Jesus Among Other "Gods"

In John 14:6, Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life ; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

Ellwood City, Pennsylvania residents were jubilant as they came out to see a Nativity scene that was placed on city property.   Now, I'm not sure what the general reaction was when the crowd saw that not only was there a Nativity, but also symbols pertaining to Kwanzaa and Hanukkah and secular symbols, including Santa Claus, a snowman and a Christmas Tree.

This rather bizarre assortment stems from a Supreme Court ruling about holiday displays called the "3-reindeer rule":  according to Christian attorney Randy Singer, writing in USA Today...

In two decisions from the 1980s, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that municipalities could display manger scenes and menorahs in public places alongside secular symbols of the holidays. The guidance from these cases — dubbed the "three reindeer rule" — is reasonably straightforward. Government-sponsored displays may include religious symbols, so long as the religious symbols do not predominate. Privately sponsored displays in public forums are granted even greater latitude. The bottom line: Religious symbols in the public square are not constitutional contraband.  

Now, I just think the rule is truly an overreaction, in light of our Christian heritage - but it is now considered the law of the land.  But, this assortment is kind of indicative of the type of Christianity that many practice...not only embracing a faith in Christ, but also in a more universal sense, adding to His word and the Christian faith as outlined in Scripture...

Christ-plus>>>works

Christ-plus>>>universalism...all roads lead to heaven

Christ-plus>>>other gods or idols that we set up to rival the pre-eminence of Christ in our lives

Christ-plus>>>self-styled activities that may in fact conflict with His commands.

And then there are those who claim "no-Christ", the atheists, who by the way, wanted to put up this sign at Nativity scene in Ellwood City:  "At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

 

So how's that working out for you - only our natural world.   Hosea chapter 4 describes a world that has no moral code, no restraints...

Hosea chapter 4: 
For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. 4 "Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. 5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.


So do the atheists, in their quest for "reason", really want a world with no guidelines, no restraints - utter god-lessness, which leads to total chaos?   Is that what they really want?    The end result of claiming there is no God is that Godlessness or lawlessness will prevail.   Those that deny religion necessarily deny the morality that is based on that religion.   

So, as we defend the Christian faith, we recognize the impact on an entire culture that our faith in Christ can have - an expression of moral absolutes - a sense of right and wrong...an expression of unconditional love, of human beings knowing how to live together.    Christ is the standard, and by holding to true devotion to Him, without anything added or subtracted, then we can live the way He wants us to.