Other Religions

As most of you who visit already know, I am a Bible-believing Christian. And while I could go on to explain the Biblical reasons for that, I wanted to take a moment and look at this topic from another point of view.

And by that I mean taking a look at the other religions. There is an estimated 4,200 religions in the world, including Christianity. However, most of these are branches of some major religions, thus that number is very general.

But for a moment, let’s take a look at other religions. And I don’t mean an in-depth look at them, but a brief examination of them. And by that I don’t mean we’re going to do an exhaustive look at them and decide why they’re wrong, but a brief look at why Christianity, Bible-believing Christianity that is, is the only one that makes any sense.

Atheism

First let’s look at the religion of Atheism, or “non-religious” people who don’t believe in God. While I won’t go into an in-depth analysis of evolution, let’s think about this for a second. Atheism states that there is no God, that mankind is the highest intelligence there is, and that when we die, we will go six feet deep and rot into dust and worms. But why? If evolution is the way we got here, why did we stop evolving when we reached humanity? And why don’t humans evolve any more? Why don’t humans develop powers like super-speed, flight, or any of your standard comic-book powers? And why don’t humans evolve into more skin colors, like blue or green, instead of the colors we see today?

While I won’t dwell on the topic that “design requires a designer”, does no one see that? We all know that art requires artists; food requires cooks; children require parents, but earth doesn’t need God? 2+2=4, not 5.

Furthermore, if there is no afterlife and we die and go under the ground, where is life’s purpose? I know some atheists argue that life in itself is fulfilling through relationships, success, etc., but seriously, WHERE is life’s purpose if we only rot in the ground? Seems pointless if everything we do is ultimately for nothing. Not to mention without God to define moral high ground, where does our sense of good and evil come from?

Buddhism & Hinduism

There is are a ton of reasons to not be a Buddhist or Hindu, but let’s look at some basic. First there’s Hinduism’s many gods, 33 MILLION someone counted, and all their weird rituals. Seriously, one of them you have to light candles to guide the god on its way-apparently it can’t see in the dark.

Then there is the aspect of the rituals and works required in both religions—seriously, even for just the casual viewer that’s way too much work. I know that sounds lazy, and maybe it is a bit, but think about it. You have to center yourself, connect to the “inner god”, balance your yin and yang, etc.

And can we just talk about that yin-yang for a minute? Not only is that the basis of eastern religions, but that defines everything they do: the way they eat, the way they dress, literally everything they do is defined by this yin-yang. Sounds like a great way to live, don’t it? Oh if that ain’t enough, you have to keep in mind dead relatives that might be watching you as some reincarnated fly or pet dog. That’s why Hindus don’t eat cows—it might be Grandpa Abhay or someone like that.

 

Pseudo-Christianity

Christianity is often called “the largest religion in the world, with over 2 billion followers”. But let’s break that number down a minute.

One of the largest members of that “2 billion” is Roman Catholicism. And, let’s face it: Catholicism has LOTS of problems. I could write an entire article about the problems with Roman Catholicism, but I won’t. Let’s just sum it up real fast here by saying: RC has WAY to much going on in it. Think about it, you have prayers to Mary, to the Saints, to the pope, and “Oh yeah, pray an ‘Our Father’ too, will ya?”. You’ve sinned? Oh, pray this prayer, do the rosary three times, and maybe donate to the church a little and you’ll be forgiven. Far too much work, as far as anything goes.

Then there’s Mormonism, which is a whole subject in itself. Mormonism relies heavily on works, but also puts great faith in Joseph Smith and the temple ceremony, which is about thirty different colors of wrong in itself. (We’ll go over Mormonism sometime in the future). For now, just know that Mormonism is its own mess.

You could be Jehovah’s Witness, if you don’t mind going door to door and trying to get others to join the cult. Yes, it’s a cult. Relying heavily on the leaders in the Watchtower organization and Charles Taze Russell, their founder, JWs rely on their good works to secure their place in Heaven. There’s a whole another article coming one day on that, too.

 

Islam

One of the fastest growing religions on the planet, Islam comes from the “Prophet Mohamed”, the man who had 23 wives at one time.

