"We all feel we have to jump through hoops to please this intolerant and difficult-to-please God. We think God is going to burn billions of people endlessly without any recourse. That sounds more like the devil than God."
- A Celebrity Pentecostal Bishop
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
- 2 Peter 2:1 [KJV]
The National Geographic Channel aired a program entitled, Secrets of Revelation. Secrets of Revelation presented the usual speculations and historical evidence behind the Book of Revelation [or The Revelation of Jesus Christ]. What stood out were the “Christian” ministers who asserted that Revelation was mere literature. This was followed up by statements that the author of Revelation was an angry, displaced old man.
The angry, displaced old man was the Apostle John during his exile on the island of Patmos. According to these “ambassadors” of the Christian faith, John was disturbed and grief stricken with depression. And in his depressed state, John unleashed his personal anger against Nero and The Roman Empire by writing the Book of Revelation. The truth is that this belief contradicts the Bible, which states the Book of Revelation was divinely-inspired by God.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:
- Revelation 1:1 [KJV]
The celebrity bishop of an once mega-Pentecostal church said, in so many words, that the idea of a biblical God sending so many people to Hell for not believing in a narrow-minded view of salvation through Christ is “vulgar.” In his view, it doesn’t make sense for a cold, impersonal God to wait for a person to sin just to punish him or her. Afterwards, why would God continue punishing the person by sending him or her to an eternal Hell? Therefore, the biblical God does not exist because the “bishop” could not imagine an eternal Hell without any hope of redemption.
This belief is known as the doctrine of inclusionism. Supporters of inclusionism believe that all people, not just Christians, will go to Heaven. Hell does not exist, and that Jesus Christ will not be returning back to earth. It sounds like a “ heavenly” philosophy for everybody. The only things missing are the bluebirds flying somewhere over the rainbow. However the truth according to the Bible is,
Jesus saith unto them, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- John 14:6 [KJV]
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
- Revelation 21:8 [KJV]
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into the heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.
- Acts 1:10-11 [KJV]
The heresy doesn’t end here. Though the bishop was decreed a heretic by the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops Congress in Cleveland, he does have another affluent supporter of inclusionism. The members of this denomination are even greater in numbers. It’s none other than The Catholic Church of Rome. The Catholic Church is one of the lead supporters of the doctrine of inclusionism. Pope Benedict XVI and other Roman Catholic officials are preparing an official doctrine which will make inclusionism part of the Catholic faith.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 [KJV]
The doctrine of inclusionism follows the same line of thought as letting all criminals free despite their atrocities against individuals, societies and nations. A lifetime term or execution is too harsh to imagine for anyone. Let’s revise laws so that criminal behavior is no longer punished. Then, even the masses of criminals will be guilt free to experience the joys of absolute freedom. There is no need for justice, because jails and prisons will be empty everywhere.
Can you imagine it? Insane…isn’t it? This is just as ludicrous as saying that Hell will be empty to avoid isolating or offending anyone. Yes, a sugar-coated lie is easier to swallow than the bitter pill of truth. Nevertheless, the bitter pill of truth is this:
You are a sinner. You were born a sinner. Matter of fact, the moment your mother conceived you, you were a sinner. Unless you repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you will live and die a sinner. You will burn in Hell for all eternity.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
- Psalms 51:5 [KJV]
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- Acts 4:10-12 [KJV]
That’s it in a nutshell. This is the Gospel of Christ without the glitz and glitter. No, it’s not a pretty message, the truth never is.
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
- Romans 3:3-4 [KJV]
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
- Revelation 22:18-19 [KJV]
By Cassandrah Batya, A Christian Journey weblog, August 2006
© 2004 - 2006 Cassandrah Batya http://achristianjourney.blogs.com
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