A Cacophony of Faith

Traveling on a plane presents opportunities to talk to people you may otherwise never meet. In a sense, plane flights, especially international ones, are cross-sections of the world, where strangers from entirely different walks of life can interact.
A trip to Kenya in November 2007 allowed me to have unique discussions with three fellow passengers during my flight.
The first conversation was with a sweet, pious, middle-aged lady who wore a perpetual smile, revealing her pleasant disposition. We talked through the entirety of the first leg of the trip.
We learned a lot about each other. She asked what I was going to do in Kenya, and I asked about her travels. I learned she was part of a Christian group in Germany. She was born in America, but moved to Germany, remained single, and joined a small religious group there. She had taken part in various “missions,” including traveling to Hong Kong to smuggle Bibles into Communist China. I thought to myself,This person is dedicated; she believes in her cause.
The second conversation occurred on my flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi. I decided to stretch my legs and walk to the back of the Boeing 747. Near the rear was a small open area where passengers could look out the window (in this case, at the never-ending, sun-scorched Sahara Desert) and stand for a few moments.
Here I met an American preacher. He and his wife were planning to go into the heart of Kenya for several weeks. He explained that he had several hundred people ready for baptism. This was not his first trip, but all part of his mission to (as he put it) “turn hearts to Jesus, glory be to God.” Again, I concluded, Here is another traditional Christian working at his cause.
Finally, on the way back from Kenya on a flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam, I sat beside a very pleasant woman from the state of Wisconsin. She was returning from a mission sponsored by her church. She had been in Goma, an eastern town of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where civil war had ravaged the area and thousands of people were displaced. Being a registered nurse, she spent her time in a medical facility helping doctors mend bullet wounds, treat the sick, work with women and girls who were raped, and much more.
After showing me some 400 pictures on her digital camera, we discussed our beliefs. She explained that she was reared in a disciplined Christian denomination, but was now in a more contemporary group, which at times made her somewhat doctrinally uncomfortable. Our conversation turned to questions she had about who should preach in church, predestination and baptism. She seemed genuinely interested in hearing my viewpoint on whether she was a converted Christian. She listened intently to any insight I provided. As the discussion came to a close, again I noted, Here is another individual trying to do good, and who is concerned about her place in the Christian landscape.
Three very different people. Three very different missions. Three unique sets of beliefs. And this was just three of the almost 2.2 billion people who are considered Christians.

Impacting Our World

Throughout time there have been people and institutions that have affected the course of the planet: presidents, prime ministers, monarchs, despots, generals, educators, national governments, international coalitions, universities, research centers, religions, etc. The influence of such people and institutions varies widely. A president or prime minister can change the course of his nation. A monarch can represent his or her country in a way that either helps or hurts its image. Institutions can also impact nations and the world at large.
Religions and schools of thought have also had a considerable impact on civilization. Ancient Greek scholars such as Plato and Socrates form the foundation of much of our modern world. Yesterday’s paganism and polytheism is today intertwined in almost every facet of life. Islam has impacted the Middle East for centuries, and is increasingly affecting other regions of the world. Hinduism and Buddhism have also influenced hundreds of millions of lives.
But an argument could be made that the religious institution that has had the greatest impact is traditional Christianity.

