Should Christians honor false religions?

[KWCrazy]

This may be my last post here because certain people object to telling the truth about false religions, but I think this needs to be said.

A certain farmer was sitting at the edge of a cliff watching his flock of sheep. One of them wandered to the edge of the cliff and fell of, plunging to its death. A man passing through the area saw it and went to the farmer. "That was sad," the man said.
"Yep," the farmer answered. "Third one this week."
"But couldn't you do something to stop them; build a fence or something?"
"No," the farmer replied. "They got the right to go where they want. If'n they want to wander off a cliff, why should I stop them?"

Today billions of people are wandering off a cliff. It is our job as Christians to stand for our faith, to tell them they are on the wrong path, and to spread the word of salvation through Jesus Christ. That isn't very popular these days. From the presidency down Islam is held up as a religion of peace, even as its practitioners commit terrorism throughout the world. We are told that we can't speak out about Islam; the peaceful Islamists might kill us, the media will try to destroy us and certain people will block or truncate our speech. Do we go along to get along; sacrificing what we've been taught; watching as others wander off to their own destruction without trying to save them, or de we follow the teachings off our Lord to spread the Gospel and tell the truth?

In John 4 we read:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

2nd Peter, 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Bible warns EXTENSIVELY about false prophets and false teaching because God knew full well what the future held. He knew there would come a day like today, where Christianity is under attack but you can't say a word about Islam; even to warn those who might be seduced by its poetry and overlook its inherent evil. Islam is not alone in its false teaching, but it is unparalleled in its murderous history.

Buddhism is no less destructive to the human soul, but Buddhists don't strap bombs to themselves and commit mass murder because Buddhism doesn't teach that killing for God is an immediate passage to Heaven. Buddhism teaches that all life is holy but it doesn't teach that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the only forgiveness for the sins of man.

In the teachings of man with his many religions we are offered many ways to address that part of our nature which hungers for a relationship with our Creator. However, the only true way to eternity with the Creator is in the teachings of the Creator Himself; the Holy Bible. We know that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son; that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Christ said "I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but by me." The greatest love we can show to those who are lost and doomed by false religions is to show them the truth of Jesus Christ. To withhold that truth; to pretend that the false religion will get them the Heaven; That makes us partially responsible for their destruction. We may as well be tossing anchors to the drowning.

This is my opinion. What say you?

 

[dogs4thewin]

Well, it depends we should TELL them. On the other hand if we act like we are the only ones on the block it tends to turn them away. I hate people like that who basically seem to think that freedom of religion only spplies to Christians. It is, in fact, a two-way street.

 

[Davian]

This may be my last post here because certain people object to telling the truth about false religions, but I think this needs to be said.

A certain farmer was sitting at the edge of a cliff watching his flock of sheep. One of them wandered to the edge of the cliff and fell of, plunging to its death. A man passing through the area saw it and went to the farmer. "That was sad," the man said.
"Yep," the farmer answered. "Third one this week."
"But couldn't you do something to stop them; build a fence or something?"
"No," the farmer replied. "They got the right to go where they want. If'n they want to wander off a cliff, why should I stop them?"

Today billions of people are wandering off a cliff. It is our job as Christians to stand for our faith, to tell them they are on the wrong path, and to spread the word of salvation through Jesus Christ. That isn't very popular these days. From the presidency down Islam is held up as a religion of peace, even as its practitioners commit terrorism throughout the world. We are told that we can't speak out about Islam; the peaceful Islamists might kill us, the media will try to destroy us and certain people will block or truncate our speech. Do we go along to get along; sacrificing what we've been taught; watching as others wander off to their own destruction without trying to save them, or de we follow the teachings off our Lord to spread the Gospel and tell the truth?

In John 4 we read:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

2nd Peter, 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Bible warns EXTENSIVELY about false prophets and false teaching because God knew full well what the future held. He knew there would come a day like today, where Christianity is under attack but you can't say a word about Islam; even to warn those who might be seduced by its poetry and overlook its inherent evil. Islam is not alone in its false teaching, but it is unparalleled in its murderous history.

Buddhism is no less destructive to the human soul, but Buddhists don't strap bombs to themselves and commit mass murder because Buddhism doesn't teach that killing for God is an immediate passage to Heaven. Buddhism teaches that all life is holy but it doesn't teach that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the only forgiveness for the sins of man.

In the teachings of man with his many religions we are offered many ways to address that part of our nature which hungers for a relationship with our Creator. However, the only true way to eternity with the Creator is in the teachings of the Creator Himself; the Holy Bible. We know that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son; that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Christ said "I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but by me." The greatest love we can show to those who are lost and doomed by false religions is to show them the truth of Jesus Christ. To withhold that truth; to pretend that the false religion will get them the Heaven; That makes us partially responsible for their destruction. We may as well be tossing anchors to the drowning.

