False Religion and Church Confusion

Richard Hollerman

False religion has confused billions of people in the world today! We find it amazing and dismaying that nearly everyone on earth—regardless of religious devotion—is confused in regard to what the truth of God is and the way of Jesus Christ.

Recently I’ve become aware of vast numbers of people in the various countries of the world—and they virtually all are spiritually confused. It may be the world’s Muslim people who have led huge numbers of people away from the truth into the false doctrine of Islam and into spiritual darkness. It may be Catholicism with its dozens of false images, including Mary and Catholic “saints,” as well as devotion to priests and the corrupt papacy. Or it may be Hinduism or Buddhism, the former including some several hundred gods or in the latter case, the false ways of Buddhism and their atheism, that has pulled several hundred billions of people into spiritual darkness. Of course, false ways have engulfed millions, even hundreds of millions, into diverse and devious ways.

People have gone far beyond a mere attachment to false ways. They have dedicated themselves to a plethora of false gods. Paul went so far as to see demonic forces behind these pagan deities (2 Corinthians 10:19-21). In our day we also find false gods who have led people of many world religions astray and into false ways. They may not know them as “gods” but (unknown to them) these false deities have “blinded the minds of the unbelieving.” Satan is a master-deceiver! (2 Corinthians 4:4).

We have a combination of feelings in regard to the false ways in this world. In one respect, we are like Paul who was “provoked within him as he was observing the city” (of Athens) “full of idols” (Acts 17:16). If all of this false teaching and deception that drags one to hell brings the wrath of God (Romans 1:18), then it should also bring us such anger. On the other hand, we feel like Jesus who “wept” over the city for they did not accept His message (Luke 19:41ff). We weep for the massive deception that this world is now in, a state that will condemn most of earth’s population!

For instance, doesn’t it bother you when you look at the world of Catholicism and you are aware that this religion is far removed from the true ways of God? Doesn’t it concern you that so many millions are led into this false system while assuming that it is God’s holy way? Instead, it grieves the heart of God and surely must anger His heart by knowing that priests and bishops around the world are leading hapless souls astray while they assume that they are following the truth? Instead, they are confused and leading countless people into an eternity without God!

At the time of Christ we see the same situation. And this is the situation today as well. When Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, people rejected Him for they refused to believe that He was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Because of this, they would accept religious lies and would refuse to accept God’s ways. They not only refused to come to God through Christ, but they steadfastly held to their religious traditions. They died in their sins (John 8:24) and Jews today also die in their sins since they go through many traditions but flatly refuse to accept God’s truth regarding the ways of Christ.

We also know that Islam is a way that 1.5 billion people follow, with at least some of them very devout and committed to what they find written on the pages of the Koran (Qur’an). They devoutly pray five times a day, abstain from certain foods, observe traditions, go on the hajj, and keep themselves from what they deem sinful. Yet they also promote a way that is completely false and will drag them down to Hades and the way of death. It might be said of them that “there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

These devoted followers of Muhammad are afraid of the idolatry and false teaching of “Christianity,” not knowing that they oppose a false teaching that masquerades as Christianity! How devious this way is! How deceived are these Islamic scholars! And how deceived are those who offer the way of God—but this way is a false one that is far removed from the truth. As Paul would put it, “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed” (Titus 1:16).

Then there are full atheists and unbelievers who assert that Christianity is false but they seem to have little idea who Jesus Christ really is and what He taught. They have been indoctrinated into the religion of naturalism, secular humanism, relativism, evolutionism, and plain unbelief—and this results in their rejection of the truth of creation, the true of God’s revelation in Christ, and the truth of Scripture! They assume that they are right but, sadly, they are totally false in their thinking. They rest under the rightful wrath of God (John 3:36).

The same would be true for many different religions that fly under the banner of Christianity but are utterly false ways. Whether we speak of Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, or others, they imagine that what they believe and practice is something that God would approve of, but these religions are false ways that are in conflict with God’s perfect ways.

