Is Christianity dangerous?
Even the question sounds absurd.
After all, Christianity is about loving your
neighbor, turning the other cheek, and showing
mercy to your enemies.
How could that be dangerous?
And yet, in the last few years, there is a growing narrative
that the western Christian traditions are not
healthy for society.
If you've lived more than a few decades, you've noticed
this radical shift.
And it has been shocking.
After all, if Jesus taught mercy and love and consideration
for our neighbors, how did Christianity turn into
the enemy?
According to this narrative, Christianity is
not inclusive.
It's not compassionate.
It's not keeping up with the times, nor is it
on the "right side of history."
The list goes on and on.
And yet, Christian and biblical traditions have formed
the backbone of much of Western civilization.
So, what's going on?
Cultural shifts don't happen overnight, and they don't
happen in a vacuum.
There are reasons for the dramatic changes we've
seen in society.
And there's a reason why hating Christianity has become the
latest fad.
So, what are we supposed to think of this trend?
Why is it happening?
And more importantly, what can we do?
You might be surprised by the answers.
On today's program, let's look for those answers.
And get ready, because later in the program I'll
give you an opportunity to request today's offer,
Satan's Counterfeit Christianity.
So, join us today on Tomorrow's World, as we
ask and answer the question: "Is Christianity Dangerous?"
I'll be right back.
♪
Welcome to Tomorrow's World, where we help you make
sense of your world through the pages of the Bible.
Some consider Christianity to be dangerous.
But there's no question that Christianity itself is
under attack.
Roughly two point four billion people around the world
call themselves Christians.
And 365 million of them live in about 50 nations where they
experience "high levels of persecution or discrimination"
according to Christianity Today.
It's easy for us to disregard them, if we live comfortably in
the Western world, because they're far away.
We enjoy much more freedom.
But are there signs on the horizon that those freedoms
are evaporating, even in the western world?
Is greater persecution coming?
In Finland, a former Finnish Member of Parliament was
taken to trial in 2022 for a hate crime having to do
with the Bible.
Paivi Rasanen was charged with making derogatory comments
toward homosexuals, quoting Romans 1:24-27.
She defended herself by saying she was simply expressing
what the Bible says.
The Bible itself is being put on trial.
This should raise alarm bells for all who consider
themselves Christians.
An article on the Religious Freedom Institute website
summed it up well: "The Räsänen prosecution did nothing more
than draw a logical conclusion from the ideological shift
that has occurred in the course of recent decades, not just in
Finland but also in the United States, Canada, and the rest
of Western Europe.
In today's West.... Now that this type
of instinctive secularist progressivism has become
the cultural norm, Romans 1:24-27 is hate speech."
So, what should you do if your belief system is being
labeled as dangerous, and yet it's becoming more dangerous
for you to practice it?
In the remainder of the program
let's talk about three things you can and should do.
Number one:
Live by the literal, biblical word of God.
This might seem overly simplistic.
But don't overlook the obvious.
Make sure you're living by the Bible and living
like a Christian.
That means, we need to get our house in order.
The Apostle Peter explained this in 1 Peter 4:14-16...
"If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are
you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you...
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer,
or as a busybody in other people's matters.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let
him not be ashamed."
Why is this important?
Well there are a lot of people out there today who profess
Christianity, but the fruit of their lives
tells a different story.
Researcher George Barna points this out in a survey
entitled, "American Worldview Inventory, 2024."
He explains the following:
"[B]iblical worldview incidence in the United States has
declined for five consecutive generations, and during that
time the number of adults holding a biblical
worldview has plummeted from 12% to today's 4% level..."
Biblical worldview means that you see your world through
the lens of the Bible and the Christianity of the Bible.
It means that the Bible and your faith and obedience in Jesus
Christ affects and guides the countless decisions you make
every single day.
When only 4% of the population describe themselves this way,
it means we have a lot of fake Christians.
Some theologians have been saying this for a long time.
Professor Rufus M. Jones wrote this:
"If by any chance Christ Himself had been taken by His later
followers as the model and pattern of the new way,
and a serious attempt had been made to set up His life and
teaching as the standard and norm for the Church,
Christianity would have been something vastly different from
what it became."
