Myths and Misleading Phrases of Modern Christianity #6 – If We Share Our Faith, We Are, “Shoving Religion Down Peoples’ Throats.”

This myth differs from the others in that Jesus’ followers don’t say it.  Instead, we hear it from those who have not yet humbled themselves before their Creator and put their trust in Him as Lord and Savior.  It is used by the powers and principalities of darkness to discourage Christians from sharing the words of eternal life found in the Bible.

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

A quick evangelism tip – When someone accuses me of shoving my “religion” down their throat, my quick, friendly response is, “Not at all.” because, (1) I am merely offering the message of eternal life and not shoving anything down anyone’s throat, and (2) Christianity is not a religion.  It is a Master/servant relationship, even a friendship, with our Creator by His miraculous gift of re-birth; of making us new creations with a new way of viewing things, new desires and eternal life.  Our response is voluntary servanthood to Jesus Christ borne from our thankfulness for His grace and forgiveness; our thankfulness for His suffering and sacrifice of Himself on the cross to pay for our sins; our thankfulness for His resurrection from the dead.  This relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6)

The truth is that we Christians constantly have things shoved down our throats with which we disagree.  Sometimes it seems we are swimming in them!  You can probably think of others, but here are a few examples in, for lack of a better one, alphabetical order:

Blasphemy:  We hear God’s name used worthlessly, disrespectfully or to curse so much that we tend to become deaf to it.  When was the last time you heard Adolph Hitler’s name used for no reason?  Or a serial killer’s name used in vain?  When was the last time you heard someone excitedly say, “Oh my allah!”?  People don’t use those names in vain because they don’t despise those names as much as their Creator’s name.  “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” (Matthew 12:34) and, when people despise their Creator, they use His name worthlessly.  They blaspheme the only living God, the God of the Bible, the One who gives them life and breath, the One who will hold them responsible for how they have lived their lives and the One who “will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

Evolution:  Can a Christian child attend a public school without having the theory of evolution taught as undeniable scientific fact?  Evolution would be seen as a silly fairy tale if it were not so entrenched in our society.  Can anyone watch a nature program on tv without being taught the completely unscientific and unnatural principles that everything came into being by itself and that one species changes into another species?  All evidence points to all creatures reproducing after their kind just as the Lord tells us in Genesis 1:11-12 and 1:24-25.  Nothing is more impossible than Creator-less creation!  Every building has a builder.  Everything that exists has a Maker.  It is a scientific impossibility for something to exist without a beginning.  The only evidence-based, scientifically proven possibility is that the God of the Bible created everything just as He tells us in Genesis, but the evidence-less opposite is shoved down everyone’s throats.

Humanism:  We are steeped in humanism in the United States.  We are indoctrinated through media to believe that humans are powerful, capable, knowledgeable, creative…  In reality, “Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” (Psalm 144:4)  Any abilities we have come by the sovereign grace of God.  Our Creator owes us neither our next breath nor heartbeat and our lives are His to take at any moment in whatever manner He chooses.  Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)  To claim otherwise is to tell God that He is a liar.  It is the height of arrogance.

Occultism:  Our culture here in the U.S. is full of the occult camouflaged as entertainment.  How many movies in just the past few years have dealt with vampires, zombies, witchcraft, sorcery, etc?  In the June 29, 2012 Wichita Eagle newspaper, I found 5 movies about the occult out of the 19 reviewed.  That’s over 25% of the movies showing here on the fringe of the Bible belt!  How many bands sing of the glories of wickedness, witchcraft and satanism?  Do you know what even mainstream bands like the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac were really singing about?  Lyrics can be easily found online, but read them at your own risk.  Horoscopes are found in newspapers across the country.  Palm and tarot card readers have ads in the phone book and online.  For a few bucks, a stranger will tell you your “future” by phone.  We are so surrounded by the occult that it is part of every day life.  We have ceased to see it for the demonic trash that it is.

Religiousness:  We are told that the Dalai Lama is a “holy man”; that various Islamic clerics deserve extra respect due to their religious standing; that the Pope is more than an ordinary man; that rabbis are above the rest of us spiritually.  Please don’t misinterpret this as disrespect toward these people.  I’m sure it would be a great experience to meet them.  I would certainly post about it on this blog.  However, they are all people who, one day, will stand before God to give an account of their lives just like the rest of us. “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,…” (Hebrews 9:27).

All of the above are shoved down everyone’s throats.  It is way past time to step back and look at what we are being fed – especially by the media in the United States.  “I will set no worthless (wicked) thing before my eyes.  I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not fasten its grip on me.” (Psalm 101:3)

Don’t allow anyone to intimidate or discourage you by accusing you of “shoving your religion down their throat.”  Quickly and lovingly deny their accusation and continue taking the best news in the universe to those who have ears to hear it.  Jesus said, “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.  Rejoice, and be glad for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)  Be encouraged brothers and sisters in Christ!

Thank you for reading!  God bless you!