False Religion - False Christianity!
We all know about false religion in the world and that anything other than Christianity is a false religion.
But how many of us realize that false religion ALSO includes false Christianity?
Most of us have grown up with some sort of religious experience,
even if at a distance. Children are raised to believe what their
parents believed. We take what we hear as truth and accept it without
question in most cases.
The problem is, how can we know whether the religion we have
embraced is actually a true religion, or just another knock-off
counterfeit false religion? How do you know that your religious belief is valid?
What do you base your beliefs on? What your parents, minister or
priest tells you ?
Satan is involved with every aspect of mankind, but many seem to think "Christianity" has somehow escaped any corruption. Some can point to some elements of other "groups" and say that those are not right, but what if the bulk of Christianity was in error? Could that possibly be?
Realize this: If Christ warned about there being false Christians WITHIN the true Church, is it hard to accept that there is also a false Christianity outside the true church as well?
There are some serious warnings about being taken in by
false religion which "SEEMS" right to us, but is actually a deceptive
facade that is meant to mislead.
Christ even warned that this "false Christianity" will eventually be so convincing as to deceive some of the very elect...
Matt 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, (all Christian...) and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on
him had a bow; and a crown was given to him: and he went forth
conquering, and to conquer.
Keep in mind that THIS white horse and rider is
often confused with being Christ, but it is not. Being one of the four
horsemen, this white horse and rider are evil and do damage as the other
three horsemen also do. It is intended to "look and sound" like Christ,
...
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he
that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he
doth judge and make war
However, the white horse and rider of Rev. 6 only goes forth to "conquer," by deceiving those who follow him with "spiritual sounding and looking words and actions..."
Matt 24:5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many."
Do you see what Christ is telling people above? Most people believe Christ is warning that many would be coming and saying that "they" were the Christ, and this would be deceiving many, but this is NOT what Christ is stating. Consider; Someone does NOT come "in Christ's name," and then go on to say that "they" WERE Christ. Doesn't make sense. The comma is misplaced. (Punctuation was not used in the original scriptures). It should read as follows; "For many will come in My name, saying 'I am the Christ,' and shall deceive many." Notice the comma taken out after saying? This shows that Christ is telling us that "many" would be coming "in Christ's name" and teaching that Jesus IS the Christ, but would be deceiving these "many" using that message.
That may be shocking, but that is the plain speech of Christ's warning. Let's look for more evidence of this.
Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord , have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
What is this "lawlessness?" 1 John 3:4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."
So, lawlessness is the same as sin, and sin is breaking the commandments and NOT doing what Christ is teaching us to do...
Luke 6:46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord ,' and not do the things which I say?"
Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying,'Lord, Lord , open for us,' and He will answer and say to you,'I do not know you, where you are from,' 26 then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' 27 But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'"
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "For such [are] false apostles,
deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of
Christ. :14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms
himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore [it is] no great
thing if his (Satan's) ministers also transform themselves
into ministers of righteousness, (appear to be and sound like
Christian ministers of truth) whose end will be according to their works."
...looks like Christ and sounds like Christ...
In these last few scriptures, false religion is
plainly described, even to the point where they are actually
preaching about Christ, that "Jesus is the Christ," and
yet actually are deceiving many. Do you realize what this really
means? People, regardless of how well intentioned they may be,
could actually be hearing about Christ, religion, salvation,
etc., and STILL be deceived by it. The only way this could occur
is if the religion "supposedly" based on the Bible
isn't actually understood, and only a "form" of
religion is followed and the "Spirit and Truth" reality
is completely missed.
Matt 13:24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares ?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.
The tares are people who look and sound "Christian" but are not. Just as wheat and tares "look" very much alike until the end of their growth cycle, it is the fruit that is born that distinguishes them apart and shows where God's spirit is truly being utilized by the wheat, or true Christian.
Romans 10:2 "For I bear them witness that they have a
zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. :3 For they
being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the
righteousness of God."
Rev 2:9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you .
Millions of people who consider themselves to be "Christian" have a zeal for
"their" God, but the warning is that it could be a zeal
that isn't based on truth, and is a deceptive religion. The meaning of the word "Jew" in these two scriptures refer to "Christians..."
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Being Jewish was meaningless regarding salvation after the new testament church was started by Christ. The "Jewishness" was to be inwardly... a spiritual event taking place. Christ warns in Revelation that there are MANY who claim to be "Jews" (converted people of God) BUT ARE NOT. This should be a strong warning to us all about exactly what "true Christianity" really is.
Mark 7:6-8 "He answered and said to them, "Well did
Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This
people honors Me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from
Me. :7 and in vain they worship me, teaching [as]
doctrines the commandments of men.'(Immortal Soul, going to heaven..., Christmas,
Easter, and more.) :8 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men..."
Christ plainly states that He can be worshiped
in vain, or in a useless way, by teaching and following
commandments designed and implemented by man and how MANKIND
thinks the Bible dictates religious practices. Can you see now
WHY there are so many "Christian" beliefs and
practices? Without the mind and spirit of God opening a
person's understanding, mankind can only do what seems right
in their own eyes, which explains why we have so many conflicting
"Christian" groups.