Because of all of this, we are led to conclude: First, people are opposing what they think is Christianity but this is far from the real belief and practice of God’s way in Christ. They oppose what they mistakenly think is the way of Christ, but they are absolutely wrong.

Second, people refuse to examine the real thing and are content with what they think is true. Probably most who profess Christianity simply haven’t taken the time to examine the Word of God for themselves, thus they would rather listen to what some preacher or priest says or what human tradition would have them believe.

Third, we must sadly conclude that most people have not gone to the source of truth—the New Testament of Christ, which is another way to refer to new covenant writings of written Scripture. They may have gone to college professors, school teachers, the media, books and newspapers, but they just haven’t taken the time or gone to the trouble of going to the Source themselves. Thus they reject Christianity rather than examine it for themselves.

Fourth, there are many confused and misled people who misunderstand the meaning of true Christianity. They have heard what a certain priest may say or have followed what a certain teacher propounds, but they are confused as to what God’s way is. While this misunderstanding may be the reason why they reject the true way of God, we know that this doesn’t really excuse one from taking the personal pursuit of knowledge for themselves.

Fifth, religious leaders (whether Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or others) must bear much of the blame for misleading people—with the result that men and women misunderstand and reject the truth. In other words, these religious leaders think they know the truth but they are very confused about what the will of God is. Jesus would say to them, as He said about the Jewish leaders of His day, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted” (Matthew 15:13). The Lord then continues, “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (v. 14). There are millions of “blind guides” in the world today, but these “guides” only guide people to perdition!

Sixth, think about how this deception takes place. For example, a Catholic priest may promote Catholicism (with all of its traditional false ways). They assure their followers that they represent the true religion. They have Rome to substantiate what they say and believe! They have their tradition and their catechism to uphold their views. However, in reality, this is very different from the truth of God and even opposes it in a hundred ways!

Seventh, perhaps an Orthodox priest (with black vestments, religious paraphernalia, ultra-rituals) claims to be the representative of “the religion of Christ” or “the church of Christ Jesus.” But, in reality, Jesus will “spit” this religion out of His mouth (to use the Lord’s figurative expression—Revelation 3:14-15). It is far, far removed from the ways of God found in the new covenant Scriptures. Thus, not only is the priest spiritually deceived and under God’s judgment, but Orthodox priests around the world lead several hundred million followers to Hades and then Hell (Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 21:8)!

Eighth, suppose a Jewish “rabbi” (so-called) leads his Jewish flock into thinking that “Christianity” is identified with the false religions that persecuted the Jews for the past 2,000 years. We must remember that it was not just the Jews who persecuted true Christians (but false professing “Christians” also persecuted the Jews)! Don’t you think that Jewish people—whether liberal, conservative, or Orthodox—will conclude that Christians did all of this persecution, killing, and mayhem? Of course, they will! And they will be totally wrong too! True followers of Jesus love the Jews and all people (Mark 12:28-31) in contrast to false religion that hates both Jews and Gentiles!

Ninth, there is so much confusion and disagreement within Protestantism that it is easy to understand why people are confused. What will poor, deluded and deceived people think when there are basic disagreements between Charismatics, Pentecostals, and non-Pentecostals? What will they think if they examine Presbyterian, Methodist, and Lutheran views of baptism as compared to those views held by Baptists, Pentecostals, and the so-called Assembly of God? Or perhaps some may learn that there are various views on church leadership, church organization, and church names. Then there are groups that differ on Calvinism and Arminianism. Some may believe in the full inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture while others may only think that the Scriptures are a fallible book that “inspires” the reader. No wonder there is so much confusion!

