Sermon Tone Analysis

Pray

Introduction

3 years ago, a woman was in a shop and saw a dress that she liked.

She took a picture of the dress and sent it to a friend - if I remember correctly.

Or she put it on Facebook or another social media site and the picture went viral.

[show slide of dress]

Now, why did it go viral, you may ask…what’s viral you may even be asking.

What happened is that this picture prompted a mass debate.

It was shared all over the world millions of times because nobody could decide what colour it was.

What do you think?

Is it blue/black or is it white/gold?

Does it matter?

Not really.

But let’s say two different people are describing this picture to their friend - one thinks the dress is blue/black and the other thinks the dress is white/gold.

So one says, ‘I saw this lovely dress.

It’s white with gold.’

The other says, ‘I saw this lovely dress.

It’s black with blue.’

Two very different descriptions but they are both describing the same dress.

Now, is that what’s going on with all the religions in the world?

Are they simply different ways of describing the SAME God?

Is that what’s going on?

Are all religions different ways of describing the SAME God? Do you think that all religions point to their own version of the SAME God, but just a different aspect of God or a different understanding of the SAME God and actually what matters is the fact that they believe in something bigger than themselves?

I mean, they all BELIEVE IN THE SAME DIVINE BEING, after all - they’re just describing God in different ways.

Is that how we should view other religions?

Cos many people think that…and that way of thinking can be called religious tolerance.

All religions are tolerated because they are essentially following the same god.

Pause

If that’s the case, Christianity is, by definition, intolerant…because Christians believe that Jesus CHRIST is God and they believe that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to God.

Remember John 14:6...

But what about the other religions?

Are we being intolerant of other religions because they are wrong and we’re right?

Are we saying that EVERY human being who belongs to a religion that does NOT believe in Jesus Christ is going to hell - even though they believe in SOME sort of God or divine deity.

I mean, they’ve come so close to believe in SOMETHING - to recognise that there is SOMETHING greater out there and they BELIEVE in this greater thing…surely that must count for SOMETHING????? No? Surely God will give some credit to that, no?

Pause

This is a really tough question, cos what I tend to do is to judge other religions based on what the bible says, and why wouldn’t I do that?

But the bible talks about is sin, and it talks about the world going down the tubes unless God does something to redeem the world - which he did through sending his Son, Jesus Christ to die as our substitution.

That’s what the bible says.

But can I judge OTHER RELIGIONS based on the Cristian scriptures?

For example, I could go to a Hindu and say, ‘How does YOUR religion deal with the issue of sin?

How are YOUR sins forgiven?’

But what if that Hindu religion doesn’t believe in sin?

Then their answer is, ‘I don’t need my sins forgiven cos I don’t sin - what even IS sin anyway?’

You see, our scriptures give us a framework by which we judge everything, but other religions have a different framework.

So different religions have different beliefs and different ways to get to heaven....and we have our own belief and way to get to heaven - through Jesus Christ alone.

And we might be accused of being intolerant of other religions, because what WE believe is very clear cut - Jesus is the only way to the Father.

No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through him.

And that very verse means that any other religion that DOES NOT believe in Jesus Christ is wrong.

We’re not necessarily being intolerant by saying that - it’s just the way it is - it’s what we believe.

The problem is that it comes across as intolerant...

“Don’t be so dogmatic!

How can you be so arrogant that YOU’VE got it right.”

But this is what we believe -that Jesus is the ONLY way the truth and the life.

Is that being intolerant?

No.

Tolerance is accepting that other people HAVE a view that might be different and incompatible with MY view, but they’re entitled to HAVE that view.

And I’m ok with that - everyone is entitled to have an opinion, but I don’t have to agree with that opinion or view.

But as Christians we’ve got to at least put our argument across.

‘Here’s what WE believe as Christians.’

Cos the purpose of mission is to preach repentance - to tell people that they are wrong and they need to change their ways and accept Christ as their saviour…and THAT’S why we’re accused of being intolerant - cos we are TELLING people that we think they ARE wrong in what they believe and they need to change.

The problem often is in the WAY we do it.

More often than not it’s condemnatory and there’s little grace or love.

But are we actually doing that?

Are we challenging ANYONE on what they believe?

See, if we loved people - truly loved people like we’re commanded to, then I think we’d be more vocal in putting our argument across.

Cos I have friends from Almac - but if I TRULLY loved them I’d challenge them on their belief, or unbelief, cos I’d want them to see the light and join the family of believers.

But by challenging them I may get accused of being intolerant.

Is it worth the rejection and abuse and persecution?

Pause

Ok then, What about those religions who SAY they are Christian but aren’t…I’m talking Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses - religions like that.

Cos they are walking around the streets looking like they’re promoting Jesus, but are they?

Let’s take Mormons - I don’t know much about them…I don’t know much about either of them, to be fair, but Mormons believe that Joseph Smith received a special revelation that ONLY HE got - and it was written on golden plates and only translated using special stones.

And then an angel took these special plates so that only Smith knew what they said.

A few issues I have here - firstly, the bible is a closed book - no new revelation is to be added.

We see that in Revelation 22:18 ...

Smith has done just that…but also - let’s be cynical for a second - so a man get’s a special extra revelation from God and there’s physical evidence of this from golden plates…

’ok, where are they?’

‘Well, they’ve been taken back by the angel, but it’s OK - I’ve taken notes.’

‘So…I have to just take your word for it?

There’s NOTHING else to corroborate this?

Is there ANY chance you could be making this all up?’

hmmm.

That’s not the only thing, but it’s enough to put me off.

Pause

What about Jehovah’s Witnesses…their big deal-breaker is that they deny the deity of Christ.

They don’t believe that Jesus is God.

And to ANYONE who denies the deity of Christ, my question is this…If Jesus ISN’T God then he ISN’T perfect and he therefore isn’t the perfect, unblemished lamb of God and so therefore he can’t take away the sin of the world - cos only God can do that.

If Jesus isn’t God how can your sins be forgiven?

And yet JWs believe that salvation is through Jesus’ ransom sacrifice - HOW???

If he’s not God how is that even possible?

Pause

I haven’t touched on these enough and I don’t know enough about them to be honest…but what I DO know and believe with all my heart is that Jesus IS the Son of God and it is his death and resurrection that saves ANYONE who puts their faith and trust in Jesus.

The problem is, once again, that by saying even that, we are deemed intolerant.

And maybe we are, but we aren’t commanded in the bible to BE tolerant…we’re commanded to LOVE, and...

If we love then we will let those closet to us know that they are lost without Jesus Christ

- that only HE has the power to save and give new life.

I refer to those closest to us because I suppose that’s where it has to start…If we can’t tell those closest to us about Jesus and their need for repentance then how can we tell those who aren’t close to us.

And the problem is we’re not telling anyone.

I think we’re too afraid of the consequences of being deemed intolerant.

Look at the Asher’s Bakery case.