Can All Religions Be True? "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." – John 14:6 A story is told about two men who lived in a small village and got into a terrible dispute that neither of them could resolve. So one night, the first man went to the town sage and told him his version of the story. When he was finished, the sage said, "You're absolutely right." The next night, the second man went to the sage and told his side of the story. After he'd said his piece, the sage told him, "You're absolutely right." When the second man left, the sage's wife scolded her husband. "These two men told you different stories, and you told them both they were right. They can't both be absolutely right!" The sage turned to his wife and said, "You're absolutely right." In this day and age, more and more people are choosing consensus over truth. Even many spiritual leaders today validate every system of belief as separate paths to God. But the reality is if two people say very opposite things about God, they can't both be right! So what gives us confidence that Christianity is the right path? Quite simply, it's because all other religions teach man how to reach God, but the Bible teaches that God reached down to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is so different than any other spiritual leader. He didn't come to show the way; He came to be the Way. Trust in Him alone. Prayer Challenge Ask God to confirm in your heart that Jesus is the only way to the Father and thank Him for providing a way. Questions for Thought Why do you believe so many people today would rather choose reaching a consensus over finding spiritual truth? As you think about the exclusiveness of Jesus' words in today's Scripture, how do those words motivate you to share the truth of Jesus with others? Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Simone Crespiatico Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post Can All Religions Be True? – Senior Living – September 4 appeared first on GodUpdates.

It was Ronald Reagan’s fault, really

What gives us confidence that Christianity is the right path? Quite simply, it’s because all other religions teach man how to reach God, but the Bible teaches that God reached down to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Maybe you think the Bible is boring. You’ve been tangled in a genealogy, you’ve been bogged down in tabernacle materials and cubits, and you’ve been confused by certain ceremonies and sacrifices. You’ve tried to pronounce difficult names, you’ve scrunched your forehead at some geographical references, and you’ve felt intimidated by the sheer size and scope of the Old and New Testaments. But let’s back up. What kind of book is the Bible? Think about what Christians claim about this book. Think about the seriousness of its subject matter and the influence it has had—and still has—around the world. The Bible is the Drama of the ages, the Story of all stories. In this book we read of the living God’s acts of creation and redemption. We see the true story of the world. It rivals all other epics and transcends ancient myths. The Bible is not like any other book. If you’re bored with the Bible, have you wondered why? A variety of explanations exist, and any (or several) of them could identify the problem. Let’s consider four possibilities. 1. You’re ignoring the christological shape of Scripture. The Bible is a Jesus book. The Old Testament foretells his coming, and the New Testament announces his arrival. To properly understand the parts of Scripture, we must see them in light of the whole. The big picture is a redemptive story, and it leads to a cross and through an empty tomb. If we find the Bible dull or boring, the problem is with us and not with the Bible. We must ask how the various people and covenants, the many events and laws, the patterns and institutions fit into the overarching story. Knowing the story is like having the top of a puzzle box with the picture clear and right beside you. Maybe, then, you’ve been reading the Bible without the puzzle box nearby, so you don’t yet see how the many pieces fit together and what picture they’re forming. When we discern Scripture’s christological shape, we see how it’s a library of books that all serve the good news of God’s gracious pursuit of sinners. But without the big picture in mind, the various parts might seem disconnected and uninteresting. 2. You’re unaware of certain historical matters. No matter what chapter or book you open in Scripture, you’re thousands of years removed from the composition and content of what you read. The more understanding you gain about certain historical places, customs, laws, or genealogies, the less likely challenging passages will deter you from reading further. Be relentlessly curious! Learning about biblical background issues takes work and resources. There are atlases and commentaries and study Bibles that can illuminate what seems perplexing at first glance. So be a curious reader. Ask yourself, Why is this here? What role does this passage or chapter play in the surrounding flow of Scripture? What details about this do I not know and need to investigate further? As you approach Scripture, assume there are things you don’t yet know but that you need to know and will come to know. This posture will give the benefit of the doubt—and rightly so—to the biblical authors. And it’ll be a humble reminder that though you’re the present reader of the sacred text, you aren’t the first recipient of it. 3. You’re reading inconsistently. A vague familiarity with Scripture won’t produce love for it. Sometimes we grow to love something because of our investment in it. Relationships can work that way, when we find ourselves enjoying someone as we get to know them better. Skills can work this way, which get nurtured with consistency and perseverance. What once seemed burdensome can become delightful. Think of Scripture as something you won’t love if you only read it occasionally or randomly. Play the long game. Don’t you want to become a better Bible reader? Don’t you want to understand Scripture more, love it more, and remember it more? You need to read consistently. This will immerse you in the teachings and worldview of the biblical authors. Your Bible reading habit (or lack thereof) won’t increase or decrease God’s love for you. But your spiritual discipline will affect the warmth of your heart toward truth. Your devotion to Scripture will cultivate your delight in the glories of Christ and the gospel. 4. You’re reading prayerlessly. This possibility comes last but not because it’s least important. It may be the most important. You shouldn’t try to form a plan of consistent and meditative reading that’s void of prayer. The fittedness of prayer with Bible reading has been noted by many people (including Donald Whitney in his book Praying the Bible). You should pray when you read Scripture because the Holy Spirit is real and active. Do you believe that? Do you pray like you believe that? The Spirit grants understanding and illuminates your mind. The Spirit prompts you with conviction or joy or peace. Your growth and maturity are not apart from the Spirit’s work but are the result of the Spirit’s work. Your growth and maturity are not apart from the Spirit’s work but are the result of the Spirit’s work. When you open your Bible, pray for focus and delight. Pray for insight. Pray for the Spirit’s fruit. Don’t read the Bible prayerlessly. God will show himself faithful and gracious as he nourishes your soul through his Word. These four reasons don’t exhaust the explanations for why a reader might find Scripture unengaging. But because Scripture is divinely inspired and testifies to God’s redeeming work in Christ, our hearts and minds need to know what God has said. His words are words of truth, goodness, and wisdom. The Bible isn’t boring. The psalmist is right: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).

