religions are evil

Hinduism Is Evil!!!

The title should not be a surprise to anyone who believes the Bible to be true. According to the Bible, any and every faith and religion that does not conform to the Gospel of Christ are not only false, but ultimately inspired by false spirits. In fact, “the gods [of Hinduism] are many and complex (tradition said there were 330 million). But they worship more than 33 gods. 

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32:16‭-‬20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; With abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals That your fathers did not fear. Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, And have forgotten the God who fathered you. “And when the Lord saw it, He spurned them, Because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters. And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will  be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith.

The Bible tells us clearly enough that demonic powers and intelligences are behind false religion, and even behind false theology in the church. The activities of Satan and demons are not given much press between the covers of Scripture and deservedly so, since the Bible is primarily about God and His acts and His Kingdom and not about the other side.

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭10:20‭-‬21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 

‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 

All non-Biblical religions are inspired by lying spirits. That includes not only Hinduism, but Buddhism, Islam, Judeo-Christian “heresy”, post Biblical Judaism, Roman Catholicism, 7th Day Adventists, LDS church, Jehovah's witnesses and the thousand other religions and cults that do not confess Jesus as the One True Lord and Savior.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:3‭-‬5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of  anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.

Jesus told us that Satan was a liar and a murderer from the beginning and He told the Jews of His day that they were Satan’s children (John 8:44)! They professed to be the children of Abraham and to worship the God of Abraham, but Jesus said they knew nothing of the true God!

Until the end of history, when Christ returns in judgment, there is a warfare between the Truth in Christ and the lies of the devil and his emissaries. In all human history, Hinduism has been one of the greatest of Satan’s lies, one that has brought oppression and suffering to far more people for a far longer time than the Soviet Union. Soviet oppression came to an official end after only 70 years. Hinduism has oppressed one of the most beautiful and intelligent races of mankind for thousands of years, deceiving with a hypnotic power far greater than any modern mass ideology.

What went wrong? Hinduism, the caste system of Hinduism which is fanatically supported and imposed by Indian political authority undermines the possibility of millions to freely develop and apply the talents that God has given them because caste rules prevent them. 

To add to that the lie of reincarnation. This life and its trials and troubles are the result of karma from a previous life. No need to worry, you have another chance. Also, no need to show compassion for those who suffer because it is their karma. In fact, showing compassion for them might ruin their future, for they suffer in order to fulfill the debt of karma. If they suffer enough, they might have it better in their reincarnated future.

But above all this is the lie of “enlightenment". Imagine swallowing the lie that says, “I am this All,” or “I am He,” or whoso knows “I am Brahma becomes this All. It may be that the “absolute identity of the human soul with the godhead but all the Hindu enlightened ones who proclaimed that “I am He” are dead, gone, and forgotten. Does anyone know the name of a single one of them?

Jesus, a carpenter from the obscure town of Nazareth said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Only Jesus can open the way to the true knowledge of God, because He really was “He.” How do we know? It was demonstrated definitively by His resurrection from the dead.

The Christian goal is total freedom in ecstatic eternal fellowship between God and man, and among men in other words, “love”. How very different the Christian vision is from the Hindu vision! 

A Hindu believes that theirs is the only true religion. This belief affects every part of their life from how they spend their time, what they eat, and even the types of friends they choose. They are also motivated to share their ‘faith’ with others because they firmly believe Hinduism is the only true path to peace. Hindus believe all people are trapped in a cycle of reincarnation and karma, which means when you die, you are born again as a plant, animal, or person depending on how good or evil you were in the previous life.

1. A Hindu does not believe in the God of the universe revealed in the Bible as Yahweh. 

2. They do not believe in the Trinity revealed in the Bible, although Brahma is a ‘three in one’ type of god.

3. A Hindu believes that Jesus was just one manifestation or ‘appearance’ of the supreme god of the universe.

4. This person does not believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, especially since they believe that the Vedas (basically the equivalent of a Hindu Bible) are the only sacred scriptures.

5. Hindus believe in reincarnation through the cycles of Karma, which is an afterlife driven by the law of cause and effect. This means what they do in this lifetime, either good or bad, determines what will happen to them in the next lifetime. 

So, what is my point? Am I writing just to say something like India and Hinduism are evil? No!!

I am writing to say that Christians should pray for India, for the Indian people to be released from their bondage to Hinduism and Islam, to pray for the Holy Spirit to do a work in this great nation to bring this great people to true enlightenment: the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is God

We apologists hear every fable, myth, and tall tale regarding theology that anyone could ever imagine. I've heard for more than 30 years that “the Bible never says that Jesus is God.” In fact, one of my first research projects in the early 1980s, after I started taking up apologetics (back in my evangelical days), was to collect biblical passages that provide evidence for the Holy Trinity and deity, or divinity, of Jesus Christ.

