New Survey Shows Most Self-Described Christians Ignore Biblical Truth

Shortly after Christ was captured by Roman soldiers, at the insistance of the Jewish leaders, He was brought before Pontius Pilate. As the Roman governor of Judea, Pilate could pass sentence on Christ, or free Him.

As Pilate considered the fate of the Savior, he asked Him, "What is truth?"

The Greek word that is translated "truth" is aletheia (pronounced al·ay·thi·a). This word means, essentially: that which is objective in any matter. Another definition is: certainty, fact.

Truth is a question mankind has wrestled with, and, according to a new survey from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public life, Christians today fail to recognize what is truth.

Before I jump to the results of the survey, let's cover a few Biblical definitions of truth:

• God is truth (Deut 32:4, Isa 65:16) and His truth is unchanging (Num 23:19, Titus 1:2)
• The Bible is God's Word (Isa 34:16, Rom 1:2)
• The Bible is True (Psalm 119:160)
• Christ is truth (John 1:17)
• The gospel is truth (Eph 1:13, 1 Thess 2:13)

From this we know that the Bible is the true Word of God, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is part of that truth.

What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

In John 14:6, Jesus answers Thomas about the only path to heaven when He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me."

Further, as you read the Bible, you discover that the path to Christ is repentance from sin (Matt 4:17, 2 Cor 7:10, Rev 3:3), and surrendering your life to Christ (Rom 6:19, Col 4:1, 1 Cor 7:22).

The Bible also warns us that many people will miss the truth of the gospel. Read Matthew 7:13-14:

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

It appears that most of America's self-reporting Christians are looking at a wide gate.

Note: The term Christian, as used by the survey, is self-reported. That is, a person is a "Christian" if they call themselves a Christian. This is an objective standard. For the balance of this article, you can assume that I am using the objective standard. However, my desire is that people turn to God's standard (as shown above) and become true Christians.

Consider the fact that this new study finds that most Christians in America believe that you need not be a repentant slave to Christ to obtain salvation.

In fact, an astounding 65% of Christians say that many religions can lead to salvation! Before you dismiss this number and think, "well, there are Episcopal's and Baptists and Lutherans..." that is NOT what the survey respondents meant by "many religions". Upon further questioning, the Pew Forum discovered,

• More than 8 in 10 say that at least one non-Christian religion can provide Salvation.
• 69% say that Judaism provides salvation
• 52% say that salvation can be found in Islam
• 53% say Hinduism can provide salvation
• An astonishing 56% say that people with "no religious faith" can still obtain salvation, and
  
• Most amazingly, 42% say that atheists can obtain salvation.
  

How? Well, according to the survey respondents, all of these people can achieve salvation by what they believe or by their actions. What Bible verse is that?

If these self-reported Christians do not understand how others can achieve eternal life, what does that say about their own walk with the Lord?

Please, if your views conflict with the scripture above about the gospel, consider the following passage from Matthew 7:21-23,

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'"

The only way we can know the truth... the only way we can share the truth... the only way to obtain salvation is to search out the truth of the gospel in the Bible.

The Bible is truth. The gospel is truth. Surveys are not. Beliefs are not. Feelings are not.

Know the truth, and share it with others... even those who sit in church with you.

Are You Routinely Denying Christ?

In the gospel of Mark, we read about the events leading up to the crucifixion of the Savior. One striking aspect of the night described in this passage is how Peter, who clearly loves Jesus, is told that before morning he would deny any association with Christ: not once, not twice, but three times. (Mark 14:27-31)

Later, we read that as Christ is being tried and tortured, Peter is asked if he was with Christ, if he was a friend or follower of Him.

What does Peter do when given an opportunity to acknowledge who Christ is, or to talk about who the Lord is? He denies any association with him. In fact, just as Christ foretold, Peter denies Him three times before daybreak. (Mark 14:66-72).

Sitting in your living room it may be hard for a believer to wonder how Peter could have done this. Peter is certain of who Christ is. Peter has a personal relationship with the Lord. Peter is warned what will happen. Still, he denies knowing Him.

What about believers today? We profess certain knowledge of our salvation at church or with fellow believers. We tell ourselves that we trust scripture, including the warnings to expect persecution from the world. We pray directly to the Lord as part of a personal relationship. Certainly we wouldn't deny Christ as Peter did. Would we?

I believe we not only would, but we do, probably every single day. I base this on my own life.

For example, I have made a commitment to distribute gospel tracts every time I go to the store. I always carry tracts in my car. I park far enough from the entrance to have plenty of cars to pass by. As I slip out of my car, I grab at least five tracts. But sometimes I see someone approaching the car I'm about to slip a tract onto, and I hesitate, stop, or move to a car where no one is around.