This is my opinion. What say you?

I say, demonstrate that you have the truth, rather than just claim it.

 

[Eryk]

When people claim that they cannot say that Islam is evil, they are saying that Islam is evil.

 

[Freodin]

Should non-Christians "honour" the false religion that is Christianity?

 

[bhsmte]

This may be my last post here because certain people object to telling the truth about false religions, but I think this needs to be said.

A certain farmer was sitting at the edge of a cliff watching his flock of sheep. One of them wandered to the edge of the cliff and fell of, plunging to its death. A man passing through the area saw it and went to the farmer. "That was sad," the man said.
"Yep," the farmer answered. "Third one this week."
"But couldn't you do something to stop them; build a fence or something?"
"No," the farmer replied. "They got the right to go where they want. If'n they want to wander off a cliff, why should I stop them?"

Today billions of people are wandering off a cliff. It is our job as Christians to stand for our faith, to tell them they are on the wrong path, and to spread the word of salvation through Jesus Christ. That isn't very popular these days. From the presidency down Islam is held up as a religion of peace, even as its practitioners commit terrorism throughout the world. We are told that we can't speak out about Islam; the peaceful Islamists might kill us, the media will try to destroy us and certain people will block or truncate our speech. Do we go along to get along; sacrificing what we've been taught; watching as others wander off to their own destruction without trying to save them, or de we follow the teachings off our Lord to spread the Gospel and tell the truth?

In John 4 we read:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

2nd Peter, 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Bible warns EXTENSIVELY about false prophets and false teaching because God knew full well what the future held. He knew there would come a day like today, where Christianity is under attack but you can't say a word about Islam; even to warn those who might be seduced by its poetry and overlook its inherent evil. Islam is not alone in its false teaching, but it is unparalleled in its murderous history.

Buddhism is no less destructive to the human soul, but Buddhists don't strap bombs to themselves and commit mass murder because Buddhism doesn't teach that killing for God is an immediate passage to Heaven. Buddhism teaches that all life is holy but it doesn't teach that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the only forgiveness for the sins of man.

In the teachings of man with his many religions we are offered many ways to address that part of our nature which hungers for a relationship with our Creator. However, the only true way to eternity with the Creator is in the teachings of the Creator Himself; the Holy Bible. We know that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son; that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Christ said "I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but by me." The greatest love we can show to those who are lost and doomed by false religions is to show them the truth of Jesus Christ. To withhold that truth; to pretend that the false religion will get them the Heaven; That makes us partially responsible for their destruction. We may as well be tossing anchors to the drowning.

This is my opinion. What say you?

Well, 2/3 of the worlds population are not Christians.

This would tell me, there are a whole bunch of folks who likely think Christianity is a false religion.

At the end of the day; whatever floats your boat.

 

[KWCrazy]

Well, it depends we should TELL them. On the other hand if we act like we are the only ones on the block it tends to turn them away. I hate people like that who basically seem to think that freedom of religion only spplies to Christians. It is, in fact, a two-way street.

It IS a two way street and people are free to follow the path to their own destruction. That's not what we are commanded to do. We are commanded to share the Gospel. If they reject it they reject it. However, though they are free to accept a false religion, if we pretend that the religion will take them to Heaven we are deceiving them and cheating them out of the gift of God's grace.

 

[KWCrazy]

I say, demonstrate that you have the truth, rather than just claim it.

That's why message boards are lacking when it comes to demonstrating truth. The truth is demonstrated by how we live, which is known only to those who know us. What you see are words which you interpret; maybe as intended; maybe not as intended. You can't judge voice intonation so you may not know what is a joke and what is serious commentary. This is the failing of the written word. The word of God, however, is much more significant because of the author. It can speak to your heart because God can speak to your heart.

 

[Davian]

That's why message boards are lacking when it comes to demonstrating truth. The truth is demonstrated by how we live, which is known only to those who know us. What you see are words which you interpret; maybe as intended; maybe not as intended. You can't judge voice intonation so you may not know what is a joke and what is serious commentary. This is the failing of the written word. The word of God, however, is much more significant because of the author. It can speak to your heart because God can speak to your heart.

Or, you are wrong.

 

[Look Up]

A certain farmer was sitting at the edge of a cliff watching his flock of sheep. ...

Christ said "I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but by me." The greatest love we can show to those who are lost and doomed by false religions is to show them the truth of Jesus Christ. To withhold that truth; to pretend that the false religion will get them the Heaven; That makes us partially responsible for their destruction. We may as well be tossing anchors to the drowning.

This is my opinion. What say you?

I think your extended sheep metaphor makes a point the Bible does--e.g., the metaphor of Ezekiel called as watchman to blow the horn warning of invasion (Babylonian army invasion=coming wrath of God), ch. 33. And I think your point is one I too need to hear.

