the new religion

I wrote this article and posted it on a blog site (click here) a few days ago. [There is a lot of persecution and false rumor in my town so if you read the comments, realize most are not true.] Here it is:The New ReligionAlan ThomasSatan has done it. He's brainwashed multitudes. He's caught millions in his snare. He's allowed many to turn and walk down the broad path to destruction. The idea is simple enough. But the root is so complex. He's sneakier than we all thought and he sure got us. Just like he got Eve in the garden, he's lured us away by what seemed so innocent, so right. Nobody saw it coming. It just crept in and took control. Now it seems unstoppable. It's the latest craze and everyone is radical about it. It's so against everything Jesus taught, but Satan worked it out so they even think they're still following Jesus. It's the golden calf of the new millenium. The god of this generation. What is it? Tolerance.Yes, Tolerance. Many heads have bowed, many knees have bent, in one accord revering this deceptive idol. Tolerance? An idol? I'm not talking about racial tolerance. This concept is pure. I'm talking about Tolerance of sin, Tolerance of religion. So crafty were his ways when Satan introduced her. She flaunted her ways before the multitudes and they were all swayed by her gentle beauty. She calls herself love. How could Tolerance be love? As a man drowns, Tolerance sits idly by in her boat and whispers, "I love you. I love you so much that I can't bruise your arms. Therefore, I would rather you drown than to risk bruising your arms in my attempts to rescue you."Tolerance herself is not partial. She'll bat her eyes flippantly at the longing gaze of any unsuspecting fool. Theists, deists, atheists, and polytheists alike have united to befriend her. She's indoctrinated every creed with her smooth lies. She looks so liberated. She looks so simple and so pure. God's word is embroidered across her garment, "Judge not." How could she be wrong?Vain would be her attempts to seduce Jesus. Jesus saw through her vanity. Jesus knew that Tolerance is not love. Jesus conquered Tolerance. He embraced her worst enemy, Truth. In Truth is the liberty. In Truth is the victory. Truth is painful. Truth is bruised and beaten, but Truth is eternal. Truth is singular. Truth is exclusive. Truth is absolute. Tolerance looks free in her warm embrace, but her ways are bondage. "Ignorance!" she shouts boldly at Truth, but her own eyes are blind.How many have bowed to Tolerance? How many have turned aside to her ways? Her followers think they do mankind service, but they are only hiding behind a cowardly facade. Some serve Tolerance so faithfully that in their blind zeal, they become intolerant of those who do not worship her. They defend Tolerance with such passion that they pierce Tolerance herself with the sword. Tolerance has confused them so greatly regarding whom they should serve that they cannot tell which way to face, which battle to fight. Tolerance wants them to lay submissively at her side, but even man's instinct itself tells him he must defend her. How else can she stand?When Truth reigns, Tolerance must die.

I enjoyed that Alan.The question is why we are so tolerant?The primary reason is so that we don't have to repent of our sin. That's my impression. If I'm tolerant of this person or that person, then I don't have to give up my idols. As you said, it's not love but rather a license to sin.Let's make no provision for the flesh.Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gideons wrote:The question is why we are so tolerant?we don't believe in hell.

A big part of the problem is that modern culture uses a mistaken notion of tolerance. The modern notion of tolerance says something like this, "all views have merit therefore none should be considered better than another". The problem with this definition is that no one is tolerant or ever can be. For example, if all views have equal merit then the Christian view that Jesus is the Messiah has just as much merit as the Jewish view that He is not Messiah. But this is a hopeless contradiction, one view or the other must be true. Tolerance turns out to make no sense if we use the modern definition.The solution is to use the classical definition of tolerance which says something like, "all people have merit and therefore none should be considered better than another". Tolerance has to do with how we treat people we disagree with, not with how we treat ideas that we think are false.To say I'm intolerant becuase I disagree with someone elses views logically makes no sense but this is what our culture has bought in to. Ironically this all leads to mistreating people who think their ideas are better than other's-and can you believe it-they are called intolerant. Tolerance is reserved for those who we think are wrong, yet we still choose to treat them decently and with respect.In Christ,Ron

