114. Aren’t all religions the same?

No, most religions are fundamentally different and the differences cannot be reconciled. People who advocate that there is unity in religions are deceived, and only have a superficial knowledge of religious teachings. Do not listen to them. For example one religion denies the deity, sonship and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said that if Christ had not been raised from the dead then our faith is in vain and he would be a most miserable man (refer 1 Cor 15:20). If they are right then Christians are all the most miserable of people and deceived. The Christians we know do not appear to be miserable. They are full of the joy of the Holy Spirit. The Bible advocates in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 6 v 4 the worship of only One Supreme Creator God and He is jealous of the worship of any other God and forbids it.

Another religion advocates a plethora of gods and the devotee has to choose the right god for the right occasion. The Bible teaches us that we have ‘One’ advocate between man and God and that is Jesus Christ. Such clearly opposing teachings cannot be reconciled in a way that enables us to advocate the unity of religions.

Even the fundamental idea that religion is man’s pursuit of salvation and entry into heaven through a god is not consistently advocated in religions. Another religion does not have an Eternal Being and does not have an eternal heaven. The Bible teaches that its revelation has not been created by man trying to make up a god concept, but it is the Supreme Creator God revealing himself to mankind and offering the unmerited gift of free salvation to anyone who humbles themselves and accepts this gift and revelation of God. Many religions require mankind to earn merit towards salvation or the elevation of life forms commonly known as reincarnation. The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift provided by God’s sacrificial gift of His Son. We do not earn a free gift by merit.