Islam itself is probably the most violent religion on the planet, declaring all who will not convert must die. Yes, Pseudo-Christians slaughtered Jews and Muslims during the Crusades, but that was not commanded by God. Allah, the Muslims’ god, commands all who will not convert must be beheaded. And ladies, you haven’t seen oppression until you’ve met Islam. A woman has no rights except what a man allows, cannot speak in public; has no word in court unless ten men can confirm her story, and must cover her entire body in public except her eyes. Oh, and if she’s raped? Well you’ll live if you get lucky, but don’t try the courts—you have no help there, unless you know ten men who will stand up for you. There is no mercy in Islam; only the violent may make it to paradise, where you will be given 70 virgins (or white grapes-Islamic scholars are unclear on that translation) and rivers of wine.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bible says Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), we can be forgiven our sins and be assured of Heaven when we die. Much like a penny a day for twenty years will not pay off a million-dollar loan, one cannot work their way to heaven. Jesus is our only hope, or else when He prayed to the Father “let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39), it would’ve. Salvation is the “gift of God” through Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5). Grace is “God’s riches at Christ’s expense”, and no one will ever invent or discover a new way into Heaven.

Hell is a place that will never end (Mark 9:44) that God doesn’t want us to go. “A loving God wouldn’t send someone to Hell” you argue. You’re right—He wouldn’t. God designed Hell for the Devil and the fallen angels (Matthew 25:41). But God didn’t make robots, and in order to have good, one must have evil, and the ability to choose between the two. Man chose wrong, and we’ve had to deal with the consequences ever since. God loves us all (John 3:16) and sent His only begotten Son to die in our place. If we are willing to turn from sin, turn to God (repent), and accept Jesus as our Saviour, we can be pardoned from our sins past, present, and future for all of eternity (Romans 10:9, 10, 13; Mark 1:15; John 6:39, 40, 47). Yes, we will still sin, but we can never lose our salvation, and won’t want to sin (Romans 7), but that’s another article for some other time.

In conclusion, I am a Bible-believing Christian because it’s the only one that makes any sense and the only way to God. Thank you for reading, and I’ll catch you later.

 

–Agent Starborn

The Importance of Israel

Some people believe that the Church has replaced Israel; that God has fulfilled the promises made to Israel and therefore, they are not necessary. But sadly, though many people who hold this opinion call themselves Christians, they do not understand what the Bible says. Let us take a look at what the Bible says, and let us see why the church has not replaced Israel.

First, let us look at what Romans 11:1-4. Paul says

            “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image to Baal.”

            If the Church has replaced Israel, then that passage is a fraud. If the church is the new Israel, then God has cast away His people which He foreknew.

1^st Corinthians 10:32 says: “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God”.

If the church has replaced Israel, then why are they mentioned separately? Clearly, God has not thrown Israel away.

In the Bible, God is called the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob several times. Here are some examples:

“Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Luke 20:37).

            “That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee” (Exodus 4:5).

These are just two of all the times that God is called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Three times God is called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. In Malachi 3:6, God says: “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

If God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob then, and if God loved Israel then, He still is God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and He still loves Israel.

July 4th

Today is July 4^th. While many of my readers may be celebrating Independence Day, I want to explain why I am not.

BUT: I am NOT a traitor. I thank God that I live where I do. I appreciate the freedoms that we do have here.

However, I am not celebrating this day because of what the Bible says.

The Bible says that we are to worship God alone. We are to honour those in authority (Romans 13), but we are not to worship the country. We are not to swear (James 5:12); and our allegiance must go to God ONLY.

Now this does not mean that we should blatantly disobey the laws of the land. We are to obey the laws, as long as they do not come into conflict with what God says (Acts 5:29).

Patriotism means “Love of and devotion to one’s country”. We are told to “love not the world” (1 John 2:16-17).

We cannot serve two masters; the Bible makes that clear. “Serving God and Country” cannot work. We must decide where we will put our allegiance; and according to the Bible, it is to GOD that we give our allegiance.

Also consider that, while the founding fathers had some good morals, they were not Christians (contrary to what David Barton says). George Washington died a Catholic; John Adams was a Unitarian; Jefferson exalted reason above the Bible; Ben Franklin was a Freemason and a member of the Hellfire Club (a debaucherous club in England). Many thought that Jesus was a good man, but not necessarily God.

