"Cruise Control to Paradise"
(On this Route Six-Sixty-Six)
"But there were false prophets among the people, even as there
will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive
heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves
swift destruction." (2Peter 2:1)
************
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there
are few who find it." (Matthew 7: 13,14)
***********
Recently, Dr. Katherine Jefferts Schori, newly elected presiding bishop
(Nevada) of the Episcopal Church USA stated that, "We who practice the
Christian tradition understand [Jesus] as our vehicle to the divine. But for
us to assume that God could not act in other ways is, I think, to put God in
an awfully small box."
Read more here.
If this is the official position of the Episcopal Church USA, then one
might well agree with Jesus that this group has turned away from the strait
and narrow Gate and merged seamlessly into the well-traveled broad and
comfortable Freeway of Pluralist Destruction.
Perhaps, Dr. Schori has not understood that it was God who put
himself into this (so-called) "small box" when He declared that He
would place the Gospel Truth into an exclusive and uncomfortably tight
package of redemption-through-faith in Christ...a package (or a Gift)
for which man must be willing to seek with all his heart.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me." (John 14:6)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you..." (Matthew 7:7)
*****
R.C. Sproul once wrote: "[T]he New Testament is on a collision course
with those who say it doesn't matter which road you're on."
The compromising Gnostic Church of the Well-Intentioned Rosy Promise has
been around a long, long time. You can spot the smoldering roadside wreckage
of this sleek, popular and very popular religious "vehicle" a mile away. It
has littered the broad highway of theological history for as long and as far
as the eye can see...
These gnostic heretical challenges come and go, but as GK Chesterton
once pointed out, defending Christian orthodoxy against false teaching is
like "...one whirling adventure and...the heavenly chariot flies thundering
through the ages, the dull heresies sprawling and prostrate, the wild truth
reeling but erect."
J.I. Packer has noted:
"The theological pluralism and confusion of our day argues
weakness of the flesh rather than vitality of the heart...Until agreement
reaches to method, the battle for the Bible in the pluralistic maelstrom of
the Christian world today will have to be maintained. May God strengthen his
servants to continue the good fight."
"Cruise Control to Paradise"
(On this Route Six-Sixty-Six)
On this Broad Highway to Heaven
You may pick, sir, Your Own Way!
Choose whatever Rites most please You
On this bright and sunny day!
Choose The Vehicle that suits You!
Automatic!
Overdrive!
Hey!
Whatever, Man, that moves You...
Heaven knows...
We'll
all arrive!
Kosmic Kundalini Karma?
Cruise Control to Paradise!
All You need is
good intentions...
Good intentions will suffice!
Maybe Buddha's Bus is better!?
Maybe Allah's your good news!?
Maybe Yoga-Yugos thrill You...
Man, there's no way You can lose!
Have You tried the Craft of Wicca?
Goddess Gaia's passing lane?
What a Groovy Way to get there!
Worship Earth, Air, Fire and Rain!
Take a spin through Gaia's Garden...
Top down cruising 'neath the moon!
Chanting your way to Nirvana...
Solstice Magik!
Coming soon!
Blessed be!
Man, now
You're truckin'!
Paradise!
To each his own!
Drive the Pluralistic Causeway...
Left Lane Mergers...
No Speed Zone!
Never mind what Jesus told You...
Disregard
that traffic cop!
Who needs all his mumbo-jumbo,
On this Free Way to The Top?
Disregard Christ's red light flashing...
Just ignore his wounded hands!
Trust your instincts to Nirvana...
Trade in that
conversion van!
You can weave your way through traffic...
Driving blind, you see, is 'in'!
There's no Law to pull You over.
On
this road there is no Sin!
Driving "smart" may get you
virgins!
Scores and scores and maybe more!
Pluralistic Backseat Pleasures...
Rumble seats...
Four on the floor!
Fill your tank with New Age Gases...
Pluralism's blended mix!
Ride your "Cosmic Christ" to glory!
Here on Route Six-Sixty-Six!
Junk that Old Time Jesus clunker...
(What a Lemon we were fed!)
Everybody gets to Heaven...
(Never mind what Jesus said!)
Follow your own inclinations...
Tailgate Treasures...
Backseat fun!
Come enjoy these worldly pleasures!
Church tradition's on the run!
There's no curve that You can't handle
No
Bridge Out!
No Engines Blown...
You're The Boss on Turnpike Freedom!
You're The King and You alone!
*******
Lord, the chauffeur that we're trusting
Looks a lot like Human Pride!
Yes, he found us in The Garden,
Then he took us for a ride!
He was well-groomed...
Quite appealing!
Smooth and smiling ear-to-ear...
He swore:
"All roads lead to Heaven!"
"Trust me, Man, and watch me steer!"
*****
Lord, You warned about The Broad Way
That the world is speeding down...
We've been hijacked...
Lord, have mercy!
Give us Grace to turn around!
"The fires of Hell may be made of the very love of God, or rather, by
the damned's hatred of that love...."
"...if we are free, Hell is possible...."
"...the kindest, gentlest, most loving and compassionate man who ever
opened his mouth has warned us with the greatest seriousness, strenuousness
and sternness about Hell. That is the irrefutable argument for it." --Peter
Kreeft
******
William Craig once posed this
question:
"How could an all-Holy and Just God send people to
Heaven?"
Answer: John 3:10-21, Romans 3: 21-26
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