Is there a difference?? Religious division is the norm of the day, people become satisfied with division, tolerate it, and accept it, even some boast the religious division is “healthy competition”!! Statements like “join the church of your choice,” “it makes no difference what one believes just as long as they are sincere,” or “we’re all going to the same Heaven, we are just going on different paths” express a convenient attitude of toleration for “allowable differences” that the Word of God condemns and will not tolerate!! When one meets a friend who belongs to a denomination and attempts to discuss with them the religious differences between that man-made institution and the Church of Christ, many times they meet an indifferent attitude with a convenient attitude of toleration for “allowable differences” who will not engage in a search in the Bible for the truth because they think it “really does not make any difference, God will accept everybody who loves Him.”
Is there a right and a wrong?? Our school system these days does everything they can to avoid calling things right or wrong. One common excuse which allows for differences is “well, that is just your interpretation, and everybody does not interpret the Bible alike” or “I have my own ideas and religion is personal, anyway.” Left out of all this “human rationality,” this “escape from facing the issues, this “I can’t judge you” religion is God!! and more particularly, God’s Word!!
Jesus was recorded saying, “I Am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6 Question: does it matter which WAY one enters on the road to eternal life? Again, Jesus answers: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 Are these verses subject to interpretation?? There are some things so plain; it takes help to misunderstand them!! Some respond; “well, it seems right!” Solomon wrote: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12 “But, they say, I have a clear conscience about my religion.” To that Paul, by inspiration responds, “I have lived in all good conscience, until this day.” Acts 23:1 Again you hear; “My religion was the religion I grew up on, my Mother and Father belonged to this denomination.” Again, Jesus responds: “You have not His word abiding in you; for whom He has sent, Him you believe not. Search the Scriptures: for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:38-39
Will God accept just any “sincere” expression of obedience?? Jesus answers: “God is a Spirit and He seeks such to worship Him.” John 4:24 “I marvel that you are so soon removed from him who called you by the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another, but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9 John, by the inspiration of the Spirit writes: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your assembly, neither bid him God-speed: For he that bids him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 9-10. They might respond: “Not everyone believes what the Bible says, we have a catechism, others have a creed book, and some have miracles. God is ALWAYS RIGHT