There are also times when I'm out running errands, and I'll see someone. "I should go talk to him," I think. But, I don't.

I think about numerous conversations I've had with people who are not saved, or who's salvation I don't know about, and how spiritual topics have either come up or could easily have come up. But rather than pursue the opportunity, I let it slip away.

Why? Why am I paralyzed into inaction?

I think it's because, just like Peter, too often I am fearful. By allowing the fear of man to control my actions, I am denying Christ just as Peter did.

What about you?

How often do believers deny the Lord by refusing to acknowledge their association with Him? How often do we deny Him by neglecting to obey His commandment to "preach the gospel, in season and out" or to "always be ready to give a defense" for the faith we have?

It's time to fully trust Christ. It's time to trust His promise to provide "strength upon strength" and not burden us beyond our ability. It's time to surrender our lives, our time, and our devotion to Him. It's time to stand tall and declare the truth of the gospel.

It's time to stop denying Christ.

I Witness With My Lifestyle and Actions...

The Bible makes it clear that Christians are to share the gospel with non-believers.

But how?

Some people say, "I witness to others with my lifestyle and my actions."

Is this an obedient form of evangelism?

I think the answer depends on if you're trying to make disciples of Christ, or disciples of yourself.

Our heart should be to share the Gospel so others can know Jesus, not to convince them to live their lives just like we do. You might hope that people will think “Wow, there’s something really different about you” and come ask about it… but that’s never happened to me, and chances are it will never happen to you.

More importantly, evangelism based strictly on lifestyle and actions is not Biblical.

Jesus said “Go… Make… Baptize… Teach” responding to each requires action on our part to engage with others.

Of course, you should also live a life that demonstrates your faith. Your life should glorify God, but don’t let your obedience stop there. It didn't for the best examples of evangelists we have in the Bible: Jesus, Peter, and Paul.

John 4 is probably one of the best known examples on one-on-one evangelism.

It describes Christ having a conversation with a woman at a public gathering place. What did he do? Did He walk by, and let her marvel at Him? No. He engaged in a seemingly normal conversation. Then He turned the conversation to spiritual topics. He shared the truth of her fallen state with her, then revealed how to be saved. The result? She was saved, and immediately evangelized by going home and telling everyone she could! She didn’t attend Sunday school, or seminary, or worry about how people would react to her words. She was simply obedient.

In Acts 17, we read about Paul engaging people in dialog in the synagogues and the marketplace. Paul did not simply walk around so people could see the scars from the lashings he endured, or hope that people could see that he was prosperous. Paul wasn't prosperous in the earthly sense! He could have walked around all day, every day, and never been noticed. Paul shared the gospel verbally.

When you read Acts 2, verses 43-47, you see clear examples of how the early Christians practiced evangelism: everywhere they went they verbally shared the gospel. The result? The number of Christians grew daily.

Additionally, the Gospels of John and Luke describe literary evangelism (John 20:31), which today we can perform using e-mail, online postings, tracts, letters, and more.

One more thing... Even if you insist on living your faith rather than sharing it, what are you going to say when someone notices that you're different, and asks you “What’s different about you and why?” If you’re not prepared to go out and witness, you’re not prepared answer that question.

You must “be ready”, and as long as you’re ready, you should “Go and tell!” Right? That’s right.

Christianity is a crutch?

People like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and numerous other atheists are fond of ridiculing Christians. One tactic they use to belittle the faithful is to state or imply that belief in God is a crutch.

They believe that the ‘crutch’ of religion will help Christians deal with thoughts of death, illness, disaster, or other uncontrollable events in life. They see religion as a way of creating a false peace of mind. They see our faith as an imaginary opiate that creates a false serenity.

How poorly they understand the Christian life.

Of course, like all such arguments, there is an element of truth to it. Christians do enjoy the grace and lovingkindness of the Lord.

Isaiah 12:1 tells us that God provides comfort. Second Corinthians 1:3-7 reminds us that the Lord is our comforter no matter what the affliction. It tells us that God is the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort...”

Scripture reminds us of His lovingkindness a number of times. Psalm 63:3 describes God’s lovingkindness as “better than life...”

Christ promises peace and fearlessness through faith in Him. He says, in John 14:27, “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

How can a Christian help but have peace of mind when we consider that God pursued us, even as a wretched sinner and enemy? God’s amazing forgiveness and salvation is a thing of wonder. We can wholeheartedly rejoice in our freedom from slavery to sin, exchanged for slavery to Christ and righteousness (Romans 6:15-19).

