Consider This...
Theological Thoughts to Encourage the Heart & Stir the Mind ___________________________________________________
Volume I February 2011 Issue 6
Words like, born again, believer, spiritual and Christian are brandished about in our culture regularly. Yet, for the most part, the use of these words and their proper biblical context could not be further apart.
The problem today is that people are willing to accept as genuine anything that sounds religious. Therefore, we are confronted with a plethora of man crafted philosophies concerning what constitutes salvation. While they may sound good, they are the enemy’s full frontal attack on biblical teaching regarding redemption.
This month we will look at several of these attacks, seeking to reveal the error contained in them while establishing proper biblical understanding. So, keep reading and Consider This… ______________________________________________________________________________
While participating in open air evangelism at the bus stop in downtown anchorage, I informed a man that stopped to talk I was a pastor. The following is, to the best of my recollection, the conversation that followed, “that’s wonderful, I’ll have you know I’m a very spiritual person myself.” “What exactly does that mean,” I asked, Well, he responded, I’m a peaceful, loving person who tries to help as many people as possible. And you feel that this spirituality you have is adequate to secure you a guaranteed place in heaven. I wouldn’t say guaranteed, but god loves everyone, and I not a bad person so I would say I have as much a chance as any other normal person.
How sad. Yet this is the thinking of most people today. In her article New Spirituality for an Awakening Planet, Berit Kjos writes the following. A bright New Spirituality is beckoning seekers everywhere. It promises peace, pleasure, power and oneness with the Divine. Popularized by people like Oprah, its positive, people-pleasing image is challenging churches everywhere to emerge from their Biblical ways and flow with the change. Tearing down divisive old boundaries, it flings its doors open to the world's tantalizing attractions. After all, the New Spirituality knows neither sin nor guilt!
One of my fears is that false spirituality is finding its way into the church. This new spiritually is being promoted in religious books, conferences, magazines, and even music. Much of it deemphasizes the attributes of God, the centrality and deity of Christ and the sufficiency of Scripture, while instead, turning its attention to standing against tribalism, poverty, hate and violence. It emphasizes creating a world of peace, love, good will, and sharing where everyone can be free to worship his own inner 'God' of his own understanding in his own way. In a word its humanism repackaged.
The following chart, compiled by Tamara Hartzell, shows how this kind of thinking effects foundational biblical truths.
| Beliefs | Biblical Christianity | Transition | New Spirituality |
| TRUTH Timeless or Relative | Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 | Truth is de-emphasized to avoid division. Humanity is recognizing the need for a more universal approach to God. Men are tired of doctrinal and dogmatic differences. | A portion of truth is found in every religious and philosophical system. There is no room for absolute truth. But there are relative truths. When we can contact our own inner God, all truth will be revealed to us. |
| JESUS Our Savior or a World Teacher | You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matt. 16:15-16 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Phil. 2:10-11 | The teaching of Christ is not obsolete and out of date. It needs only to be rescued from the interpretations of the theologies of the past. | Christ represents all the faiths and takes His rightful place as a world teacher. |
| INCARNATION Jesus or You | He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God. Col. 1:15 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory. John 1:14 | For the church not to speak to pop culture, or not to use [its] images, is not being very incarnational. In order to incarnate Christ into the culture we have to look to redeem pop culture. | God is a formless consciousness and the essence of who you are. You are God in a physical body. You are all power. You are all intelligence. You are the creator. |
| SALVATION By faith or by Works | By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works. Eph. 2:8-9 Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life there are few who find it. Matt. 7:13-14 | We have taught that Christ died to save the world and have endeavored to show that only believers are saved. But Individual salvation is selfish in its interest and its origin. | Only those principles and truths which are universally recognized and which find their place in every religion are necessary to salvation. |
| FAITH Based on Truth or Experience | I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God. Gal. 2:20-21 Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Cor. 2:5 | The need is for vision, wisdom and wide tolerance which will see divinity on every hand and recognize the Christ in every human being. | There is one universal religion, one Church. Doctrines and dogmas are no longer regarded as necessary, for faith will be based on experience. |
| SIN Confessed or Ignored | If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. 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 | Sin and guilt are ignored, minimized, redefined, or replaced by unbiblical tolerance or as one spirit guide defined it, the Law of Loving Understanding." | There is no sin. The old message of right and wrong, good and evil, everlasting reward and everlasting damnation, does nothing to end suffering. Because it is a message of separation. |
| GOSPEL The Truth or Deception | The good news about the suffering, redeeming death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus is that we might be saved from sin and joined to Christ. Those who deny His Gospel will face His judgment. | The old Gospel is replaced by a more positive gospel. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you. Just agree and accept in His love. Don't dwell on sin. | This message is the only message that can save the world. |
| FELLOWSHIP In Christ or Through Facilitated Dialogue | Love one another; as I have loved you. John 13:34 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col. 3:16 | Groups that differ must be non-judgmental, authentic and affirming, showing unconditional tolerance and acceptance, seeking consensus and unity in diversity. | Our object is not to destroy any religion, but rather to filter each, thus ridding them of their respective impurities. Free discussion, candid personalities and no animosity, is the most efficacious means of getting rid of error. |
These kinds of responses to biblical truth are found within the writings and teachings of such well known Christian authors and pastors as Rick Warren, William P. Young author of The Shack, Brian McLaren, Joel Osteen and Rhonda Byrne author of The Secret just to name a few.
So what is true or biblical spirituality? In his book, Bible Questions Answered, Michael Houdmann defines it well. True spirituality is possessing the Holy Spirit of God as a result of receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. True spirituality is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in a person’s life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Spirituality is all about becoming more like God, who is spirit (John 4:24) and having our character conformed to His image (Romans 12:1-2).
How the words the Apostle Paul ring true… preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:2-4
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