To Be The Most Loving People Possible

Sharing This Loving Model Of Church Life All Over The World...

I first of all want to provide some important information regarding a christian worldview, involvement in cults, and then provide information regarding the Complete Fallacy of Relativism. In these last days, many cultic groups will appear attractive and alluring to believers who really are desiring more of God in their lives. We must learn to protect ourselves and others from this dangerous involvement. So this is supplied for your own edification:

Can a Christian have a non-Christian worldview????

Before answering this question, we must first consider what is a worldview to begin with. Most people do not even give this matter much thought. A worldview is the way you look at the world around you and perceive all of your thoughts and feelings. Our worldview is like a filter by which we interpret things, understand things, and make all of our decisions. Here is a good example. A secular worldview makes decisions, choices, and understands all things based on what is culturally relevant, acceptable to the majority of society, what feels good, and/or what is financially rewarding. A Christian worldview on the other hand makes decisions, choices and understands all things based on what the Bible has said, what principles Jesus has taught us to live by, what pleases God regardless of how the rest of society is living or how much money one can gain or lose. Now, getting back to our question at hand… what do you think the answer is????…Once you understand the clear definition the answer is easy. Yes a Christian can have a non-Christian worldview. In fact, this is one of the most serious problems the church faces today because every time church leaders try to call people to Christian standards, those who do not have a Christian worldview just don’t understand, no matter how hard you try to understand! Jesus said that “if anyone wants to follow me he must deny himself, take up the cross, and (then) follow Him.” I find most Christians are seeking to do the opposite of what the Lord Jesus called us to do! … Just think about that!!!

Are you involved in a cult???

This is a very important question and thought to consider. In fact, I plan to leave this thought up for a couple of days because of its importance. This is something to seriously consider! In the last days we are told by our Lord Jesus that there will be many such groups arising basically declaring they have the “truth.” As we briefly consider this topic of cults please understand there are two types of cults. One can be found in any church regardless of the denomination. This one is more about functionality then about what they believe. In other words, it could be a wonderful Bible believing church anywhere, USA. The point that makes it a cult is that there is one (maybe two or at the most three) person, usually a “pastor” who is totally in charge. This “pastor” micro manages everything, they set the standard for the way things are going to be around the church. And if anyone questions this person, or disagrees with them, watch out, the “pastor’s” wrath will be coming down upon you. This wrath maybe direct or indirect, but one thing for sure is, this “pastor” is in charge, and everyone knows it! Unfortunately, there are more of these around than you can shake a stick at. And many of these are larger churches! There are some of these in my own town, I was delivered from one, and so I know what I’m talking about! Here is the focal point to look for… if the pastor of a church is not surrounded by elders who he is accountable, than watch out and get out of that church as quickly as possible! The second type of cult is what we are more familiar with, where the group has twisted or perverted Biblical truth. The signs of this kind of cult maybe a leader like described above and/or what is done with three primary things: (1) The Personhood of God is reinterpreted from what is clearly established through the scripture and church history (e.g. The Trinity is not true, Jesus is not God, the Holy Spirit is not God, or Jesus is the only God, etc) (2) The scriptures themselves are mishandled or twisted to support the cultic beliefs (e.g. I was told the other night that the Gospel of Matthew was only the traditions of men, not the true word of God, allowing the Old Testament to carry more authority than the New Testament, or just throwing out certain passages of scripture or an entire book of the Bible.) (3) The belief that our “church or group” is the only true one with the whole truth, everyone else is in error. So eventually, you must leave the current church you are in because they are “wrong.” This exclusiveness is nothing more than cultic activity; no one has a corner on all the truth! So, may you spend some real time considering these matters. What do you do when you discover that you’re involved in one of these? Get out as quickly as possible. Seek professional help and counseling to begin dismantling the ingrained thought processes that have captured you, and seek out a healthy Christian church that will love you, accept you where you are, and not demand what is not God’s will for your life. By the way, Grace Christian Fellowships are dedicated and committed to being these kinds of churches! … Just think about that!!! It remains to be seen what God will accomplish through anyone or group who truly allows their heart to be filled with God and his purpose and whose lives are devoted to living-out the great commandment and the great commission! In these last days, God’s Spirit is calling out loud and clear for anyone who has ears to hear, to prepare and make ready for the coming of the Lord! There is a fresh anointing from God for Grace Christian Fellowship to begin and grow all over the world, demonstrating what it really means to love one another and to take the gospel to the world. Belonging to a Grace Christian Fellowship means a lot but most of all it means that your life is dedicated to experiencing and living-out in practical ways the wonderful love of God we find in Jesus Christ. This is best seen in our understanding of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

Our Understanding of People

Also of great importance, is our understanding of people and their relationship to the church. Some churches have the concept that people are like a manufactured product. They begin as raw material and must go through several processes to become the finished product. Along the way during the process, if a person doesn’t measure up or meet the expected standard, like manufactured products that do not meet the standard, they are discarded, trashed, or set aside as second-rate products. This is not the way we believe about people. Our belief is closer to the illustration of mining diamonds. We believe every person is a diamond! We all have great value no matter where we find ourselves in the process of being mined. Some people need to be dug out of the earth, cleaned, chipped, polished and set. But no matter what you need, you are still a diamond, highly valuable and worthwhile in the life of the church and the kingdom of God. At Grace Christian Fellowship, you will always be a diamond in our eyes to be honored, cherished and valued. This is the way you will be handled and treated at all times!!