Bravo, sir! A well-crafted, articulate piece. I am quite content to be intolerant according to current definitions and have no trouble declaring that I am convinced what I believe is true. How foolish would it be to profess belief in something I thought was false? It is simple mathematics: if C is not equal to D then A+B=C is not equal to A+B=D, no matter how much society would like us to believe otherwise. Truth is truth and, as Francis Schaeffer once so succinctly put it, the truth plus or minus anything is no longer the truth.In Christ,Alan

Picky400Be careful what comes from you mouth it is a reflection of your Heart.Examine your careless wordsPicky400 Maybe you should come back in and tell us what you've learned about life "after" you've completed puberty and moved out of Mom and Dad's house.You Know better than that brother.Examine there for that you are in the BODY Picky400.I say in LOVE to you Examine your motives and correct the wrong.Picky400Maybe you should try coming back and teaching us something "after" life has actually kicked you in the crotch a couple times or sucker punched you once or twiceCan you imagine JESUS saying the above quote?You Love JESUS Picky400, then strive to be in line with Him; Don't let Satan use good intentions 4 evil purposes.In the Faith: Michael

I will Pray for you Picky400.Tearing down someone is wrong and that’s what you are trying to do.It is not backed up with biblical versus just your Picky opinion.Are you also open to reproof?

If people all around me are dying of thirst and I have the only cup of water, should I share it? Should I expect that the dying will drink the water the same way I do, with the same relief of desperation, with the same quenching of my parchedness? I feel extremely grateful for the Living Water I drink from and I hope that my life reflects not only that gratitude but the reality that without it I will die, just like the parched, dying desert around me.Jer 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man who trusts the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by waters,which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit."The very next verse.. "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings." Jer 17:9-10... Doesn't seem to be asking for my help and I certianly don't feel qualified to go against the Word of the Lord.I don't have a pulpit or a lot of ministry experience however I have had friends that died, unsaved, unable to grasp even the purest simplest milk of spiritual Truth. And what haunts me is could I have shared somehting that would have changed their fate? More importantly what will my answer be at the judgement? Was my time used wisely, or was I guilty of being caught up in my selfish, wicked heart? When I have shared the gospel it's effectiveness is not in the words because I don't have the power but I know that when the conviction falls on someone then the power is in the Spirit. I'm sure that's obvious to most,if not all of you, but I am still amazed by the response because I haven't started out with the thought of convicting sinners and I do feel surprised at their brokenness. My point in regards to this thread is that my thoughts and my words are often ineffective and dull but it's the Word of God which is quick and powerful; and I could only hope to share the Living Water as best I'm able and that takes far too much attention and energy too become distracted and defensive.Rich

Picky400,Wanted to see if you know Alan personally? The way your post comes across is that you may actually know each other? You mentioned that he lived at home and was 19 and the like. I met Alan a few times personally and he is a very zealous young man. He does have a lot to learn as we all do. I understand your frustration with young guys zeal making blanket statements and the like. I also understand your feelings about how life has a way of making us look at things differently. Yet, coming at him in a way that he will perceive as "persecution for Christ" will only harden him in that state. I know Alan is no stranger to folk reacting to his zeal as your post puts things. I have seen it in action. Young people like Alan are precious to the Lord and need direction from folks that are in ministry and can give him some pointers. Yes, the post was a smack on the head. Yet, maybe if it was toned down a bit it would suffice. The points are legit by and large- it is the sharpness and the use of certain words that make it too strong. Like typing in ALL CAPS or something. The Holy Ghost may be saying things, but we have to be faithful to deliver the message in the same Spirit with which we received the revelation. We can't deliver in the flesh what we receive in the Spirit. I am not saying that happened here, I am simply making a general statement. We all could just use a little more tact I suppose. God Bless,-Robert

