Is your religion real—
or just religious deception?

Here’s a biblical truth every Christian needs to understand: God does not ask you to trust Him blindly. He doesn’t expect you to take your preacher’s word on faith alone. He doesn’t want you sitting in church, absorbing teaching you don’t understand.

The truth is the opposite: God invites you to test Him. He tells you to test your minister—and to test the teachings of your church.

The Apostle John wrote:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

1 John 4:1

Have you put your minister or church to the test? A true minister of God will welcome that test—he will welcome your questions, and will answer them from the Bible.

The Apostle Paul warned of “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” Jesus elsewhere warned, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

This message is tough—but it’s the truth, straight from the Word of God—from the mouth of Jesus Christ and His apostles.

These biblical warnings explain so many of the problems with Christianity—both today and throughout history. And I’m talking about serious problems—not just corrupt priests, inconsistent teachings or unholy practices, but terrible religious persecutions and wars.

Religion has caused a lot of problems!

The trouble is not with the Bible, or with the teachings of Jesus.

The problem is false Christianity.

The solution is to truly get back to the Bible. And to live by the Bible.

God wants you to

“Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21

He makes it possible for you to do that, using the Bible as your foundation.

In Acts 17, God praised the people of Berea, who

“… received the word [of God] with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Acts 17:11

These Christians had a ready mind, a positive approach—they tested whether what they were being taught aligned with the Scriptures. And God called them noble for taking that approach.

You too need to test what you are being taught, to avoid the deceptions Christ and His apostles warned about.

You can start by asking two basic questions.

1. Does your minister really teach what Christ and the apostles taught?

   Many ministers use certain Bible passages in their preaching—but then they promote doctrines and practices that don’t come from Scripture—but from human philosophy, popular traditions, even ancient pagan practices. Many of these directly contradict the plain teaching of the Bible.

   For example, did you know that two of the most popular and commonly observed “Christian” holidays—Christmas and Easter—are not taught in the Bible? They originated in paganism.

   So why do “Christian” churches celebrate them?

   Most Christian churches teach that you have an immortal soul. But the Bible explicitly says the “soul” can die (Ezekiel 18:20). The Bible says the wages of sin is death, and eternal life is a gift God must give us. Why would that be, if we already have an immortal soul?

   The fact is, the Bible teaches that evil people die—they don’t live forever in everlasting hellfire. The Bible doesn’t say the righteous are in heaven with God—it actually says “no man hath ascended up to heaven” (John 3:13).

   So why do so many preachers teach heaven and hell?

   Here’s a major one: The Bible teaches the seventh-day Sabbath. You will not find a biblical command to worship on Sunday. Jesus Christ clearly kept the Sabbath, and so did His followers after He died.

   So why doesn’t your church keep the Sabbath?

   The reason is that most churches teach that God’s law is done away—nailed to the cross. But Jesus preached the opposite—in Matthew 5 He said He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. He said not one jot or tittle of the law would pass until all was fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18).

   And even after He died, the apostles called God’s law “holy, just and good” (Romans 7:12).

   Does your church view God’s law that way? Do you?

   That leads directly into the second test you should apply:

2. Does your minister preach repentance toward God?

   This was the first word Jesus uttered when He began His ministry on Earth—“Repent.”

   Repentance is the first step toward becoming a true Christian. But true repentance is one of the most misunderstood doctrines in mainstream Christianity. Are you being taught what it really means to repent?

   Biblical repentance is not simply “accepting Jesus.” Repentance is not merely confessing sins—and it certainly isn’t partaking of sacraments.

   Repentance means turning to the way of God—the way of His law. It is a radical change of mind and heart that produces real change in attitude and behavior. Repentance isn’t simple, quick or easy. It requires tackling your human heart, which the Bible says is “wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9) and actually despises God (Romans 8:7).

   Does your minister help you confront and overcome your wicked heart? That’s a crucial test that will help you tell true Christianity from false.

And more personally—you need to ask yourself: Have you really repented?

True Christianity isn’t a feel-good philosophy or a social club. It is a way of life—a way built around God’s law of loving God with all your heart, and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).

It is the way that leads to peace and joy—to a strong marriage and a happy family—to a clean mind and a healthy body—to contentment and fulfillment. It’s the way that fulfills God’s purpose for your life.

Jesus came so that His true followers “might have life, and that they might have life more abundantly.”

So why are so many Christians confused, cynical and unsatisfied?

The problem isn’t with God or the Bible. The problem is with those who teach us about God and the Bible. The problem is with those who come “in the name of Jesus.” The problem is false Christianity.

So what’s the solution?

The solution starts with proving what you believe. It starts with really proving God’s existence—with proving the Bible as the inspired Word of God that we can trust and follow.

It begins with asking God to reveal the Church that teaches from the Bible, that preaches true repentance toward God.

You can avoid religious deception. You can remove the doubt, disenfranchisement and unbelief. You can answer all the questions. You can know God and practice true religion.

The solution is to live BY THE BIBLE!