

Even the concern that someone be going wrong shouldn't to my point I described because the ideological differences of sabbath or sunday, state of dead ones, eternal torture or total termination etc etc. And after all these many people think differently but will honestly and with full heart want to follow Jesus and God as best as they could and know right.

 

[ForthAngel]

I had very similar thoughts in the time I was thinking the behavior of that person.
The verse: "from the fruits you know the tree" was specially shocking with that pastor. Instead of encouraging and telling that hey you are not living according to bible, he told me that im basically heretic satan worshiper just because im from different church than him and with few words he was ready to tear down everything I ever have known about God. I felt that in that moment the devil was in him rather than me. (christian to fellow christian: "your God is not god, my God is the only true GOD!")

Even the concern that someone be going wrong shouldn't to my point I described because the ideological differences of sabbath or sunday, state of dead ones, eternal torture or total termination etc etc. And after all these many people think differently but will honestly and with full heart want to follow Jesus and God as best as they could and know right.

Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. A belief in an eternal torment or eternal destruction will not save anyone. I know someone who was in a similar type of church. Very legalistic as well. "Obey your parents or you're going to hell. Do this and do that or you're going to hell. You must be possessed because you don't believe this or that." Peripheral issues like these you mentioned can be disagreed on for the most part. It's when a false gospel is being preached or taught, or the image of God and Christ is being maligned where the problem comes in.

Some teach salvation comes by faith + works. They should be avoided. Some teach salvation comes by works alone. They should be avoided as well. Some teach if you don't believe this doctrine or that doctrine then you aren't saved. They should be avoided as well. Some teach a christ different from the one in scripture. They should be avoided.

You have to be careful about being a universalist as well. Not everyone who says they follow Christ are followers of Christ. Not everyone who says "I believe" actually believe. Not every teaching should be accepted. Many many teachings should be rejected. If they are teaching a false christ, then they are in fact following a different God than the Christian God.

2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

 

[Depleted]

I run into one thread here where certain people were talking about a religion and why that religion is false? What made me feel little uneasy was that the conversation started after a certain member here said to go meetings of a particular church.

When I was at my teen years I found myself in a middle of 3 different churches. Lutheran, where I was baptized as a child, orthodox that was church of my grandparents and one other.
at age of 17 I felt God calling me to join this 3rd church and saying that baptism is something that I have to want to have for myself not that someone did it to me when i was infant and understood nothing.
I strongly felt that the infant baptism meant nothing and this thought made all my lutheran relatives upset. My grandparents who were orthodox I never told I had baptized because I feared the shock would be too much for them to handle. (the type of people they were)

Not more than 2 years maybe from this I ran into a person from yet another church. We had a nice chat as fellow Christians now could have until the point when he learned that I don't believe in eternal torture of hell but termination of their existence in there. That made him soooo mad that he condemn me to hell unless I change my belief immediately and said that all my religion and belief is false and from satan himself.
I was sad and disappointed to this man who said to be pastor.

Years later to this I was thinking back my experiences and thinking the question about different christian religions. Each to them think they are right one, why else people would stay there (unless by social pressure) but the hostility to others kept bugging me alot.
At this point God spoke to me. What he said exactly is something I cannot translate to english word by word but meaning was something like this: "Your ignorance to religions and state of man heart is so great that it's not your to worry about these things. What is meant to be between man and God is between man and God. For you my son love them like fellow christian and follow my word".

Have you encountered something similar you wanna share or what do you think about this im right and your is false thing in general and how you have dealt with that?

What is the difference between so many religions believing each one is right and you creating your own set of beliefs?

I really don't thin denomination or non denomination saves. I do believe we are not saved if we create our own beliefs. That's just adding yet another false god into the mix.

 

[tanakh]

I run into one thread here where certain people were talking about a religion and why that religion is false? What made me feel little uneasy was that the conversation started after a certain member here said to go meetings of a particular church.