You! ... Yes You! ...You behind Picky400 ...You know i see you, and i take authority over you, and command you, in the mighty name of Jesus of Nazareth, and by the power of Christ shed blood on Calvary, and the might of Holy Spirit, the same loosing of Mark 5: 2-8 ... In fact i come against every foul, abusive, wicked and unclean spirit for whatever the reason that you've been drawn to this SI website lately, and i cast you out, whether you're in or on your host, by the power of the Blood of Christ ... And i call upon Holy Spirit to either banish you from this site supernaturally, or to convict you to repentance from you're backslidden condition if in fact your already saved, or unto salvation if you're not ... And yes our Lord has given me enough faith to call it done right now in the name of Jesus ... Amen

Hey if other people despise my youth, speak up about it! At least Picky is willing to reprove. I wouldn't use the words he used, but at least his heart is out to set things straight. This post is about tolerance and how that as long as hell is real, we should not sit by and be tolerant of sin and religion when it is dragging people to hell. Picky thought my post was sin, and refused to tolerate it. This is a good thing! Sometimes I wonder if other believers don't speak up because they tolerate sin too much? If you see a brother going astray, let him know, don't just sit by and worry about "bruising his arms" trying to pull him out of the water. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph 5:11) Picky, I didn't appreciate your condescension but it blessed me that you're willing to take a stand and disagree even when it's not popular! GRACE be with you all. I love ya. alan.

Picky, I didn't appreciate your condescension but it blessed me that you're willing to take a stand and disagree even when it's not popular! GRACE be with you all. I love ya. alan.Alan, Despise your youth? Not me.............You may be young, but I commend you on how you handled this. I am thankful for the lessons I learn as well as some of the examples of Godliness that I see here........Blessings in Jesus, Cindy :-)

Wow! This is a Christ based forum right? You knowas Christ shows His love to us, we are to show our love to others. Christ's love for us is not just healing us when we're sick or forgiving us of our sins. It is much, much more. His love consists of the comfort he gives us, his kindness, compassion, generosity, mercy, and acceptance of us in our imperfectness. It includes spiritual, emotional, and physical nourishment. It is the strongest and highest kind of love there is. The Pure Love of Christ means loving people unconditionally.

Hey if other people despise my youth, speak up about it! At least Picky is willing to reprove. Hi Alan,I don't despise your youth brother. Anyone who has a zeal for God is precious to the Lord. The thing that is the great challenge is striking the balance between forbearance and tolerance.NT:430anechomai (an-ekh'-om-ahee, Strongs 430) to hold oneself up against, i.e. (figuratively) put up with Here is all the times forbearance (anechomai) is used in the New Testament:Matthew 17:17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. In these first 3 passages, Jesus was 'putting up with' a faithless and perverse generation. Mark 9:19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.Luke 9:41And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.Acts 18:14And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:1 Corinthians 4:12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:2 Corinthians 11:1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.2 Corinthians 11:4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.2 Corinthians 11:19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.2 Corinthians 11:20For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.Ephesians 4:2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;Colossians 3:13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.2 Thessalonians 1:4So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;Hebrews 13:22And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.This is a long list of things we need to "put up" with. It is not always compromise to "put up" with folk while God is still working on them. Or to 'put up' with a work that God is doing that is still in progress. The thing that strikes me is that the word was sent to both Corinth AND Ephesus and Colosse. That tells me that those who are real learned in doctrine (Ephesus and Colosse) should forbear and that those who thought they were real Spiritual (Corinth) should forbear. It is essential that if we are going to truly love one another that we will have to forbear. Remember where we all were a few years ago before God sent revival in our lives? The great temptation in personal revival is to suddenly want to 'crack down' on everyone else who has not come into revival yet. We become experts on repentance overnight not realizing that God has been putting up with our shortcomings for a long time. The tendency is to think that our personal revival was a world wide revival that everyone would have come into if they would repent. Yet, God took time to get each of us in personal revival and He is doing a similar work in others. will we forbear as God gets them there or will we do something that interrupts that work in the person and actually turns them against revival? I deal with this question in my own life everyday almost.God Bless,-Robert

*Reply deleted: SPAMMike