In return for our repentance, faith in Christ alone, and obedience to the Lord, we share in the wondrous fruits promised in scripture: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

This is where the atheists stop, with a partial (and flawed) understanding of Christianity.

The obedient Christian understands two facts that non-believers don’t: the peril awaiting non-believers, and our responsibility to preach the gospel to them.

For example, Scripture clearly describes the fate of the lost:

• Everyone dies (Rom 5:12)
• After death comes judgment (Heb 9:27)
• Without Christ on judgment day, God’s wrath is poured out as you are cast into hell, where you will remain forever. (Eph 2:1-3, 2 Thess 1:9)

When talking with non-believers they sometimes tell me, “But, I don’t believe in heaven and hell.” That doesn’t matter. Consider this: if you don’t believe in traffic, and you suddenly run onto a busy highway, you’ll quickly be confronted with the truth about trucks, cars, and the frailty of the human body.

As a Christian, once you realize the fate of the lost you begin to see people differently. There’s no peace of mind in knowing that people you see every day, people you love, people you care about, will spend eternity in hell if they continue in their rebellion against God.

There’s more peace of mind for the atheist. What can be more peaceful than believing that there is no judgment after you die, or that if you were a biological and evolutionary accident once, and you just might be one again.

In addition, there is no peace of mind in knowing that it is our responsibility to preach the gospel to the lost, the enemies of God, those who find the gospel to be foolishness. It’s easier for the atheist to stand up and talk about evolution and proclaim falsehoods to people who want to have their ears tickled.

But it is our responsibility. Mark 16:15 says, “ Go into all the world and preach the gospel” and Acts 1:8 says, “you shall be My witnesses.” It’s not optional. Scripture does not say, “I hope you consider the possibility of being a witness of the gospel.” No! It says, “you shall be My witnesses.”

If you want peace of mind, take the easy way out. Deny reality. Make up your own reality. Be an atheist.

If you love the Lord, then read His word. Obey Him. Share the gospel. Forget about the peace of your mind, find your rest and peace in Him. Then find an atheist and explain the truth in love.

Many Roads To Heaven?

Why should I, or any Christian, care what other people think about eternity?

After all, as Oprah Winfrey would say about God and faith, "If it brings her to the same point as it brings you, it doesn't matter whether she calls it God along the way or not... Does God care about your heart, or does God care if you call his Son Jesus?"

Um, neither.

First, denying Jesus Christ does NOT bring someone to the same point it brings a Christian. A non-Christian is NOT a Christian, so they are not at the same point.

Why does this matter? Although some believe that all religions are the same, or that there are many paths to heaven, Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14:6). Christ Himself makes it clear: without understanding who He is, and trusting completely in Him (not one of the many man-defined paths to God), there is no hope.

Secondly, Oprah makes another common mistake: believing that people are basically good. Of course God cares about your heart, but He knows that without Christ, your heart is "deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked..." (Jer 17:9). God searches the heart. That's why it doesn't matter if you call his Son Jesus, as Oprah states. What matters is the condition of your heart, how you respond to that knowledge, and where you put your trust.

As we saw in the One From Column A, One From Column B post, men try to create many paths to heaven, but there is only one way: Repent from your sinful ways; cry out to God for His mercy; and put your complete trust and faith in Jesus Christ... The only way.

Is There A God?

The next few posts will focus on the questions: Is there a God? If so, who is He?

This posting will begin to answer the question, "Is there a God?"

I think the best introduction to this concept was written by C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity. I've used his outline as my guide for this article.

Some of you may object to my use of a book entitled, Mere Christianity, to introduce this topic. You may argue, "No fair, you're beginning with a starting point of Christianity."

Perhaps, but the fact is, I've studied this question most of my life, and I have arrived at the point of firmly understanding the truth of Christianity. So, even if you think my starting point is biased, I ask that you indulge the discussion with tolerance.

Maybe your patience will be calmed by considering that I'm not asking you to do anything that you don't do every single day. After all, most of the early scientists were Christians. Therefore many of the great scientific discoveries were made by Christians. Yet, you don't refuse to take Penicillin when you're ill, nor do you reject the fact that the planets revolve around the sun, simply because those ideas originate with Christians (Alexander Fleming and Nicolaus Copernicus, respectively). All I ask is that you consider this information so you can make an informed decision.

Let's begin with a simple question: Have you ever argued with someone?

Of course you have. Everyone has. But, why argue?

You argue, because you think you are right and the other person is wrong.

