What about other religions?

[CoUrTnEy]

What about other religions?



There are many religions in the world. They do not all teach the same thing. In fact, many of them contradict each other. So, they can't all be true and it cannot be said that each is a different path to God. What are we to say about all those other religions compared to Christianity? To get to the point, all of the religions are false.
If Jesus is who He said He was, God in flesh, then whatever He says is authoritative and true. He said that He was the way the truth in the life and that nobody comes to the father except through Him (John 14:6). Right there, we see that any other way, according to Jesus, is not true.
Christianity bases its truth and its doctrine on the word of God, the Bible. In the word of God, Jesus claims to be the only way. Since He performed many miracles, raised people from the dead, commanded a storm to be still and it obeyed, healed diseases, and rose from the dead Himself, then we are forced to face the reality of His words. Is what He said true or not? Either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or He is Lord. No one else in history, except Jesus, has fulfilled detailed prophecies, performed many miracles before eyewitnesses, and risen from the dead. Jesus is unique.
For those of us who are Christians, we have trusted what Christ has said. We believe in what He said and did. Like it or not, Jesus is the one who said He was the only way. It is not the Christians who are being "narrow-minded." It is Jesus. Therefore, to say that other religions can be true means that Jesus is false. To say that there are other ways to God, also means that Jesus is false. This is what it comes down to. Either Jesus is who He said He was and what He said is true, or He is false. This is a choice you must make. To trust what He said or reject His words.

I picked this article up off of an apologetics website, what do you think?

[1dell]

Well to hold such a view would be unbiblical. One must then reconcile and negotiate this prophecy:

Mic 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

Mic 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Mic 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Mic 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make [them] afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken [it].

Mic 4:5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

According to this scripture, after all is said and done, the many different people's of the world will worship their god and the hebrews will walk in the name of IHaWaH forever.

Also too, Ishua/Jesus said that he came to the lost sheep of Ysra'al. So Ishua had a focus on his own people. They were the flock of God. If you notice in each religion there is a figurehead that stands up and calls those people to righteousness and the LAWS are quite similar to those in the bible.

See what is so unique in the bible is that it's the act of IHaWaH the god of the hebrews in the land of which THEY sojourned. So did the hebrews have a monopoly on God? Did he not do miraculous works elsewhere for other people?

CoUrTnEy said:

What about other religions?



There are many religions in the world. They do not all teach the same thing. In fact, many of them contradict each other. So, they can't all be true and it cannot be said that each is a different path to God. What are we to say about all those other religions compared to Christianity? To get to the point, all of the religions are false.
If Jesus is who He said He was, God in flesh, then whatever He says is authoritative and true. He said that He was the way the truth in the life and that nobody comes to the father except through Him (John 14:6). Right there, we see that any other way, according to Jesus, is not true.
Christianity bases its truth and its doctrine on the word of God, the Bible. In the word of God, Jesus claims to be the only way. Since He performed many miracles, raised people from the dead, commanded a storm to be still and it obeyed, healed diseases, and rose from the dead Himself, then we are forced to face the reality of His words. Is what He said true or not? Either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or He is Lord. No one else in history, except Jesus, has fulfilled detailed prophecies, performed many miracles before eyewitnesses, and risen from the dead. Jesus is unique.
For those of us who are Christians, we have trusted what Christ has said. We believe in what He said and did. Like it or not, Jesus is the one who said He was the only way. It is not the Christians who are being "narrow-minded." It is Jesus. Therefore, to say that other religions can be true means that Jesus is false. To say that there are other ways to God, also means that Jesus is false. This is what it comes down to. Either Jesus is who He said He was and what He said is true, or He is false. This is a choice you must make. To trust what He said or reject His words.

I picked this article up off of an apologetics website, what do you think?

[CoUrTnEy]

Yeah, but.... we are talking about the last days in those passages.. doesn't the Bible say that they only way to God is thru Jesus Christ?? I saw this interesting point brought up before - the reason why so many other religions look similar to Christianity is because their origins are somewhere in Christianity. In other words they were some of the original hebrews that heard the Word of God and broke off into their own little groups and "perverted" real Christianity. I guess I still have a little trouble with organized religion and what TODAY is called Christianity. What I aspire to is real, biblical Christianity, not what it has become in the churches today.

[CoUrTnEy]

I don't think that hebrews have a monopoly on God, however there is only one true God, and the Bible is the true Word of God. It's not about one race of people having a monopoly, but I truly believe that the Bible and Jesus are the only way to get there. It may say that they "walk with their god", but it doesn't say where they are going with him/her. I am certain that he did perform miracles elsewhere, but, I don't think performing miracles implies salvation either.

