Morality vs. ChristianityRock of Offence Commentary"The enemy of your enemy is your friend." How many of us recognize this statement from the 2000 presidential elections. It might be a good strategy in politics, but it's an ideology that invites disaster in the world of religion and Christianity. When outnumbered and overwhelmed in a battle it's tempting to take comfort--and even feel a "family" identity with someone that "appears" to be on your side because they oppose many of the same things you do. I fell in this trap repeatedly before I learned my lesson. This week on cable news I listened as some Christian leaders gave their insight on topics concerning sin in America and the specific conditions Jesus taught in order to gain salvation. These leaders were publicly labeled as arrogant and intolerant--on the air--by popular "conservative" talk show hosts. I may not find myself in agreement with all the doctrinal positions of the Christians being interviewed. Yet, I did agree on the fundamental issues being discussed. I watched as popular talk show hosts (who I agree with on subjects like family values, abortion and other morally based subjects) blatantly redefine the teachings of Jesus into a humanistic false doctrine--on TV. The idea was put forth that Christianity was only one way to God and that all other religions are just as valid--because the people in them are sincere and basically good. The hosts labeled anyone who believes that "Jesus is the only way of salvation" as arrogant and egotistical. Yet, they are the media authorities defending the interests of Christians! In their daily efforts to stop the removal of all expressions of Christianity from society (because they are "moral" issues)--these media personalities openly defend our American "Judeo-Christian" heritage. Yet, they publicly deny and destroy the core truth of that heritage when confronted with the claims of Jesus Christ--the one who makes it work. One particular spokesman for "morality" (someone I've admired for years) said that anyone who pointed out America's problem with sin and wickedness (and God's judgement of it) is arrogant. He suggested that no one has that right. God has given not only the right--but the responsibility to His people to speak forth the message Peter gave on the day of Pentecost..."Be saved from this perverse generation." (Acts 2:40) Many in the Bible were called to point out wickedness in their society...Noah, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Malachi, Jesus Christ, Peter, John, Paul...and more. According to our "friends" in the media all these people are arrogant. In reality, they have it all backwards. Those who continue to make excuses for sin and mock God's opposition to it are the arrogant ones. Actually, it's a miracle some of these topics are discussed on news programs at all. One year ago Jesus Christ was an almost forbidden subject. But, the terrorist attacks of September 11th have caused America to be more aware of spiritual issues. Yet, the interest that American society is showing toward God tend to be falsely based in humanism--a religious-sounding doctrine that is a mixture of patriotism, morality, religion and philosophical thinking. Allowing human goodness (morality) to replace faith in Jesus Christ, as a qualification for God's acceptance (salvation) is one of the oldest lies in the devil's playbook. Why? If a society can achieve heaven by just being good (keeping some moral or ethical code)--Jesus suffered and died for nothing. God's act of sacrificing His Son for the sins of the world is rendered worthless by this false belief. Substituting human goodness as a qualification of the gospel is a wicked practice--but many (and I mean MANY) embrace it as God's truth. Most of our society believes the lie that morality, virtue and "goodness" is the gateway to heaven. It's one of the most diabolical heresies ever created. It sends multitudes to eternal spiritual death...needlessly. Yet, when you confront people with the falsehood of it--they immediately shift into denial mode. Society cannot accept a God that will not accept their goodness and morality as qualifications for heaven. It's like going down to your local movie theater to buy a ticket for a show...and then trying to use your movie ticket to gain admission to the Super Bowl. There's nothing wrong with the movie ticket. It's perfectly good for the original intended purpose. It just doesn't qualify for the Super Bowl. You can accuse the stadium gate attendants of being intolerant, arrogant bigots all you want--you still won't get in--and, you'll probably get a visit from the police. Yet, this is the way society tries to treat God. And, the amazing thing is--God wants to give you an admission ticket...free. He just requires that you use His admission ticket instead of yours. Society calls God's action exclusive, arrogant and intolerant. Go figure. The Apostle Paul warns the church about the last days (now), the antichrist that will come and the "delusion" He will send... "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 NKJV)To make matters worse, a recent popular television show about angels carried this dangerous theme of goodness/morality as the doorway to heaven. It was praised by many as promoting a Christian message! Society and religion may embrace and defend this ideology as truth--but God says that He rejects it. This FACT puts multitudes of people at risk--risk of losing everything in eternity. Even the most "intellectual" people in our society are caught in this deadly religious trap--but don't know it.The Apostle Paul warns us... "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16 KJV)And again..."I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21 KJV)When talk-show hosts support some moral issues that Christians also support...we need to beware! They are basically supporting morality in society and not necessarily Christianity as defined by the Bible. These are two different subjects. A dangerous trap exists when you merge them together, treating them the same. The enemy of your enemy is not always your friend.Morality (as understood by its supporters) is a "civilized" code of conduct for our troubled society. In America's past, this system of ethics was based in the laws of the Old Testament--primarily the Ten Commandments. It included such things as:
There are others... Keeping the Biblical laws of morality is a good practice for anyone. In some cases, violating the ones that are still in force, like stealing, will get you a jail term and a police record. YET...they do not provide salvation no matter how passionately they are kept. Keeping moral law would immediately solve many problems in our society. Yet, moral law was never meant to stand on its own. Moral law was designed to be energized through a proper relationship with God. Only our heavenly Father has the ability to change someone on the inside--and that's where true morality begins. It fails when God, the way to God (Jesus Christ) and the Bible are removed from the equation. This is the error of society and the political establishment today. When God is removed from the system, moral law becomes nothing more than a humanistic code of conduct that has no power to permanently change anyone. It is this "humanistic" code that most supporters of morality are defending. They also defend a "right to believe in God" as part of this code. Yet, the God they're talking about is a generic, politically correct God that excludes Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation. There's only one "real" God--but insisting that He exists earns you the labels of arrogant and intolerant--even from those who "appear" to be on our side. This crucial difference causes much confusion. |
