The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as God in flesh—the only way to the God of heaven (John 1:1; Philippians 2:5-8; John 14:6). But contrary to the Biblical inspired Word of God, there are many today who say Jesus is just a god among gods; and that he is not the only way to heaven. However, Jesus alerts us to be on the lookout in these last days for false Christs and false prophets that, if possible, would deceive the elect people of God’s about how to get heaven (Matthew 24:24). Our focus should be only on the real Jesus.

We are being alerted by the Lord’s spiritual lookouts that deceivers whom Jesus spoke of are working among us today.

The Lord’s lookouts are sounding the alarms that Jesus Christ is now being intermingled with many unchristian gods in America. Recently, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association promoted a book entitled Christ Among Other gods: A Defense of Christ in an Age of Tolerance, byErwin W. Lutzer.

Dr. Erwin W. Luther is recognized as “a clear expositor of the Bible.”  He is pastor emeritus of the Moody Church in Chicago Ill.  And is a regular speaker at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Training Center. The author aims at raising our awareness of this deceptive religious intermingling; and to present Jesus Christ solely from the perspective of the Holy Bible.

Dr. Lutzer said he wrote this book after observing sessions of the Parliament of World Religions which has met in Chicago, and which teaches that there are other gods equal to Jesus Christ. The Doctor opposes their doctrine “that all faiths eventually leads to God.”  He believes that the Bible teaches Jesus Christ, God incarnated, the only begotten Son of God, is the only way to God the Father and eternal life (Philippians 2:6-8; John 3:16-18; John 14:6). Nevertheless, we need to be on guard, remembering that the Bible warns us that false Christs and false teachers shall rise (Mark 13:22). And that Jesus said: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5).

 Dr. Erwin Lutzer said he attended meetings of the Parliament of World Religions to learn.

• To learn more about other religions and their complex influence on America
• To compare their beliefs to traditional beliefs of Christ
• To get a better understanding of the New Age system of religions which is developing in the world today.

He says his book is essentially about Christ, not about comparing religions.                           

The doctor says he wrote his book in the “context” or “backdrop” of other religious preferences. In presenting Jesus from the perspective of the Holy Bible, he says his aims are to get us to:

• understand Jesus better,
• worship Him more
• represent Him with more confidence (p 18).

 Learning more about the world of other gods now in America.

• According Dr Lutzer,The Parliament of World Religions promotes the idea of unity-pluralism- inclusivism as the way all religions should go.
• Swami Chindanansa of the Divine Life Society, representing Eastern religious ideas, told the Doctor, ”there are many effective equally valid religions.”
• As an affirmation of their own divinity, delegates at The Parliament shouted together, “I AM” —a name Almighty God uses to identify himself (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).
• The Doctor said, he asked a pastor at a banquet, “do you believe Christ is the only way to God?” And “do you believed all the religions of the world are equally valid?” The response to both questions were, “of course!” But later the pastor whispered, “when I speak about Christ, I’m not talking about the Jesus of Nazareth!” The Doctor said the pastor believed in a cosmic Christ who dwells in everyone, who unifies many different religious ideas, but Is not a Savior who take you to where you ought to go ( p 137-138).
• The World Council of Churches, largely an ecumenical Protestant group of churches, “stresses that only through religious dialogue amid the diversity of the world religions is it possible to see the totality of God’s revelation” (p26).
• The Catholic Church is seen as being involved in an ecumenical movement toward unity-pluralism-inclusivism. Dr. Lutzer said since Vatican II, the papacy has “been known to pray with Hindus, Buddhists, and representatives of other faiths” (p26).
• According to Dr. Lutzer, a Pew Research Center survey reported that among religious Americans, “seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life;” and “more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%)” share this view.

We are informed that New Age gods are a “stumbling block” to many.

Dr.  Erwin W. Lutzer said that people of  the worldwide movement of New Age Spirituality which make themselves gods, have made Jesus a “Christ among other gods” and “stripped Jesus of his Deity,” and have become a “stumbling block” to many people.

• Lutzer recognizes that the New Spirituality gods, in being “tolerant of…hedonistic pleasures” that the Bible calls sin, are attracting many away from the Lord (Romans 1:18-28).
• Jesus, the light of the world, said light has come into the world, but many people love darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil (John 8;!2; John 3:19)

Against the backdrop of New Age Spirituality, Dr. Lutzer states that the Bible gives an extraordinary defense of Jesus as the only divine Son of God, and the only way to the true God of heaven.

Lutzer uses accounts from the Bible about the extraordinary things about Jesus that demonstrate he is the only divine Son of God; the Christ who came In the flesh and died for the sins and the salvation of mankind; the one who is far above all others on earth and in heaven.

• Jesus’ extraordinary birth—He was conceived of the Holy Spirit by a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Phil. 2:6-8).
• His extraordinary life—His works of miracles which no other man did—raising the dead, calming raging seas, casting out devils, etc. John 15:24).
• His extraordinary authority—God the father distinguished Jesus from other prophets like Moses and Elijah, in stating “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear him” (Matthew 17:1-5).
• His extraordinary death—He died for our sins and was pierced for our iniquities as prophesied in the Holy Bible (Isaiah 5:25; John 19:34-35).
• His extraordinary resurrection—Many people witnessed his resurrection after his being crucified on a cross and being buried in a sealed tomb. Paul wrote: “He appeared to Cephas, then the twelve…to more than five hundred brethren at one…then to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all…he appeared to me” (1Corinthians 15:3-8)
• His extraordinary ascension into heaven—Which was witnessed. by his apostles (Acts 1:9-11).
• His extraordinary return—which was promised by the Lord, his angels, and is apostles (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1Thessalonians 4:15-16).

In defense of Christ in our age of tolerance, we have an extraordinary opportunity and responsibility to teach and preach the Bible-gospel of Jesus Christ. Tell others that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is “the way, the truth, and the life”— the only way to God the Father and eternal life (John 3:16; John 14:6).

Tell them

Even if they don’t believe you,

Just tell them

Even if they won’t receive you…

Please, tell them for me [Jesus]

Tell them that I love them

And I came to let them know.

(by Andrae Crouch)