[1dell]

Many of today's religions are much older than judaism and christianity so their origins cannot be from it. The newest religions islam being one of them can be considered to be moor from judaism than christianity.

Yeah this is about the last days. But we are livign in the last days. The prophecy is concerning after the judgment. But after all is said and done those people will worship their god and the hebrews will worship IHaWaH.

I had a feeling that you were gonna bring up Ishua being the savior of the world. But here is the thing sweety. In hebrew the word ERETZ can mean many different things and we are at the mercy of the translators when it comes to what we are taught it means. The word Eretz means: Land, world, country, planet, earth. There is also the word Tebel and olam that means world as well. Since I don't yet possess new testament in Aramaic I reconcile the scriptures with the scriptures. By that I mean Ishua was said he was sent to the lost sheep of Ysra'al

Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Of course the woman's child did get healed. Even the woman at the well wasn't of the tribes of Ysra'al which goes to show even unto the gentiles is this gift offered. But his mission was to the lost sheep that were scattered abroad throughout the roman empire and the world to bring them back to their God.

I say this because here is the question that stumps most christians:

"What about those people who have never heard of Jesus and have never been witnessed to. What about them? What about the people who died before jesus came and those in remote countries that missionaries have never gone to minister? are they doomed to hell because they have not accepted Ishua as their savior? they didn't even know they needed a savior"

How would you ansaar that Courty? I am courious. Before I give my ansaar to that I would like to know how you or your pastor or any other pastor would ansaar that. I have not been satisfied with any answer I have gotten thus far mainly because in order to answer this question....well nevermind. I'll park my pen here and await your response.

CoUrTnEy said:

Yeah, but.... we are talking about the last days in those passages.. doesn't the Bible say that they only way to God is thru Jesus Christ?? I saw this interesting point brought up before - the reason why so many other religions look similar to Christianity is because their origins are somewhere in Christianity. In other words they were some of the original hebrews that heard the Word of God and broke off into their own little groups and "perverted" real Christianity. I guess I still have a little trouble with organized religion and what TODAY is called Christianity. What I aspire to is real, biblical Christianity, not what it has become in the churches today.

[CoUrTnEy]

The way I understand it is that the end of the world will not come until every ear has heard of Jesus Christ. I am not certain on the specific passage. So in other words, everyone will have had the opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior before the end of time. So there will be no one condemmed for simply not hearing of Jesus and his Word - because they will have all had the same opportunity as we have. I dont have a pastor by the way - I still haven't found a church I am comfortable in. Let me restate something also. I was saying Christianity was preverted, and what i actually meant was Judaism and the Bible more specifically. Of course Christianity (the real biblical Christianity) was the "Judaism for Gentiles".. at least this is my take on it. And as far as Jesus only coming for the lost sheep of israel - it is also my understanding the israel isn't just determined by race, but once you gain salvation thru accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior - you become a part of that tribe. I hope I am speaking clearly and coherantly - my bible skills and such still need to be fine tuned.

[CoUrTnEy]

oh you also mentioned what about ppl before Jesus came.. imma have an answer for that tonight.. gotta consult my personal library ...

[CoUrTnEy]

Here you go delly:

Faith, but no Savior

But how could the Old Testament saints have been saved when Jesus had not yet died for their sins? The verses alongside answer this question...

-The OT saints KNEW that God would, in His perfect time, provide them with a Messiah -- a King -- to bring salvation from their sins.
-They knew because God told them so! Zech 9.9, Job 19.25-26, Gen 3.15, Gen 22.8, Isa 53.5, et al
-The entire animal-sacrifice system (Exodus & Leviticus) vividly showed the OT saints that God would provide a Redeemer to shed blood in atonement for their sins.
-Heb 11.13 tells us that the OT saints were ASSURED of God's promises to provide a Savior.
Moreover, the OT saints EMBRACED (had faith in) God's promises to provide them a Savior.
In other words, OT saints had faith in Messiah Jesus even before He was born (incarnated).
-When the OT saints died, God put their spirits "in lay-away" so to speak, awaiting final payment of sin's penalty by the promised Messiah!

I hate to cut and paste someones words, but they are much more articulate than I

[CoUrTnEy]

Also:

The verses to the left indicate that, during the three-day period that Jesus's body lay in the tomb, His spirit descended into Hades -- the lower parts of the earth...