Christianity: A Profile

While not experiencing the same growth rate as Islam, the number of professing Christians continues to grow. There are about 37,000 different denominations, all considering themselves followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
Over the past century, Christendom has undergone significant change. Recent polls indicate the number of independents and independent groups is rising sharply. Some of the more historic or dominant denominations are becoming less popular.
USA Today reported on a recently-released survey by the Pew Research Center: “A new map of faith in the USA shows a nation constantly shifting amid religious choices, unaware or unconcerned with doctrinal distinctions. Unbelief is on the rise.” The survey reveals that religion in general, and specifically Christianity, is changing drastically. The Protestant majority in the U.S. is also slowly vanishing.
Evangelicals in America are considered a force to be reckoned with. U.S. politicians give much consideration to this group because they have a great impact on who is voted into office. Evangelical educational institutions have been created to train young people to become “Christian” lawyers and politicians. They are concerned with the morality of America and they will do all that they can to fight those in opposition.
Wars are being fought in Western schools over creationism vs. evolution. Battles are being waged in the courts over how much religion should be involved in governing the people. Morality has been the center of debate for decades.
The Christian world has long tried to evangelize the rest of the world, often by peaceful means; sometimes otherwise. It is reported that hundreds of millions of Bibles are in non-Christian nations. In some regards, Christianity has reached further into remote regions more than any other aspect of civilization. For example, in western Kenya, where there are few signs of modern civilization, churches exist, most of them professing to be Christian.
From a purely physical point of view, the impact that Jesus Christ has had upon this world is like none other. Billions who claim to follow Him constitute the biggest segment of society.

Every Shape, Size, Flavor and Color

Today’s Christianity offers something for everyone. There are Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans and independents of every sort. There are megachurches filled with people wanting to learn about the “prosperity gospel.” There are the ever-popular televangelists, proclaiming their message to listeners at home. There are associations and conglomerations of every type.
The concept of “participatory theology” is becoming more popular. This allows the younger generation to become more involved, creating their own type of Christianity. This is especially appealing since many want a voice, and do not want the “do’s and don’ts” of traditional Christianity.
Describing America’s diverse religious landscape in a speech, former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney said, “…in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans…”
He continued, “And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion—rather, we welcome our nation’s symphony of faith.”
The question must be asked: Do billions of professing Christians form a symphony of faith—a united, orchestrated, melodic masterpiece?
Every denomination has its own beliefs and doctrines—everyone disagrees! Is this what the Creator of human beings intended?

What is the Founder’s Point of View?

Every professing Christian group and individual believes in some fashion that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He is the founder of Christianity.
What if He came back today and analyzed the 37,000 different Christian groups? Would He be pleased?
Billions claim to follow Jesus, but all have a different understanding of who and what He is—and what He taught. They do not all walk together in the same faith. One website claims that “Jesus is becoming clearer” because there are 175,000 books written about Him. But is this clarity—or confusion?
Every professing Christian, those who claim to be followers of Christ, must ask what Jesus’ reaction would be to today’s Christendom. Would He approve of the disunity? Would He accept every shape, size, flavor and color of belief? Would He accept the confusing message that is sent from the thousands of Christian denominations?
The Word of God declares, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches [congregations] of the saints” (I Cor. 14:33).
Jesus also stated, “I will build My Church”—not “churches” (Matt. 16:18), and that His Church was a “little flock” (Luke 12:32).
How does this fit with today’s Christian landscape in light of Psalm 133:1? Notice: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

What About You?

Many believe they have committed their lives to Jesus Christ. Those who feel they have done this should ask, “What if Christ came and spoke with me and examined my life? Would He be pleased?”
As an individual, you could dedicate your entire life—over 600,000-plus hours—but still be entirely off track. Don’t believe this article; believe Christ’s words: “Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast out devils? And in Your name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:21-22).
Reasonable questions, aren’t they?
Read the answer and end-result for some: “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matthew 7:23-24).
Wonderful works are not enough—one must hear Christ’s words—and do them!
The real truth is that professing Christianity is not a symphony of faith—it is a cacophony of faith. If one understands the Bible, the instruction manual that Jesus Christ left us, then they would understand that God is not the author of this world’s divided Christendom.
Finally, Jesus spoke of the vast majority today: “Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men” (Mark 7:7-8). Christianity—whether traditional or contemporary—worships Christ in vain!
Where do you fit in? Could you be worshiping Jesus in vain? Again, don’t believe me; believe your Bible. Read our online article “14 Statements of Jesus Almost No One Believes – And Your Minister Doesn’t Want You to Understand!”
You must ask yourself: If Christ sat down with me today, would He say, “I never knew you: depart from Me?” or “Well done, you good and faithful servant”?
Tough questions. You owe it to yourself to get plain answers.