Accepting Different Religions?
Why Criticize Religion?
I receive e-mails quite often from people who are upset with me for exposing other religions as being bad. They usually say something like, "Why do you have to trash other religions? Doesn't the Bible teach that we're supposed to love other people?" Some people just call me a "bigot." Others tell me how wonderful their Catholic grandmother is and that the Catholic religion is not all bad. Some letters I dare not repeat.
I always respond to such inquiries by reminding folks that I do not attack people, but rather FALSE religion and damnable heresies that send people to hell. I attack the things that hurt or pose a threat to others. The Catholic religion is a sure road to hell. The Pope will split hell wide open when he dies. Why? Simply because he has never been born-again. He publicly prays to Mary, never mentions Jesus Christ, never warns anyone about hell-fire...is this the vicar of heaven? The Pope is the vicar of hell.
I do not attack the Pope personally, but what he teaches. You can believe anything you want, but if your going to teach heresy to other people...I'm going to expose your darkness with the light of God's Word. So what it boils down to is whether or not you believe the Bible. Sadly, there are many religions who claim to believe the Bible, but they teach doctrines that are not found anywhere in the Bible. For example: The Catholic religion calls their priests "Father." The Bible clearly forbids such reverence of men in Matthew 23:9. Only God is our spiritual Father. Another example: The Catholic religion claims not to worship Mary, but openly admit that they pray to God THROUGH Mary; But the Bible clearly commands us NOT to even "bow" to any image. Exodus 20:4 gives us the second of God's Ten Commandments...We are not to bow to the likeness of anything on earth or in heaven. Even bowing to Mary in an attempt to pray to God is wicked idolatry.
I believe that the people who send me e-mails asking "why?" I trash other religions are sincere. From a secular point of view it makes sense to accept everyone's religion as legitimate. And believe me, I'd like to just to make everyone happy by accepting every religion; But I cannot do that because my conscience wouldn't allow me. The Bible is NOT just another book folks, it is incredibly powerful. No other book on the face of this earth explains the sin-nature of man, the love of God, the redemptive plan of salvation, the attributes of our Divine Creator, and what to expect in the future. The Islamic Q'uran contains no prophecy. The Holy Bible hits the nail right on the head concerning man's unquenchable hunger for violence and his never-ending thirst for evil. There's just something about the Bible. Yes, it is the Word of God!
I titled this article "Accepting Other Religions" because that is what people want me to do. However, this is a misunderstanding on their part. I am NOT in any religion. I am not religious. There are born-again Christians who are members of religions, but it is not their religion that is going to take them to heaven. The ONLY way to heaven is through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. You must realize your sinful condition, confess to God that you are a sinner, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who died upon the cross for your sins, believe that Jesus Christ is the only One Who can save you, and then turn in child-like faith to the Lord asking for the forgiveness of all your sins. It's that simple to be saved. Salvation is NOT found in a religion, but in a Person -THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Why do I criticize "other" religions? Simply because you cannot be saved through a religion. Some religions like the Baptists teach God's plan of salvation so I do not criticize them. I am a Baptist myself. But you can be a Baptist and still go straight to hell when you die if you have never accepted Jesus into your heart as your own Saviour (Revelation 3:20). The Presbyterians teach the plan of salvation, I do not criticize them either. I have never been a Presbyterian, but Pastor Vernon McGee was a legend amongst preachers. I do not endorse any religion, I endorse Jesus Christ. So to be truthful, I am against all religions from the standpoint of getting to heaven. It's Jesus or hell, turn or burn. Religion is man's interpretation of the truth. The Bible can only be interpreted one way if you don't interpret it.
I would rather be divided over truth than to be united in error. I have every intent to "trash" every false religion on the planet. A "false" religion being any religion that teaches a way to heaven apart from child-like faith in Jesus Christ ALONE (John 14:6). You CANNOT get to heaven by doing good works or by getting baptized. This is what the Bible teaches. Getting baptized will get you wet, no more. Doing good works is filth in God's sight if your trying to earn heaven by it (Isaiah 64:6). You cannot buy heaven, it is a gift for us rotten sinners who deserve nothing less than hell-fire (Romans 6:23). I will never accept the religions that blind people from the truth by misleading them with lies and the traditions of men.
Here is a short list of FALSE religions according to the Bible:
Atheism
Black Muslim
Buddhism
Christian Science
Church of Christ
Episcopalian Church
Freemasonry
Hinduism
Humanism
illuminati (Skull and Bones, Bohemian Grove, etc)
Islamic Muslim
Jehovah Witnesses
Judaism
Lutherans
Moonies (Unification Church)
Mormonism
New Age
Roman Catholicism
Scientology
Seventh-Day Adventists
Witchcraft/Satanism
And there are thousands more...
Do you know Jesus my friend? Have you ever come to the place in your life when you knew you were a horrible sinner under the condemnation of God's Law? It is true. We are all sinners, facing God's wrath if we have not been born-again (Psalm 7:11). I accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was 12 years old. I only had a child-like faith, but it was all that God required. I distinctly remember the day when the Holy Spirit of God first convicted my heart about sin. It was a scary moment for me and I wanted to be saved. It's been over 25 years now. I thank God for saving me and for coming to live within my heart. By the way, we also live in Jesus' heart if we've been born-again (John 14:20).
The bottom line is whether or not you believe the Bible.
"Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." -Luke 13:23-24
Please do NOT add anything to your faith in Jesus Christ. Church membership, the Seven Sacraments, baptism, the Holy Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, keeping of the Sabbath Day, good works...These are all roads to hell if you place any faith in them. Any faith you may think you have in Christ is NO faith at all if you add anything to it. Do not be deceived! It's Jesus or hell.
It's as simple as this, you are a hell bound sinner and Jesus is the Saviour. Only Jesus has the scars in His hand's and feet. If you'll invite Christ into your heart as your own personal Saviour, asking Him to forgive all your sins...then you will become a born-again Christian. It doesn't matter how you pray, just so long as you ask Jesus to forgive your sins.
May God bless you and I trust we'll meet in heaven someday...
In Jesus' name,
David J. Stewart
