You said — “You can put His name (the English version) in your cult’s name, but that doesn’t force Him to set His Grace aside to allow exaltation based on ‘all that you can do.’ “
You know, it’s interesting that many “use” the name of Jesus and also the name of “God” to give their belief and/or religion some credibility (in relation to Christianity). The problem is that they are simply using a “name” and not the “real God” and the “real Jesus” — as we are taught from the Bible (and as Christianity theology and doctrines help us understand and organize in our minds).
It’s like the many names we have for people in our society and culture. You’re going to find many people with the same names. It’s inevitable. But, that doesn’t mean that they are the same person.
For example, many people have been talking to another person and found out that they’ve had a “friend in common” that each of them didn’t know that the other knew. So, you start sharing “details” about this “common friend” and making sure that you are actually talking about the same person.
Of course the “name” is the same, but you’re still not sure if it’s the same person. So you “compare notes” and you say he lives in this town, he is about this old, he has this colored hair, he likes this sport, he acts in this certain way, he has this kind of occupation. After a while, you finally determine — one of two things.
Either you both are talking about the same person — or else — you both are talking about a *completely different person* who happens to have the same name (and maybe a “few” of the same characteristics).
That’s how we tell that “Allah” is not the same being as “God” (of the Christian faith). They have completely different characteristics and identifiable “markers” as to make them completely separate beings.
Likewise, with Jesus, we find that people also have chosen a “Jesus of a completely different character” than the one that we learn of in the Bible, the one that we have been helped to understand through our theology and teachings of the Christian faith.
Now, if we really want to know if we are talking about the *same Jesus* or a *different Jesus* — all we have to do is start comparing notes about *who* this Jesus is and what His characteristics are and what He will do and/or says and so on. We need a complete analysis of this Jesus (with the other person) to see if we are really talking about the same person.
What we find out with many cult groups is that we’re talking about a *different Jesus* (only using the same name but having completely separate characteristics).
For example, I’m sure that many Christians would be surprised to find out that the Jesus of Mormonism (it’s teachings and doctrines) that Jesus had a brother before he came to earth — Satan (yep, Satan was Jesus’ brother).
Also, many Christians might be surprised to find out that just as they are right now (as a normal and average person) that “god” was once like that, and you can also “progress” to the point where you “become a god” in your own right (in Mormon theology), over your own world.
Now, just on two points — right there — we almost *immediately* discover that we’re using the *same names* — but — we’ve discovered that we’re actually talking about a “different Jesus” and a “different God”.
So, the question is — if someone has faith in a “different Jesus” — is that a saving faith.
I mean, if I have a friend who hands out $1,000 every time someone comes over to visit him at his house and I tell someone (who says he knows of someone by that same name) — will he be able to get that $1,000 by visiting that person “of the same name” — if — he really isn’t the same person?? You see what I mean.
If you choose the same name — but you’ve actually got a *different person* — you’re going to get *different results* — i.e., you might not be choosing a “saving faith” after all.
Anyway, I hope that clears it up for a lot of people...
Regards,
Star Traveler
Oing to a tremendous essay, fellow Inmans!
ping to an excellent essay
Ping, if you haven’t read this most excellent analogy.
Poing to an excellent essay
Pinging FRiends