DOCTRINES OF CULTS
Doctrine 36 / 36: Other Religions
Religions can be categorized into one of four categories: Atheism, Monotheism, Polytheism, Pantheism. The belief that there is no God is atheism. There are three major monotheistic religions in the world: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The rest of the religions in the world are some sort of polytheism or pantheism.
Atheism is something that must be taught to a person, as only a fool would say that there is no God (Psalm 53:1). Atheism usually is accepted when a person wants to get out from under the authority of a higher being. If a man can consider himself to be the most important being in the universe, then all of his actions are justified and he will not have to give account for them.
As for the monotheistic religions, Judaism is the basis for Christianity, with the major fault that they failed to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah. Islam is a religion that began with Muhammad in 7th century Arabia. Muhammad was exposed to Judaism and Christianity, and also to the polytheistic gods of the neighboring tribes. He claims to have been visited by the angel Michael, and was given visions from which he recorded the book of Koran. The god Allah was taken from one of the deities of the neighboring tribes, the "moon god." Islam is a religion that promotes proselytizing by all means necessary, including the sword. While some have strayed from the fundamentals of Islam, and created their own version of it, that method of spreading the religion is what was practiced by Mohammad himself. Islam teaches that heaven is gained by works, by following the teaching of the Koran. Those that die in war for the cause of Islam are promised immediate rewards in a heavenly paradise.
Buddhism is an offshoot or sect of a greater religion of Hinduism. Both of these religions can be considered polytheistic. However, they are essentially humanistic in their teaching. They emphasize the real light being found inside of man. Meditation is emphasized so that man can discover himself and find out his own meaning for life. There can be no right or wrong, as there is no authority. Hinduism teaches that the law of Karma, all deeds in past and present life will be rewarded or punished. Because they believe in reincarnation, their current estate in life may have been caused due to good or bad done in a previous life, and if they do harm to others in the present life, they will have a lower estate in a future life. Some sects believe that the perfect state, Nirvana, can be achieved during the present life by an "Enlightenment," while others believe that Nirvana is a future state at which a person will arrive once all of the bad has been punished. Though some of these teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism are attempted to be meshed with Christianity (such as the moment of Enlightenment and the Conversion of a Christian), the fact is that they do not hold to a Sovereign God, and Jesus Christ is at best a mere prophet.
The New Age Movement in America, which in recent times has been popularized by Oprah Winfrey's web class teaching Echart Tolle's book, "A New Earth." This teaching specifically, and most New Age teaching in America, is simply the American version of Eastern Hinduism. It teaches the idea that there are many ways to get to God. It teaches that Jesus is not the only way. Man again is taught to look to himself to determine what is right to his own spirit and conscience.
All non-Christian religions have a few things in common. They do not have the same negative perception of man and his depravity. They fail to recognize a loving God that would sacrifice His only Son as a substitution for man. They do not accept that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. The end result is that, while some of these religions make the world a nicer place in which to live, they are simply making a nicer world from which they will go to hell.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me."
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Thesis 35/36: The Occult
DOCTRINES OF CULTS
Doctrine 35 / 36: The Occult
When Jesus went into the wilderness, Satan tempted Him by telling Him to worship him. It seems that beginning at the fall of Lucifer in Isaiah 14, Satan's desire is that people would worship him, by following him and not following God. There are many ways in which he does this; some of them are not as frequently recognized as being of him. For example, liars and murderers are said to be people whose actions take after the father of lies, the devil (John 8:44). However, in recent times, the following of Satan has not been hid, and there are people that claim to simply be worshippers and followers of Satan.
The First Church of Satan started in San Francisco in the 1960's by Anton La Vey. He promoted the worship of Satan by name, and said that since man was simply full of carnal passions, he may as well just give in to them. Sex has always played a large part in the church of Satan and its religious ceremonies. Sacrifices, animal and even human, are also known to be performed in certain rituals of devil worship as well. People are drawn to this occultic worship for numerous reasons. Some of them partake in devil worship simply to rebel against the standards. For example, many young people find interest in it because they know that their parents would be opposed to it. Others join because of the sexual acts that are accompanied with it. Since these sexual perversions are allowed in that society, people join them to simply allow their lusts to run uncontrolled and remain accepted.