Tenth, think also of those who understand that there are different other groups, each believing different things and practicing diverse things. What about the Mormons? The so-called Jehovah’s witnesses? The Jesus Only (Oneness) Pentecostals, the Trinitarian Protestants, the S.D. Adventists, and other such groups. Is it a wonder that many have renounced anything to do with Christianity and end up in skepticism or unbelief! (We may think that people have gone to extremes in rejecting Christianity as a whole or perhaps only Protestantism. However, we must admit that some do get the wrong idea and “throw out the baby with the bath water!)

Eleventh, perhaps we could mention another major difference, one that confuses people and leads them astray. We refer to the issue of creation and evolution. Suppose that someone from a “Christian” denomination or church reads about and studies about origins. Some (even some professing “Christians”) contend that God merely brought the world of natural things into existence and then allowed evolution to take over. They may claim that this is a “Christian” position but, of course, it is directly opposed to Christianity as a whole. The skeptic may not realize that there are millions who do hold to the Biblical view of creation, including learned professors, but they focus only on those who reject creation and hold tenaciously to the lie of evolution!

God Opposes Religious Division

As God tells us, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). The original context has to do with deportment within the gathered assembly, but the principle is the same. God doesn’t want or promote confusion, division, chaos, or religious misunderstandings.

If you are like me, how many times have we been dismayed by the ignorance and confusion of those who don’t really see or understand the ways of God. We have probably seen this often in our seeking to understand where people are spiritually in their thinking.

A Muslim may look out at what he or she thinks is Christianity and assumes that what exists is just religious confusion and a failure to understand the simplicity of Islam. It may seem simple and understandable and he or she can’t understand why others can’t see these rudimentary truths. We’ve even heard that many Muslims somehow think that the Christian “Trinity” consists of the Father, the Son, and Mary! And they think of the Son as the fleshly offspring of God the Father rather than having a spiritual aspect to his nature! They also think that the Son had his origin in Nazareth or Bethlehem, but true Bible believers know that Jesus eternally existed and was the very Creator (John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:16). This misunderstanding (or lie?) regarding Christ’s origin may have been taught or promoted by Muhammad and his followers, but there is no excuse for such confusion and religious misunderstandings!

Or consider Catholicism. It doesn’t take a theologian at all to see that Mary is not to be worshiped, images are not to be used, the so-called “Pope” is not to be followed, or religious traditions lead one astray. But it would seem that people are so steeped in false doctrine and so confused by human traditions that they can’t seem to understand how a Protestant could continue to believe what he believes and do what He does. It is beyond him! But, in reality, if one were to step back from all of this controversy, he would be able to see the justification for opposition to Roman Catholic doctrines!

Why would Mormons, Witnesses, Jesus Only Pentecostals, S. D. Adventists, and others firmly believe in their own ways—and reject Biblical understandings that are a little more in keeping with the truth? There may be many reasons for this, but it would seem that some men and women who begin to study certain cultic beliefs, who attend such services, who regularly read the literature that the group has produced, and who are only around fellow-cultic members, such people end up being “brainwashed” by the cults. They are persuaded by the cultic mentality and by the cult’s leadership. But they are completely wrong! They just don’t see and understand the truth even though it is right before them.

Further, we must never overlook the supernatural influences of the enemy! Satan delights in confusing people and leading them into spiritual bondage! As Paul explained, “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false” (2 Thessalonians 2:11). What is the result? The apostle continues, “. . . in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (v. 12). Today there are some who will not believe the truth and who will receive a deluding or deceiving influence. This will mean that they accept certain falsehoods and spiritual lies rather than the simple Word of God. It is a dangerous position in which to find ourselves!

Open Your Eyes to the Truth!

We have seen that most religious people in the world are deceived and deluded. They have turned to their own way and deserted the ways of God found in Holy Scripture (Isaiah 55:8-9).  They “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). They have “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:25). They “have no excuse” for their rejection of truth and acceptance of error (Romans 1:20).

