Thou Shalt Have no Other Gods:
Postmodernity's War on the 1st Commandment
There are a growing number of Christian leaders, pastors, authors
and conference speakers who are either openly or tacitly teaching
Christians that God is at work in other world religions. The way they
speak leads many to believe that we need to recognize God's work in
these other world religions and embrace the worshippers of these other
gods as brothers in Christ who are experiencing Jesus differently than
we are in their 'faith communities'.
These ideas are based on the assumptions of postmodernity and are having a devastating effect on Christian missions. In this post, I'm going to discuss what these postmodern assumptions are as well as provide the Biblical passages that explain what God has revealed regarding how Christians are to view other religions and those who are caught up in them.
Postmodernism's Irrationalism Regarding Truth Being Experienced in Community
Postmodernism is a philosophical worldview that has its origins in Counter-Enlightenment philosophy (for a more thorough discussion of the basic tenants of this worldview please listen to my lecture entitled Resistance is Futile: You Will Be Assimilated Into the Community). This worldview denies the existence of transcendent truths (these are truths that are universally binding on all human beings) as well as the existence of the individual. In the postmodern way of thinking, communities are the organic entities of note and truth is experienced or felt and never rises above a community. Therefore, in the postmodern worldview, one community's 'experience of truth' is just as valid as another community's 'experience of truth'. Neither community is wrong or right, their experience of truth is their experience and shouldn't be condemned or scrutinized but embraced as just one of many beautiful and messy ways of experiencing truth.
Those who hold this worldview would not call people in other religions like Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism out of those religions into Christianity. But, they would instead see those other religions as valid 'faith communities' or tribes where God is already working and where people are 'experiencing God'. They may even refer to them as "followers of God in the way of Mohammed" or "followers of God in the way of Buddha". In this postmodern way of thinking, the details about the 'god' you believe in (doctrines) don't matter. What matters is that people are plugged into a 'faith community' and that within that community they are experiencing 'god', life change and making a difference in the world.
Ultimately, the postmodern worldview reduces Christianity to one of many valid faith communities or faith traditions where people can have an experience of the divine. But as you will see, this worldview is in direct conflict with scripture, Jesus Himself and is fundamentally incompatible with Christianity.
Jesus' Description of Other Religions
Many so called, Red-Letter Christians forget that the red letters do not end in the Gospel According to John. They also appear in the book of Acts and in the book of Revelation. If Christianity were merely one valid faith community among many then we'd expect to see that same belief in action by the apostles during the early missionary activity of the church. Furthermore, we'd expect to see that attitude modeled and reinforced by Jesus, who is the head of the church. But what we do see recorded is the exact opposite of the postmodern pluralistic view.
In Acts 26, the Apostle Paul recounts his encounter with the resurrected Jesus to King Agrippa. Paul, who was named Saul at the time, was traveling to Damascus in order to arrest Christians when Jesus appeared to him. Here's Paul's account, including the words Jesus spoke to him.
Saul himself was freed by Jesus and was brought to repentance, had his sins washed away (Acts 22:14-16) and became the great Christian missionary to the Gentiles known as the Apostle Paul. It's important here to note that we can demonstrate from Paul's letters in the New Testament that he made Jesus' view of the pagan religions his own. This is clearly seen in passages from 1 Corinthians. Here are two that address this topic directly.
Old Testament Revelation Regarding The One True God
Below, I've reproduced just a sampling of the Old Testament passages that reveal that there is only one God and that God does NOT accept worship of false gods as 'proxy' worship of Him.
Christianity, contrary to the teaching and belief of those popular leaders who've bought into a postmodern worldview, is not merely one 'faith community' among many valid 'faith communities'. According to Jesus, all of the followers of Mohammed, Buddha, Shiva, Vishnu and all the so-called 'gods' of the other world religions are in darkness while Christianity alone has the light. All followers of false gods are in bondage to Satan and demons, while Christians alone have been set free by Jesus Christ. The one true God is not at work in the other religions of the world. They are not experiencing Him in their houses of worship. Furthermore, the One True God has sworn that all worshippers of 'false gods' will be put to shame because the One True God will not share His glory with a false god or idol. Therefore, all people who are Christians must not have a view other than this view. To do so is to put yourself in opposition to Jesus Christ, who is God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God and the LORD (YHWH) of the Old Testament.
If you've believed the postmodern pluralistic view of other religions then you must repent! Your false doctrine on this matter turns Jesus into a liar and ultimately has a devastating impact on evangelism and leaves people dead in their trespasses and sins. It leaves them in darkness and under the power of Satan.
If you are guilty of believing a view that is contrary to Jesus', confess your sin and your idolatry and be forgiven. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8–9)
Now, go bear fruit in keeping with repentance by proclaiming the narrow and exclusive message of salvation to your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and those you come in contact with.
“God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18–21)
Go!
These ideas are based on the assumptions of postmodernity and are having a devastating effect on Christian missions. In this post, I'm going to discuss what these postmodern assumptions are as well as provide the Biblical passages that explain what God has revealed regarding how Christians are to view other religions and those who are caught up in them.
