THE GREATEST LIE
As I observe the way people live their lives today it seems that they have absolutely no anticipation that there is any hope and guarantee for anything beyond today.
Everyone knows that certainly one day they will die but the general consensus is that only one of two things await them, neither of which is to be feared. They will either cease to exist, if they have led a raucous life, or they will go to some kind of heaven. The later is for those who have not strayed too far off the path as they compare their lives to that of their neighbors.
If those are the only two options for the hereafter, why not live your life to the fullest and pursue happiness as you define it.
These two doctrines are becoming more popular as we struggle through these confusing days in which we find ourselves.
Knowing that most people have adopted these beliefs, many of our churches today realize that if they are to maintain the memberships that they need to survive, their teachings must be compatible.
“The narrow minded churches”, the term given to the Bible believing churches, maintain that the Bible has specific guidelines for living that keep their adherents from making poor decisions leading to all kinds of heartaches and collateral damage to friends and family.
It seems that today’s definition of happiness and its pursuit thereof, encourage us to live with the least amount of constraints. Throw off the old fashion taboos.
This philosophy as it permeates our churches allows for just about any kind of behavior and beliefs for that matter.
The liberal doctrines lean toward removing the narrowness that orthodox Christianity teaches which is that Jesus, as He claims in John 14:6, is the only hope for salvation and eternal life.
The liberal church of today has embraced the belief that all roads lead to the same end, which is some form of nirvana or paradise.
This Eastern philosophy is being accepted more and more by our culture and ultimately by our churches is called “Universalism.”
It is a lie that is becoming more and more popular by our culture of tolerance and sadly our churches are picking up on this popular belief.
It has been called the “Greatest Lie” by some because it is the easiest and least constraining way, so they think, to walk through life.
Jesus wisely addresses this lifestyle in His Sermon on the Mount in Mathew chapter seven, verses 13 and 14 where He says, “You can enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to Hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But, the gateway to eternal life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
The road less traveled can be a lonely one, but assuredly it is the one with the least amount of potholes and pitfalls leading ultimately to an oasis that refreshes forever.
“And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb, coursing down the center of Main Street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruits, with a fresh crop each month.” Revelation chapter 22, verses 1 and 2.
The road will be narrow and the gate narrow, but the walk will be worth it as the eternal benefits are out of this world.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the father except through me.” John chapter 14, verse
Everyone knows that certainly one day they will die but the general consensus is that only one of two things await them, neither of which is to be feared. They will either cease to exist, if they have led a raucous life, or they will go to some kind of heaven. The later is for those who have not strayed too far off the path as they compare their lives to that of their neighbors.
If those are the only two options for the hereafter, why not live your life to the fullest and pursue happiness as you define it.
These two doctrines are becoming more popular as we struggle through these confusing days in which we find ourselves.
Knowing that most people have adopted these beliefs, many of our churches today realize that if they are to maintain the memberships that they need to survive, their teachings must be compatible.
“The narrow minded churches”, the term given to the Bible believing churches, maintain that the Bible has specific guidelines for living that keep their adherents from making poor decisions leading to all kinds of heartaches and collateral damage to friends and family.
It seems that today’s definition of happiness and its pursuit thereof, encourage us to live with the least amount of constraints. Throw off the old fashion taboos.
This philosophy as it permeates our churches allows for just about any kind of behavior and beliefs for that matter.
The liberal doctrines lean toward removing the narrowness that orthodox Christianity teaches which is that Jesus, as He claims in John 14:6, is the only hope for salvation and eternal life.
The liberal church of today has embraced the belief that all roads lead to the same end, which is some form of nirvana or paradise.
This Eastern philosophy is being accepted more and more by our culture and ultimately by our churches is called “Universalism.”
It is a lie that is becoming more and more popular by our culture of tolerance and sadly our churches are picking up on this popular belief.
It has been called the “Greatest Lie” by some because it is the easiest and least constraining way, so they think, to walk through life.
Jesus wisely addresses this lifestyle in His Sermon on the Mount in Mathew chapter seven, verses 13 and 14 where He says, “You can enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to Hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But, the gateway to eternal life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
The road less traveled can be a lonely one, but assuredly it is the one with the least amount of potholes and pitfalls leading ultimately to an oasis that refreshes forever.
“And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb, coursing down the center of Main Street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruits, with a fresh crop each month.” Revelation chapter 22, verses 1 and 2.
The road will be narrow and the gate narrow, but the walk will be worth it as the eternal benefits are out of this world.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the father except through me.” John chapter 14, verse
posted by Jim Burton at 5:35 PM
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