Is There One True Religion that is Better Than All the Rest?

Is there truly just one religion that is pleasing to God, or can it be accurate to say that all mainstream religious organizations that profess a sincere and veritable belief in God are indeed acceptable to Him? For those who are not affiliated with a religious group, is it enough just to be a "good person?" Or is more required?

More to the point, are all religions pleasing to God, or is it just one? And if the answer is just one, why are there so many religions in the world that claim to be Christian?

These solemn questions are heavy with significance. Each person's answer to this would be saturated with opinion, and thus flawed from the outset. In order to accurately answer the above questions, one must go to the source. If left to man and his personal beliefs, the questions we have asked would be debated forever, as each person and each religious organization has their own view, estimation and outlook on their individual tenets and practices.

So let's take a few moments to scripturally consider the above. The Bible is the true authority, provides meaningful answers to these questions and is the measurement of all professed "Christians."

Indeed, Jesus Christ said in prayer to God, "Your word is truth." (John 17:17) Though some 40 men were its writers over a period of 1,600 years, the Bible is a harmonious body of writings. That is so because its real author is God himself. God inspired the writing of the Bible itself. (2 Timothy 3:16)

When Jesus was on earth, he started one true religion. His three and a half year ministry taught people the value of turning to God and worshiping Him with all they have. At Ephesians 4:4,5 it says, "The true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship in spirit and truth."

Jesus denounced those who worship with an air of formality, calling these religious leaders, the Scribes and the Pharisees of his day, "blind guides" and "hypocrites." Christ eased the burdensome interpretations of the Mosaic Law that the religious leaders oppressed the populace with, giving individuals simple and yet profound direction to love God, neighbor and fellowman. You can read the account of Jesus' strong denunciation against such religious practices at Matthew 23:1-33.

Jesus further gave instructions to his disciples about prayer, and the importance of it. Teaching them and advising them of the priorities in prayer, and what things they should pray for, at Matthew chapter 6 we read how Jesus instructed individuals to pray in "your private room, and after shutting the door, pray to your Father who is in secret; then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you."

He further went on to say that "when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words." (Matthew 6:6,7)

On this point alone, the major religions of Christianity fail miserable.

Religions that place a heavy onus on customs, rituals, form and decorum, over the more important virtues and weightier matters of serving God with a complete heart, soul, and mind, are clearly not acceptable. (Matthew 22:37)

Ask yourself, does the church I attend place a heavy importance on such things? Do we even use the Bible, and if so, does each member have, bring and make good use of their own personal copy, both at church and at home? Am I given a select amount of ritualistic "Our Father" prayers to recite, based on the gravity of my so-called confessed imperfections? And do you think Almighty God is pleased by such routine sacraments? O

Remember what Christ said about prayers that simply recite the same thing over and over again. Interesting questions no doubt. Remember too, the Bible teaches that only a select few have found the narrow road to life. (Matthew 7:13,14) Those that are on the other path, the "broad and spacious" road which leads "off into destruction" think they are also on the right path as well. They do not realize where that course will take them. Yet they are on it nevertheless. Simply put, everyone thinks they are in the "right religion," but most are not.

The point? Any true religion must continue to practice the teachings and principles that were founded in Christ and his teachings.

The Bible indicated that after the death of Christ and his first century Apostles, wrong teachings and unchristian practices would slowly creep their way into the Christian congregation. Men would draw away believers to follow them instead of Christ. Matthew 7:15 tells us, "Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep's covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves."

And Acts chapter 20, verses 29 and 30 says, "I know that after my (Paul) going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." An apostasy of the true religion would thus develop, and the inroads would be created from right within the congregation!

So these apostate Christians would not surface from the heathen, alternative, sect like religious groups. But could major religions, as a whole, be falling into the fulfillment of this prophecy?

Consider that same chapter of Matthew 7. Later, in verses 21 and 22, we read, "Not everyone saying to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?' " Jesus goes on to say that truly, he "never knew" such ones. So clearly, a number of those who feel that they are serving God are evidently not suitable to him. Their worship is not pleasing.

Let's consider the most outstanding mark of a true religion. Jesus unequivocally identified what it would be at John 13:34 and 35. Said he: "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have long among yourselves."

True Christians would not be taught that they are better than another because of race, skin color, country of origin or anything else. God is "not partial," according to Acts 10:34 and 35. It goes on to say that in "every nation" ones would be found who are acceptable to Him.