Postmodernism's Irrationalism Regarding Truth Being Experienced in Community
Postmodernism is a philosophical worldview that has its origins in Counter-Enlightenment philosophy (for a more thorough discussion of the basic tenants of this worldview please listen to my lecture entitled Resistance is Futile: You Will Be Assimilated Into the Community). This worldview denies the existence of transcendent truths (these are truths that are universally binding on all human beings) as well as the existence of the individual. In the postmodern way of thinking, communities are the organic entities of note and truth is experienced or felt and never rises above a community. Therefore, in the postmodern worldview, one community's 'experience of truth' is just as valid as another community's 'experience of truth'. Neither community is wrong or right, their experience of truth is their experience and shouldn't be condemned or scrutinized but embraced as just one of many beautiful and messy ways of experiencing truth.
Those who hold this worldview would not call people in other religions like Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism out of those religions into Christianity. But, they would instead see those other religions as valid 'faith communities' or tribes where God is already working and where people are 'experiencing God'. They may even refer to them as "followers of God in the way of Mohammed" or "followers of God in the way of Buddha". In this postmodern way of thinking, the details about the 'god' you believe in (doctrines) don't matter. What matters is that people are plugged into a 'faith community' and that within that community they are experiencing 'god', life change and making a difference in the world.
Ultimately, the postmodern worldview reduces Christianity to one of many valid faith communities or faith traditions where people can have an experience of the divine. But as you will see, this worldview is in direct conflict with scripture, Jesus Himself and is fundamentally incompatible with Christianity.
Jesus' Description of Other Religions
Many so called, Red-Letter Christians forget that the red letters do not end in the Gospel According to John. They also appear in the book of Acts and in the book of Revelation. If Christianity were merely one valid faith community among many then we'd expect to see that same belief in action by the apostles during the early missionary activity of the church. Furthermore, we'd expect to see that attitude modeled and reinforced by Jesus, who is the head of the church. But what we do see recorded is the exact opposite of the postmodern pluralistic view.
In Acts 26, the Apostle Paul recounts his encounter with the resurrected Jesus to King Agrippa. Paul, who was named Saul at the time, was traveling to Damascus in order to arrest Christians when Jesus appeared to him. Here's Paul's account, including the words Jesus spoke to him.
“I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:12–18)Jesus' words to Saul make it absolutely clear those who follow other religions are not experiencing God in their "faith communities". Instead, Jesus said they are in darkness and under the power of Satan and need to be set free through the good news of the forgiveness of sins, which was won by Jesus on the cross.
Saul himself was freed by Jesus and was brought to repentance, had his sins washed away (Acts 22:14-16) and became the great Christian missionary to the Gentiles known as the Apostle Paul. It's important here to note that we can demonstrate from Paul's letters in the New Testament that he made Jesus' view of the pagan religions his own. This is clearly seen in passages from 1 Corinthians. Here are two that address this topic directly.
“Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Corinthians 8:4–6)
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?” (1 Corinthians 10:14–22)It's obvious from what Paul wrote in these passages that his missionary zeal was in part motivated by a firm belief that those people who were worshiping the pagan 'gods' were in bondage to Satan and were offering sacrifices to demons. Rather than embracing the followers of these pagan religions as "followers of God in the way of Zeus", he called them to repent and utterly forsake these worthless nonexistent 'gods'. In Lystra Paul proclaimed, “we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things (the 'gods' Zeus and Hermes) to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 14:15) In Athens Paul's “spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” (Acts 17:16). Paul's words and actions are consistent with the belief that all other 'gods' are false and that repentance and belief in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins is the only way of salvation. This is what Jesus taught, this is what Paul believed and acted upon and this is exactly what is revealed in the Old Testament as well.
Old Testament Revelation Regarding The One True God
Below, I've reproduced just a sampling of the Old Testament passages that reveal that there is only one God and that God does NOT accept worship of false gods as 'proxy' worship of Him.
“And God spoke all these words: ...“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:1–6)
“Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary” (Psalms 96:1–6)
“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.” (Isaiah 43:10–11)
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” (Isaiah 44:6)
“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,” (Isaiah 44:24)
“But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”
It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.” (Jeremiah 10:10–15)
“The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts, and they shall raise the shout of victory over you. “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.” (Jeremiah 51:14–18)
“I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” (Isaiah 42:8)
“For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” (Isaiah 48:11)
“All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols” (Psalms 97:7)
“They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.”” (Isaiah 42:17)The Bottom Line
Christianity, contrary to the teaching and belief of those popular leaders who've bought into a postmodern worldview, is not merely one 'faith community' among many valid 'faith communities'. According to Jesus, all of the followers of Mohammed, Buddha, Shiva, Vishnu and all the so-called 'gods' of the other world religions are in darkness while Christianity alone has the light. All followers of false gods are in bondage to Satan and demons, while Christians alone have been set free by Jesus Christ. The one true God is not at work in the other religions of the world. They are not experiencing Him in their houses of worship. Furthermore, the One True God has sworn that all worshippers of 'false gods' will be put to shame because the One True God will not share His glory with a false god or idol. Therefore, all people who are Christians must not have a view other than this view. To do so is to put yourself in opposition to Jesus Christ, who is God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God and the LORD (YHWH) of the Old Testament.
If you've believed the postmodern pluralistic view of other religions then you must repent! Your false doctrine on this matter turns Jesus into a liar and ultimately has a devastating impact on evangelism and leaves people dead in their trespasses and sins. It leaves them in darkness and under the power of Satan.
If you are guilty of believing a view that is contrary to Jesus', confess your sin and your idolatry and be forgiven. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8–9)
Now, go bear fruit in keeping with repentance by proclaiming the narrow and exclusive message of salvation to your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and those you come in contact with.
“God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18–21)
Go!
No comments:
Post a Comment