I've compiled this information in one of my books, called Theology of God (if anyone is looking for a handy guide on the issue). Here, I’d like to highlight a few of the more obvious, undeniable, plain passages, in order to counter those who make such negative claims.

John 1:1, 14 — In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

This is one of the most well-known “proof texts”. Jesus is eternal (here, “beginning” means “eternity past”). He was with God the Father, and is God the Son. To make sure that the reader has no misunderstanding, John (v. 14) reiterates that the “Word” referred to is the Son, and notes that he “became flesh” (the incarnation). Only the Son has a body. The Word = Jesus = God.

John 10:30 — I and the Father are one.

Jesus' hearers, unbelieving Jews, certainly understood his intent in saying this, because they tried to stone him, as the next verse informs us, since they didn't believe his claim, which, if indeed untrue, would be intolerable blasphemy. John 10:33 informs us that they tried to stone him because (in their words) “you, being a man, make yourself God.”

John 20:28 — Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

This had to do with the famous “Doubting Thomas” incident. Thomas didn't believe Jesus had risen, so Jesus appeared for his sake and told him to touch the wound in his side. Then Thomas believed and said this. If it were untrue, Jesus would have corrected him, but he didn't; He commended Thomas because he “believed.”

Colossians 1:19 — For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell.

In context, it is the Son who is being described (1:13); he is eternal (1:15, 17-18), the Creator (1:16), and the unifying principle of the universe (1:17; cf. Heb 1:3): all attributes true only of God. Paul makes the notion even more explicit in the next chapter:

Colossians 2:9 — For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily ...

2 Peter 1:1 — ... our God and Savior Jesus Christ ...

St. Paul uses the same phrase in Titus 2:13 as well.

Hebrews 1:8 — But of the Son he says, ‘Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom.’

This is a remarkable passage, in which God the Father calls his Son “God.” It is a reference to the Old Testament passage, Psalms 45:6-7.

In Hebrews 1:6, God the Father also says that all the angels should worship God the Son. Worship can only be rightly applied to God, as we know from Exodus 34:14 and Deuteronomy 8:19. Yet Jesus accepted worship of himself on many occasions (e.g., Matthew 14:33; 28:9) and stated that he should be honored equally with the Father (John 5:23). In Revelation 5:8, 12-13 and Colossians 2:6-7, we find that Jesus is worshiped in every way that the Bible specifically describes worship of God the Father, with all the same words used (see: Revelation 4:9-11, 5:13; 7:11-12, and Romans 11:33).

Jesus is omnipotent (possesses all power):

Philippians 3:20-21 — ... the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Jesus is omniscient (all-knowing):

Colossians 2:2-3 — ... Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Jesus is omnipresent (present everywhere):

Ephesians 1:22-23 — ... the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all. (cf. Colossians 3:11)

Another astonishing passage along these lines is one where Jesus speaks about historical events described as being done by God the Father in the Old Testament. He casually applies them to himself (what might be called “the Divine ‘I’”):

Matthew 23: 34, 37 — Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. ... O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

Many attributes that are said to belong only to “God” are applied to Jesus in Scripture. God the Father said, “besides me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:11; cf. 1 Timothy 4:10). Yet Jesus is called the “savior” of mankind in passages like Luke 2:11 and many others.

God the Father stated, “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear” (Isaiah 45:23). The same exact description is also applied to Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11).

The Bible teaches that “God” is judge (1 Samuel 2:10; Psalm 50:6; Ecclesiastes 12:14; many others). But so is Jesus (John 5:22, 27; 9:39; Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1). Therefore he is God.

God the Father sits on his throne in heaven (1 Kings 22:19; Psalm 11:4; 47:8). Jesus is on the same throne, too (Revelation 7:17; 22:1, 3).

At every turn in the Bible, only one conclusion is possible, to make sense of all these statements, taken together as a whole: Jesus is God the Son. He is the eternal, all-powerful, all-loving, self-existent Creator God.

  

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ungodly

Therefore I love Your commandments

Above gold, yes, above fine gold.

Psalm 119:127 (NASB)

In the previous verse in this stanza of Psalm 119, David takes highlights how the ungodly broke God’s Law; they despised David and, also despised God’s law that he upheld. By contrast, in this verse David declares his increasing love for God’s Word. Similarly, Albert Barnes says of God’s Word, “the more people break God’s laws, the more I see their value – the more precious they are to me.” David further says that he loves God’s Word “above gold, yes, above fine gold” which is refined gold in which there are no impurities. There are very few places geographically where fine gold is found; but the Word of God is finer than even that!

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Psalm 19:7-10

Dear Reader, we look admiringly at the stars in the sky at night; but it is only in the darkest skies with no pollution that they shine the brightest. This is the case of the light of God’s Word in the midst of the evil around us – it shines brightly from within us, as it did for David.

