What’s the Difference? Part 1

This is a spicy topic. Not because of my words, but because this is a subject many would rather put off or not think about at all. If we bring the options out into the light about believing in God – or not – and are objective about what we see, there will be counterfeits. Which will you choose? Listen to what your own heart is telling you. Here we go!

Right from the start there were those who believed in One God who was the Creator of all, who revealed Himself to mankind beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden – and those who didn’t. The group of non-believers split into two main categories: those who chose not to believe in God at all and those who made up their own version of a god they defined themselves, but not the God of the Bible.

Nothing has changed in thousands of years. Every person on earth will choose to enter one of these three doors:

Door Number 1: Believers in man-made or self-made religions

Door Number 2: Non-believing atheists and agnostics, or

Door Number 3: Believers in God as He has revealed Himself in His Word – the Holy Bible – and through His Son Jesus Christ, throughout history and His creation.

Before we go further, you may be on the fence about the authority and truth of the Holy Bible. Here’s a different way of looking at it. If God is truly God, for Him to communicate and preserve the exact content He wants us to know about Himself for all the ages would be easy – and expected! It’s your personal choice to believe this is a fact – or not. Let’s first understand what the Bible does say about these three choices. In Part 1 of this series we’ll explore Door 1 and Door 2. Let’s dive into the deep end of the pool.

Door Number 1: Belief in Man-made or Self-made Religions

We’ll start with the opposite choice of believing in God.

• The wiccan, occult, and pagan movements are nothing new. They’re ancient and based on worshipping the exact opposite of the LORD. All of these practices worship a created being, a fallen angel called lucifer/the devil/satan who is the very definition of evil. In John 8:44b (NIV) Jesus says, “…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” He is, together with his demons, out to destroy all that he can before their own eternal extinction – which he knows is coming (see Revelation 20:10). If you are involved in these dangerous beliefs, you’re playing with your own soul – with the enemy of your soul. His only motive is to destroy it and literally take you down to hell – a real place – with him. Not for a semester or a year – for eternity. Don’t be deceived. This isn’t just “worshipping nature” or practicing rebellion against parents or society or organized religion. It is a choice you need to remove yourself from immediately. Here’s what God says about these practices in the Bible:

In Deuteronomy 18:9-12a (NLT), one of the five books of the Torah, God gave these words to Moses to deliver to the Israelites. He has just led them out of Egypt to the land He promised them.

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”

That’s the context that proves these practices are thousands of years old. How God views them hasn’t changed. Verse 14b says, “…but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things.” Where does continuing to practice these beliefs inevitably end one day? It’s already been decided and a fact we can know in advance. Choose to repent and be forgiven of these sins instead of this:

Revelation 21:8 (NLT): “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars – their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. “

• The “New Age” movement isn’t new at all. Followers of this choice believe in things like this: healing crystals, channeling “spirit guides,” that divinity resides within yourself (you are the deity), and there are many paths to truth instead of one. The list goes on: reincarnation and karma, the power of energy, mysticism, psychic abilities… We can keep going but can already see these practices are also in conflict with the verses we’ve just read. They may seem “enlightened” and “open” and “more tolerant” than what the Bible teaches. However, it’s the same pagan path that leads eternally away from God. Why believe there is power in a crystal instead of the One who made the crystal? Only one is true and the other a lie.

• False religions are false. Here’s where the path goes from direct opposition to God (the occult), a “softer version” of opposition to God (new age beliefs), and spreads wider. 

     1) Cults. A cult can be recognized by mixing what the Holy Bible says with a human leader’s distortion and “special interpretation” of what is actually written. To this, they add another book(s), add traditions to follow, and works that must be done to possibly earn your way to Heaven. The leader of the cult is key in their belief system. 

The pure Word of God teaches we are saved by God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus alone and can have assurance of eternal life. It also says God is the only source of truth and authority, not man. 

     2) Religions that still worship idols. These are objects made of wood, stone, or precious metals meant to represent a man-made deity or glorify a human who once lived. The objects are presented with food offerings, money, and written prayers. Followers light incense and pray to them. They build shrines to visit them and most have smaller versions of them in their homes. 

These religions do not worship the God of the Bible. In fact the Bible has much to say about the ancient practice of worshipping idols as being in direct opposition with serious consequences. In fact, it breaks the first two of the 10 commandments in Exodus 20:3-6 (NLT) which says we shall have no other gods before God and that we shall not make idols. 

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Door Number 2: Non-Belief in God – Atheists and Agnostics

We’ve just looked at what it means to believe in something or someone that is other than the God of the Holy Bible. What about not believing in anything at all? 

This choice branches from the same root in two variations. Simply put, here’s the difference between them:

• Atheists believe that God does not exist.
• Agnostics don’t believe or disbelieve in the existence of God, but say either way is unproven or unprovable. Some may be open to the possibility, but not a specific personal God, as is found in the Holy Bible. Another version of this belief is that even if a deity exists, its actions are irrelevant to human life so they do not concern themselves with the question.

Why are they from the same root, even though each group would say they are different? Both do not accept God as who He claims to be and deny or avoid Him, resulting in the same consequence.

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Has God actually set the truth before us, within us, and all around us? The paths away from God may be thousands of years old, but if He truly is who says He is in His Word, His path and His plan existed even before time and earth did. He’s eternal and unchanging: past, present, and future. If you discovered you’ve been blinded by lies, ask God to open the eyes of your soul and see Him as He truly is. Only He can change your heart. One day your choice on earth will have passed. Make the right one now and follow Him today. 

How to Become a Christian

In our next ThinkSpace,” What’s the Difference? Part 2” we’ll open Door Number 3.

RESET HIGHER: Yes, this topic is spicy, but is anything more important to consider than where you WILL spend eternity?