Spiritism is another way in which Satan draws people to follow him. Spiritism is the interaction of humans with spirit beings of different forms. This includes necromancy, divinations, and speaking with familiar spirits. The Bible gives an example of this type of activity in 1 Samuel 28, when King Saul went to the witch at Endor, and asked counsel of her. To her surprise, the dead prophet Samuel actually spoke to her. Some of these spiritist practices are proven to be hoaxes, however these things do exist, and there can be communication between spirits and humans. Some of these spirits, which are devils, fallen angels, will pretend to be a dead relative of the person seeking them. Due to the knowledge that devils have of people that have lived (Satan is not omniscient, but he is very observant and knows of people from the past), they are able to communicate facts about them that nobody else living could possibly know. These devils deceive people that the spirits of the dead are actually speaking to them, however the Bible teaches that those that are dead without Christ are in hell already (Luke 16:19-23). In Deuteronomy 18:10-11, the Bible directly forbids the practices of divination (foretelling the future), consulting with familiar spirits, and necromancy (speaking with the dead). Ouija boards are another medium through which access into occultic practices begin. They are not just harmless board games.
Another from of following the devil that has become prominent in America as a result of the Harry Potter series of books is that of witchcraft. Witchcraft is the art of using magic, or supernatural powers, to accomplish something. As with Spiritism, some have disregarded witchcraft, considering it a hoax, or some other illusion. While certainly there have been cases of these, the Bible teaches that Satan does have the power to perform signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Wicca is the name of the practice that came from the Celts in Ireland, from which came the name witch. A witch is a female practitioner of Wicca, and a male would technically be called a wizard or a warlock. Witchcraft is often accompanied by drugs, which tend to open up people to devilish influences and possessions. The man possessed with a devil in Mark was able to break chains; it is no surprise that supernatural events would take place around such situations. Enchantments (magic spells), witches, charmers and wizards are also forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:10-11.
A less obvious practice of the occult is in the area of fortune-telling and astrology. In most, if not all, newspapers in America, there is included a horoscope. The word horoscope comes from the Greek words meaning "hour" and "sight." It means looking at the times, and specifically divination based upon the time of a person's birth. A horoscope is an astrologer's prediction about a person's life based on the position of the heavenly bodies and the date of the person's birth. Horoscopes should not be treated as a game or as a silly comic in the paper. Rather, God again directly prohibits the "observer of times" and him that "useth divination" (Deuteronomy 18:10).
Satan has power to perform signs and lying wonders, and he has a desire to deceive and to devour (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8). Care must be given to avoid being sucked into his traps. God has promised power through His Holy Spirit by the humiliation of man. Satanism and other occultic practices promise power through self-exaltation and the desire to satisfy carnal lusts.
"Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Doctrine 35 / 36: The Occult
When Jesus went into the wilderness, Satan tempted Him by telling Him to worship him. It seems that beginning at the fall of Lucifer in Isaiah 14, Satan's desire is that people would worship him, by following him and not following God. There are many ways in which he does this; some of them are not as frequently recognized as being of him. For example, liars and murderers are said to be people whose actions take after the father of lies, the devil (John 8:44). However, in recent times, the following of Satan has not been hid, and there are people that claim to simply be worshippers and followers of Satan.
The First Church of Satan started in San Francisco in the 1960's by Anton La Vey. He promoted the worship of Satan by name, and said that since man was simply full of carnal passions, he may as well just give in to them. Sex has always played a large part in the church of Satan and its religious ceremonies. Sacrifices, animal and even human, are also known to be performed in certain rituals of devil worship as well. People are drawn to this occultic worship for numerous reasons. Some of them partake in devil worship simply to rebel against the standards. For example, many young people find interest in it because they know that their parents would be opposed to it. Others join because of the sexual acts that are accompanied with it. Since these sexual perversions are allowed in that society, people join them to simply allow their lusts to run uncontrolled and remain accepted.
Spiritism is another way in which Satan draws people to follow him. Spiritism is the interaction of humans with spirit beings of different forms. This includes necromancy, divinations, and speaking with familiar spirits. The Bible gives an example of this type of activity in 1 Samuel 28, when King Saul went to the witch at Endor, and asked counsel of her. To her surprise, the dead prophet Samuel actually spoke to her. Some of these spiritist practices are proven to be hoaxes, however these things do exist, and there can be communication between spirits and humans. Some of these spirits, which are devils, fallen angels, will pretend to be a dead relative of the person seeking them. Due to the knowledge that devils have of people that have lived (Satan is not omniscient, but he is very observant and knows of people from the past), they are able to communicate facts about them that nobody else living could possibly know. These devils deceive people that the spirits of the dead are actually speaking to them, however the Bible teaches that those that are dead without Christ are in hell already (Luke 16:19-23). In Deuteronomy 18:10-11, the Bible directly forbids the practices of divination (foretelling the future), consulting with familiar spirits, and necromancy (speaking with the dead). Ouija boards are another medium through which access into occultic practices begin. They are not just harmless board games.
