Are All Religious Teachings True?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesAccording to an Internet source, there are over 33,000 denominations worldwide who claim to be Christian. However, they do not teach the same doctrine, they do not have the same belief, nor do they wear the same name.
One of the more prominent statements heard today in the religious world is, “It doesn’t matter what one believes, as long as he is honest and sincere.” Another individual will say, “Just as long as one believes in Christ, it doesn’t matter what denomination he is a member of.”
Folks, these two statements have one thing in common — they both imply that truth is relative — that there is no absolute standard of right and wrong.
Let’s ask ourselves this simple question, and be honest in our answer:
Does the Bible actually teach all of the doctrines these 33,000 denominations plus are teaching?
For example, does the Bible teach the Catholic doctrines of the primacy of Peter and the infallibility of the Pope? Does the Bible teach the Methodist doctrine of infant sprinkling? Does the Bible teach the Presbyterian doctrine of predestination? Does the Bible teach the Baptist doctrines of total depravity and the impossibility of apostasy?
Does the Bible teach one person to be a Catholic, another person to be a Lutheran, still another to be a Jehovah’s Witness, and still others to be Methodists, Adventists, Episcopalians, Mormons, etc.?
The inspired writer John in 1 John 4:1 tells us that there are false prophets. In fact, Paul tells us that there will be false teachers even in the Lord’s church (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 4:1-3). The inspired writer Peter tells us that just as there were false prophets during the Mosaic dispensation of time, so there will be false teachers during the Christian dispensation of time (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Now, let’s ask ourselves this question:
If all the religious teachings that the above 33,000 plus denominations are promoting are true, why then did Jesus say:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Folks, not everyone’s doctrine is correct. Only the inspired doctrine of Christ is correct, encompassing the Father’s will (2 John 1:9; cf. John 4:34; John 6:37-38).
The Father’s will was made known to Christ. In turn, Christ made that will known to His apostles. In turn, the Holy Spirit brought to remembrance, the Father’s will to the apostles after the Lord’s resurrection (John 14:22-29; John 16:16). The apostles, in turn, preserved the Father’s will through the inspired written document called the New Testament (Hebrews 9:15; cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
Any other document, other than the inspired New Testament, does not contain God’s will for mankind in the Christian age.
Think about it!