Titus 1:16 "They profess to know God, but in works they
deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for
every good work."
2 Peter 3:16 "...as also in all his (Paul) epistles, speaking
in them of these things, in which are some things hard to
understand, which untaught and unstable [people] twist to
their own destruction, as [they do] also the rest of the
Scriptures."
John 4:23-24 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when
the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 "God [is]
Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and
truth."
Many millions of people worship God as they
were taught or imagine is right to them, but Christ states that
a TRUE worshiper will worship IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH. That can only be
done when a person understands what the truth really is.
Revelation 12:9 "So the great dragon was cast out, that
serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the
whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast
out with him."
To better understand this, you need to read the
page concerning exactly who and what the "devil" really
is. Nonetheless, this
being is here shown to be responsible for DECEIVING THE WHOLE
WORLD. . . ALL PEOPLE. How and in what way this is possible, you
need to understand.
2 Corinthians 4:3 "But even if our gospel is veiled, it
is veiled to those who are perishing, :4 whose minds the god
of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light
of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine on them."
2 Timothy 3:5 "...having a form of godliness but
denying its power. . ."
Here is a scriptural reference to people who actually believed in Christ, but were trying to also kill him...
John 8:30 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They (Those who "believed on Him") answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say you, you shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, (Those who "believed on Him"), Verily, verily, I say to you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you (Those who "believed on Him") seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you .
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you (Those who "believed on Him") do that which you have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus says to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now you (Those who "believed on Him") seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 you (Those who "believed on Him") do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said to them, (Those who "believed on Him") If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do you not understand my speech? even because you (Those who "believed on Him") cannot hear my word. (were not called or given understanding then).
44 you (Those who "believed on Him") are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, you (Those who "believed on Him") believe me not.
46 Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 He that is of God hears God's words: you (Those who "believed on Him") therefore hear them not, because you are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not well that you art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and you do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.
51 Verily, verily, I say to you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews (Those who "believed on Him") to him, Now we know that you hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest you yourself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honours me; of whom you say, that he is your God:
55 Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like to you : (Those who "believed on Him"), but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews to him, you art not yet fifty years old, and hast you seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they (Those who "believed on Him") up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
In the scriptural discourse in John, above, Christ is
speaking to those who "believed on Him," believed in God and the scriptures, and yet Christ went on to
make the point that even these people who "BELIEVED on Him" were
not of God, but were actually being deceived by Satan,
unknowingly. They thought they were being religious and
worshiping God, yet Christ himself told them they (their
attitudes and understanding) were of Satan. WHY? Because they
didn't believe what He taught them. They had their
preconceived ideas and understanding about God and truth, but
they didn't have the truth. Their minds were blinded, just as
today, "the whole world"
also resists the truth of God and the Bible. The truth isn't something the human mind of
itself can understand.
Ephesians 4:14 "That we [henceforth] be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. . ."
Some knowingly deceive. Others, sincere though they may be,
still deceive unknowingly. There
are ministers who deliberately deceive people with traditional
religious ideas for the money. We ALL know that. However, what we
all DON'T know, is that many "ministers of
righteousness" deceive as well, although they are doing it
unknowingly, because they themselves believe what they are
teaching.
Titus 3:3 "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, "DECEIVED," serving diverse lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one
another."
ALL humanity has been, or is, deceived, but
only God's calling, along with study and proving all things, and then obeying them, can a human
being come to see their deception and the truth of God.
Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
We have to use God's word... ALL of it, to come to understand His will. False
Christian teachings that are not supported by His word damage our understanding of God,
and prevent us from
worshiping in "spirit and truth."
So, right about now you may be thinking, "What about all
those who could be in this category of false worship?"
Traditional religion has taught that if you don't
"accept Christ" now, in this life, then you are lost
forever, having nothing to look forward to except eternal pain
and suffering in hell, or, some believe that "all" people are called and have contact with God if they choose. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
Remember, Satan has known about God's plan since before God created humanity. Satan has had thousands of years to set up false belief systems that either completely counter the truth of God, or are "ambushes" of Christianity being accepted at all. Consider; Four thousands years there was Nimrod and Simiramus... who created a type of "mother and child" god worship. Of course, Satan knew the true savior would come from a human woman and thus many point to that true theme as being just a "knock off" of past false religions and don't take God's word seriously.
The plan of God is far greater than you can imagine... than any of us can imagine, but it is true and it is a wonderful thing to seek our that truth with God's help...
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved to God,
a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth."
You need to continue to study this out so you will truly
understand what is taking place on this earth. There is a
complete study to be done on just the subject of what it takes to
accomplish the purpose for which we are alive. Keep in mind that, as you study these things out, you will come to see that the concept of deception regarding Christianity is very real... after all, how could the whole world have the same bible and yet be so wrong on most of the doctrines traditional Christianity has taught and believed for centuries?
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Godkind web pages created
and material written by Jeffrey T. Maehr. Copyright © 1997-
2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction allowed if credit to thegodkind.org is listed with material. All other authors or copyrights listed accordingly.
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