When I was at my teen years I found myself in a middle of 3 different churches. Lutheran, where I was baptized as a child, orthodox that was church of my grandparents and one other.
at age of 17 I felt God calling me to join this 3rd church and saying that baptism is something that I have to want to have for myself not that someone did it to me when i was infant and understood nothing.
I strongly felt that the infant baptism meant nothing and this thought made all my lutheran relatives upset. My grandparents who were orthodox I never told I had baptized because I feared the shock would be too much for them to handle. (the type of people they were)

Not more than 2 years maybe from this I ran into a person from yet another church. We had a nice chat as fellow Christians now could have until the point when he learned that I don't believe in eternal torture of hell but termination of their existence in there. That made him soooo mad that he condemn me to hell unless I change my belief immediately and said that all my religion and belief is false and from satan himself.
I was sad and disappointed to this man who said to be pastor.

Years later to this I was thinking back my experiences and thinking the question about different christian religions. Each to them think they are right one, why else people would stay there (unless by social pressure) but the hostility to others kept bugging me alot.
At this point God spoke to me. What he said exactly is something I cannot translate to english word by word but meaning was something like this: "Your ignorance to religions and state of man heart is so great that it's not your to worry about these things. What is meant to be between man and God is between man and God. For you my son love them like fellow christian and follow my word".

Have you encountered something similar you wanna share or what do you think about this im right and your is false thing in general and how you have dealt with that?[/QUOTE/]

Our Salvation doesnt depend on whether we believe in Hell or not but belief in Christ and our relationship to him. There is another reason that people attack and condemn other believers and it involves their own insecurity.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I think the biggest problem in regards to this is the belief that the Holy Spirit is not able to lead anyone along. We protestants have become so focused on doctrine that we seem to not be concerned with the one necessary thing. Have you received the Holy Spirit?

We all have some error. We are all learning from the Spirit and having our minds renewed to think like God thinks. He said to the disciples, I have many things still to tell you but you cannot bear them yet.


He changes us from glory to glory and faith to faith. And He doesn't need too much help once He gets in a man.

 

[bikerchaz]

I run into one thread here where certain people were talking about a religion and why that religion is false? What made me feel little uneasy was that the conversation started after a certain member here said to go meetings of a particular church.

When I was at my teen years I found myself in a middle of 3 different churches. Lutheran, where I was baptized as a child, orthodox that was church of my grandparents and one other.
at age of 17 I felt God calling me to join this 3rd church and saying that baptism is something that I have to want to have for myself not that someone did it to me when i was infant and understood nothing.
I strongly felt that the infant baptism meant nothing and this thought made all my lutheran relatives upset. My grandparents who were orthodox I never told I had baptized because I feared the shock would be too much for them to handle. (the type of people they were)

Not more than 2 years maybe from this I ran into a person from yet another church. We had a nice chat as fellow Christians now could have until the point when he learned that I don't believe in eternal torture of hell but termination of their existence in there. That made him soooo mad that he condemn me to hell unless I change my belief immediately and said that all my religion and belief is false and from satan himself.
I was sad and disappointed to this man who said to be pastor.

Years later to this I was thinking back my experiences and thinking the question about different christian religions. Each to them think they are right one, why else people would stay there (unless by social pressure) but the hostility to others kept bugging me alot.
At this point God spoke to me. What he said exactly is something I cannot translate to english word by word but meaning was something like this: "Your ignorance to religions and state of man heart is so great that it's not your to worry about these things. What is meant to be between man and God is between man and God. For you my son love them like fellow christian and follow my word".

Have you encountered something similar you wanna share or what do you think about this im right and your is false thing in general and how you have dealt with that?

