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.