Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion I began over a week ago, titled "'Once Saved, Always Saved' -- Really?" -- my Friend, GB, questions why I continue to refute teachings from world religions and cult religions.
In an earlier post, I asked GB, "What do you consider to be a false religion? Are world religions, i.e., Islam, Buddhism, etc., false religions? Just what do you consider to be cult religions? Are Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc., cult religions? Do you believe that New Age religions are compatible with the Christian faith? Do you believe that God would have you refute false and cult religions? Or, do you believe that it is okay to allow new Christians, babes in Christ -- and new seekers -- to be led astray by such false and cult teachings?"
You tell me, "If you want to pronounce God's judgment on other religions and people, and you feel this advances the cause of Christ, then have at it. Show me where Christ did, as you say we should do, with respect to the lost world whether they are atheist, non-believers, or Muslims?"
GB, can you be comfortable knowing that someone you might have influenced toward belief in God -- instead went into a false or cult religion -- because you did not want to offend anyone by sharing the true Gospel with him/her?
Once again, I will ask: Can you define what should, and should not, be viewed as a false religion or a cult religion?.
Let me suggest that when Jesus Christ told us, in Matthew 28:19-20, to Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, Teach Them -- He was NOT telling us to make disciples for Allah, Mohammed, Buddha, Zen -- nor was He telling us to make disciples for Joseph Smith or Brigham Young of the Mormons -- nor was He telling us to make disciples for Charles Taze Russell of the Jehovah's Witnesses. And, I promise you that He was not telling us to lead people into the New Age religions.
So, what is Jesus Christ telling us to teach people? His message, His full revelation, found only in the Bible. It is not found in the Qur'an, nor in the Book of Mormons, nor in the JWs convoluted rewrite of the Bible -- nor is it found in any teachings of Buddha, Allah, or any other world religion.
But, GB, you do as your heart tells you -- and I will do what I feel God has put into my heart. Let me share two true stories about sharing the Gospel, the first from a man in India, the second from a believer in America.
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AN INDIGENOUS MISSION TO WIN THE LOST AT ANY COST
http://www.satvedamissions.webs.com/
"Johnson, why didn’t you tell me this?” -- as he was falling deeper and deeper through the lake of fire in the bottomless pit, Pradeep looked at me and screamed repeatedly. Oh! That indeed was a terrible sight! I was unable to come out of its shock for many days. What Pradeep said while screaming was true!
I didn’t tell him about his ultimate destiny without Jesus.
Pradeep was my closest friend as I studied my graduate program in the NSS college, Kannur. We spent time together and discussed everything under the sun. At times we exchanged our views regarding our religions, about Christianity by me, and about Hinduism by him. I answered many of his queries -- but I failed to tell him that there is a sure judgment after death and a lake of fire awaits those who ignore the way God has opened through Jesus Christ.
My dream continued for some time and I felt like Pradeep keeps on talking. “How much time we spent together? How many things we discussed, yet -- You didn’t tell me this!” I got bewildered! I felt so ashamed, so down and sorry for not telling the truth to my close friend.
This vision indeed was a challenge in my life. I started thinking about my friends, neighbors, those who travel with me, whom I meet in the streets, market place -- in this country with 1.1 billion lives -- and nearly 80,000 die every single day without knowing the Lord Jesus, the one and only way for salvation. I saw many of them, just like Pradeep, asking me, “Why didn’t you tell me this?” -- as they fall into the bottomless pit.
My precious fellow Christian, don’t you hear the sound of such cries, the cry of our fellow citizens? Don’t you see people out in the byways and highways, moving without any purpose in their life, without peace in their lives, without Jesus in their hearts?
Come, let us join our hands and hearts to reach the lost and tell them the love of Jesus. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations….surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is the unchanging commission of our Lord. These are the last days of harvest and we don’t know when our Lord will return.
Satveda Mission engages in winning the lost at any cost as we realize the signs of the times. We use every opportunity, every day, and every resource to do the work of the Lord. The mission focuses on the unreached people groups of our nation, especially the North Indian states, through native missionaries.
Satveda attempts to convert all energy to win souls for the Kingdom of God and motivate the body of Christ in our country to do the same.
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WHY, OH WHY?
By Kent Keller
http://kellerville.com/whyohwhy/
One night when attending a student weekly meeting while studying at Purdue University, I was impressed in my heart (by) a song. Later that night I wrote down the words, which are presented here.
This was used by God to challenge me to take a step of faith and to start telling others about Jesus. A few weeks later I went to a student conference in Florida where I was trained in sharing the Gospel -- and put into a situation where I could tell someone about Jesus. The first person I shared with on the beach made a decision to follow Jesus. Not only was he changed in that moment, but so was I.
Here are the words that God used in my life. I have recently recited this in a dramatic fashion instead of singing, as the song has aged in 21 years since it was first written. It may have more impact this way.
Feel free to dramatically present this poem as you see fit to help others take that step of sharing their faith. – Kent
Why, Oh Why?
Words and Music by Kent Keller
The day came quick. The end was here. The Host of Hosts was in the air.
No longer on this earth we trod. It is time to stand before our God!
The sheep to the right, the goats to the left,
believers were separated from the rest.
I was standing on the edge of the sheep,
when a chasm opened that was infinitely deep.
Then across the way I heard a yell, an old friend of mine on his way to Hell.
He looked at me and I heard him say
“Why didn’t you tell me about this day?”
All the sudden I saw the others:
fathers and sisters, and mothers and brothers.
All of them from my days of old, When I was timid and not very bold.
They turned toward me and they cried out loud,
”Why didn’t you try to keep us from this crowd?”
I was amazed by the thousands, I could see,
that had gone through their lives watching me.
I stood there speechless. I couldn’t talk.
I could not move. I could not walk.
I wept, I cried, I even felt alone,
for I had brought no one else to the Throne.
I thought…
“Why, Oh Why? Didn’t I tell them? Why?
Why, Oh Why? Do they have to die?
Why didn’t I tell them about Jesus Christ,
My savior, my redeemer, my giver of life?
If I had told them, they would have heard of the Gospel, of the Word.
They would have believed and understood,
if I had only told them when I could.”
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GB, one of the greatest thrills you and I, as Christian believers, will have is to, one day, have someone come to us in heaven, saying, "Thank you! Thank you for sharing the Gospel with me. Thank you for sharing Jesus Christ with me."
Neither of us wants to imagine someone in hell, asking us, "Why didn't you warn me about the false religions, the cult religions, which led me away from the true God? Why didn't you tell me that I could find eternal life only through Jesus Christ? Why didn't you tell me about hell?"
And, that is exactly what we are doing if we do not refute false and cult teachings on every venue, in every community, and on every forum, at every opportunity. If we, as Christians, do not shine the Light of the Gospel upon false and cult religions -- we are failing the One who died to give us eternal life.
To the best of my abilities -- I will not do that.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