-The reason Jesus went there was to preach the gospel of His atoning death to the Old Testament saints who had died and were waiting there.
-At last their long wait was over. What rejoicing there must have been!
-When Abraham, Moses, David, Job, and all the other Old Testament saints received the gospel, they simultaneously received Jesus's atonement for their sins.
-When Jesus ascended to heaven, He took with Him the spirits of His beloved Old Testament saints.


Pls reference (in relation to what is mentioned above) the following scripture passages:

Eph 4:8-9
1 Peter 3: 18-10
1 Peter 4:6

Hope this helps - you actually did me a favor by having me research this topic - so thank you

[Zakiah Levanah]

I often had this arguement (not bible based) with my brother. He told me that before the end comes (as you stated in another post) all will know of the messiah.
But "I believe" that if others deem Christianity a western based religion and associate it with the wicked people of the west they should not be held responsible for rejecting the message of messiah from a wicked nation. I have a hard time believing God would punish people for not accepting the messiah under specific circumstances. Since Yeshua came to his own, perhaps an annointed one will come from their own to their own.
I find it hard to believe that the most highs only concern is people coming to him through Christ. Especially if the way they found him was by living like Christ (without his Gospel). Look at Abraham, he came from a nation of pagans and all through Genesis you can tell his seed were getting to know the most high and his ways, yet Abraham was righteous in the eyes of the Most high. There has to be principles (universal laws) of righteousness that are in play with or without messiah.
They are the very thing messiah came to preach about,
when man forgot them and looked onto himself & his ego.
There are some cultures who walk closer to Messiah with out knowing him than the average westernized christian.
In Romans Paul speaks of all men being judged according to there works and the law on their heart.
If one strives for righteousness and practices it daily, the right choice will be apparent in everything.

Look at people who can find God in their surroundings and so worship him in that way( Sun, Moon, Water, plants, kings)
Then we have those men who can only find God in their hands and in their ego. They worship idols, unnatural things, materials. I like the book of Romans, Paul is very learned in the ways of others PAGAN's and he gives a good understanding of how God see's these people.
1dell was reading Romans chapter 1, and from that I was able to understand how A Buddist may walk closer to messiah than a Christian, and how a Christian who "knows' messiah may perish.
Romans 1:17 -32 is good reading.

CoUrTnEy said:

What about other religions?



There are many religions in the world. They do not all teach the same thing. In fact, many of them contradict each other. So, they can't all be true and it cannot be said that each is a different path to God. What are we to say about all those other religions compared to Christianity? To get to the point, all of the religions are false.
If Jesus is who He said He was, God in flesh, then whatever He says is authoritative and true. He said that He was the way the truth in the life and that nobody comes to the father except through Him (John 14:6). Right there, we see that any other way, according to Jesus, is not true.
Christianity bases its truth and its doctrine on the word of God, the Bible. In the word of God, Jesus claims to be the only way. Since He performed many miracles, raised people from the dead, commanded a storm to be still and it obeyed, healed diseases, and rose from the dead Himself, then we are forced to face the reality of His words. Is what He said true or not? Either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or He is Lord. No one else in history, except Jesus, has fulfilled detailed prophecies, performed many miracles before eyewitnesses, and risen from the dead. Jesus is unique.
For those of us who are Christians, we have trusted what Christ has said. We believe in what He said and did. Like it or not, Jesus is the one who said He was the only way. It is not the Christians who are being "narrow-minded." It is Jesus. Therefore, to say that other religions can be true means that Jesus is false. To say that there are other ways to God, also means that Jesus is false. This is what it comes down to. Either Jesus is who He said He was and what He said is true, or He is false. This is a choice you must make. To trust what He said or reject His words.

I picked this article up off of an apologetics website, what do you think?

[CoUrTnEy]

Levanah said:

I have a hard time believing God would punish people for not accepting the messiah under specific circumstances.

It is an unpleasant thought to think that people we love an care about, or people seemily innocent or "ignorant" (check out the true reason of "ignorant" - i do not imply they are stupid) of the Lord will not meet God in heaven. But unfortunately that is the way it is. I used to feel the same way, but as I study the Word, I see the falacy of that concept. There is a saying that fits here - sometimes the truth hurts.

Levanah said:

I find it hard to believe that the most highs only concern is people coming to him through Christ.

The Bible is infallible - therefore all things in the Bible are true and infallible. Jesus says in the Bible that the only way to God is thru him. Nuff said.

Levanah said:

Since Yeshua came to his own, perhaps an annointed one will come from their own to their own.

And go where? It won't be to go with "their" annointed one to the heavenly Father. The only way to get there is thru Jesus, believing in Jesus as the Lord and Savior.

