Who tells the truth, one who loves or one who deceives? Love is viewed as acceptance, an open door policy without Christ as the only way, the only truth, the only life leading to God the Father. If Jesus is excused from God's love, salvation is not and will not be attained. Deception is a tactic of Satan. If he cannot get someone to deny Jesus, he will trick their honest sensibilities. He uses cults and false religions to call those in search of acceptance. Today's most common lie is "spirituality" or the longing for something outside ourselves. I have been referred to a new wave of "religion" led by Oprah Winphrey. Simply put, she states Jesus' reason, or primary reason, was not the cross but to teach us how to live a Christ-like life. Now, on face value this may sound harmless. But nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus came to sacrifice Himself on the cross to atone for mankind's sins. He did not come to teach us the way, because He is the way. Before Christ, we were under law, with it's regulations teaching righteousness. But, Jesus abolished it in favor of grace (undeserved favor). The only way to receive God's grace is through absolute belief in Christ's death on what? The cross.
Salvation is not based upon human effort, but through faith in Jesus' self sacrifice on the cross. The problem with Oprah's, and others, "feel good" spirituality is they say Christ came to teach us how to live and we should follow His example. Yes, we are to follow His lead, but in absolutely no way does our following, in and of itself, grant salvation! If that were the case, salvation would be based on works. Then Jesus' death was for nothing and we would be worshipping a flawed God. Meaning He came to show the way, but His way only ended in death rather than life. No, Jesus' purpose in coming was death on the cross and resurrection. No one should be accepted as a brother to Christ, as a co-heir with Him (Romans 8:17), without first accepting the unequivocal truth of Jesus' atonement on the cross, His bodily resurrection to God, and that He is the Christ, the Messiah, God's Son--God in flesh.
False teachers of this age teach the doctrine of demons--avenues leading away or around Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 4:1-2). They will appear as honest, trustworthy, wise people--ones who the masses will be attracted to. If a Christian's level of maturity is that of an infant, one of child-like faith but no depth in the understanding of Christ, they will be easily entangled in deception--such as Oprah's new religion. Christ is the way, the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Defender, and Teacher of lives being transformed into Christ-likeness. If God's message through Christ Jesus is watered down to please the masses, then people are being led to eternal separation from God. People who do such are cohorts to the doctrinal teachings of demons masquerading as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
In order to know deceit when it is introduced, Christians must know Scripture. We don't have to be scholars. What we must be is independent of outside views and base everything we hear and see off the Word of God. This is done by reading it, using the concordance to cross reference verses and words--simply put, spending time with God earnestly searching His truths out. 2 Timothy 2:15-16 covers this well--
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene."
If we continue to accept or tolerate abominable and contorted views of Christ, God the Father is not in us (1 John 2). Love is a truth which is intolerant of lies. Love is not blind and it is not weak. God's truth cuts and love is speaking God's Word honestly. If people choose to ignore truth, that does not mean the truth becomes weak. Veracity is not based upon people's acceptance--the truth remains whether it is believed or not. Humans acceptance is not the activating agent--that was taken care of by Jesus' death on the cross.
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