I agree with your understanding of this issue, it can be very difficult to find peace with another's point of view.
I used to belong to a church that put the bible before all else (a good thing you might think) A few years ago I was on holiday and walking along the promenade and I came upon "the beach mission", they were milling around handing out pamphlets and talking to whoever would listen. One of them asked me if I knew Jesus and I said I was a Christian and which church I belonged to, he then went into a rage accusing me of being satan in human form, I just walked away and felt sorry for him.
Later on in life I was converted and met with Jesus face to face, I was ashamed about what I had learned before and how it had effected my life until one morning when waking from sleep I was dreaming and saying to Jesus that all I had known and been taught and had believed was from the devil and I wanted it taken out of me, I was quite vehement about it, when as I awoke I heard His voice and He said "Do you really think so?" Of course I sat bolt upright in bed with a start but He put in my understanding in that moment that it wasn't what I knew that was wrong , it was how I understood it that needed to change. I can honestly say now and Jesus is my witness that that day I became a blank page, nothing that I was ever shown or told was going to influence what would be written on this clean sheet, and it has not, Bless Him.
He has shown me that all who confess Christ risen and as Lord are to be loved as myself, and all who do not are to be loved as myself. I am not to judge any one for any thing. Jesus has shown me that if I see a problem with how anyone lives, it is my problem not theirs. Should Jesus see a problem in anyone else, then He has the power and strength to sort it out, he may use me in His purpose but my role is very small compared to what the Lord is capable of. It is His yoke when all said and done and His yoke has two holds, Jesus and the one He helps and no one else.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

This reminds me of something God told me. If I read my bible and my first thought is how someone ELSE really needs to hear this or read this, it is a sure sign that I have a problem with seeing.

 

[tjogs]

This reminds me of something God told me. If I read my bible and my first thought is how someone ELSE really needs to hear this or read this, it is a sure sign that I have a problem with seeing.

yeah
Reminds me of Jesus asking how we can see dust on someones eye if our own have a log.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

yeah
Reminds me of Jesus asking how we can see dust on someones eye if our own have a log.

Yes. And it also reminds me of the man God told, eat my words for yourself first.


We should always read while asking this: is it me Lord?

 

[sparkman]

I run into one thread here where certain people were talking about a religion and why that religion is false? What made me feel little uneasy was that the conversation started after a certain member here said to go meetings of a particular church.

When I was at my teen years I found myself in a middle of 3 different churches. Lutheran, where I was baptized as a child, orthodox that was church of my grandparents and one other.
at age of 17 I felt God calling me to join this 3rd church and saying that baptism is something that I have to want to have for myself not that someone did it to me when i was infant and understood nothing.
I strongly felt that the infant baptism meant nothing and this thought made all my lutheran relatives upset. My grandparents who were orthodox I never told I had baptized because I feared the shock would be too much for them to handle. (the type of people they were)

Not more than 2 years maybe from this I ran into a person from yet another church. We had a nice chat as fellow Christians now could have until the point when he learned that I don't believe in eternal torture of hell but termination of their existence in there. That made him soooo mad that he condemn me to hell unless I change my belief immediately and said that all my religion and belief is false and from satan himself.
I was sad and disappointed to this man who said to be pastor.

Years later to this I was thinking back my experiences and thinking the question about different christian religions. Each to them think they are right one, why else people would stay there (unless by social pressure) but the hostility to others kept bugging me alot.
At this point God spoke to me. What he said exactly is something I cannot translate to english word by word but meaning was something like this: "Your ignorance to religions and state of man heart is so great that it's not your to worry about these things. What is meant to be between man and God is between man and God. For you my son love them like fellow christian and follow my word".

Have you encountered something similar you wanna share or what do you think about this im right and your is false thing in general and how you have dealt with that?

Annihilationism vs. Eternal Torment is not an essential doctrine.

John Stott, a respected English theologian who has written many fine books that evangelical Christians have benefitted from, is an annihiliationist. In addition, NT Wright and FF Bruce are annihilationists.