Another sign of having love among themselves is that true Christians would not participate in wars. How could they, and yet still fulfill this requirement? How many times, on a major world scale, have Catholic, Protestant and the like gone to war against fellow believers, killing them in the name of some "greater good?" In fact, the clergy and leaders of these same religions have blessed their troops on either side of the battlefield, even praying to and asking that they be granted victory from the same God! True Christians, on the other hand, would treat one another as "brothers." (1 John 4:20,21) Sincerely ask yourself... Can I travel to another side of the globe, and based on my religious affiliation only, be treated hospitably as a brother from another fellow believer?

Another mark of the true religion is that its members have a deep respect for the Bible. They accept it as it truthfully is, the Word of God, and they believe what it says. They treat God's Word as being more important than any human idea or custom. (Matthew 15:1-3, 7-9) They try to live by the Bible in their everyday life. So they do not preach one thing and then practice another. Titus chapter 1 verse 16 speaks of those who "publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of any sort." Does your religion teach a way of life, or are you only a Christian on Sunday mornings?

The true religion must also honor God's name. Most people are familiar with the wording of the Lord's Prayer, in which Jesus highlighted the importance of God's name being sanctified. (Matthew 6:9) More than just a phrase that should be meaninglessly and habitually repeated, the honor and reverence due to God, and his name, should be a foremost concern.

At John 17:6, and later in verse 26, Christ indicated he had "made your (God's) name manifest" and that he has "made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them." Later, in the book of Romans, Paul brought out that everyone who calls on that name will be saved. (Romans 10:13,14)

What does it mean to use God's name? Does God even have a name? Indeed he does! The Bible clearly makes it known that the personal name of God is Jehovah. A brief review of religious history reveals how that Divine Name was slowly eliminated out of the Bible.

In the Hebrew language, in which a large portion of the Bible was written in, vowels were not used. So the Hebrew word for Jehovah in ancient manuscripts will appear as the Tetragrammaton YHWH, rendered Yahweh or Jehovah. Over the years, from the second century onward, Pagan philosophies, doctrines, and superstitions on behalf of Scribes and copyists regarding the written use of the Divine Name all infiltrated the congregation; sects and divisions arose, and the purity of faith was compromised. God's name ceased to be used.

However, in most cases, Psalms 83:18, among other key scriptures, still will contain the name Jehovah. I encourage you to look that up in your personal copy of the Bible. The name of God appears over 7,000 times in original manuscripts. Unfortunately, in most modern translations of the Bible, you will see the word LORD, written in all capital letters, where the name Jehovah once appeared.

Does your religion make use of the personal name of God? If we are to get to know God, to "draw close" to him as we are invited to at James 4:8, would we not want to get to know and use God's name? Do you know all of the names of your close friends? Have you ever gotten to know a good friend without using their name? Unlikely.

Are there people in your community who bear God's name and tell others about it?

True Christians must also preach about the Kingdom of God and the future blessings that it will bring to mankind here on earth. Obviously, the preaching and teaching work of Christ was the cornerstone of his time here with us. Jesus commanded his disciples to preach as he did. He indicated that the good news of the Kingdom MUST be preached, as a witness to both those who would either here and obey, or decide to disregard that message. (Matthew 24:14)

And make no mistake, this was a command, not a recommendation or an encouragement. Not something to be done only on occasion, should the chance arise, or for only a few years as part of some required campaign. Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus said to "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things." Does your religion actively engage in an organized, worldwide preaching work, reaching out to all people, in every corner of the earth, to tell them about the Kingdom of God?

Lastly, Jesus indicated that his true disciples, his true followers, would be no part of this wicked world. (John 17:16) Jesus set a fine example in this for us. Identifying that Christ would be an excellent ruler, the people sought him out in order to make him a king. His response? He "withdrew into the mountains." (John 6:15) Jesus knew that his time to be a king was not at hand. And he knew that his kingship did not lie in the hands of earthly rulers, but in God's hand, as ruler of the Messianic Kingdom. No one would disagree that Jesus would have been the earth's most excellent ruler, but he declined to be involved in the political make up of his day. Rather, he focused on the Kingdom of God as the real and only solution to man's problems.

Thus as a group, and following the example of Christ, a true religion would not be involved in earth's political affairs and social controversies. They would be politically neutral. They would keep themselves without "spot" from the world, and would not be known as its "friend." (James 1:27, 4:4) They would also avoid the harmful conduct, disgusting practices and damaging attitudes that are so prevalent in the world today.

Can you identify a religious group that meets the above biblical standards? As difficult as it may be to realize, there is one group, and one group only, that throughout its history has adhered to each and every requirement as set forth in the Bible. I will leave it to you to find them. Pray to God, through Christ Jesus, and use his name. If you are seeking the truth, sincerely ask that you be introduced to this religion. Then don't hide behind your curtains when a knock is made upon your door.