Back in the 1800s, the philosopher and
theologian Søren Kirkegaard put it more bluntly:
"The Christianity of the New Testament simply
does not exist."
In other words, the church Jesus founded was, over the
centuries, watered down with compromises to become
unrecognizable today.
So, Christianity is claimed to be dangerous and toxic
and harmful by some today.
But the truth is, very few actually practice it.
How strange.
We truly are living in dangerous times.
And they will get more dangerous.
We shouldn't really be surprised, because Jesus
Christ gave His disciples warnings about how to handle it.
Notice one of the first warnings He issued,
in Matthew 24, beginning in verse 3...
"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be?
And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end
of the age?"
And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that
no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,'
and will deceive many."
Did you catch that?
Jesus said many would come in His name.
Many would profess faith in Jesus, and even say that
Jesus is Lord.
And then He said, "And will deceive many."
So, just because someone uses the name of Christ and calls
himself or herself a Christian does not mean they are a true
follower of Christ.
This is the first thing we must understand, we need to
recognize false Christianity.
Why is this so important?
We'll answer that question in a few moments.
But first I want to give you a chance to order our free
study guide we're offering today, written by the late
evangelist, Roderick C. Meredith,
Satan's Counterfeit Christianity.
He writes:
"This booklet contains genuinely shocking information for those
who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
It has profound implications for the future of our civilization."
If you're concerned about our modern nations, and the
future of your family, you need this information.
We'll send it to you free of charge.
We don't ask for money and we never will.
So, call, write or order online today.
Order now.
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also
receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's
World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science,
and modern culture will help you make sense of
your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow's World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
Welcome back.
In the last segment, we saw that there are a lot of fake
Christians in our world today.
And our job, if we really want to be a disciple
of Christ, is to find out what the Bible says and get our
lives in line with it.
There is a church founded by Jesus Christ,
that will be around until His return.
Notice what He said in Matthew 16:18.
As He told His disciples,
"...I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not
prevail against it."
In other words, He said His church, that He built,
would never die out.
And that brings us to our second point.
As we find ourselves in difficult times, when
Christianity as a whole is being vilified as the enemy, as
dangerous, what should we do?
Does Jesus give us any instructions?
He does.
That brings us to Number 2:
Don't put your faith in political movements.
Jesus Christ faced immense pressure to fight back against
the political forces He faced, when He was on this earth.
But notice what He said when questioned by the Roman
governor Pilate.
It's found in John 18:36...
"Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world.
If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight,
so that I should not be delivered to the Jews;
but now My kingdom is not from here."
God doesn't want us to get involved in the political
contests of this world.
He doesn't want us to physically fight or even politically
fight our adversaries.
You see, for those who see their religious freedoms trampled
on, there is a temptation to seek a political solution.
Particularly in the United States, some have
decided they need to support a movement, such as
Christian Nationalism.
Christianity Today defines Christian Nationalism this way:
"Christian nationalism is the belief that the American
nation is defined by Christianity, and
that the government should take active steps to
keep it that way..."
Should sincere, heartfelt Christians support
Christian Nationalism?
We all are grateful for any leaders in our
government who support any biblical values.
That's for sure.
But, is it through political movements that we will
solve our problems ultimately?
Of course not.
If you watch the news, you know the bad press that
Christian political activists are getting,
from many quarters.
Here are some of the headlines:
"Christianity 'increasingly regarded' by the
state as 'harmful'"
"'Toxic Christianity': the evangelicals creating
champions for Trump" "What is Christian nationalism and
why it raises concerns about threats to democracy".
If you are concerned about the rights of sincere
Christians being trampled on, you might feel a
kinship with those trying to fight back against
this cultural avalanche.
You might even want to get politically involved.
But ask yourself, does God want you to put your faith
in political movements?
Critics of Christian political activism warn that
Christianity is dangerous.
While they're terribly wrong on most counts, there
is a grain of truth to what they say.
