No. Truth is not relative.
John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, (32) and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
There are, indeed, many false believers. But Jesus said you will know them by their fruit.
I would not say that, because the Bible tells us to judge with a righteous judgment.
I would never say that either. God gave us an intellect and expects us to use it and we will be held accountable to Him on how we used what He has given us.
Nope, again, I would never promote such a thing.
Depends on what "institution" you are referring to.
Correct, and by God's grace, I don't follow institutions that lead away from God's truth.
That is why commands us to follow His truth and that is how we know.
Then that person is not a lover of the truth.
I never said or implied any such thing.
Nope, because that is not biblical. And I never said anything like that is.
You seem to imply I was promoting such a thing. I never did.
I see nothing but Straw Man fallacies. I never said anything about this stuff you are writing.
I don't know where on earth you are getting this stuff because none of it was in my comments.
You are incorrect. As far as mankind is concerned, truth is most definitely 'relative'. Ask any two people: 'who or what is God'. I doubt seriously you'll get the same answer from ANY 'two people' other than the most basic terms. You know: 'Creator, Father of Christ, The "I Am". But dig any further and there are probably trillions of answers that all differ from each other.
This was merely a response. Didn't even try to indicate you had made any comments to indicate these things. Just pointing out how easily Satan has infiltrated 'institutions' calling themselves 'churches'. Most of what I offered were 'questions'. Not once did I indicate you had made any such statements.
My time is limited so I try to cram as much into my posts as possible. Sometimes addressing multiple issues into individual posts. If I led you to believe that my response was directed to you and you alone, I apologize. It was not. It was offered to all that are following this thread.
The thread is about 'recognition'. Questioning the ability to recognize something without any intricate KNOWLEDGE of 'that thing'.
Surgeons use to kill people simply by not washing their hands before surgery. Because of 'hidden micro organisms that they could not yet see, it was often a 'hit or miss' proposition.
But once these tiny bacteria were discovered, the cause of the infections were RECOGNIZED and then proper precautions could be used to prevent many deaths.
When the 'concept' was first introduced, many brilliant surgeons scoffed at the idea. Ridiculing those that promoted it.
And this 'story' isn't about something with hidden MOTIVES. These were just living organisms doing what such things do. No 'hidden agenda'. They were just too small to see until the means was developed to see them.
Satan has a direct agenda and the means to develop and and insert that which he chooses. He has the ability to influence men to believe all sorts of 'ideas'. He has the ability to mimic God, angels and the Son of God.
If the 'first God' one is introduced to, or a more favorable one introduced 'later', if one is incapable of recognition, what means do they have to defend themselves against The Devil?
Faith is a pretty unstable element in the lives of men. They can create 'faith' in just about anything they 'desire'. Especially if that 'thing' brings them 'pleasure'. Including 'gods'. If one believes that which they pray to offers answers, it is real easy to 'worship it' blindly. Build temples to it and carve statues to bow to.
That is my 'point': if we do not KNOW God, how easy is it to believe Satan is God if he introduces himself as such and offers evidence to back it up.
The Bible says he can produce 'miracles and lying WONDERS'. Exactly how powerful is he in this regard? Powerful enough to seduce the ENTIRE WORLD? The Bible indicates, no, the Bible SAYS that if God doesn't intervene, Satan WOULD deceive the ENTIRE WORLD.
So where does that leave us TODAY? To what extent has Satan created 'churches' to lead congregations, WHOLE congregations 'astray'. And the only way this could be possible is by PRETENDING to be God Himself. And the ONLY way this could be possible is that those that have been 'duped' don't recognize the difference between the TRUE God and the false one pretending to be the 'True God'.
Just look at how many people insist that the 'god' of the Hindus, the god of the Muslims, the God of every denomination of Christianity, ALL gods are basically the 'same god'. Yet each of these 'religions' teaches something completely 'different' than what we are offered in the Bible.
Obviously 'religion' is a TOOL of the Devil. Influencing men to create their own Gods by 'name' which are nothing other than the 'same god': Satan.
For THE God of the Bible doesn't teach men 'different things'. He is The God. Not a multiplicity of 'gods'.
There cannot, in truth, be multiple denominations teaching 'different ways' to follow the 'same God'. There is only ONE way to follow the True God: 'in truth and spirit'. There are not 'many truths', there is only ONE truth.
Yet so many insist upon 'many truths'. Where did they 'err'? What influences them to believe such a 'thing'? Most of the 'churches' teach that there are many 'different ways' to 'serve God'? Where did this 'idea' come from?
There is 'nothing new under the Sun'. We don't actually 'create', we merely 'discover'.
Yeah, we might 'make THINGS', but whatever 'truth exists' has existed since 'creation'. We can only discover it.
It's when we 'try to create truth' that we stumble. And what would influence us to stumble in such a manner? If there is nothing NEW under the Sun......................
It is that which caused Eve to stumble on a 'different truth' than that which she had previously been offered by her 'Creator'. That which influenced her to turn her back on the TRUE God and follow another instead. And 'that spirit' never died. It is more prevalent today than ever. An 'influence' that offers men the ability to believe they are their 'own god'. And they flock to this influence that encourages them to place their faith in this 'entity' that is able to appease their 'lusts'.
People place their 'faith' in 'churches' that tell them what they 'want' to hear. They most often worship whatever 'god' is able to make them FEEL the way they 'want' to FEEL. Not 'truth and spirit'. For 'truth and spirit' can't offer them 'the pleasure' that they are LOOKING for.
So, how easy is it for Satan to 'be' their God? And if they never MEET the True God, why would they even LOOK for Him or believe Him to be anything different than what they have already found?
Can a 'corrupt pastor' lead men to the 'proper God'? Ok, anything is possible. But is it LIKELY? Good fruit doesn't come from 'bad trees'.
And Matthew 7 pretty much 'sums up' my point.
Blessings,
MEC