Myths and Realities

In his second epistle to the early church at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul revealed that those who willingly choose falsehood over truth are given "a powerful delusion (by God) so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

While most folks believe that Paul was merely referring to spiritual deception, that scripture's a general truth that can be applied to all situations. When people purposely reject the truth to embrace a lie, the lie then becomes their "truth."

For some Christians, the lie they'll embrace will be the dreaded Antichrist when he eventually appears and begins performing supernatural wonders. They'll mistake him for the genuine Jesus Christ because they'll not only fail to investigate him and where his power comes from, they'll refuse to investigate him.

Self delusion has been a human malady since the dawn of history. Many people choose to believe things based upon sensual feelings rather than upon evidential facts. They use their feelings to decide whether something's true or not rather than the evidence.

Remember Adolf Hitler? How can anyone forget him? He conned millions of Germans into electing him the chancellor of Germany in 1933, even though he was monstrously wicked.

In 1925, which was eight years before he became Germany's chancellor, Hitler published his autobiography, Mein Kampf that revealed his bizarre ideas and satanic hatred of the Jews. And yet many Germans chose to ignore that red flag because their aspiring fuhrer's hypnotic speeches made them feel good.

In other words, Hitler seduced them by telling them what they wanted to hear. Here's another prophecy Paul recorded concerning those who will embrace falsehood in the end times:

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

What are some of the modern myths? Climate change is one. Despite spotty and inconclusive evidence, many people are convinced that the earth's atmosphere is getting hotter. But how does that make climate change a myth?

It makes it a myth because it's an unproven theory being promoted as factual science. We're constantly told that 97 percent of the world's climatologists believe that the world is getting warmer. And yet we never see any documentation that proves that nor the list of the names of all the climatologists who allegedly believe that.

Besides, how can anyone possibly know how many climatologists exist in the world? And who conducted a poll of their opinions concerning climate change? Thus, climate change is a myth.

Certainly, Barack Obama will go down as the most mythical president in American history. But how? Because his entire persona is based upon a myth. He was sold to the American public as one of the most brilliant men who ever lived; a problem solver and a genius who's intellect is so far beyond the average person that no one can compete with him intellectually.

Millions of people embraced that myth seven years ago, and millions of people continue to embrace that myth today. According to Gallup, Obama currently enjoys a 51 percent approval rating. That's astounding when you consider how corrupt and inept his administration is. The United States is in much worse shape now than it was when George W. Bush left office. And yet half of America believes that Obama's done an excellent job. That's a testimony to delusion.

Many folks embrace myths because they deny harsh realities. The truth isn't always good. It can be extremely unpleasant. Some people avoid doctors because they're afraid that they'll be told something they don't want to hear. Such as, they've got an incurable disease that will end in death.

And some people refuse to even consider the biblical gospel because they're afraid that they'll discover they're morally accountable to a Holy God for their behavior. That bothers their consciences. So instead, they embrace such myths as evolution that denies God's existence.

It was Christ who said this concerning those who seek the truth and abhor myths: "And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32) It's always better to know the truth than to embrace a myth. Because when myths finally end, the grim realty of hell begins.

God as You Conceive Him to Be

The Unitarian-Universalist Logo

Nearly 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul prophesied that the time would come "when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Certainly, Paul was speaking of the great apostasy that would plague the church in the end times. Apostasy is nothing new to the church. It's been around for 2,000 years and it's worn many different masks.

However, the apostasy that Paul warned of would have a demonic origin. In his first letter to fellow apostle Timothy, he wrote this: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)

How can we define the "later times"? The later times are the end times, or the last days preceding the return of Jesus Christ. When did they begin? They began in the 19th century when such cults as the Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses), the Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church) and Christian Science appeared. 

Why did these groups suddenly appear? Because the Christian church lost its faith and became weak and ineffectual in its propagation of the gospel. That started with the European denominations that began to doubt the Bible as the inerrant word of God. Once the Bible was marginalized, aberrant doctrines and dangerous heresies began to creep in. And when that happened, Jesus Christ was no longer considered the Son of God and "the Way and the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6) but rather just another holy man or an ancient Gandhi. 

Not all aberrant movements sprang up in the 19th century. The Unitarian Movement, that began in Europe in the 16th century, denies the Trinity and claims that God is a single being, which is similar to Islam's definition of God. Unitarians also don't believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

The Unitarian movement gave birth to the Unitarian-Universalist movement in the 19th century. Unitarian-Universalism is an ecumenical religious worldview that claims all paths lead to God. According to Unitarian-Universalism, animists, Buddhists, Christians, fire-worshipers, pagans, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Taoists etc. all draw from the same universal truths about God, nature and the universe.

Here's what Unitarian-Universalists believe about God: The word "God" is much abused. Far too often, the word seems to refer to a kind of granddaddy in the sky or a super magician. To avoid confusion, many Unitarian Universalists are more apt to speak of "reverence for life" (in the words of Albert Sweitzer, a Unitarian), of the spirit of love or truth, of the holy, or of the gracious. Many also prefer such language because it is inclusive; it is used with integrity by theist and non-theist members.

For Unitarian-Universalists, God is whoever or whatever you want Him to be. He can be a real being; He can be an energy force, or He can even be a she (goddess). He can be nature itself; He can be the cosmos, or, if you like, He can be an imaginary being.

Though that appeals to many folks, our imaginations don't determine who God is. Then what does? Historical, prophetic evidence declares who God is. Paul wrote this: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." (Romans 1:18-20)

The real danger of ecumenical, kumbaya religions such as Unitarian-Universalism is that they can't save your soul. They're all about making you feel good at the expense of truth. In fact, they deny the ultimate truth of mankind's fallen nature and the need for redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Christ said this to a group of unbelieving Jews that mocked and scorned Him: "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he (Messiah), you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:23-24)

Unitarian-Universalists denounce those who believe that Jesus Christ is the exclusive path to God and eternal life as ignorant fundamentalists. But who's really ignorant? Those who embrace the historical, prophetic evidence of Christ's life, ministry, death and resurrection? Or, those who put their faith and trust in religious movements that offer hope without any tangible evidence?

What's the evidence for Christ? Over 300 prophecies recorded in the Old Testament that point to Christ as the Messiah and Savior of the world. For example, Christ's virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), His life, death ministry and resurrection (Isaiah 53), and His birthplace in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) were all prophesied several centuries before He appeared on earth. 

The apostle Peter, who walked with Christ, wrote this: "We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:19-21)

As a wise man once said: Evidence is the alpha and the omega of truth, but ideology is the wisdom of fools.