The Complete Fallacy of Relativism

Relativism is the philosophical position that all points of view are equally valid and that all truth is relative to the individual. But, if we look further, we see that this proposition is not logical. In fact, it is self-refuting.

1. All truth is relative
   • If all truth is relative, then the statement “All truth is relative” would be absolutely true. If it is absolutely true, then not all things are relative and the statement that “All truth is relative” is false.
2. There are no absolute truths
   • The statement “There are no absolute truths” is an absolute statement, which is supposed to be true. Therefore it is an absolute truth and “There are no absolute truths” is false.
   • If there are no absolute truths, then you cannot believe anything absolutely at all, including that there are no absolute truths. Therefore, nothing could be really true for you – including relativism.
3. What is true for you is not true for me
   • If what is true for me is that relativism is false, then is it true that relativism is false?
     • If you say no, then what is true for me is not true and relativism is false.
     • If you say yes, then relativism is false.
   • If you say that it is true only for me that relativism is false, then,
     • I am believing something other than relativism; namely, that relativism is false. If that is true, then how can relativism be true?
     • Am I believing a premise that is true or false or neither?
       • If it is true for me that relativism is false, then relativism (within me) holds the position that relativism is false. This is self-contradictory.
       • If it is false for me that relativism is false, then relativism isn’t true because what is true for me is not said to be true for me.
       • If you say it is neither true nor false, then relativism isn’t true since it states that all views are equally valid and by not being, at least true, relativism is shown to be wrong.
   • If I believe that relativism is false, and if it is true only for me that it is false, then you must admit that it is absolutely true that I am believing that relativism false.
   • If you admit that it is absolutely true that I am believing relativism is false, then relativism is defeated since you admit there is something absolutely true.
   • If I am believing in something other than relativism that is true, then there is something other than relativism that is true – even if it is only for me.
   • If there is something other than relativism that is true, then relativism is false.
4. No one can know anything for sure
   • If that is true, then we can know that we cannot know anything for sure which is self-defeating.
5. That is your reality, not mine
   • Is my reality really real?
   • If my reality is different than yours, how can my reality contradict your reality? If yours and mine are equally real, how can two opposite realities that exclude each other really exist at the same time?
6. We all perceive what we want
   • How do you know that statement is true?
   • If we all perceive what we want, then what are you wanting to perceive?
   • If you say you want to perceive truth, how do you know if you are not deceived?
   • Simply desiring truth is no proof you have it.
7. You may not use logic to refute relativism
   • Why not?
   • Can you give me a logical reason why logic cannot be used?
   • If you use relativism to refute logic, then on what basis is relativism (that nothing is absolutely true) able to refute logic, which is based upon truth.
   • If you use relativism to refute logic, then relativism has lost its relative status since it is used to absolutely refute the truth of something else.
8. We are only perceiving different aspects of the same reality.
   • If our perceptions are contradictory, can either perception be trusted?
   • Is truth self-contradictory?
   • If it were, then it wouldn’t be true because it would be self-refuting.
   • If something is self-refuting, then it isn’t true.
   • If it is true that we are perceiving different aspects of the same reality, then am I believing something that is false since I believe that your reality is not true? How then could they be the same reality?
   • If you are saying that it is merely my perception that is not true, then relativism is refuted.
   • If I am believing something that is false, then relativism is not true since it holds that all views are equally valid.
   • If my reality is that your reality is false, then both cannot be true. If both are not true, then one of us (or both) is in error.
   • If one or both of us is in error, then relativism is not true.
9. Relativism itself is excluded from the critique that it is absolute and self-refuting.
   • On what basis do you simply exclude relativism from the critique of logic?
   • Is this an arbitrary act? If so, does it justify your position?
   • If it is not arbitrary, what criteria did you use to exclude it?
   • To exclude itself from the start is an admission of the logical problems inherent in its system of thought.

In Closing

We are looking for individuals much like you, concerned about yourself, your family and community, and desiring to be a part of a great move of God in our world. I want to extend an invitation for you to seriously consider becoming a virtual member of Grace Christian Worldwide Ministries, or possibly consider starting a Grace Christian Fellowship in your home or area. We stand ready to help and support you in every way!!! Contact me and let me know today! Thank you, Pastor Paul Evans, Ph. D.