If there was ever a time in our nation when people were searching for something more meaningful, deeper, filling, it is right now. Facebook and Instagram are the social platforms of America but they are not the answer to the spiritual ills of America today. Many fall victim to, "bad theology" a wrong corrupted belief system that will have eternal consequences and we in the church have the antidote to bad theology, we have the gift to pass on grace and the gospel to these people yet the church gets caught up in becoming victims itself of bad theology and lacks the courage to be the voice of salvation to the world and many of those who are open and receptive get caught up in the occult.Jesus warned us that in the last days false Christ’s and false prophets would arise and deceive many. The Lord knew that there would be a rise of the spirit of the antichrist in these last days. We today are seeing it manifested in forms like Islam, Jehovah’s Witness, and the Occult. Christians need to know that witchcraft is on the rise and new age spirituality fills the church pews. Time has come for the church to be equipped and be effective because confronting these false beliefs is intensifying.
Date: 10/27/19
Scripture: John 14:6 and Acts 17:16-34
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From Series: "False Beliefs and Where to Find Them"
On April 3rd, 2016, the series "The Story of God" aired featuring actor Morgan Freeman, who went out exploring various cultures and their religions. It investigated these cultures’ take on religion-related topics, particularly about their belief in a God or a higher power. There are many stories out there about God or a higher power, all of which feed into our personal belief systems and influence our lives.
One of the fastest growing world religions today is the rise of modern Islam, with 1.3 billion members and growing (mind you, not all of this growth is voluntary, which we will investigate in this series). The rise of radical Islam and the prevalence of global terrorism has irrevocably impacted western culture and its beliefs in ways that cannot be overstated. One such sign of the end times is the rise of this radical religion; it seems like every time we turn on the news we hear how the Islamic culture is growing in our country.
So how do we know if a religion is a false religion? It's easy to get confused by all of these beliefs, especially if you don't know your Bible very well. A lack of knowledge of the Word of God is the major cause of people turning away from the true faith, or end up adding to or taking from their beliefs the values they feel are important to them. They create their own belief system from a “smorgasbord” of ideas gathered from a variety of religions and all mixed together.
The Apostle Paul was shocked when, in his day, some followers of Christ were "turning to a different gospel," and he pleaded with them not to be deceived by those who wanted to "distort the gospel of Christ." These warnings given to the church in the first century are just as relevant for the church in the twenty-first century.
As followers of Jesus Christ we need to be mindful and ask, "What false gospels are being taught today?" "How can I recognize the true gospel among so many counterfeits?" "Where are those false religions and where do I find them?" It's been estimated that there are around 4,200 different religions in the world, and these all fall into several major categories. In this series we will consider the claims of religions such as Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others.
Sunday, October 13th -- The Rise of Modern Islam
Sunday, October 20th -- The Jehovah's Witness
Sunday, October 27th -- The New Age Occult
Sunday, November 3rd – Atheism / Secular Humanism
Sunday, November 17th -- Mormonism