Another from of following the devil that has become prominent in America as a result of the Harry Potter series of books is that of witchcraft. Witchcraft is the art of using magic, or supernatural powers, to accomplish something. As with Spiritism, some have disregarded witchcraft, considering it a hoax, or some other illusion. While certainly there have been cases of these, the Bible teaches that Satan does have the power to perform signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Wicca is the name of the practice that came from the Celts in Ireland, from which came the name witch. A witch is a female practitioner of Wicca, and a male would technically be called a wizard or a warlock. Witchcraft is often accompanied by drugs, which tend to open up people to devilish influences and possessions. The man possessed with a devil in Mark was able to break chains; it is no surprise that supernatural events would take place around such situations. Enchantments (magic spells), witches, charmers and wizards are also forbidden in Deuteronomy 18:10-11.
A less obvious practice of the occult is in the area of fortune-telling and astrology. In most, if not all, newspapers in America, there is included a horoscope. The word horoscope comes from the Greek words meaning "hour" and "sight." It means looking at the times, and specifically divination based upon the time of a person's birth. A horoscope is an astrologer's prediction about a person's life based on the position of the heavenly bodies and the date of the person's birth. Horoscopes should not be treated as a game or as a silly comic in the paper. Rather, God again directly prohibits the "observer of times" and him that "useth divination" (Deuteronomy 18:10).
Satan has power to perform signs and lying wonders, and he has a desire to deceive and to devour (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8). Care must be given to avoid being sucked into his traps. God has promised power through His Holy Spirit by the humiliation of man. Satanism and other occultic practices promise power through self-exaltation and the desire to satisfy carnal lusts.
"Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Thesis 34/36: Cults
DOCTRINES OF CULTS
Doctrine 34 / 36: Major Cults
According to the CIA world factbook, in 2007 in the United States of America, Protestants made up more than 50% of the population. That was followed by Roman Catholics with 23%, Mormons with 1.7% and "Other Christian" at 1.6%. The other Christian classification would include the Jehovah's Witnesses, who, though they don't have extremely large numbers, are a very visible religion in America.
Roman Catholicism is one of the oldest religions associated with Christianity, and its beginning is quite difficult to pinpoint. The religion developed over time out of the true Christian church, as some of the leaders began to become more secularized and tied to the government. By the year 590 AD, with Pope Gregory the Great, the Roman Catholic Church had begun to take power, and, as often occurs, power corrupted the leadership. The Pope and the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church began to take power to themselves, and even began to exalt their teaching and doctrine to be on equal level as the Scriptures themselves. Once this happened, the Roman church could develop and promulgate any doctrine that it wanted, without needing Scripture to support it.
Some of these doctrines that have developed over time include auricular confession (a person needs to confess their sins to a priest to receive forgiveness), papal infallibility (that the pope, when speaking ex cathedra, is not able to err), baptismal regeneration (that a person's baptism puts them into the body of Christ), transubstantiation (that the elements in the Lord's Supper turn into the actual body of Christ), an unbiblical veneration of Mary (Immaculate Conception, and Perpetual Virginity) and probably the biggest error is the means by which God's grace is bestowed to man. The Bible teaches that justification is by grace through faith, apart from the law (Romans 3:28). However, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that God's grace is bestowed through the sacraments of the church, such as, the Eucharist (Communion). The church leadership therefore has the ability to withhold the sacraments and claim to be withholding salvation from those that would deviate from their authority. Salvation gets narrowed to down to the performance of specific works, of which the priests have control.
Mormonism originated in the early 19th century under Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph Smith claimed to have been visited by an angel, Moroni, who led him to an ancient, hidden book of Mormon. This book was allegedly translated by Joseph Smith, and as a result of it and of other visions, he began a new church. Joseph Smith was eventually killed by an angry mob that stormed the jail in which Smith was held because of some of his actions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as it is also called, has constantly been under persecution, with its headquarters moving frequently. Finally, in about 1847, the young church settled in Salt Lake City, Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young. Their teaching denies the existence of an Absolute Sovereign God. They teach that Elohim, God the Father, was once a mortal man but ascended into Deity; and in the same way, other mortal men can ascend into Deity to be God like Him.
