To Encourage You

Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

Have you ever had someone from the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), or some other group that teaches an aberrant variation of the gospel message knock on your door? I have, several times, but most recently on Friday afternoon as I sat in my truck waiting for my wife at the grocery store. A kind, older woman whom I had never met before tapped on my window and offered me some literature from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. We had a conversation in which she revealed that she did not believe that Jesus Christ is God (I already knew that about her belief system). She also said she didn’t believe in Hell (I knew the JW’s believed that as well). I declined her literature and shared some Scriptures with her about why I didn’t believe that her views were consistent with the Word of God. And while some may think, “to each his own” regarding such things, the Scripture above speaks in very strong terms about false teaching.

After this woman left, I thought about how her belief that Jesus is not God, although expressed in very kind words with a smile, is actually the very same basis for which the religious leaders of Jesus’ day condemned Him to the cross. John 5:18 tells us that “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” Anyone who takes the position that Jesus is not God puts themselves on the side of these wicked men, no matter how kindly they state their views.

So a suggestion for you: if you are a believer and you are confronted by someone from one of the cults, try this response (and I’ve used this myself): “According to the Bible, which I believe, I have been forgiven for all my sins and you have not. I’m destined for Heaven, and you are not. I know Jesus and He lives in my heart, but you do not. I have a peace that passes understanding, joy, and hope that you know nothing about. And I am basing my entire life on the Truth of God, and you are basing yours on a lie. So, what on earth do you have to offer me?” And then pray for that person that God will open their eyes to the Truth before it is too late.

But for those who don’t know Christ, what answer do you have? While you may push one of these preachers aside and reject their proselyting in one way or another, do you realize that you are in the same camp as them.  If the Bible is indeed true, which it claims to be, you have rejected Jesus just like they have, no matter how kind and “right” you might view yourself.