The next time that you have exposure to people with certain non-Biblical beliefs, views, and convictions, ask yourself why they hold to these views. Ask yourself some basic questions:

1. Why doesn’t this person accept the simple word of God and choose to accept something other than the truth?
2. Why would this person accept evolutionary explanations rather than the simple belief in creation?
3. Why would this person choose to accept unbelieving teachers and scientists when equally-valid arguments may be made by believing teachers, writers, and researchers?
4. Why would certain churches accept tradition rather than rely solely on the Word of Almighty God?
5. Why would this person follow a priest, bishop, pastor, or preacher rather than accept the Word of God itself?
6. Why would this person choose to show loyalty to an inferior translation of the Scriptures rather than choosing to follow as closely to the original languages of Hebrew and Greek as possible?
7. Why would a convincing and captivating preacher or “televangelist” hold such people in spiritual captivity?
8. Why do people cling to certain false doctrines and continue to wear the name “Christian” when they differ from what Scripture teaches?

Are you concerned you about the truth of Scripture and does it grieve you to know of family members, friends, acquaintances, and others choose not to believe the truth but hold unyieldingly to their own views? Do you pray for such people? Do you even pray to God for yourself that He might open your own eyes if you also are deceived by the enemy of our soul?

I was just looking through a book that described Qumran, the Jewish (maybe Essence) settlement on the shore of the Dead Sea, the community that produced the scrolls that shook the scholarly world back in 1947 and afterword. There, on its pages, I saw several black-garbed Orthodox Jews praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem (the so-called “Wailing Wall”). They must have been devoted and devout, earnestly and regularly praying to God as they understood Him. Yet, for those who know their Bibles, we must say that these men were deceived—greatly deceived by Satan—and were not really making contact with the true and living God. They had surely rejected God Himself who makes Himself known through His Son, Jesus Christ. They were spiritually lost (John 3:14-18, 36; 5:24; 6:47) and apparently didn’t know it!

This sort of example could be cited thousands of time over. There are devout men and women around the world who think they are right with God and believe in Him, but in reality they are far from Him! Whether we speak of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Protestants, atheists, agnostics, cultists, or others, such people must assume they are right with God (as they understand Him), but, in reality, they don’t have a saving relationship with Him! How shocking! How sad! How distressing!

The next time you are confronted with a person from a given religion, think—and think deeply. Perhaps they are going into a place of worship or a “church” of some kind. What does God think of this act of devotion? Does He accept it or does He find it abominable? Or perhaps He finds this lamentable. What is it?

I often find someone expressing some act of faith or worship and wonder…. What good is being done here? What does this person think of when he or she reads the Bible, when they enter a church building, when they put a bumper sticker on their car, when they purchase a book to read, when they look up a religious website, when they go to a Bible study or a religious gathering, when they turn on the radio or TV to listen to a religious broadcast, or at any other time?

Maybe you are like me and have attempted to engage someone in a religious discussion. Often these encounters may end up without anything being accomplished. They just aren’t interested. In this pluralistic world, they just suppose that you and I and others are spiritually acceptable to God. They say, “Just believe in God in whatever way you want. The important thing is that you believe in something. Just have faith in faith!” We know the impossibility of this. It just makes no sense according to the “law of non-contradiction” that says two “contradictory propositions cannot both be true in the same sense at the same time” (Wikipedia).

In other words, there cannot be a “god” and not a “god” at the same time. Likewise, we must understand that the truth is exclusive and non-contradictory. Whoever you engage in a spiritual conversation must come face-to-face with this fact. It would include everyone, whether you are speaking to an atheist, an agnostic, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Jew, a Zoroastrian, a Muslim, a Catholic, a Protestant, a cultist, or anyone else. Without this basic fact, your friend will be hopelessly confused and unable to see the truth that you seek to share.

Please open your eyes and be willing to see the truth for yourself. Then seek to share the truth with another. Remember, as Jesus declared, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Christ is the truth (John 14:6), His Word is truth (John 17:17), and the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17). Turn from the confusion found in the religious world and find the truth of God in God, through Christ, in the Holy Scriptures!