The Jehovah's Witness religion and associated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were originated with Charles Russell during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although the present day Society does not claim to be the follower of an infallible man, his teachings are in line with their doctrine, and he was the first president of the society. Jehovah's Witnesses deny the biblical doctrine of the Trinity vehemently, and they deny the existence of eternal torment in hell for the lost. Instead, they teach that a lost person is simply annihilated at death. According to the doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the atonement of Christ was half the work of God, and half the work of man by enduring to the end, rather than the biblical doctrine that the atonement was entirely the work of God applied to those of faith.
Both Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses fail to teach properly the Deity of Jesus Christ. They allow that He is the Son of God, but they do not allow that He is equal with God. Jehovah's Witnesses use their New World Translation of the Bible to change John 1:1 from saying, "And the Word was God," to having it say, "And the Word was a god." Like the Mormons, they teach that Jesus was just another god, and not "God manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). The other common error they share with Roman Catholicim, is that the work of Jesus Christ is all sufficient to save, and that justification is by grace alone, through faith alone. All three religions teach that man has a part greater than simply believing to secure their salvation.
"Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar."
Doctrine 34 / 36: Major Cults
According to the CIA world factbook, in 2007 in the United States of America, Protestants made up more than 50% of the population. That was followed by Roman Catholics with 23%, Mormons with 1.7% and "Other Christian" at 1.6%. The other Christian classification would include the Jehovah's Witnesses, who, though they don't have extremely large numbers, are a very visible religion in America.
Roman Catholicism is one of the oldest religions associated with Christianity, and its beginning is quite difficult to pinpoint. The religion developed over time out of the true Christian church, as some of the leaders began to become more secularized and tied to the government. By the year 590 AD, with Pope Gregory the Great, the Roman Catholic Church had begun to take power, and, as often occurs, power corrupted the leadership. The Pope and the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church began to take power to themselves, and even began to exalt their teaching and doctrine to be on equal level as the Scriptures themselves. Once this happened, the Roman church could develop and promulgate any doctrine that it wanted, without needing Scripture to support it.
Some of these doctrines that have developed over time include auricular confession (a person needs to confess their sins to a priest to receive forgiveness), papal infallibility (that the pope, when speaking ex cathedra, is not able to err), baptismal regeneration (that a person's baptism puts them into the body of Christ), transubstantiation (that the elements in the Lord's Supper turn into the actual body of Christ), an unbiblical veneration of Mary (Immaculate Conception, and Perpetual Virginity) and probably the biggest error is the means by which God's grace is bestowed to man. The Bible teaches that justification is by grace through faith, apart from the law (Romans 3:28). However, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that God's grace is bestowed through the sacraments of the church, such as, the Eucharist (Communion). The church leadership therefore has the ability to withhold the sacraments and claim to be withholding salvation from those that would deviate from their authority. Salvation gets narrowed to down to the performance of specific works, of which the priests have control.
Mormonism originated in the early 19th century under Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph Smith claimed to have been visited by an angel, Moroni, who led him to an ancient, hidden book of Mormon. This book was allegedly translated by Joseph Smith, and as a result of it and of other visions, he began a new church. Joseph Smith was eventually killed by an angry mob that stormed the jail in which Smith was held because of some of his actions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as it is also called, has constantly been under persecution, with its headquarters moving frequently. Finally, in about 1847, the young church settled in Salt Lake City, Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young. Their teaching denies the existence of an Absolute Sovereign God. They teach that Elohim, God the Father, was once a mortal man but ascended into Deity; and in the same way, other mortal men can ascend into Deity to be God like Him.
The Jehovah's Witness religion and associated Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were originated with Charles Russell during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although the present day Society does not claim to be the follower of an infallible man, his teachings are in line with their doctrine, and he was the first president of the society. Jehovah's Witnesses deny the biblical doctrine of the Trinity vehemently, and they deny the existence of eternal torment in hell for the lost. Instead, they teach that a lost person is simply annihilated at death. According to the doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the atonement of Christ was half the work of God, and half the work of man by enduring to the end, rather than the biblical doctrine that the atonement was entirely the work of God applied to those of faith.
Both Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses fail to teach properly the Deity of Jesus Christ. They allow that He is the Son of God, but they do not allow that He is equal with God. Jehovah's Witnesses use their New World Translation of the Bible to change John 1:1 from saying, "And the Word was God," to having it say, "And the Word was a god." Like the Mormons, they teach that Jesus was just another god, and not "God manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). The other common error they share with Roman Catholicim, is that the work of Jesus Christ is all sufficient to save, and that justification is by grace alone, through faith alone. All three religions teach that man has a part greater than simply believing to secure their salvation.
"Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar."
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