You see, "counterfeit Christianity" is dangerous.
And will be in the future.
Let me explain.
There is a counterfeit Christianity--we already
saw that in the last segment.
And Bible prophecy shows that a counterfeit religious system
will rise to power and dominance at the close of this age.
It will be led by a charismatic leader out of Europe.
He will be cast as a savior, a defender of Christian values,
and a follower of Christ.
But Jesus tells us to be careful, be warned, don't
be deceived, it's a counterfeit.
Notice how it's described in Revelation 13:11...
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he
had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon."
This religious leader will claim to be Christian--he has two
horns like a lamb, and Jesus is symbolized as a Lamb.
But he'll speak like a dragon.
His words and his teachings will not follow the Bible at all.
What will this religious leader do?
Going on in Revelation 13:13...
"He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire
come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth... He causes all,
both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads..."
Mark 13:22 says the deception will be so great, that, even
the elect, if possible, will be deceived.
This will be an extremely dangerous time
for genuine Christians.
Later in Revelation, John describes this
counterfeit religious system as a woman, sitting on a beast.
A woman in the Book of Revelation symbolizes a church.
Notice in Revelation 17 and verse 3...
"...And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full
of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with
gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand
a golden cup full of abominations and
the filthiness of her fornication.
And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON
THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of
the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus."
Is counterfeit Christianity dangerous?
Yes.
This system will have put to death true servants of God.
It will take away religious freedom and compel
obedience by force.
This false prophet will, in league with a political
and military leader known as the beast, bring our world to a
state of suffering like we've never known.
Notice what John writes in Revelation 19:19...
"And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their
armies, gathered together to make war against Him who
sat on the horse and against His army."
This alliance between church and state will literally try to
fight against the returning Christ.
But it will be no match.
The One who sits on the horse, Jesus Christ,
will return in glory and power to put down this rebellion.
Notice, going on, in Revelation 19:20...
"Then the beast was captured, and with him the false
prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived
those who received the mark of the beast and those who
worshiped his image."
There's more to the story, but first let me offer you our
free study guide today,
Satan's Counterfeit Christianity.
You'll see for yourself how "the counterfeit religion spread,"
how a "modern 'Babylon' was created," and how in the
future we'll see "Babylon Revived."
Don't take these issues lightly.
What is detailed in this book will affect your life and
the lives of your family members, in the very
near future.
So, request your free copy of
Satan's Counterfeit Christianity.
You can call, write, or order online.
Order today.
♪
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
In the last two segments, we discussed the question:
Is Christianity dangerous?
As society grows more anti-Christian, we'll find
ourselves living in a time more and more dangerous for real,
genuine Christians.
What should we do?
Completely align our lives with Christ, in every way.
Don't put our faith in political movements.
But what's a third thing that we must do?
Number 3: let Christ be our Rock and Protector.
In the last segment, we saw that Revelation uses the symbolism
of a harlot woman to describe a counterfeit church in
the end times.
In contrast, the Book of Revelation also uses the
imagery of a chaste and pure woman to describe God's
faithful, true church.
What does it say about that church?
Will there be protection from the destruction and
devastation of the Tribulation for that church?
The answer is yes.
Notice, Revelation gives a behind the scenes
picture of a galactic war yet in the future, when Satan the
devil will fight against God on His throne.
We pick up the story in Revelation 12:7...
"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon and the dragon and his
angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was
a place found for them in heaven any longer.
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent
of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives
the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his
angels were cast out with him."
Remember, the counterfeit church deceives the masses, and is
influenced by the dragon.
Here we see why so many Christians in the
last days will be Christian in name only.
Because they've been deceived into accepting
a counterfeit religion.
But what about those who really do follow Christ?
God offers protection, on earth, to His faithful followers in
a Place of Safety.
Continuing on in Revelation 12:13...
"Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth,
he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the wilderness to her place,
where she is nourished for a time and times and half
a time, from the presence of the serpent."
Some people think this refers to the church being raptured.
No, it's simply taken into a wilderness.
Heaven is not a wilderness.
