Just A Little Jesus

Jeff Justus

October 19, 2002 

Pseudo-Christians and pseudo-Christian religions continually frustrate me.  What I mean by this is that I find that their religion and guiding moral principles are just a little Jesus and a whole lot of Satan. 

I saw a small booklet at a major discount retail chain checkout stand.  The book was titled “Searching for God.”[1]  The book spoke of God in Christian terms and emphasized the importance of a relationship with Him, but conspicuously avoided any mention of Jesus life, death, or resurrection.  There were quotes from the Bible, even quotes from Jesus, but the quotes were peripheral to the essential message of salvation. 

In conclusion, the book said that we must confess our sin, which was defined as lack of faith or failing to love God with our whole hearts.[2]  The message of the book revolves around love.  As I have discussed in other articles, love is a central theme of the New Age movement especially when it overrides the individual accountability for sin and our sole means of salvation through Jesus. 

Even though Christian Science speaks frequently about Jesus, it identifies sin as errors in thinking that must be corrected rather than moral transgressions against God’s immutable laws.  Mary Baker Eddy’s[3] writings reveal that she believes that man is his own salvation and Jesus was just a role model. 

The religion called Eckankar also speaks of Jesus, but investigation of their doctrine is anything but Christian.

Alice Bailey, head of the Theosophical Society, quoted the Bible and the words of Jesus to justify her doctrine that all roads lead to heaven.  But again, deeper reading reveals her belief that Jesus was one of many enlightened beings and that Jesus one of the lesser “Masters” in the cosmos. 

It is often too easy for New Age philosophers and self-proclaimed prophets to gush with verses like:

(John 13:34 KJV)  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

(Matthew 19:19 KJV)  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(Philippians 2:2 KJV)  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

(Galatians 5:22 KJV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

(Gal 5:14 KJV)  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

All of these verses are valid and true, but if they do not accompany the total message, then they become just as harmful as pure Satanism. 

Have I got your attention?

How can a Bible verse be Satanic?

Let me give you another example, then you decide.

(John 10:34 KJV)  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

If you look up this verse in a red-letter edition, you will see that “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” is a direct quote of Jesus.

Is Jesus actually telling people, indeed all of us, that we are gods?

The fact of the matter is that this single verse has been used repeatedly by false Christian doctrines that teach that individuals can attain godhood.  The problem is that the verse, when taken out of context, can be made to say something that is totally contrary to the total message of the New Testament. 

In the John passage quoted above, Jesus has been accused of blasphemy because He has referred to himself as one with The Father (John 10:30).  Jesus’ retort to the Pharisees was that various Old Testament passages referred to prophets and/or priests as Elohim (gods - receivers of God's word).  Jesus argued that if the Old Testament scripture (law) was valid, then should He not be considered Elohim (one with God) for his deeds.

(John 10:35 KJV)  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

(John 10:36 KJV)  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

(John 10:37 KJV)  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

(John 10:38 KJV)  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Do you see how isolated verses can become stumbling blocks?  Likewise, any doctrine that focuses on love, albeit from the Biblical standpoint, but ignores the necessity of salvation is fake and counterfeit.

You may have heard people make the joke about being  “a little pregnant.”  Clearly, this is a condition that either is, or is not.  Likewise, if one is to be a Christian, they cannot employ just a little Jesus.  They must immerse themselves in the whole of what Jesus taught. 

Jesus taught of love.  God is love.  But Jesus also spoke strongly about how to become the recipient of that love.  It is only through faith.  Continue to read the words of Jesus:

(John 14:6 KJV)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Emphasis added)

(John 14:7 KJV)  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Satan wants the world to believe that love alone can save them.  He does not want the world to know or understand that each individual must make the decision to surrender to Jesus.  Therefore, a doctrine of love – even Biblically based – when it ignore individual accountability for sin, is Satanic.

Does this make you a little uncomfortable to know how close Satan is to the truth?  Get used to it.  Satan has used this very tactic from the very beginning.  He mixes just enough truth into a lie to make it misleading.  Any hunter will tell you that any trap is only as good as its disguise.

Now that you know how close Satan is, what do you do? 

First of all, pray.  Keep yourself on guard for traps that lay in wait for you.  Take stock of your faith and ensure that you have not compromised the Gospel.

Next: read the Bible.  Know what it says.  Be familiar with the words of Jesus as he speaks of love and salvation.

Finally: take a stand.  When friends and co-workers get into discussions about religion and introduce the love-doctrine, speak the truth.  This is your mission field.  Your friends and co-workers may be hungry for a Gospel that assures them of their salvation.  Indeed, they may even be under conviction and you could be the one that God has sent to share His good news.

God is Love.  Share His love by sharing the truth.