Some people try to place eternal torment on the level of being an essential, but it does not belong there. Essentials include the following: full deity of Jesus Christ, Trinity doctrine (one God in three Persons), inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, imputed righteousness, bodily resurrection, judgment of the righteous and unrighteous, eternal punishment of the unrighteous, original sin, virgin birth of Jesus Christ, and a completed substitutionary atonement.

When I say "eternal punishment", I am talking about the eternal effects of the punishment, not duration. I make no statement in that regard. I understand the argument that "eternal punishment" is referring to duration, and I certainly agree with the possibility of that being the case. I don't think ANYONE can totally refute that possibility.

I have strongly held the annihilationist perspective in the past as a member of a group that taught it. Examining the topic carefully, I can see that EITHER POSITIOH could be defended biblically. On the annihilationist side, there are many references to death, perish, and destruction in regards to the state of the lost that indicate finality. In addition, if eternal torment is the wages of sin, Christ was not eternally tormented so this point is problematic for the eternal torment people.

On the eternal torment side, Lazarus and the Rich Man and the two or three references in Revelation to eternal torment are hard to get past. So, I take no firm position on either side. I probably know all the responses that both sides present against these "difficult scriptures" so you might as well not waste the time presenting them..no matter what, no one can totally deny the possibility that eternal torment is true. I hate it when annihilationists claim their position is bulletproof, because it is not.

Philosophically, some will say that God wouldn't eternally torment a being, but God has exhaustive foreknowledge and created Satan and the demons, who will be eternally tormented, so this philosophical view doesn't hold up. Those who claim that Satan and the demons will not be eternally torment are PLAINLY going against Revelation and its teaching in that regard. SOMEONE is going to be eternally tormented and that is very plain in these Revelation verses.

It is wrong for others to make this sort of thing an essential. It is equally wrong for someone in a fellowship which does not hold this position to use it as a way of causing division or as an exercise in "intellectual pride" as the other side can be amply defended too. Quite often cults use this doctrine to discredit the rest of Christianity..namely the Armstrongites (which I belonged to) and the Seventh Day Adventists come to mind. Their own position regarding annihilationism relies on a faulty premise because they claim that mankind is totally physical and has no spiritual component. This view is easily refuted. The same word "pneuma" that is used in relation to man's spirit is used in reference to the Holy Spirit, so it cannot simply mean "breath".

I do not discuss this issue with people from my fellowship, but I would discuss it if I was talking to someone who was troubled by the teaching of eternal torment and it jeopardized that person coming to faith.

You might be interested in this discussion I had with James White, who is an apologist at Alpha and Omega Ministries, in this topic. It starts at the 27:00 mark or so:

Open Phones on Today's Dividing Line - Alpha and Omega Ministries

Anyways, if I were you I would stay away from any of the cultic groups that promote annihiliationism. They use doctrines that are a bit questionable to lure people in. Restored Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, United Church of God, Living Church of God, and the Seventh Day Adventists are some of those. Their basic goal is to discredit the rest of Christianity in order to bring others over to their side. While possibly being right on one topic, they have a boatload of error.

Regards.

 

[sparkman]

I run into one thread here where certain people were talking about a religion and why that religion is false? What made me feel little uneasy was that the conversation started after a certain member here said to go meetings of a particular church.

When I was at my teen years I found myself in a middle of 3 different churches. Lutheran, where I was baptized as a child, orthodox that was church of my grandparents and one other.
at age of 17 I felt God calling me to join this 3rd church and saying that baptism is something that I have to want to have for myself not that someone did it to me when i was infant and understood nothing.
I strongly felt that the infant baptism meant nothing and this thought made all my lutheran relatives upset. My grandparents who were orthodox I never told I had baptized because I feared the shock would be too much for them to handle. (the type of people they were)

Not more than 2 years maybe from this I ran into a person from yet another church. We had a nice chat as fellow Christians now could have until the point when he learned that I don't believe in eternal torture of hell but termination of their existence in there. That made him soooo mad that he condemn me to hell unless I change my belief immediately and said that all my religion and belief is false and from satan himself.
I was sad and disappointed to this man who said to be pastor.

