Hi Everyone:
Several people have suggested that I should include more of how Jesus has impacted my life in my letters to you all. I agree and will try to do so in the future; in fact I'll begin right now.
One of my weaknesses has been to judge people, the reason being my strong conviction of what I read in the Bible. I am not thinking about a judgment I might pass on a person who cut me off while driving and I would think and perhaps say he was an idiot or stupid. I am not thinking of judging another person for his lifestyle, as that would be an opinion that would be predicated on how I see things in life. I am striving to be more sensitive to another's way of life but that takes time and practice.
I sent a letter out recently that dealt with various religions or cults and I am sure I offended some of my readers. I pray that you try to understand where it is that I am coming from. I am coming from the Bible and want to convey the truth and the only place I know I can rely on for the revelation of truth is the Bible. I know I could be accused of being legalistic, God knows I have heard that word used many times over the years by people who, because they did not believe in what was being said, claimed that person or group of persons were legalistic. By the way, my definition of the word legalism is to believe absolutely in an absolute truth. Webster's dictionary defines legalism as close adherence or conformity to the law; the observance of the strict letter of the law rather than its spirit. We all know that the law referred to in the Bible would be the Ten Commandments; this is not what I'm referring to; I'm referring to the words of Jesus which I will always accept as being the, 'law' I follow, literally. Remember Jesus came to fulfill the law.
Webster's dictionary defines Religion as….'conformity to Biblical precepts', (hooray for Webster) and it defines precepts as…'an authoritative command….written mandate.' A true religion or cult, therefore, would be one that adheres strictly to the Bible. I don't know of any religion or cult that achieves this. If you do, please inform me and remove my ignorance. I believe Webster's definition is correct and it hasn't changed that I know of. Therefore, we should be able to define Christianity as a religion, but I have a problem with that. By saying Christianity is a religion we include it in the mold all kinds of religions, religions that are not following the precepts of the Bible in its entirety. The Bible itself says if you add to or take away from the words of this book you will lose your part from the tree of life, Revelation 22:18, 19. Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5, 6, Deuteronomy 12:32, etc. support this fact. My underlying concern is to help; help others to find the literal truth of God's Word. There is no question that I will offend someone and I am truly regretful, however I will not compromise the full Word of God under any circumstances.
Let's explore an area that, hopefully, will effectively communicate my concern. Whenever society, at large, accepts as a 'lifestyle', or 'way of life', or morality, or violence or any type of behavior (as long as it doesn't touch me), then a problem exists that I believe needs to be resolved. Otherwise, when innocent minds experience this abhorrent behavior as acceptable, then they feel they have the same rights as anyone else and will do the same thing. After all, 'everybody is doing it, so it's okay,' right? I'm sorry but it is WRONG.
Many years ago I heard the following statement from Roger Hull, then president of MONY, 'beware of the seedlings contained in the seed.' Without doing a study I believe I can safely assume that all problems began in a very small way, perhaps even innocently. Today we accept one thing, tomorrow it's another, and then we stand back and ask ourselves what happened? I can tell you what happened, what should have been done or said wasn't. It's that simple.
When Jesus was speaking to the high priests and the Jews one day He told them that the reason they didn't know Him was because they didn't know God; they had no relationship with Him. If that statement didn't cut across the grain, I don't know what would. Here He was talking to some of the religious leaders of the world, the high priests, and He told them point blank they were phonies in that they never knew God. You know what? It was the TRUTH. I remember my Mother and Father giving Bunny and I a salvation message and I told them to, not only shut up, but to never again mention the name of their Jesus Christ in my house. I told them I have my own Jesus Christ, after all I was born and raised in a religious family and was an exceptionally religious person at that. Mass, confession, said the rosary every single day for 10 straight years, lived in the fear of the church (not God), tried to live the good life and all that. What a sad commentary for me, I had my 'Jesus.' I can only thank God today that my Mother did not listen to me and kept praying and preaching. And then the miracle of salvation came in Whittier, Calif. and then I truly had my Jesus. Praise His name and patience with me who was lost in confusion.
Please understand that I don't care what anyone calls it, if it doesn't conform to God's word, it's wrong. Allow me, if you will, another example; suppose a person is born and raised by two religious people (I don't care what religion) and these people train this person to be a good person, a church goer, and they take him to services every week with a Bible in their hands, or perhaps without a Bible. After awhile he begins to notice they never use the Bible in services and the preacher is talking about worldly things. Then one day he opens the Bible and discovers many things that he has been taught are not to be found in the Bible, as well as contradictions and unnecessary religious duties. He might be involved in one of the religions whose central theological axiom is, AS MAN IS, GOD ONCE WAS, AND AS GOD IS, MAN MAY BECOME. He can't find this in the Bible. What is he to do? To whom should he seek for advice? Chances are he'll revert to what he's been taught. If, however, he finds the true God, does he stay where he is when he finds many contradictions in the way he was raised as compared to what he now sees? He does notice many similarities but also many discrepancies. Would you stay in confusion when Jesus died to set you free? Some believe that anyone that believes in Jesus is saved. I don't believe it's as simple as that. My reason is and I will go to my death with it, is that if you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then you are lost. To me a personal relationship with Jesus is evidenced by following His precepts and no one else's. I pray you can understand the difference between the Jesus of religions and the Jesus of the Bible; there is a huge difference.
I was just going to send this article out the way it is until I read an interesting item in the newspaper today. It has to do with religious rules and our salvation. Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan wrote a pastoral letter that said Catholics who vote contrary to church teachings "jeopardize their salvation." In a telephone interview, the bishop said: "I'm not making a political statement. I'm making a statement about church teaching." You can judge that statement as you like, as for me, I am glad that I cannot jeopardize nor lose my salvation, because of my personal relationship with Jesus and what He has said about salvation: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16.
I remain your friend and servant, Nick Number 20
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