Why Are the People not Told This?

Recently on television, I viewed a news item about a forthcoming canonization into sainthood of a nun who lived here in Australia from the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s.  In October, she will be the first such person to be canonized in this nation and therefore, a level of great interest is being shown, not only by members of the Roman Catholic Church, but also by the media, as well as sections of Protestantism.  Even the non-religious and unbelieving are showing this interest – especially the politically correct among them.  It appears that “all who are for” are positioning themselves “for a front-row seat” on that day.

What is it about human nature that makes for such interest, when it comes to the religious?  Why is it that the whole world seems to fall at the feet of anyone or anything recognised as holy?  When the Pope or the Deli Lama visits this country the same thing happens, with people clamouring to be seen as part of the action.  I will never forget the ecstatic expression on the face of a well-known national TV news reporter, a few years ago, when he encountered these two men (at separate times) and yet, more than once has he aired his (non-believing, anti) views about the Bible and biblical Christianity.

Take the funeral service for Pope John Paul ll back in 2005.  It is thought that billions of people watched the event either by actually being in Vatican Square, watching it on television live, or watching a taped or replayed version later that day. There are many who say this was the most watched event in all history so far.  Not only did people watch it but they did so with reverence and awe – even the non-religious and the unbelieving, including the same news reporter as mentioned above.  People who have made their (negative) Bible “beliefs” well known to me over the years told me they, “thought it was a very moving moment.”     

In July 2008, a large wooden cross plus a large 15-kilogram icon of the Virgin Mary were transported all over the nation and hundreds of thousands of people clamoured to touch them and kiss them.  Apparently in the 1980’s these were entrusted to the youth of the world by the Pope as a sign of peace and hope. Young people of the world were told to take them around the world as “a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity.”   I observed much zeal and enthusiasm among these young people in ’08, especially when gathered together, but once it was all over and each went their separate ways, it seems the signs of peace and hope went their separate ways as well.

It has been said that religion can be summed up in one word: DO.  In other words – religious people are told that if they do their very best with different things, this pleases God and earns His favour.  Such belief strongly appeals to human pride too and this is why they will continue to strive, believing they are bringing themselves to God through human effort, good works, ritualism, traditionalism, sacraments, etc.  Then there are those who confidently declare, “I am not a religious person” but they are quick to associate themselves with the famous who are, or if members of their own family happen to be pastors, reverends, priests or nuns.  It’s as though they believe themselves to have God’s favor upon them because of their relationship.  

Religious practice, in the way it is being described here costs the practitioner nothing.  In fact, he or she has everything to gain.  Firstly, one can gain a positive reputation from leaders and peers looking on and secondly, one remains in control of their practice at all times.  In other words, practitioners get to choose what they will do, when they’ll do it and how they’ll do it – and they feel very good about that!  The reality is though, because God is a Spirit, Jesus said He must be worshipped in spirit and in truth John 4:24.  Where do we find truth?  It is found only in Jesus Christ, Who is Himself TRUTH. 

This means, no truth is ever found through the worship or adulation of dead people called saints, no matter how holy they were in life – nor in kissing & touching large wooden crosses and icons.  In fact, those who do this are committing the sin of idolatry Exodus 20:3-4.  Religious theologians are quick to defend this practice, saying their people know they are not worshipping God, but that it raises their consciousness of God and draws them closer to Him.  Not so.  No sin draws people to God, it draws them away from God.  Idolatrous practice draws people to worship the god of their imagination and instead of bringing God’s love, it brings His wrath.  The Old Testament is full of such accounts.

Besides, what the theologians claim on paper is very different to what many of their people do in practice.  They do pray clinging to icons, statues, pictures, medals, crosses and crucifixes.  They give them pride of place in their homes and motor cars, they lovingly touch them, kiss them, make signs of the cross over them and reverence them in any way they can.  As a street gospel messenger I witnessed this practice taking place for many years.  And when it came to suggesting they throw these things away because they are an offense to God, they took far greater offense at me for suggesting it.  The hardest thing in the world for an idolater, is to part with his idols.

As for the large cross and icon being, “a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity” – so what?  Who needs a symbol of His love when one can have the reality of His love as their own moment-by-moment  experience?  Why are the people not told this?  Why are they not told that they can know God for themselves by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord  and inviting Him to come into their lives and change them?  That’s what the true gospel of Christ is all about.  Christianity is internal, not external.  A Christian is someone who is One with Christ.  That is why we say Christianity is not a religion.

Christianity is God taking the initiative and reaching out to us.  It is also God saying to us that we cannot at all reach Him except through the one and only path or Way that He has provided – the acceptance of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, plus nothing else.  And each time we biblical Christians are labelled “narrow minded” for holding such a view, we need to remind  our accusers that the very same Jesus told us Christianity is a narrow way – not a religious way.  The narrow way means cost.  It costs everything.  Religious and “non-religious” people alike, intrinsically know this and that is why they set up their own systems.  They’re trying to get to God their way.

The religious and “non-religious” see themselves as basically good people.  They arrive at this conclusion by comparing themselves with others whom they know not to be so good.  As a result of such a belief they then begin to trust in themselves.  That is one reason why Jesus asked if He would really find any faith on the earth when He returns Luke 18:8-9.  He meant faith in Him, not faith in one’s self or faith in one’s faith, or leaders, denominations etc.  Biblical Christians, on the other hand, see themselves as sinners – redeemed sinners, yes, but still sinners in need of their Savior and we trust Him only for our salvation every waking moment.

According to the New Testament, the worship or adulation of anyone or anything other than the biblical God, not only is this described as an idolatrous act, it is also seen as irrational, degrading, demoniacal, defiling, enslaving and abominable.  Therefore, as Christians, we are warned to turn from it, flee from the practice of it, warn others away from it and testify against it.  To be effectively delivered from this sinful practice, however, one must be born again from above by the Spirit of the living God. 

Then, by listening to and putting into practice the expressed will of God as He has revealed it to us in the Bible, light and truth will begin to dawn casting out the practices of darkness.  It is then, but only then, that true, divine peace and hope become realities – a peace and hope that religious men can always talk about, but never really experience.  “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.” Acts 17:29.  “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” 1 Corinthians 10:14.  “Show me Your ways O Lord; teach me Your paths.  Lead me in Your truth and teach me,  for You are the God of my salvation……..” Psalm 25:4-5.