Almighty God, thank you for this Lord’s day and all the blessings in it. Open my eyes and heart as I read Your Word today, that I may store it in my heart. Let my love of  Your Word increase more in the midst of trials; guiding me that I would be a light for You in the darkness. AMEN.

is Islam a a counterfeit Christianity?

Christianity and Islam are the largest religions in the world and share a historical and traditional connection, with some major theological differences. The two faiths share a common place of origin in the Middle East, and consider themselves to be monotheistic (Belief in One True God).

Christianity developed out of Second Temple Judaism in the 1st century CE. It is founded on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and those who follow him are called Christians.

Islam is a monotheistic religion that developed in the 7th century CE. Islam, which literally means "surrender" or "submission" (to God), was founded on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad as an expression of surrender to the will of Allah.

Muslims have a range of views on Christianity, from viewing Christians to be fellow possessors of monotheistic scriptures to regarding them as heretics. Christian views on Islam are diverse and range from considering Islam a fellow Abrahamic religion worshiping the same God.

Christianity and Islam both consider Jesus to be the Jewish Messiah of the Hebrew scripture. Christians generally consider Jesus to be the Son of God, while Muslims consider the Holy Trinity to be a division of God's Oneness and a grave sin . Muslims believe Jesus (Isa) to be a messenger of God, not the son of God.

Christianity and Islam have different scriptures, with Islam using the Holy Quran and Christianity the Holy Bible, however Muslims believe that Gospel was also sent by God beforehand. Both texts offer an account of the life and works of Jesus. Belief in Jesus is a fundamental part of Islamic theology, and Muslims view the Christian Gospels as altered, while Christians consider Gospels to be authoritative and the Holy Quran to be a later, fabricated or apocryphal work. Both religions believe in the Virgin birth of Jesus through Mary, but the Biblical and Islamic accounts differ.

Christianity, Islam and Judaism all three belong to Abrahamic religion, so there are bound to be some similarities that doesn't make one counterfeit of another. All three faiths emphasize their special covenant with God, for Judaism through Moses, Christianity through Jesus Christ, and Islam through Prophet Muhammad.

royal priesthood

The Bible teaches that all believers in Christ are priests in their own right. The main passage that deals with the priesthood of all believers is 1 Peter 2:5–9: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (ESV).

Old Testament priests were chosen by God, not self-appointed, and they were chosen for a purpose: to serve God with their lives by offering up sacrifices. The priesthood served as a picture or “type” of the coming ministry of Jesus Christ—a picture that was no longer needed once His sacrifice on the cross was completed. When God tore in two the temple veil that covered the doorway to the Holy of Holies at the time of Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51), He indicated that the Old Testament priesthood was no longer necessary. Now people could come directly to God through the great High Priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14–16). There are now no earthly mediators between God and man as existed in the Old Testament priesthood (1 Timothy 2:5).

Christ our High Priest has made one sacrifice for sin for all time (Hebrews 10:12), and there is no more sacrifice for sin that can be made (Hebrews 10:26). But as priests once offered other kinds of sacrifices in the temple, so it is clear from 1 Peter 2:5, 9 that God has chosen Christians “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (verse 5, NKJV).

First Peter 2:5–9 leads us to understand at least two things about the priesthood of believers. The first is that believers are privileged. To be chosen by God to be a priest was a privilege. All believers have been chosen by God: a “chosen people . . . God’s special possession” (verse 9). In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, there were places where only the priests could go. Into the Holy of Holies, behind a thick veil, only the high priest could go, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made a sin offering on behalf of all the people. What a privilege we have now: direct access to the very throne of God! We who were once “not a people” and “had not received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10) are the people of God who serve as holy priests because of the mercy of God.

The second thing to know about the priesthood of believers is that we are chosen for a purpose: to offer up spiritual sacrifices (cf. Hebrews 13:15–16) and to “declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:10). Thus, both by life (1 Peter 2:5; Titus 2:11–14; Ephesians 2:10) and by word (1 Peter 2:9; 3:15), our purpose is to serve God. As the believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20), so God has called us to serve Him. We offer our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1–2). One day we will be serving God in eternity (Revelation 22:3–4), but not in any temple, for “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). As the Old Testament priesthood was to be free of defilement, so has Christ made us holy positionally before the Father. He calls on us to live holy lives that we might also be a “holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5).

In summary, believers are called “a royal priesthood” as a reflection of their privileged status as heirs to the kingdom of the Almighty God and of the Lamb. In Christ, our High Priest, we have a closeness to God, and no earthly mediator is necessary. As priests in God’s kingdom, we recognize that salvation is not merely “fire insurance” but an opportunity to serve God in offering spiritual sacrifices. The royal priesthood is comprised of people “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). As priests of the living God, we give praise to the One who sacrificed Himself on our behalf, and we share the wonderful news of this grace with others.