All Roads Lead Back To The Basics

A friend told a story to me this week. She heard it on television, but couldn’t remember which religious show she had heard it on. It went like this, “Some teenage boys wanted to see an R-rated movie, however, their father refused. Sulking, they went to their bedroom. Meanwhile, the father gathered some dirt from outside and poured it into the brownies that he was baking. When the boys tasted the brownies later that night, they wondered what was wrong with them. Their little brother, who was not eating any, laughingly explained to them what their father had done. In astonishment, they stared at their father. He lovingly explained to his boys that the dirt represented the things of the world that they wanted to participate in: things that didn’t seem too bad, but that went against their Christian values. While one or two movies might not seem like a big deal to them, it would have an effect on them nonetheless. This was the best way he knew to illustrate to them that a little dirt did affect the batter just as a little sin affects our lives.” I’ve since heard from another reader who said that she had heard the story in the 1980’s. Instead of dirt, it was dog poo. Yuck! For our article, I’ll stick with the dirt.

What is being done to Christianity today is similar to the dirt in the brownies. The Bible is the inerrant word of God. Yet, in today’s world, we see an increase in people and denominations attempting to manipulate the scriptures to fit their modern lives. Secular Humanism is the accepted norm. Daytime talk shows promote the new age rhetoric of Eckhart Tolle, Rhonda Byrne and Wayne Dyer. Their books mention Jesus, however, not my Jesus. Their Jesus is an enlightened teacher. My Jesus is more than that. He died because I am a sinner and he loved me enough to save me.
In Matthew 28: 19-20, Jesus instructed us to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”(KJV). Legislation enacted to protect against racial and religious discrimination has created a society of political, social and religious tolerance. Nobody should be discriminated against based upon race or religion. This does not mean, however, that Christians should stop defending their faith.

While preaching the gospel of prosperity is appealing, we need to get back to the basics. Many people don’t defend their faith because they lack an understanding of why they believe what they believe. Others are accepting of the teachings of the New Age Movement and the Christian-based cults because they think anyone who professes a belief in God is a Christian.

Join us as we begin a discussion of cults and the New Age Movement. We will present articles that will give you the background on some cults, their beliefs, and why they are not Christian. It is our goal to lay a solid foundation and assist you in being able to discern faulty doctrines. After all, a little false doctrine is like a little dirt in the brownie batter.

What we believe

1. The Bible is God’s word to mankind. Although it was written by human authors, they were under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is truth without any mixture of error.
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119: 105, 160; Proverbs 30:5)

2. There is one True God who is eternally present in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They are commonly referred to as the Trinity. (Matthew 28:19; Colossians 2:9)

3. Jesus is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He was born of the virgin Mary and lived a sinless life while on earth. He offered himself up as a living sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. On the third day, he arose in fulfillment of the scripture to demonstrate his power over death and sin. He ascended into heaven and will return again to earth. ***Jesus was
God in Heaven. He is not the first creation of God the Father. He is not the angel Michael. Fully God in Heaven, he came to earth and assumed a human body. After his death, his body--not just a spirit form--was resurrected in fulfillment of the scriptures. (Matthew 1: 22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1—5, 14: 10—30; Hebrews 4:14, 15:1; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1: 9—11; 1 Timothy 6;14, 15; Titus 2:13)

4. The Holy Spirit is equal with God the Father and God the Son. He is present in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with the power for living and for understanding spiritual truth. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16: 7—13, 14: 16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1)

5. There is one path to salvation and that is through the repentance of your sins and the acceptance of Christ Jesus as your Lord and personal savior. Salvation is not achieved by works. It is because of salvation that a Christian desires to do good works, however, works do not save. You are saved by your belief and faith in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2; 8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1; Hebrews 9:2; John 3:16)

6. Every man will be judged to everlasting life in Heaven or everlasting damnation in Hell (2 Thessalonians 1—9, Romans 6:23, John 3:16; John 2:25, John 5:11—13; Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15, 1 John 5:11-12, Matthew 25:31—46)

7. We were redeemed by Christ’s death on the cross. Part of the redemptive work on the cross continues to provide healing of the human body in answer to prayer. (Matthew 8:7; Isaiah 53:5)

8. We serve a living God whose gifts are not dead and were not just for the time when Christ walked the earth. Spiritual gifts are still relevant to today. The baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues is an available manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to all believers who ask God for it. (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12: 4—11; Hebrews 13:8; Acts 2:17)