Some people will find this question offensive. Given the sheer multitude of religious beliefs worldwide, they reason that anyone who claims to have a monopoly on truth must be narrow-minded, even arrogant.
A couple of days ago the doorbell rang, when I opened the door there was a Jehovah’s witness who wanted to talk but I had an appointment so I had only a moment as I needed to go. He gave me one of their magazine “AWAKE” with this very head line : is there one true religion? Let’s see what they have to say: There are, of course, situations in which it is prudent to allow for a variety of opinions. For example, a person might believe that a certain diet will make him healthier. But should he impose that diet on everyone else, as if it were the only way to healthy living? Certainly, it would be wise and modest on his part to allow for the possibility that someone else’s choice of food might be as good or even better, at least for that other person. They go on to say: is it the same with religion? Are there a variety of acceptable alternatives from which to choose, depending on one’s upbringing and way of perceiving things? About a way of perceiving I have explained in the other articles so I will for now not go into it. Let’s see what else they have to say, they continue with: Is there one body of religious truth that applies to all mankind? Let us see what the Bible has to say. First, we will consider whether truth is even attainable. After all, if it is not, then there is little point in searching for one true religion.
Christ told his interrogator, Roman Governor Pontius Pilate: everyone that is on the side of truth listens to my voice. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth- John 18:37, I am the way and the truth and the life, John 14:6, god is a spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth. John 4:23, 24. If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:31, 32.
They continue: does absolute truth really exist? No doubt you will agree that there are some things of which you can be absolutely certain. You are sure of your own existence and that the objects that surround you are real. The trees, the mountains, the clouds, the sun, and the moon- the material world are not figments of your imagination. Of course, there may be a few people who argue in a philosophical way that even those things are questionable. But it is unlikely that you agree with such an extreme notion “awake march 2008”.
Then they continue with moral laws of the bible and the consequences if they are followed or not. Jesus made it clear that some forms of worship are not correct, he also said regarding some who claim to follow him: I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness, further, when speaking to the religious leaders he applied to them god’s words to apostate Israel: it is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach as doctrines commands of men. Mark 7:6,7.
So clearly not all worship is true worship, does this mean that there is only one religion that teaches the truth? Or could he work through a number of religions, or might he be accepting and rejecting the worship of individuals scattered about in a number of religions despite what their organizations teach?
The apostle Paul wrote: Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought, Corinthians 1:10 so far what awake wrote. (1:10 ain soph/ malkuth for those who have eyes) Same mind, same love being joined together in soul.
Where such unity exists there is one religion!
Now pay attention, recognize the structure early in mankind’s history, god used patriarchs , or family heads as his representatives, among them were Noah, Abram (Abraham ) Isaac, Jacob. And those who descended from Jacob came to be enslaved in Egypt.( upper and lower Egypt!) and their number grew into the millions. God delivered them from captivity, leading them through the Red Sea then adopted them as his people, proving them laws by means of the mediator Moses, they became the ancient nation of Israel. God did not approve of the forms of worship practiced in the surrounding nations ( is-ra-el). And what about those of other nations who wanted to worship the true god? They needed to abandon their former false worship and then join Is-ra-el, many of them became his loyal servants, they included women such as Rahab the Canaanite and Ruth the Moabite, and men such as Uriah the Hittite and Eben Melech the Ethiopian, and groups of people, such as the Gibeonites. Israel’s King Solomon offered a heartfelt prayer in behalf of all who, like them, joined in true worship.
Later Jesus established worship on the basis of his teachings, in time those worshipers became known as Christians (Acts 11:26) thus Jews who wanted gods approval had to leave their former way of worship. They did not have the option of choosing between two systems of worship or of worshiping as isolated individuals, as you know true worshippers were united in one faith.
Now watch the conclusion they take in “AWAKE”: today the idea that god deals with mankind through only one religion may seem unpalatable to some. Yet, it is the conclusion to which the Bible points (according to awake) in the past. Many individuals who had worshipped in their own way came to grips with this fact. They joined themselves to the true worshippers of Jehovah, and any initial misgivings gave way to great blessings and joy.
Important to realize here is that religion and faith are not the same thing, you will have noticed also that all this knowledge is still very shallow and that the conclusion the Jehovah witnesses have taken was done from ego, he that causes longing. Have you noticed that there is a gradual shift from the fathers as keepers of the faith down to the individual, that the story told incl. the names such as Israel, Egypt (upper and lower) is also the gradual growth of mankind, it is also the development through the chakras.
That religion is manmade, the individual who is disconnected from the whole interprets the Bible and takes its interpretation as truth. That you might start to realize that the time where there are no true believers any more is now, that a true believer is someone who knows truth and fully believes. Men of true faith. That the enslavement is also now, and that the change that is needed cannot come from the mind that has created this state of need in the first place, this is where those shifts take place but this time the end of a long journey for those who have come to realize their enslavement.
The question arises: how do you distinguish right from wrong? Jeremiah foretold the coming destruction of Jerusalem, while at the same time Hananiah claimed to also speak for god, spoke of peace for Jerusalem. To know who was right you would need to know the laws and principles. Did everybody recognize the truth proclaimed by Christ? No, even though he was right in the midst of the people of is-ra-el.
When the Pharisees asked when the kingdom of god was coming, he said: the kingdom of god is not coming with striking observableness, the kingdom of god is in your midst, but they refused to open their eyes, the truth was still not plain to most. He commissioned his followers to make disciples of people by teaching them. Sincere seekers became true believers, because in sincere seekers gods truth will strike a responsive chord and recognize and receive with great eagerness of mind the words that are given. This tells you something about the attitude, they are not gullible or cynical. Once it is found/given one will be moved to share it enthusiastically. Realize here that finding it is not up to you, in fact you stand in its way and block the light. What I mean with this is that ego/personality cannot find it, it lives in the two lower parts of the soul and when focus is done from any of these then you are looking in the wrong direction.
None of the religions could be called the true religion, as representation of the believers. If one individual would have true faith he would know there is only one true religion, truth.
06-03-2008
Moshiya van den Broek