“Original sin was as ridiculous as imputed righteousness.” –Benjamin Franklin

“And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being of his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. But we may hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States of America will do away with all this artificial scaffolding and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines…” –Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Adams, April 11^th, 1823

“Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatism, and imposture as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being. I separate therefore the gold from the dross; restore to him the former, and leave the latter to the stupidity of some, and roguery of his disciples. Of this band of dupes and imposters, Paul was the great Coryphaeus, and fist corrupter of the doctrines of Jesus. These palpable interpolations and falsifications of his doctrines led me to try to sift them apart.” –Thomas Jefferson in a letter to William Short, Monticello, April 13^th, 1820

“It was a long tradition among both the Maryland Province Jesuit Fathers and the Negro slaves of the Washington plantation and those of the surrounding area that the first President died a Catholic. These and other facts about George Washington are reported in the Paulist Information Magazine by Doran Hurely. The story is that Father Leonard Neale, S.J. [a Jesuit], was called to Mount Vernon from St. Mary’s Mission across the Piscataway River four hours before Washington’s death. Washington’s body servant Juba is the authority for the fact the General made the Sign of the Cross at meals. He may have learned this from his Catholic lieutenants, Stephen Moylan or John Fitzgerald. At Valley Forge, Washington forbade the burning in effigy of the Pontiff on Popes’ Day. Several times as President he is reported to have slipped into a Catholic church to hear Sunday mass.” –The Denver Register, February 24th, 1957

“The long report among slaves of Mount Vernon as to Washington’s deathbed conversion would be odd unless based on truth. These were not Catholic Negroes; it is part of the tradition that weeping and wailing occurred in the quarters that Massa Washington had been snared by the Scarlet Woman of Rome, whom they had been taught to fear and hate. Supposedly Father Neale was rowed across the Piscataway by Negro oarsmen; and men often talked freely when slaves were nearby, confidentially ignoring their presence.” –The Denver Register, May 11th, 1952

“…Washington died a Catholic. The facts concerning this have been well publicized and would seem to leave little room for doubt. Four hours before Washington’s death, Fr. Leonard Neale, S.J., was called to Mount Vernon from St. Mary’s Mission across the Piscataway River where he baptized President Washington.” –The Angelus, February 1998, Volume X, Number 2, “Catholics and the Republic”

I do not hate the founding fathers; I do not hate America. I just do not, and cannot, be patriotic, as it is unbiblical. When the decision between God and country comes, we as Christians must choose God.

The Christians in early Rome had to choose between Rome and God, and they chose God. We must also make the choice to serve God. We must obey the laws of the land, as long as they do not conflict with God’s laws. But we must not worship nor pledge our allegiance to the nation.

For more information about these subjects, check out these resources:

Polycarp–Destroyer of Gods

A young slave girl, Anna, is rescued and adopted by Christians in the 2nd century Smyrna and befriended by their aged bishop, Polycarp. As Anna is taught by Polycarp and her new family, she struggles to reconcile her beliefs with those of the Christians. When the Roman proconsul demands that all citizens worship Caesar to show their allegiance to Rome, Polycarp and the Christians must find courage to stand for their faith against the growing threat of persecution. Anna is forced to come to grips with the truth and choose whom she is willing to live – and die – for.

Noise of Thunder

The videos Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers, and the Secret Mysteries of America’s History explain the founding of America in detail.

What are Anabaptists?

Some people may have heard of Anabaptists. Today I want to discuss this very thing.

It has been stated that the Anabaptist movement began in January of 1525. It would be more accurate to say that this was the beginning of the Swiss Brethren. This group included George Blaurock, Conrad Grebel, and Felix Manz. These men began their movement after they realized Ulrich Zwingli would not go far enough. Later, these men were persecuted for the move they made.

In all reality, the Anabaptists began in the first century A.D., and have continued to this very day. Other names for the Anabaptists included Donatists, Albigenses, and Waldensians. The Catholic Church, through the Dominican and Franciscan orders, persecuted Bible-believers relentlessly. They devised tortures such as the rack, pulleys, and other horrors. When the victims refused to recant, they were often burned alive at the stake. The Catholic Church also carried out crusades against the Bible-believing Christians. An estimated 50 million people perished for the crime of heresy, from 1209, when Innocent III began the inquisition, until the late 1800s, when the inquisition was brought to a close by world powers. Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain revived the inquisition in Spain, in the year 1492.