One

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Ephesians 4:4-6


When I was in high school, and this is going to date me, but a song that was a hit for a time on the radio, was a song called "One." Part of the lyrics were "one is the loneliest number." Well, in romance, one is not the most ideal situation. But in general, one is not the loneliest number. Sometimes I enjoy being by myself, alone, only to get away from the busy-ness of our society and culture. But that is not what is being talked about here. In the church at large, there are many denominations and non-denominations. And within those are individual churches. In Ephesus, there was one Christian church, for everybody who believed in Jesus Christ. Amazing don't you think. There may have been some minor issues, which Paul addresses in his letters, but they were more concerned, and Paul was more concerned, at making sure they kept the main thing, the main thing. And that main thing is the concept of "one." Not in the Zen Buddhist sense. But in the sense that there are not several bodies of Christ, there is one. There are not several holy spirits, there is one Holy Spirit. There are not several hopes for the believer, there is only one, Jesus Christ. There are not several christs (messiahs), there is only one Christ. His name is Jesus. There is only one Lord. There is only one faith. There is only one baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is only one God, one Father of all. And Jesus says there is only one way; no one comes to the Father but by Him, Jesus.


But today, we have people running around out there, within the church, mind you, and they are saying that in the name of tolerance, that they can concede that there are many religions, and their many paths all lead to God. You have got to be kidding me! Do we ignore John 14:6 for the sake of tolerance, and just "getting along?" This is the biggest lie from hell, the biggest dupe that the devil has done to God's people. There is a movement within the Protestant Christian church, to begin accepting the rituals of the Catholic Church, to begin to practice things that have their root in Eastern mysticism. This is happening today, within the Church, the Body of Christ! And it is dangerous.


I don't mind sounding narrow. Jesus did, and I follow Him. Not some "new Christianity for the 21st century" that is blowing through the church. Jesus is the way to the Father. There is no other way. I don't apologize for standing on the Bible and teaching the Word of God. There are too many out there who would just teach about some positive life aspect, some "feel good" principles, in order to keep a crowd. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He doesn't change. There is still only one way to the Father, and that is by Jesus Christ His Son. There are not all of a sudden many ways to Him. There is still only one way.

Beloved, when you hear terms out there, like "contemplative prayer," or "contextual theology," or "ancient-future faith," or "prayer mazes," or "drum circles," beware, because there is a lie from the pit of hell that the devil is trying to purport upon the church. It is a lie that will bridge the gap, or at least narrow it, between the evangelical church of Jesus Christ, and the Catholic Church, and other world religions, such as Buddhism, New Age, and Eastern mysticism. Beware, beloved, beware. There is only One: His name is Jesus. Amen.