As a Christian counselor, I have encountered this question more times over the years than I care to count. The truth is that the religion you choose to embrace depends on how serious you want to get with God. The church you decide to attend should be solid on all points of doctrine – and that's Bible doctrine not people doctrine.

But doctrine is certainly not the only thing you need to hear. Your church also needs to show you how to successfully apply that doctrine to your every day life. What does it mean today to offer the sacrifices of righteousness? What is the real meaning of obedience and submission? How is the word of God designed to get you out of debt and keep you out of debt? These are just a smidgin of things that you should be learning. So which religions teach on these things and which don't? Below is a listing of just a handful of religions, their teachings, and practices.

The following statements are facts provided by reliable sources as well as a personal, intense study throughout the years. It is not my intent to offend or bash any religion or ordinance. It is simply my desire to present the truth so that you may decide for yourself having received all the facts. Each belief mentioned is held up against the word of God and compared to its purity. If you are mature enough, you will appreciate this, even if you find your hair standing on end. After all, we are touchy when it comes to our beliefs. But if you want the truth of God's word, then be willing to accept whatever changes may need to be made in your life. God bless you.

1st it should be noted why there are countless religions yet only one God to begin with. This is what happens when people want to live life a certain way – usually not God's way – and don't want their sin thrown up in their faces every day. Changing doctrine to allow substandard, unholy lives is much more satisfying to them than actually changing their lives. And people actually believe that God is going to accept their pathetic excuses for holiness. This is why the Bible says that so many will be shocked on the day of judgement to hear God say, "Depart from Me. I do not know you!" The fact of the matter is that the word of God is the word of God. It is not to be added or deleted or changed or altered from it's origin. But watch how some religions are changing it to fit their sloppy lifestyles instead of changing their lifestyles to fit the word.

The 1st example is of a religion who doesn't believe in using electricity, vehicles, telephones, makeup, or jewelry (even wedding rings). The women are considered lowly and pitiful and can't wear pants or go without having their heads covered – the men can't wear shorts and must have beards. They don't believe in paying taxes. (Don't we all.) They don't accept gifts and if you sin they will literally turn their backs toward you and shun you for an unspecified amount of time – usually until the elders feel that you have suffered enough. That means they will refuse to talk to you, assist you in any way, even acknowledge that you are alive. (Matt 6:15) One of the bigger problems with this type of doctrine is the refusal to accept that it's God's will for us to have all things – electricity, vehicles, telephones, etc., that's why He created them. Man can't do anything outside of God. It's God's knowledge given to man that's makes anything and everything possible. The Bible says that to say something God created is bad or unholy is dangerous. (Acts 11:9) It's the abuse of these things that's unholy. The same with gifts. The Bible is filled from beginning to end with teachings about gifts. The foremost important gift in fact is called tithing and God commanded it. (Lev. 27:30) Makes you wonder who's really in charge of this ordinance – God or man.

Another example is a religion who believes that they are the only ‘true' religion and everybody else is doomed for hell. They believe that once in heaven God will "squish you like a bug" if you mess up or so I was told. They don't believe hell to exist and say that death itself is hell – because you no longer exist. Some worshipers do contradict this belief, so already we see a problem here. The Bible describes hell as an actual spiritual place of being for our souls. (Rev. 21:8) The Bible also says that there is no death in God. Which means that whatever God creates lives forever. (Our flesh is only that of dust and ash.) This religion also doesn't believe in forgiving anyone who doesn't forgive you, though the Bible says to forgive regardless. They don't celebrate Christmas (because the sun was once worshiped on Dec. 25th) or birthdays or other holidays. (The Bible says there is a time for all things under heaven – including a time to celebrate. Didn't Jesus go to weddings and other festivals?) And even though today we worship the Son on Dec. 25th, they'd rather pay attention to tradition. They also don't believe in doctors – though some will deny this – and think that sugar water should be used in place of blood transfusions. They don't say, "God bless you", when you sneeze because that means they're trying to cast out a devil (an old tradition). And if you offer them a God bless you, they will ignore you or even rebuke you. It appears this religion would rather offend rather than break with old traditions.