[A quick side note for those of you who make the claim, "There is no right or wrong." If you have ever had an argument (and you know you have), you have proven that you are wrong. Even the statement, "There is no right or wrong," is hypocritical (is that statement right, or wrong?).]

But even more important, you argue with others because you wish the other person to understand that you are right. But what do you base your position upon? C.S. Lewis stated that this position is based on a commonly understood standard of right and wrong. A standard understood by everyone, everywhere.

The proof is so obvious that most people don't even think about it, and that is: sometimes, the other person agrees with you.

Think about that. You disagree with someone. You argue. You point out where they are wrong, and they agree with you. Clearly you can only reach agreement when the other person shares your standard for what is right, and what is wrong.

For brevity, I'll assume that you see the point. We can now agree on the existence of the fact that there is a commonly understood standard of right and wrong. Let's call the standard for right, "Law".

The fact that people disobey these laws does not prove that they do not exist, only that people disobey them. Nor is is acceptable to claim that differences in laws prove there is no universal standard. The differences in laws we find from place to place are more anomalies than opposites.

We are currently witnessing an example of this principle. The 2008 Olympics are winding down in Beijing, China. There are a number of athletes and tourists from around the world gathered together in and around the host city. But we don't witness chaos, we see cooperation. Why? Because humanity has a common in-born agreement of what the laws of behavior are.

Of course, none of us are very good at keeping these laws. Worse, when we break them, we make excuses to justify our behavior. Watch any child who just stole a cookie from the cookie jar to see this in action. Watch the creativity for explaining the action away, denying what happened, or describing why the theft is reasonable. Why? Because our inner sense of the law tells us we must explain our poor adherence to the law. We twist reason and fact to try to convince ourselves and others that if not for a set of factors outside of our control, we'd be wonderful people in complete harmony with the law.

One final point about this inner-known law: respected people around the world agree that these laws exist. Want proof?

Listen to comments about people like Mother Theresa, Ghandi, and others who try to improve the human condition. They're called reformers, role models, great philosophers, more... They received awards during their lives, and get significant coverage in school discussions and textbooks. Even many so-called atheists agree that Jesus was a "good man", and a role-model. Based on what? It must be based on the internal law.

Finally, these internal laws are certainly not instinct (instinct being that inner voice that insists we not endanger ourselves, make life harder than it already is, and that we must preserve our DNA). Mother Theresa would not have lived in harsh conditions, Ghandi would not have gone on hunger strikes or sought peace at any cost. Firemen wouldn't rush into burning buildings, and men would not offer their seat to a weak elderly person, if instinct controlled our actions.

All of this brings us to the key question about this law: Where did it come from?

The answer to that important question will have to wait until my next post.

Three More Popular World Religions...

Last time we looked at three of the world's most popular religions. Each had in common one key theme: people determine ultimate moral truth.

You, like me, might wonder: Suppose they're wrong? People are wrong about all sorts of things all the time. People frequently can't agree with each other, so they come to different conclusions. What if they're wrong about eternity? And, if people don't determine ultimate moral truth, then who, or what, does?

The three major religions we're about to discuss all agree that these humanistic philosophies are wrong. Moral truth, they argue, can only come from a supreme being. Let's take a quick look at these religions. They are: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

Islam teaches that after death your destination is either Paradise, or Hell. Allah is the name of their god. The only guaranteed way to Paradise is martyrdom. Everyone else must work their way into Paradise by complying with a series of rules known as Pillars.

Judaism is based on the teachings of the Jewish Bible (known as the Old Testament to Christians). The Old Testament teaches that there are two eternal destinations: Heaven, or Hell. To enter Heaven, you must have faith in God, named Yahweh, and follow His Laws. Failure to follow His law requires sacrificial atonement for that sin.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament Bible, who became human and lived among us. They believe that the New Testament, together with the Old, is the true and accurate Word of God (Yahweh) and that this one God is also three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As with Jews, they believe in only two eternal destinations: Heaven or Hell. However, they believe that the only way to enter Heaven is to repent (turn from your sinful ways) and place all of your faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

As with other faiths, there are cultural Muslims (another name for those who follow Islam), cultural Jews, and cultural Christians. By 'cultural' I mean people who loosely follow the religion but have no firm conviction or belief. Some can even be classified as agnostic or atheist, even though they attend church functions and self-identify with one of these religions.

If you spend any amount of time learning about Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, you'll quickly realize that their beliefs in eternity, and how to enter Heaven (or Paradise) are each unique. If truth is knowable (and it is), and if truth is unchanging (it is) then only one can be correct.

Is there a God? If so, which of these religions, if any, follows the truth about this Him? Is God even a "Him"?

We'll explore these questions, and more, next time.