Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #84 |
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JESUS calls US to be |
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The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide. |
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Should Christians Be
"Liberal?"
By "liberal" we here refer to scholarship rather than
charity! (The "liberal Christians"
about whom we write are ones who deny the deity of Jesus).
Remarks below are adapted from a note of
encouragement written by one brother to another brother who needed
encouragement.
The truth sometimes hurts
From: Brother 3 Date sent: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 15:13:09 -0700 (CST)
Subject: What's Wrong With Pointing Out that
Mormon Doctrine Doesn't Produce Christians?"I wish I had more time to write. I believe I know what it was that set off Brother 2 so that he would write so bluntly to you. You actually had the gall to venture an opinion that the Book of Mormon didn't make sense. Remember that Brother 2 is a true dyed-in-the-wool LIBERAL.
"As I see it, the heart of LIBERALISM is that everything is O.K. Only nerds voice judgments which claim that ANYTHING is untrue or ever wrong. You must strive to be so open-minded that all your brains fall out. Never mind that Jesus spent His entire life teaching seekers TO judge between right and wrong, between good and evil, between best and second-best; and calls on us to pick what is right, good, and best. Those who believe that Jesus is God's Son recognize that a point of view which claims that every claim is equally true, and that all roads lead to heaven is a devilish point of view indeed.
"The LIBERAL Bible includes Matthew 7:1 [Do not judge, or you too will be judged.] and skips or misinterprets Matthew 7:2 [For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.].
"How I hate LIBERALISM. In my opinion, it has been the ruin of our country's spirit, and our country's families. It is a destructive and cancerous set of precepts that have eroded our collective sense of decency, fairness, and morality. It is a code that is best seen in partial-birth abortion. The LIBERAL says, "Murder this baby for the sake of the mother's health." How could any code of morals that says abortion is all right be anything but base and corrupt?
"Oh, and by the way, while infanticide is perfectly acceptable at the whim of the one carrying the child to term, we LIBERALS think its barbaric to put the heartless butchers in our prisons to death -- we must release them so they can kill again...."
THIS was called to mind by a posting to a list of which I'm a member. The list was begun by two college professors, who in recent days have been urging all the list to realize that women are men or just the same as, and that the "religious right" is inhumane and unChristian. Which makes it right to vote Democrat even while the Democrat platform advocates abortion for all, and suggests that any sexual practice is just as good for the world as for one man to be the mate of one woman throughout life if the Lord wills. The professors are "liberal." I couldn't disagree with their views more. So I thought I'd just make this statement about the religious left available for you to consider.
There are basic differences between right and wrong, between left and right, between good and bad. We must each make choices often in this life. The choices we make will determine our eternal destiny, which is either for Heaven or Hell. Brother 1 was calling for interested people to realize the difference between truth and error (he pointed out that the Bible claims to be perfect and inspired. It naturally follows that if a second book makes the same claim, it must be a true claim or a false one. Those who base their salvation on a false claim will not be saved by truth). Brother 2 said this was terrible (if both claimed to be true, then both must be true), and also judgmental. Brother 3 puts the two views in focus to help us realize that everyone MUST choose, and that those who make wrong choices have BAD consequences. I think he's right.
I'm by choice not a member of a religious denomination which is LIBERAL. But I read their teachings, and talk with those who do choose to support and belong to them. I think their judgment that everybody is all right regardless of what they believe or practice is totally incorrect. I'm sure that salvation is ONLY IN CHRIST. Those who base their hope for salvation on ANY OTHER Savior will not be saved from Hell. Those who refuse to speak up against what is wrong do no favor for those who are following bad counsel. Those who claim to be following Christ but who accept other guides instead of Jesus are not being true to their claim.
What do YOU think? A brother (unlike the three mentioned above,
he's only a brother in Christ) comments --
To: "'outreach@sofnet.com'" <outreach@sofnet.com>
Subject: RE: Views & News
Date sent: Fri, 5 Dec 1997[Greg Waller] The Word of God is the inspired message from God to man to show us God's thoughts and will. It is used for edification, correction, and reproof. Unlike the Book of Mormon, His word is without error or untruth of any kind. It is everlasting! It is the ultimate standard -- the only true standard -- and plumb line to make moral decisions on. It reveals THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!
As Paul boldly proclaimed in the beginning of Galatians: " I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
"As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Liberal theologians are seriously placing their greasy-grace salvation on the line (assuming they were even saved to begin with -- which is debatable). They have clearly been terribly deceived by the evil one in having a twisted view of God's word, love and holiness. They have become perverters of the gospel of Christ. They are the blind leading the blind AND wolves in sheep's clothing... no matter how sincere they are and how well they show genuine affection and concern for their flock. Need any more be said? -- Greg Waller
Brief Bible Study #84 from Ray Downen. To go back to Viewpoint's first page, click < here. Or go on to Viewpoint Study #85. For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.