Years later to this I was thinking back my experiences and thinking the question about different christian religions. Each to them think they are right one, why else people would stay there (unless by social pressure) but the hostility to others kept bugging me alot.
At this point God spoke to me. What he said exactly is something I cannot translate to english word by word but meaning was something like this: "Your ignorance to religions and state of man heart is so great that it's not your to worry about these things. What is meant to be between man and God is between man and God. For you my son love them like fellow christian and follow my word".

Have you encountered something similar you wanna share or what do you think about this im right and your is false thing in general and how you have dealt with that?

Another thing..I'd strongly encourage you not to develop an attitude of contentiousness like some individuals that think they understand the truth about something, and try to inflict their understanding on other people. Anti-Trinitarians, Sabbatarians, and annihilationists get caught in that trap.

Having come from a cult started by a contentious man who claimed that all other Christians were in error and that he alone had the "truth", I am extremely wary of such individuals. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence. I seriously consider the weight of church history when examining questionable doctrines, and investigate anything unusual from a skeptical mindset.

I also consider anyone who starts making claims like the rest of Christianity is the Great Prostitute of Revelation 17 due to minor doctrinal differences to be Anti-Christ themselves if their behavior continues. I'm tired of dealing with such individuals and don't consider them brothers in Christ. They are basically serving as mouthpieces for Satan, who is an accuser of the brethren. They need to throttle down their pride and look at the other side of the argument, which reflects church history. I realize the church has been wrong on rare occasions, like justification by faith alone, but sound thinking DEMANDS that we look at subjects from the orthodox angle and actually try to give it a fair hearing. A lot of the people who hold non-orthodox positions on a particular topic are conspiracy theorist types who engage in what I'd call "evil suspicions". They start tearing apart Christianity on minor differences of opinion without any serious consideration of the orthodox position.

I'm far from a blind follower but neither do I let cults and their superficial understanding of Scripture and a distorted and erroneous view of Church History guide my thinking.

 

[Vernon]

What if their intention is pure, and instead of wanting to control people, they are just trying to save people from going to hell for all eternity? Are false religions real? Does it matter what church you go to as long as you believe in God? What if it did matter, and you would not inherit salvation if you were in one? What if God said, "They worship Me in vain- their doctrine is merely human rules."? And what if Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY those who do the will of My Father."? Wouldn't you see the danger? And wouldn't you want to make sure that you and those you care about are not following one of these false doctrines in order to save souls from eternal torment? ...


... I would.

Certainly you can explain how you believe and why you believe it, and be concerned for the salvation of others. Our belief and comprehension of scripture does not save anyone. As you said in your post 'only those who do the will of my Father. God is the Savior of mankind, not our religion.

 

[jaybird88]

the bible, the word of our Lord and the teachings of the Son will always be the same no matter where you go. if you are searching for truth and closeness to the Father like Jesus taught, then it really makes little difference what sign they hang on the front of the church you go to. there are great teachers out there that we can learn from but i have always put my faith in the teachings of our Lord and not so much in the teachings of man.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

Annihilationism vs. Eternal Torment is not an essential doctrine.

John Stott, a respected English theologian who has written many fine books that evangelical Christians have benefitted from, is an annihiliationist. In addition, NT Wright and FF Bruce are annihilationists.

Some people try to place eternal torment on the level of being an essential, but it does not belong there. Essentials include the following: full deity of Jesus Christ, Trinity doctrine (one God in three Persons), inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, imputed righteousness, bodily resurrection, judgment of the righteous and unrighteous, eternal punishment of the unrighteous, original sin, virgin birth of Jesus Christ, and a completed substitutionary atonement.

When I say "eternal punishment", I am talking about the eternal effects of the punishment, not duration. I make no statement in that regard. I understand the argument that "eternal punishment" is referring to duration, and I certainly agree with the possibility of that being the case. I don't think ANYONE can totally refute that possibility.

