“As I urged you when I went into
Macedonia – remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other
doctrine”
When visiting a church in the US, we saw a prominent
bulletin board that displayed large pictures of Mahatma Gandhi (Hindu leader
for Indian independence) and the Dalai Lama (head monk of Tibetan Buddhism). In the center was a small picture of Jesus,
laughing with children. The headline for
the bulletin board was ‘Live, Laugh, Love.’ The rest of the board was filled in with
secular quotes from Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and famous people about their view
on a happy life. It looked like
something you might see in a Time Magazine article.
A number of the church members were disturbed enough to ask
us about it. First we mentioned that most people only spend one hour a week in
church, why feed them the same information they will be readily provided
anywhere outside the church? Secondly,
the issue was brought up about teaching another doctrine, any other doctrine
than that of Jesus Christ.
When the author of the board joined the discussion, she
explained that she wanted to help people achieve a balanced life that results
in happiness. From a secular worldview,
this is an admirable goal. From a Godly
worldview, her goal misses the mark and her methods of providing worldly
doctrine were clearly against scripture.
As noted in the above scripture, Timothy was to remain behind to ‘charge’
some, a Greek term used in a military sense as an order, that they teach no
other doctrine. We see this elsewhere in
scripture, such as Galatians 1:8-9 “But though we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed. As we said before, so
say I now again, if any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye
have received, let him be accursed.” The
repetition of this warning by the Apostle Paul stresses the importance avoiding
any other doctrine.
Both Hindus and Buddhists believe that improvement of life
is attained by what Paul describes as ‘works.’
Below is a brief summary of what these cults teach.
Hinduism – Most Hindus believe in an immense unifying
force that governs all existence and cannot be completely known by humanity.
Individual gods and goddesses are personifications of this cosmic force. In
practice, each Hindu worships those few deities that he or she believes
directly influence his or her life. Upon death, the kind of body the soul
inhabits next is determined by karma (actions accumulated in previous lives).
Buddhism – While there are varying teachings in
Buddhism about the path of liberation, one consistent belief held by all
Buddhist schools is the lack of a Creator deity. They consider Jesus Christ to have been one
teacher among many who may have possessed Enlightenment.
These doctrines and beliefs go against scripture such as: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:2-5; Exodus 34:14;
Exodus 34:17; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18-19; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews
9:27. That is just to name a few.
And how is this for seeking happiness according to Ghandi
who said “I am in the world feeling my way to light amid the encircling
gloom.”
We do not only despair for those that teach false doctrines
in these cults, but we are told by Jude to contend for the faith, “Beloved,
while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I
found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the
faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed who
long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace
of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3-4)
I am thrilled that Jesus loves us so much. This is what He says about those who would
deceive His followers with false doctrine and thereby cause them to sin: “But whoever causes one of these little ones
who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung
around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
Woe to the woman who brought that false doctrine into the
church, and woe to the pastor who apparently approved her actions. We should all be careful and diligent in our
words. Let the Holy Spirit guide your
heart, mind and tongue to communicate the only truth, God’s truth.
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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