Do All Churches Preach the Same Message?
May we always consider
these 7 letters to the 7 churches from the book of Revelation. Are we attending
one that is like Ephesus, or Smyrna or perhaps Thyatira?
Heed the message that is giving to each one of them, and may we solely
follow God as our guide.
The message to Thyatira
starts with quite a compliment: "I know your deeds, your love and faith, your
service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at
first." (Rev 2:19, NIV2), It sure sounds like a church we would like to be
involved with, doesn’t it? They are actively living their faith and they know
what serving means. Trials don’t faze them, instead they persevere.
Still, if we don’t take
the time to compare their doctrines to what the Bible truly says, we would end
up with a sour lemon, leaving us with a distasteful aftertaste: "Nevertheless, I
have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a
prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the
eating of food sacrificed to idols." (Rev 2:20, NIV2)
The analogy to Jezebel is
quite revealing. She was the wicked wife of King Ahab, who tried to destroy the
worship to God and replace it with the worship of Baal. This church sounds like
a Christian church, but its message doesn’t fit the Good News Message of the New
Testament. Their zeal to broadcast their own message is what attracts innocent
bypassers. Nothing seems to faze them, as they have an answer to any objection.
The reference to “sexual
immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” is a direct reference to
Acts 15:29, the decision of the Council of Jerusalem, led by God’s own Spirit.
In other words, they discard any divine guidance. Spiritually they are not
clean. They are not following God’s Word, although they proclaim they do.
Have you noticed the rise of “prophets” after Jesus’ visit on planet Earth? There are certain periods when these “prophets” became more prolific than ever before. Many denominations were founded by them, and yes, most of them still use the Bible, but Biblical teaching is filtered through the teachings of their prophet. (See Mark 13:22)
Unfortunately their
teachings go directly against the Good News Message preached by Jesus Himself.
"We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for
us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ Therefore, my friends, I want
you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. . .
Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification
you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses." (Acts 13:32-33, 38-39,
NIV2)
This same Good News
message is proclaimed throughout the New Testament and prophesied throughout the
Old Testament. It’s a message of hope, of forgiveness, of deliverance and
freedom, solely possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Himself. He deserves all
praise!
Any other messages are an abomination.
Notice that the justification proclaimed in the New Testament could not
be obtained under the Law of Moses.
It is freely given from above: “For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)
I am so shocked when I see churches putting their
prophet, or anyone else for that matter, above God’s Word, putting their own
doctrines above what Jesus commanded us. Who are we worshipping here? These
doctrines are so indoctrinated in their members that although God has "given her
time to repent of her immorality . . . she is unwilling." (Rev 2:21, NIV2) They
continue to believe that they are the only ones who have the truth.
The Good News Message is that Truth is not a
principle or a doctrine. It is a person: Jesus Himself! Without Him we are
nothing. Only He can declare: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, NIV2)
These denominations remind me of what happened on
the Island of Jersey during World War 2. The Nazis were so obsessed about
keeping this island in their own control that they put together massive programs
of defense works that would turn this island into an “Impregnable fortress.”
They began trying to indoctrinate the Islanders in
order to acquire their help. Their indoctrination was quite attractive, and
about 10% of the population bought into the idea and proceeded to help the Nazis
make this island “Impregnable.” 10% was not enough for the Nazis, however. 50%
of the other workers were rounded up in the Occupied Territories, and the
remaining 40% were slave workers rounded up in Russia, Ukraine and Poland.
The voluntary and the forced European laborers had
bearable living conditions. It’s true the food was quite poor, and the wages
were quite irregular as well. As for the long working days, mum was the word. Not
everybody was treated equally, however. The slave laborers were subjected to
shocking living and working conditions. They were literally worked to death.
Malnutrition, exhaustion, disease and starvation were the norm. When these
starving prisoners tried to sneak out of their prison camps at night to forage
for food, the Nazis warned the local population that they were highly dangerous.
And why not? They could be replaced at any time!
Indoctrination is quite effective and propaganda is
quite believable. Interestingly enough, members of these churches who wander
deliberately or by “chance” towards the Good News Message are also warned that
they are going right into the arms of the evil one. They, too, become the
“dangerous” ones that sooner or later will have to be avoided at all cost! We
don’t want anyone else to be contaminated!
May we remember this simple truth: "For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV2)
Rob Chaffart
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