But I also think you sense more is going on--in the Bible and in daily life nowadays. Jesus did not approach or address the woman of Sychar in the same way as He did Nicodemus, which in turn differed from the way He addressed the crowds (in parables) or the rich man or various accusers or a believing centurion or metaphorical pigs before whom one would not toss one's pearls ... which in turn differed from the way Paul addressed the Athenian philosophers and so on. Part of communication involves understanding one's audience.

In other words, not everybody nowadays is like those spiritually asleep "sheeple" (sheep + people) who need a warning of coming wrath/destruction. Some have already rejected the warning, or such warning as they have received. Others may be best approached in any one of various possible ways even if the approach implies or involves warning, whether the outcome is mockery or credence or apathy.

One of the species of negative response in western context (as an aside from varieties of Buddhism and Islam, etc.) has to do with the what is probably the premier postmodernist dogma: that there is no absolute truth but the absolute truth that there is no absolute truth. There may be truth to you and a different truth to someone else like me, but not a truth to all without exception. Never mind the internal incoherence, the belief has filtered into popular thought and response such that any (unpopular?) claim to exclusive truth (such as John 14:6 which you cited above) is dismissed immediately as intolerant and bigoted by virtue of the fact that the claim is to exclusive truth.

Thus any statement like, "repent, for the wrath of God is coming" is socially stigmatized by popular postmodernists--with the "statement" as in itself a moral violation, and that of the worst sort, for it contradicts the premier postmodernist dogma of popular thought (aside from the issue of lack of personal conviction of personal offenses against God).

Thus for a warning of coming divine wrath to hold water, so to speak, other barriers need to fall beforehand. At least for many ... depending (views of Muslims, for example, being a very different issue). And for many at the end of the day, response will fit well with Jesus' claim: "Because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me" (John 8:45, and yes, the word is "because"), for as Paul writes, the natural person is unable to understand the things of the Spirit of God (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14), indeed "they are folly to him" (though in context Paul speaks of the first century social stigma and "folly" of worshiping a crucified God).

Mocking or judgmental responses do not excuse the watchman from blowing the horn (in the dark, the invading army's approaching noises may be heard only by the watchman while the camp is largely groggy and irritable), but types of responses may moderate his notes.

P.S. Your "John 4" citation should read "1 John 4."

 

[AionPhanes]

There is a difference between merely refraining from honoring a specific religion and actively crusading against it using half truths and fearmongering. If people respond negatively to the constant rants against Islam on ChristianForums, many of which border on conspiracy theory laden hate speech, that doesn't mean they necesarily want the person in question to honor the religion.

 

[SkyWriting]

The Bible warns EXTENSIVELY about false prophets and false teaching because God knew full well what the future held

It also states that the Christian message and the scriptures are not the key.

19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

 

[dogs4thewin]

It IS a two way street and people are free to follow the path to their own destruction. That's not what we are commanded to do. We are commanded to share the Gospel. If they reject it they reject it. However, though they are free to accept a false religion, if we pretend that the religion will take them to Heaven we are deceiving them and cheating them out of the gift of God's grace.

Well, we can tell them the truth without FORCING it on them.

 

[bhsmte]

Well, we can tell them the truth without FORCING it on them.

What truth?

Can you demonstrate this truth?

 

[dogs4thewin]

What truth?

Can you demonstrate this truth?

The truth of God's love and gift of His son. As an Atheist, I understand that you do not believe that, but that is the truth to which I was refering.

 

[bhsmte]

The truth of God's love and gift of His son. As an Atheist, I understand that you do not believe that, but that is the truth to which I was refering.

You would appear to be giving an opinion.

Would you agree, truth is demonstrated with objective evidence?

I am quite certain, those who adhere to other religions, who claim to speak the truth about their religion, is something you don't agree is the "truth"?

 

[dogs4thewin]

You would appear to be giving an opinion.

Would you agree, truth is demonstrated with objective evidence?

I am quite certain, those who adhere to other religions, who claim to speak the truth about their religion, is something you don't agree is the "truth"?

What do you mean demonstrate it?

 

[bhsmte]

What do you mean demonstrate it?

Show with objective evidence, that what you claim to be true can be independently verified.

Again, if someone of another religious faith, states their personal faith beliefs are the truth and they are different than your own, are you going to simply go on their word they speak the truth?

 

[dogs4thewin]

Show with objective evidence, that what you claim to be true can be independently verified.

Again, if someone of another religious faith, states their personal faith beliefs are the truth and they are different than your own, are you going to simply go on their word they speak the truth?

Would you like me to start another thread or PM you so that we will not get this thread off tract?

 

[bhsmte]

Would you like me to start another thread or PM you so that we will not get this thread off tract?

Take your pick.