"What is the matter, Donald?" the duke asked, as he saw him enter with a downcast look.
Donald told him his sad story in a simple manner and it touched the duke's heart. He forgave Donald his debt and restored his rented land to him.
As Donald cheerfully withdrew, the duke accompanied him and showed him the beautiful statues of several apostles and saints he had in a spacious hallway. "These," said the duke, who was a Roman Catholic, "are the saints who intercede with God for me."
"My lord," Donald replied, "I first approached your steward to ask for patience regarding my debt and he refused. However, when I appealed directly to you, you forgave my debt altogether. If I were in your position, my lord, I would appeal directly to the Master!"
The belief that Jesus would be more inclined to hear a person's plea for forgiveness indirectly through one of His saints than directly from the person insults God's free, sovereign, and wonderful grace. Why?
The second commandment condemns all groups which teach that people can be saved regardless of what religious beliefs they adhere to, as long as they are sincere. There is one God, one Mediator, and one way of salvation. God requires us to worship Him in the manner He has ordained. The first and second comandments establish this truth.
Roger's class was discussing some of the beliefs of the Freemasons, especially the Masonic teaching that people can be saved through any religion, if adhered to and practiced sincerely. The New Age Movement was also condemned for its similar approach to various world religions. At the close of the class discussion, Roger's teacher emphasized the wrongness and danger of ever associating with groups which teach that all man-made gods and forms of worship may be used; that there is no one, exclusive, divinely-established way of approaching or worshipping God.
Thinking about this, Roger asked his teacher, "Is it right to join an association where people from various religions are members, such as anti-abortion organizations, political parties, or conservation groups?"
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How do the following scriptural references condemn prayer to, or worshipping of, saints or angels? Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brough oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are theiein. - Acts 14:13-15 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. - Acts 10:25-26 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. - Revelation 19:10 |