The children of Israel came out of Egypt symbolically on
eagles' wings--that's mentioned in Exodus 19:4.
But we know they just walked. It's the same concept here.
Going on in, verse 15...
"So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood
after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away
by the flood.
But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened
its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon
had spewed out of his mouth.
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make
war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the
commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
In other words, those who are faithful and protected from the
wrath of Satan the devil will also have the testimony of
Christ and be keeping the commandments of God.
That's not the Jews, that's God's genuine church.
You and I, if we really are followers of Christ; if
we obey His commandments--all ten of them--and are covered
with the blood of His sacrifice, and are led by His Holy Spirit,
He says He will take care of us.
But in order to be under His protection, we have to let
Him be our Lord and Master now.
We have to trust Him, we have to give our lives to Him now.
Notice what the prophet Jeremiah wrote,
starting in Jeremiah chapter 17 and verse 5...
"Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his
strength, whose heart departs from the LORD...
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and
whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not
fear when heat comes..."
God says our real trust must be in Him and our Savior,
Jesus Christ.
Jesus is our Rock.
He is our Protector.
He is our Savior.
It is He who will raise us up, if we die before His return.
David recognized that, and he was a man after God's own heart.
In Psalm 18 starting in verse 1 we read this...
"I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
so shall I be saved from my enemies."
How grateful we are, for having a faithful
and loving High Priest.
He is our Rock.
He is our Strength.
And how important that will be, as times get more difficult,
in the days ahead.
And it's important to remember that God's ways are good for us
and produce blessings for those who walk in His ways.
As Moses told the Israelites as they were coming out of Egypt,
beginning in Deuteronomy chapter 10 and verse 12...
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you,
but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and
to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart
and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the
LORD and His statutes which I command you today
for your good?"
Yes, God's way of life-- it's not bad, or evil
or hateful or repressive.
Everything He commands us to do, in the end, is for our good.
And that's something to be thankful about.
Again, I want to mention the study guide we're offering
today on this program,
Satan's Counterfeit Christianity.
As we've seen, when it comes to our beliefs,
sincerity is not enough.
We've got to base what we believe on Scripture.
There is a real devil, Satan, who has a kingdom and
who is the Counterfeiter.
He's the cause of the confusion in
modern mainstream Christianity.
He will cause the mayhem and destruction that is coming.
But there is protection, under the care of Almighty God.
Open your Bible and read for yourself.
Satan's Counterfeit Christianity,
will help you in your studies.
You need this information.
So, call, click or write today.
Order now.
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also
receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's
World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science,
and modern culture will help you make sense of
your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow's World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
Call now!
Or go to...
♪
In today's program, we saw that in our world today,
Christianity is often accused of being dangerous.
But we've got to understand, what type of Christianity?
There is a true and a false Christianity.
The false Christianity truly is dangerous.
It will bring the world to the brink of destruction.
But the true Christianity, the Christianity of the Bible,
is the only real hope for the world.
It teaches us that Jesus Christ will return, set His feet
on the earth, and bring peace and prosperity
that we desperately need.
Jesus Christ promises He will help those who are
His faithful and zealous servants.
He is our Rock, He is our fortress, our High Tower.
He is our protection.
And we need that more than ever.
So yes, counterfeit Christianity--it is dangerous.
We must be alert and awake, and not fall prey.
And we must embrace genuine Christianity,
with all of our hearts.
It's the hope of humanity-- that time of Christ's
millennial reign on earth.
God speed that day.
Thank you for watching.
And don't forget to order your free literature today,
Satan's Counterfeit Christianity.
It will open your eyes to the deceptions of Satan the devil,
and help you to recognize how to be a true and genuine follower
of Jesus Christ, preparing for His wonderful Kingdom,
coming soon.
And be sure to join us next time, as Gerald Weston,
Wallace Smith, and I explain the Good news of Tomorrow's World,
and the truth, comfort and hope it can bring to you
and your family.
See you next time.
♪
For today's free offer call...
Or go to...
Call today and join millions around the world who are
turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
The preceding program is produced by the
Living Church of God.
♪