I have strongly held the annihilationist perspective in the past as a member of a group that taught it. Examining the topic carefully, I can see that EITHER POSITIOH could be defended biblically. On the annihilationist side, there are many references to death, perish, and destruction in regards to the state of the lost that indicate finality. In addition, if eternal torment is the wages of sin, Christ was not eternally tormented so this point is problematic for the eternal torment people.

On the eternal torment side, Lazarus and the Rich Man and the two or three references in Revelation to eternal torment are hard to get past. So, I take no firm position on either side. I probably know all the responses that both sides present against these "difficult scriptures" so you might as well not waste the time presenting them..no matter what, no one can totally deny the possibility that eternal torment is true. I hate it when annihilationists claim their position is bulletproof, because it is not.

Philosophically, some will say that God wouldn't eternally torment a being, but God has exhaustive foreknowledge and created Satan and the demons, who will be eternally tormented, so this philosophical view doesn't hold up. Those who claim that Satan and the demons will not be eternally torment are PLAINLY going against Revelation and its teaching in that regard. SOMEONE is going to be eternally tormented and that is very plain in these Revelation verses.

It is wrong for others to make this sort of thing an essential. It is equally wrong for someone in a fellowship which does not hold this position to use it as a way of causing division or as an exercise in "intellectual pride" as the other side can be amply defended too. Quite often cults use this doctrine to discredit the rest of Christianity..namely the Armstrongites (which I belonged to) and the Seventh Day Adventists come to mind. Their own position regarding annihilationism relies on a faulty premise because they claim that mankind is totally physical and has no spiritual component. This view is easily refuted. The same word "pneuma" that is used in relation to man's spirit is used in reference to the Holy Spirit, so it cannot simply mean "breath".

I do not discuss this issue with people from my fellowship, but I would discuss it if I was talking to someone who was troubled by the teaching of eternal torment and it jeopardized that person coming to faith.

You might be interested in this discussion I had with James White, who is an apologist at Alpha and Omega Ministries, in this topic. It starts at the 27:00 mark or so:

Open Phones on Today's Dividing Line - Alpha and Omega Ministries

Anyways, if I were you I would stay away from any of the cultic groups that promote annihiliationism. They use doctrines that are a bit questionable to lure people in. Restored Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, United Church of God, Living Church of God, and the Seventh Day Adventists are some of those. Their basic goal is to discredit the rest of Christianity in order to bring others over to their side. While possibly being right on one topic, they have a boatload of error.

Regards.

This is an amazing post!

 

[mailmandan]

There are only two types of people in this world, regardless of where they attend church or how religious they think they are. There are those who believe that Christ is an IN-sufficient Savior and there are those who believe that Christ is an ALL-sufficient Savior. Everyone from atheists to works salvationists (false religions) believe that Christ is an IN-sufficient Savior and ONLY those who have placed their faith (belief, trust, reliance) in CHRIST ALONE for salvation believe that He is an ALL-sufficient Savior.

 

[DP]

Can Truth ever really be about religion?

Religion is man's idea of appearing and acting holy. Authentic Christianity is not... a religion. It's is the Truth. This is why all other faith systems are... religions, which is of men, and not God and His Son.

 

[crossnote]

I think the biggest problem in regards to this is the belief that the Holy Spirit is not able to lead anyone along. We protestants have become so focused on doctrine that we seem to not be concerned with the one necessary thing. Have you received the Holy Spirit?

We all have some error. We are all learning from the Spirit and having our minds renewed to think like God thinks. He said to the disciples, I have many things still to tell you but you cannot bear them yet.


He changes us from glory to glory and faith to faith. And He doesn't need too much help once He gets in a man.

You seem to have your set of doctrines, even if it can be summed up with "receive the Holy Spirit and follow Him, never mind doctrine".