Have you ever been surprised by the fine print? Maybe your internet bill skyrocketed and you learned the deal you agreed to was only good for a few months. Or the sudden barrage of emails from the online retailer means you accidentally signed up for their promotions list when you made a recent purchase. Church should never be like that. Those who join a local church ought never to feel, months or even years in, that they’ve signed up for something they don’t believe in fully. They should never be caught off guard by what the church teaches or expects of them. Pastors and leaders in the church have a unique responsibility to make abundantly clear all that the church believes and what God-glorifying worship and service with Christ’s body look like. Clarity, direction, and purpose are all necessary if believers are going to use their gifts in such a way that the church is built up (1 Cor. 14:5; Eph. 4:12). This is one of the great benefits of having an inquirers’ or new members’ class for those interested in formal membership. It’s a critical opportunity to magnify the “fine print” and let it be writ large for those anticipating making a commitment to the church. But what needs to be taught and shared in this class? A lot could be said, but I believe the following must be said. My hope is this will help you as you consider how to educate God’s people on what membership in the local church is all about. 1. The Gospel The first and final thing is Jesus. There’s nothing more fundamental required of a church member than that he or she believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what we’re called to profess, more so than any particular doctrine or denominational distinctive: that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The faithful church member rests in Christ alone for salvation, receiving through faith alone the gracious gift of Christ’s righteousness to cover all sin and iniquity that separates us from God. Let’s not make the mistaken assumption that people excited and interested in joining the church have a complete grasp on what makes the church the church, namely Christ’s lordship. A new members’ class should major on the majors and bask in the basics. Jesus said, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32–33). Pastor, preach the gospel in these classes. There’s nothing more fundamental required of a church member than that he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Doctrinal Distinctives A helpful new members’ class will cover the church’s theological and doctrinal commitments. In some instances, it’s not critical a member share every distinctive, but he or she must be aware of them. For example, my church holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith as a faithful summary of the Bible’s teachings. This includes theological convictions about God’s sovereignty in election (what’s sometimes called “Calvinism”). It’s by no means a requirement that a member be a Calvinist to join our church. But it will alleviate much frustration on the part of both the member and the leaders if there’s full transparency about what will be taught regularly from the pulpit. 3. Authority and Submission I’ve learned over the years that more time needs to be spent in these classes explaining the Bible’s teaching on leadership and laity in the church. To join a church means to be willing to “obey your leaders and submit to them” (Heb. 13:17; see also 1 Pet. 5:5). This often trips people up later when it’s not clear up front. A church leader’s authority is strictly declarative, which means a pastor can only declare to you what the Bible says, not enforce his preferences on your life. Even so, it’s not uncommon for a member to be indignant at a pastor’s or elder’s spiritual admonishment in a particular area of life, assuming them to be overstepping their bounds. But church membership is meaningless without an accountability structure in place. What it looks like to submit to elders will vary from church to church, as will the discipline administered when that submission is refused. That’s why it’s key for leaders to be clear about what’s expected. Whatever the specifics, discipline should be presented as a spiritual good, not a burden or a tyrannical demand. It’s a gracious gift from God to keep us from sin and on the path of holiness. 4. Meaningful Membership The goal of a new members’ class shouldn’t just be to get more names on the rolls. We want our people to do more than keep their noses clean, showing up dutifully on Sunday and never causing us problems. That’s mere membership; we’re after meaningful membership. In some instances, it’s not critical a member share every distinctive, but she must be aware of them. The church is to do all of life together, being devoted to meeting together for worship, fellowship, and service (e.g., Acts 2:42). Showcase the beautiful blessings to be had by building one’s life around the local church. Highlight the various midweek events, studies, and opportunities for service. In our noncommittal age, call people to commit to something inherently and eternally valuable. There’s no place on earth that Jesus loves more than his church. Ministers should always try to instill that same love for the church in their people. A new members’ class is perhaps the greatest opportunity to do that. Don’t Neglect Inquirers Though church leaders have a seemingly endless list of things to do—meetings to run, lessons to prepare—don’t overlook the importance of spending concentrated time with those who are interested in membership. Teaching inquirers’ classes have been some of my favorite moments in ministry. It’s good for my own soul to review the privileges of belonging to a local church, and it’s a joy to see that reality dawn in the hearts and minds of the people the Lord brings to us. Also, the questions potential members ask about the faith and the church are some of the best I ever get. It’ll become quickly apparent as you structure a class that you have a lot of ground you want to cover and likely not as much time as you’d prefer. These four themes can help you focus in on what matters most to bring inquirers into a full enjoyment of the blessings of church membership.

What does it mean to be a faithful and wise servant in God’s kingdom? In his lecture on the Olivet Discourse, Don Carson delves into Matthew 24:45–25:46, illustrating how faithfulness and wise stewardship of our God-given talents lead to greater responsibility and joy. He contrasts this with the fate of wicked servants, who will face punishment. Carson highlights the importance of being prepared and using God’s gifts wisely as we await Christ’s return, living faithfully in the present.

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