God teaches us what is wrong
and what is right
At my
age I have heard so very many teachings that seek to deny man the right to
heaven. So many man made laws are sought to be imposed on God’s children one
might think he or she has a means of earning entry into heaven.
Ephesians 2: 8-9
God saved you by His special favor when you believed.
And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God, salvation is not a
reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about
it.
- Chewing tobacco,
- Dancing,
- Drinking, (at all)
- Listening to rock and roll,
- Watching suggestive television,
- Wearing makeup,
- Wearing of jewelry,
- Reading the Sunday paper,
- Swimming with the opposite sex,
- Wearing skirts that are too short,
- Wearing your hair too long,
- Eating meat on Friday,
- Drinking coffee, tea or sodas,
- Watching movies,
- Reading magazines,
- Wearing perfume,
- Wearing dyed clothing,
- Smiling in church,
- Letting your ankles show (women),
And
on and on and on, have no real application to Godliness.
Just
as these man made laws are not reflected in the Bible, claims such
as:
- If you are not Catholic you are doomed to hell,
- If you are not Lutheran you are doomed to hell,
- If you are not Calvinist you are doomed to hell,
- If you are not Jewish and keep God’s laws you will go to Gehenna or suffer the loss of your soul.
Again, the list of religious teachings that apply to
particular denominations and beliefs go on and on.
Our
Bible teaches us to judge (discern) human things but does not teach us to
judge what is in a man’s heart and whether he will enter heaven or be doomed
to hell. How then are persons of differing religions allowed to judge other
peoples hearts. The answer is clear, they are not allowed to judge whether a
man is going to heaven or to hell. Only God has the right to grant eternal
peace, not man.
All
too many churches, especially Christian churches are seen by many to be ‘clubs
or cliques people who thing themselves to be more righteous than the average
man.’ Does anyone of you think that will make God happy?
Isn’t God’s Word clear when He teaches us to bring others to Him?
God
and God alone is the judge of a man’s soul. You may discern and deny the evil
that a man does, and do so in a correct manner and be ‘in synch’ with God’s
teachings but God alone can judge a man’s soul.
Matthew 7:1 “Stop judging others and you will not be
judged.”
Latter Day Saint’s followers teach that any person not
of their belief is a ‘son of perdition.’ A follower of Islam teaches that
persons not of the Muslim faith are ‘infidels’ and thereby cursed by God. As
previously stated, many denominations claim to be the sole decider of the
eternal fate of any man.
I
repeat and do so vigorously, God and God alone will decide who will and who
will not be allowed to enter heaven.
Once,
while traveling on an airplane I found myself sitting next to a man that I
identified as a Mormon Elder. He noticed the Bible I was carrying was in a
cover that bore a Christian cross on it. In his exuberance to attempt to
preach Mormonism to me he struck up a conversation. Before long I asked, “If I
can point out one (1) similarity, and the only similarity we two share, will
you listen to me as I read my Bible?” Confidently he
replied, “Yes.”
I
answered my own question when I said, “We are both sinners.”
The
man sat in silence and after a few moments said, “You are right.”
I was
referencing 1 John 8 and 1 John 10.
8- If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling
ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.
10- If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling
God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts.
I
then read aloud, to him, the Book of Matthew all throughout the remainder of
the flight. I stressed Matthew 1: 18 and 20.
18- …But while she was still a virgin, she became
pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
20- …For the child within her has been conceived by
the Holy Spirit.
(Mormons teach that all men will become god but only a
begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, is God.)
As
the flight landed he asked, “Would you like to know what Joseph Smith said
about that?” I answered, with a smile, “No, I do not care what that man said
and never will.”
I
sowed the seed. God will water it or He will not. But, I knew I was talking
with a man who saw me, as a Christian, as damned and as a ‘son of perdition,’
due to my disbelief in the Mormon faith.
As I arose from my seat I said, “God alone will be the
judge of my soul, not you nor any religion.”
If
you are Christian and believe in your heart the teachings of God, if you
repent of your sins, you are not doomed no matter what your denomination is or
if you are nondenominational in your Christian beliefs.
If
you believe that by keeping man made laws will somehow gain you the right to
heaven, you are mistaken. If you were told, “You must not wash your body until
another man tells you, You Stink,” would you think yourself more
Godly?
Does
anyone think that God wants anyone to teach that a named faith is the only
path to God? I think not.
‘Denominations are man seeking God while Christianity
is God seeking man.’
The
rule Jesus told us to be seen as the Golden Rule is spelled it in ‘plain
language’ in Matthew 7: 12
Matthew 7: 12 “Do for others what you would
like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law
and the prophets.
(Closing prayer)
Holy
God we praise you. You are our Judge and only You can see our hearts. Please
instill in the hearts of others that Christianity is the way to
You. Lord, make us ever aware You are God and the words and
false judgments of man are just that, false. Keep our love focused on You lord
and strengthen us so that we may live according to Your will. Our desire is to
do Your will and your will alone. El Shaddai, we thank You for your Words and
with all our hearts we will follow You and all Your teachings.
We
pray this in the name of Jesus Christ who is One with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God forever and ever. Elohim.
Amen,
amen and amen.
Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr
God's Word Christian Ministry
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