Also, I think you may have misinterpreted that passage - assuming that a Buddist may walk closer than a Christian.. I will cut and past this bible commentary that helps explain it a little better

[CoUrTnEy]

19–20. The apostle now anticipates the question: “If these ungodly men do not have full knowledge of God, are they then really lost?” The key word in Paul’s answer is the first word of verse 19, Because. Paul will now present two lines of argument which will prove that the condemnation of the sinner does not rest upon the depth of his knowledge of God but upon what use he makes of that knowledge. That which may be known of God is manifest in them. Paul’s first reason that the heathen are lost (or any man who willingly suppresses the knowledge of God) is because of the revelation of God in nature. Man has a sufficient knowledge of God to make him responsible to God. That knowledge arises from the fact that the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen (cf. Ps 19:1). Man’s mind is capable of drawing obvious conclusions from effect to cause. To the animals below us the phenomena of nature may just be a spectacle before their eyes, but make no impression on their minds. But to man, they have a language, a communication. They awake wonder, awe, a basic idea of God and His righteousness. Even his eternal power and Godhead. Nature does not simply give the impression that God is an abstract principle but a real person, the Supreme Person, transcendent above His creation and not part of it. The testimony of nature alone is sufficient to lead man to an understanding of the personal, righteous nature of God, so that they are without excuse.
2. The heathen have clearly rejected God. 1:21–23.
21–23. Paul’s second line of argument is that the heathen are lost because of the revelation of God to the conscience. They glorified him not as God. As if the natural world around us isn’t enough, God has planted in the heart of every man the knowledge that there is a righteous God. Though the heathen knew that He was God and deserved to be glorified, they willfully chose not to glorify Him as God. They did not ascribe to His person the holiness, perfection, and sovereignty which are His alone. Neither were thankful. To add injury to insult, the heathen accepted the good things of nature from the hand of God, but were not thankful for them. But became vain in their imaginations. In order to suppress the witness of the ordered structure of the universe, and the innate testimony of the conscience, fallen man had to develop a reasoning process of imagination. This reasoning is described by God as vain because the whole structure of man-made philosophy is devoid of divine truth and therefore invalid. Thus, by suppressing the truth of God and believing their man-made falsehood, they plunged their foolish heart deeper into darkness. When they exalted their human reasoning and paraded their wisdom before their peers, they acted as fools. The foolish heart is not one deficient in intelligence but one deficient in the moral understanding of who God is.
Laboring under the handicap of this extreme deficiency, the heathen changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image. By creating a god suitable to their own fallen conception of deity the heathen have violated the first commandment. They have devised their own concept of divinity and placed it above the one true God. Made like corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. More than just conceptualizing what they thought God ought to be, the heathen actually created animal-like images of their concept of God. In so doing they violated the second commandment.
The apostle has thus given two reasons why the man without God is lost and deserving of condemnation: (1) because of the revelation of God in nature (vss. 19–20); and (2) because of the revelation of God in their conscience (vss. 21–23). The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all who suppress the truth of these two witnesses. To the heathen who does not suppress this fundamental light, the Lord Jehovah grants additional enlightenment of His person. But whoever is guilty of suppressing the available truth about God does not receive light unto salvation.
3. The heathen have clearly become reprobate. 1:24–32.
24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness. Ungodliness and unrighteousness have a definite terminal point and that is idolatry. The word wherefore indicates that the retribution to follow finds its ground in the antecedent sins and is therefore justifiable. Because the heathen participated in idolatry, God gave them up to uncleanness. As seen by Paul’s usage of this term elsewhere (cf. II Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; I Thess 4:7), uncleanness means sexual aberration by which they would dishonor their own bodies between themselves.
25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, Suppression of the truth which God gave to the heathen became the basis for their idolatry and thus they worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator. They degraded themselves in that which they worshiped and exalted those things created to a higher position than the One who created them.
26–27. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections. These vile affections (Gr pathç atimias) were passions of infamy. The apostle goes on to explain that their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. Sexual perversion always accompanies idolatry. And likewise also the men … burned in their lust one toward another; men with men. Homosexuality is likewise the result of idolatry. Although today the world seeks to popularize and legitimize homosexuality, nevertheless it is despicable to God and condemned by Him. Increased homosexuality is a sign of the soon return of the Lord (II Tim 3:2). God never overlooks this blatant misuse of the body and consequently those who have engaged in this perversion receive in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
28. God gave them over to a reprobate mind. The word reprobate means “unapproving” or “undiscerning.” Since they had suppressed the truth of God revealed to them, the heathen did not retain God in their knowledge and consequently, for the third time in almost as many verses, the apostle records that God gave them up (or over) to what they wanted all along. When He did so, the results were disastrous. The effects of their abandonment result solely from the corruption of the human heart; this cannot be blamed on God.
29–31. Being filled expresses (by the Greek perfect tense) that the heathen were not simply tainted by the catalogue of sins that follow but were in fact saturated with them. Thus the ugly character traits listed as the result of abandonment by God include: unrighteousness, or injustice (Gr adika) fornication, wickedness (Gr poneria), covetousness (Gr pleonexia, grasping for more than is needed), maliciousness (Gr kakia, intending evil toward others), … whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection … unmerciful. This gallery of iniquity was not only true of the first-century heathen world but reads much like our newspapers today.
32. Who knowing the judgment of God … do the same, … have pleasure in them that do them. The heathen world is not unaware of God’s displeasure with these activities. Therefore, fully cognizant of the consequences of their sin, they continue to defy the Lord God of heaven and take great pleasure in keeping company with those who do the same.
Paul’s conclusion is that the heathen are never without a witness to the presence and personality of God. They have the witness of nature and the witness of their own conscience. However, the heathen have deliberately suppressed these witnesses to the truth and have consistently opted for a lie in place of the truth. They have chosen the course of idolatry, which is always accompanied by debauchery. Thus, God has revealed His wrath from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth of God. In addition, God has given them up to idolatry, to passions of infamy, and to an undiscerning and unapproving mind. Are the heathen lost? Yes, the entire heathen world is lost, deserving condemnation, desiring evil, and desperately wicked.

