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| RELIGION OF UNITY by Cadi Noblums |
| There is a movement that is sweeping through America and the world. It is not political nor is it denominational. On the contrary, it is a movement that claims to “unite” rather than “divide.” Unify rather than diversify. It is known as the “ecumenical” movement and is becoming increasingly popular in Christian circles. In fact, it could be considered the “in” thing. On the surface, it seems to be the embodiment of Christianity. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Treat others as you would want to be treated.” The main force behind this movement is the belief that all people serve the same God. Buddhists may call that god Buddha, Muslims may use the term Allah, and Christians may prefer the title Jesus or God. But the gist of it is, that we all serve and recognize a “supreme being” and should acknowledge that our Creator is not limited to titles and terms. Sounds pretty convincing doesn’t it? What could be wrong with “celebrating our similarities” rather than “focusing on our differences?” Certainly God would want us to “unify,” right? To finally come to a day when Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants recognize that we have all been serving the same God for thousands of years (albeit quite differently) yet were separated from the truth by our own petty prejudices. Wonderful . . . paradise on earth . . . the Utopia that poets and philosophers have envisioned for centuries. Of course, before we get too enthusiastic about this new “era” in worship, we need to double check our emotions with the ultimate authority of the Word of God. Does the Holy Bible agree with this doctrine? It is a simple question indeed. Perhaps, uncomfortably simple. The first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). “Thou shalt serve the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8). “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior” (Isaiah 43:11). “For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ for it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God, so then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men wereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist” (1John 4:3). This doesn’t really support our “unification” hopes. As we study scripture, we find out that we don’t serve God in our own way, we serve God in His way. The Bible does not endorse a “common religion,” but rather asserts a “specific religion,” The Ecumenical Movement is not the Christian belief that it claims to be. Nowhere in the Bible can it be legitimately argued that God’s people should unite with others that do not follow the same belief system. While I am only citing a few scriptures here, there are literally hundreds that could be used to support this. There are doctrinal foundation stones to any true Christian faith. God is Creator of the universe.(Gen.1:1) Man fell from his place in God and now lives in a fallen world.(Gen. 3:23) The only way back to our place in God is through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 20:28) Jesus (God in the flesh) lived a sinless life on this earth, was crucified and rose again on the third day.(John 10:30, 1John3:5, 1Cor.15:46) It is His precious blood that cleanses our sin and presents us back to God, made perfect in His body. (1Peter 1:18,19) There is no room for compromise. Within our individual church groups and different denominations we may have differences of opinion on this verse or that but, the foundation stones must remain intact. Not a single one of us can allow Satan to challenge the building blocks of our faith. We are indeed a separate people. The only way to truly be “united” is under the blood of Jesus Christ. There is NO OTHER WAY. “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1Cor. 3:11) |
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