Here's another one. Now this religion is all about show and they know how to put one on. In fact they once asked a friend of mine to leave the service because their baby was humming – you see there must be absolute quite for the head honcho to do his thing. The disciples tried to keep rowdy children from bothering Jesus as well. Remember what He told them? As for it's beliefs, it has a ton of them. For example: Divorce is unforgivable and sends you to hell (the Bible says that blasphemy is the only unforgivable sin Matt 12:31) but it's apparently OK to be an adulterer. Abortion is not OK ( well it shouldn't be after all) but premarital sex is accepted. If a baby is conceived the couple must marry, even though it may not be God's will for them to be together in the first place. It's OK for their elders to be homosexuals just not to act upon homosexuality. They call another human being their Holy Father when the Bible specifically states that this is blasphemy. (Matt 23:9) They chant the same old prayers over and over, even 40 or more times in one service, when the Bible specifically warns against repetitious prayer calling it ‘vain'. (Matt 6:7) They pray to regular humans (acknowleding them as saints) who have already died asking for help with this, that, or the other – when the Bible clearly says the only one who has power in heaven is God. (Luke 16:26) And they refuse to go out and talk to people about Christ because they are too proud and this is below them – and if you go to their house to talk with them about God they'll shut the door in your face – even though the Bible specifically tells all of us to go into the highways and byways and compel others to come in. They do believe it's best to cast you out of their church if they catch you visiting a church of another denomination – ( I thought we were all serving the same God here?) The don't believe that your marriage vows are sacred if you are married outdoors, in a reception hall or other because they only consider their church to be the House of the Lord and will not allow you to take communion if this is the case. (The Bible describes the House of the Lord as the earth itself because God owns it and everything in it. Psalm 24:1) And as for communion, Jesus told us to take it in ‘remembrance' of Him – it doesn't have anything to do with marriage. Will you deny someone their right to remember all that Christ has done for them because they didn't get married in your building? They also still believe in confessing their faults to a human being as was done in the old days even though the whole point of Jesus dying on the cross was so that we could go to Him directly. Did or did not Jesus say that He was the last priest in the order of His lineage? (Heb 5:6) The Bible itself describes this kind of religion as that of whitewashed tombs full of deadmen's bones. (Matt 23:27) It's all polished and ready for show on the outside but it stinks of a dead faith and a dead devotion to God on the inside.

Another religion believes once saved always saved. No matter what kind of sin you commit or what kind of sinful life you live, there will never be consequences for it if you belong to this ordinance. If that were really true could you imagine the stuff you could get away with? Murder your worst enemy, God will understand. Talk about dangerous doctrine.

How about this one. This religion also doesn't believe in using vehicles or makeup or colored clothes for that matter. (Never mind that God made the rainbow and loves color.) They apparently don't believe the Bible holds much power either because they are always pushing their own Bible – something they call another testament of Jesus Christ or the companion to the Bible. Remember what God said about anything being added, altered or taken away from His original word? He said those responsible would burn in a spiritual lake He called fire. (Rev 22:18,19)

So is there a one true religion? The answer is yes. And what is this one true religion? Simple. It's the word of God. Myself, I am of no religion or denomination. I am simply a Christian (Christ-like – a follower of Christ and His examples). Still, we need a church's support. I find the best churches, those whose teachings closely match the word, to be the spirit-filled ordinances. I have visited many and the doctrines of Christ are followed closely in all. For one thing the Holy Spirit is acknowledged in full power as He should be. After all, it's His time to reign. First God dealt with people indirectly – through His leaders – then Jesus took over and dealt with us directly – one on one – now the Holy Spirit is up to bat. (Jesus did say that He would send Him, didn't He?) And the Holy Spirit is a powerful tool against the enemy.

I have two concerns here however – both on a more personal matter as opposed to differences of doctrine. The 1st is that these ordinances are very serious when it comes to authority and I have seen several of those in leadership lose themselves in this power and become unapproachable or uncorrectable. Some people just simply are not made to be leaders of anything – especially a church full of people. Where there are qualified leaders, there is a good church. I have seen great churches and I have seen troubled churches. These ordinances tend to accept the entire church as a "family" affair. While this is actually how it should be, my concern is that I have come across certain church members who tend to believe that what is wrong for them is wrong for everyone else, too. They have yet to understand the scripture that speaks of liberty in Christ. And there have been several occasions where this caused many problems. Of course, people who believe this way are busybodies to begin with and have an unnatural desire to lead and control when they do not have any authority.

Still, if you understand that you, as an individual, have personal liberty in Christ, then you should not fall prey to the busybodies of other men's affairs. Did you know that our rainbow is directly related to the pre-Adamite world? Did you know that the tree of life still exists today and is guarded by cherubims and a "flaming sword which turns every direction"? Did you know that Adam and Eve knew the devil long before he tricked them in the garden of Eden? Did you know that God loves to laugh? Pretty interesting stuff right? Does your religion teach on these things? These are important questions that need to be answered. There will be no excuses when standing before the face of God. The best way to learn of God's word is to spend time in it. Use a study guide to help you when and where you need. The Dake's Bible is an awesome tool. There's no other Bible like it. It explains everything. And learning God's true doctrines directly will help you when it comes time to deciding on which church you intend to call home. It's time to end this lesson now. I hope I have intrigued you rather than insulted you. If you are offended, you have missed the entire point of this lesson which is to open your heart and mind to the truths of tradition and religion as opposed to the truths of the word of God. Nonetheless, I bid you many blessings in the future.

M.J. Bourque
April, 2007