...What do you know about the Muslim faith? How about Hinduism?
Are you familiar with the teachings of Buddha or Confucius?
If you have to confess that you know nothing about these faiths, you
might be feeling a little guilty that you haven’t taken the time to be-
come at least nominally familiar with the teachings of these major
world religions, especially since it is often being taught these days
that in order to witness effectively to a Muslim that it is important
to know something about what he believes.
We personally believe that this is not sound thinking. We can’t think
of anyplace where God Told the people of Israel to familiarize
themselves with the false religions of the nations around them.
We believe we see quite the opposite, as a matter of fact.
Consider what Jeremiah commanded God’s people in his day:
If you are wondering why he would give this sound advice, we believe
the answer is found in the warning that Moses gave Israel concerning
the heathen nations all about them:
God Knew that studying false religions often leads to converting to false
religions, which is exactly what happened. We read that God’s favored
nation “were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works,” and
so ended up serving their idols (Psa. 106:35,36), despite the warning
of God to Moses to “make no mention of the name of other gods”
(Ex. 23:13 cf. Josh. 23:7; Psa. 16:4).
In the coming kingdom of heaven on earth, God Said of Israel that
The complete absence of even the mention of false religions is part of
what will make it heaven on earth!
When this writer first became a pastor 34 years ago, we didn’t know
much about the cults and world religions, and so we studied them
and taught our people all about them.
Eventually, however, we began to see the wisdom of Grace pioneer
Pastor Win Johnson, who never taught these things in his church,
saying, “If you know The Truth, you won’t be fooled by error.”
The Lord never Taught the twelve about false religions, and Paul never
instructs us to follow this path either, so we determined a long time
ago to just teach the Bible.
Paul says that if we know The Scriptures we are “throughly furnished
unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16,17). That is, with God’s Word we are
thoroughly equipped to serve Him in all good works, and that would
include the good work of sharing The Gospel with those of other faiths.
No wonder Paul cautioned the Romans, “I would have you wise unto
that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Rom. 16:19). It should
not be overlooked that he said this in the context of men who were
teaching things “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned” (v. 17),
as men of other religions do.
Studies of cults and other religions are often presented under the premise
of examining these faiths to compare what they teach to what the Bible
Teaches so as to equip the believer to be able to show the adherents
of these religions where they are wrong according to The Scriptures.
We personally have found that attacking someone’s beliefs only serves
to make them defensive at best, and at worst has the effect of waving a
red flag in front of a bull!
By comparison, we often counsel Grace believers that the way to approach
a Baptist with the Grace message is not to touch the “sacred cow” of his
faith by attacking water baptism, and the way to share our message with
a charismatic believer is not to begin by attacking tongues or healing or
the other gifts that make up the apple of his eye.
The best results are achieved by showing them how to rightly divide the
Word of Truth, * a principle which, once learned, will always lead these
brethren to see the errors of their convictions. [Ga concurs: Amen! *]
In the same way, if The Gospel is “The Power of God unto salvation”
(Rom. 1:16), let’s use It to win the lost no matter what background
from which they hail.
These words are not penned as a criticism of those who hold that
we must know something about the religions of unbelievers in order
to be able to win them. We certainly respect their conviction.
These words are rather written to express this pastor’s heart’s desire to
see God’s people take the time that they would otherwise spend studying
false religions and use it to just study The Book That God Has "Magnified
Above even His Own Name" (Psa. 138:2), The Eternal Word Of God.
"
Source 'link' (if you wish...)
* Example: God's Word Of Truth, Rightly Divided
Grace, Peace, And JOY!
Are you familiar with the teachings of Buddha or Confucius?
If you have to confess that you know nothing about these faiths, you
might be feeling a little guilty that you haven’t taken the time to be-
come at least nominally familiar with the teachings of these major
world religions, especially since it is often being taught these days
that in order to witness effectively to a Muslim that it is important
to know something about what he believes.
We personally believe that this is not sound thinking. We can’t think
of anyplace where God Told the people of Israel to familiarize
themselves with the false religions of the nations around them.
We believe we see quite the opposite, as a matter of fact.
Consider what Jeremiah commanded God’s people in his day:
“Learn not the way of the heathen...” (Jer. 10:2).
If you are wondering why he would give this sound advice, we believe
the answer is found in the warning that Moses gave Israel concerning
the heathen nations all about them:
“Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following
them...and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying,
How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do
likewise” (Deut. 12:30).
God Knew that studying false religions often leads to converting to false
religions, which is exactly what happened. We read that God’s favored
nation “were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works,” and
so ended up serving their idols (Psa. 106:35,36), despite the warning
of God to Moses to “make no mention of the name of other gods”
(Ex. 23:13 cf. Josh. 23:7; Psa. 16:4).
In the coming kingdom of heaven on earth, God Said of Israel that
“I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth,
and they shall no more be remembered by their name”
(Hos. 2:17).
The complete absence of even the mention of false religions is part of
what will make it heaven on earth!
When this writer first became a pastor 34 years ago, we didn’t know
much about the cults and world religions, and so we studied them
and taught our people all about them.
Eventually, however, we began to see the wisdom of Grace pioneer
Pastor Win Johnson, who never taught these things in his church,
saying, “If you know The Truth, you won’t be fooled by error.”
The Lord never Taught the twelve about false religions, and Paul never
instructs us to follow this path either, so we determined a long time
ago to just teach the Bible.
Paul says that if we know The Scriptures we are “throughly furnished
unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16,17). That is, with God’s Word we are
thoroughly equipped to serve Him in all good works, and that would
include the good work of sharing The Gospel with those of other faiths.
No wonder Paul cautioned the Romans, “I would have you wise unto
that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Rom. 16:19). It should
not be overlooked that he said this in the context of men who were
teaching things “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned” (v. 17),
as men of other religions do.
Studies of cults and other religions are often presented under the premise
of examining these faiths to compare what they teach to what the Bible
Teaches so as to equip the believer to be able to show the adherents
of these religions where they are wrong according to The Scriptures.
We personally have found that attacking someone’s beliefs only serves
to make them defensive at best, and at worst has the effect of waving a
red flag in front of a bull!
By comparison, we often counsel Grace believers that the way to approach
a Baptist with the Grace message is not to touch the “sacred cow” of his
faith by attacking water baptism, and the way to share our message with
a charismatic believer is not to begin by attacking tongues or healing or
the other gifts that make up the apple of his eye.
The best results are achieved by showing them how to rightly divide the
Word of Truth, * a principle which, once learned, will always lead these
brethren to see the errors of their convictions. [Ga concurs: Amen! *]
In the same way, if The Gospel is “The Power of God unto salvation”
(Rom. 1:16), let’s use It to win the lost no matter what background
from which they hail.
These words are not penned as a criticism of those who hold that
we must know something about the religions of unbelievers in order
to be able to win them. We certainly respect their conviction.
These words are rather written to express this pastor’s heart’s desire to
see God’s people take the time that they would otherwise spend studying
false religions and use it to just study The Book That God Has "Magnified
Above even His Own Name" (Psa. 138:2), The Eternal Word Of God.
"
Source 'link' (if you wish...)
* Example: God's Word Of Truth, Rightly Divided
Grace, Peace, And JOY!
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