[Xavier]

Not to come across as a non researching leader of Yeshua but all the mysteries of GOD would not be known by man. as the stereotype goes, the Body of Yeshua is not thoroughly learned in biblical scholarship, I have proven myself over the years of knowing many religions and ways of thought with the Way(specificaly the essence of the Gospels and others trains of thought) so this is no cop out. But every question of GOD cannot be answered by Man. 1dell, you have a couple of questions that have dumbfounded saints and scholars alike since the birth and resurrection. All our question will be answered when we are ready. You can read and reread to infer on questions about the dead, judgement, and those who have not heard of Yeshua the Absolute(Jesus the Lord) but just like other scholars a different answer will come about 9 times out ot 10. You must add into your equation that Yeshua knew the Old testament but His ministry was about the here and now and how we treated each other in the context of the Almighty.

You must always remember that the nature of most of the leaders of Yeshua is to connect with GOD and open up other people to GOD through love, compassion, caring, and true fellowship-something that is lacking here and most of the world. This is the reason SOME leaders of Christ do not study for the purpose of debate or "head" knowledge for a connection to GOD. I do for both personally. My mission has been pushed from academic debate more though unto showing the Gifts of the Spirit and the Glory of the Lord.

[CoUrTnEy]

As always, wise words spoken by Xavier. We all have our own views and interpretations of the bible and specific passages in the Bible - but no one knows 100% for sure. When I express what I have expressed - it is from my point of view & I by no means expect or demand any of you to believe as I believe - but simply giving my view/response. Xavier you have proven to be a very level-headed, clear minded, and good man of God. Thank you for your input

[Zakiah Levanah]

CoUrTnEy said:

It is an unpleasant thought to think that people we love an care about, or people seemily innocent or "ignorant" (check out the true reason of "ignorant" - i do not imply they are stupid) of the Lord will not meet God in heaven. But unfortunately that is the way it is. I used to feel the same way, but as I study the Word, I see the falacy of that concept. There is a saying that fits here - sometimes the truth hurts.




The Bible is infallible - therefore all things in the Bible are true and infallible. Jesus says in the Bible that the only way to God is thru him. Nuff said.



And go where? It won't be to go with "their" annointed one to the heavenly Father. The only way to get there is thru Jesus, believing in Jesus as the Lord and Savior.

Also, I think you may have misinterpreted that passage - assuming that a Buddist may walk closer than a Christian.. I will cut and past this bible commentary that helps explain it a little better

The buddist thing i didn't get it from the passage just the "assumption", that a vegetarian who doesn't lust for meat, has respect for the earth and is concerned with more devine things would appear more Christ like.
I also agree that these people may not have a place in heaven. But I think the meek shall inherit the earth. According to revelations & the book of daniel there will be a many nations here during the Messianic age and it will be the job of the remnant to minister to them.