Please note that the following points are not meant to be an outright condemnation of people who may hold to one or more of these beliefs. Pointing out that something is contrary to scripture is not the same as saying that someone who holds this view is going to hell. I may speak passionately against false doctrines, but the motivation is a love and compassion for people and the truth, not hatred or malice toward anyone. I, myself, have held several unscriptural views and as I've grown to better know God through scripture, I have been corrected; and, continue to be corrected...
(a) Calvinism - worships a different "god", perverse understanding of God's nature and motivations, based on Augustine's gnostic and manichaeistic influences. You know these folks because they say you are going to hell if you don't believe in all 5-points of Calvinism. The ultimate "man-centered" gospel is the one that is defined by man and not God. Often hides behind terms such as "historical Christianity" and "reformed theology". Claims to literally interpret the Bible, however, places more emphasis on what select reformers said above what the Bible actually says.
And, no, I don't agree with Arminianism either.
Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin) - we are dead in sin, cannot save ourselves [scripture reveals that we would not be able to choose salvation without the drawing of the Holy Spirit and each man being given a measure of faith]
Unconditional Election - God creates some destined for heaven and others destined to hell [outright false]
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement) - Jesus only died for the elect [false, Jesus died for the WHOLE world John 1:29, John 3:16, John 4:42, 1Tim 4:10, 1John 2:2, 1John 4:14]
Irresistible Grace - Because God is soveriegn, we have no free will or choice in response [false dillema, in God's sovereignty He gave us a free will to choose whom we will server, our free will is not a challenge to God being Almighty]
Perseverance of the Saints - Unconditional Once-Saved-Always-Saved [false, more of a Conditional Once-Saved-Always-Saved, nothing can take us out of His hand, but we can walk away, we cannot preserve ourselves, God preserves those who endure to the end]
(c) Roman Catholicism - works based religion, idolatry of Mary, invests priests with power to forgive sins, dictates of the Pope and tradition supersede scripture, forbidding marriage is a doctrine of devils, advocates praying to saints and Mary instead of Jesus.
(d) Emergent/Emerging Church - incorporation of new age and pagan spirituality into Christianity. For example: "contemplative prayer" is really repackaged transcendental meditation. They keep changing names to stay ahead of criticism, so also known as "New Spirituality", "Hipster Christianity", "Attractional", etc. Includes Spiritual Formation, spiritual disciplines of the "desert fathers", walking labyrinths, breath prayers, contemplative prayer, mindless repetitions, in addition to various Roman Catholic mystical practices.
(e) Kingdom Now/Dominion Theology/Reconstruction-ism/New Apostolic Reformation - believes that it is up to Christians to establish God's kingdom on earth before Jesus will return. This puts them in the position of God in that they can glory in their works to change the world. The Glory of the Kingdom belongs to God alone. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Himself will establish His Kingdom with a single word when he returns in the same manner that He departed and sets his foot on the Mt. of Olives.
(f) Social Gospel/Liberation Theology/Christian Socialism - believes salvation is achieved by transferring wealth and power from oppressor to the oppressed
(g) Replacement Theology/Antisemitism - believes the church replaces Israel, sides with Satan against God's chosen nation
(h) Universalism - belief that everyone is saved regardless of what they believe
(i) Ecumenism/Syncretism - merging of diverse faiths (note: classical ecumenism was cooperation between different Christian denominations, contemporary ecumenism is merging of Christian and non-Christian religions)
(j) Happiness Gospel / Easy-Believism / Cheep Grace - this says that if you follow these steps or join this church (or sometimes even "receive Jesus"), then your life will be carefree and full of happiness. Tell that to Stephen or any of the other martyrs who have died for the sake of the cross. While there are innumerable benefits and blessings to following Jesus, there is also pruning, correction, and persecution.
(k) Prosperity Gospel - this is a perversion of scriptural giving. Basically says "send me money and God will make you rich." While God does bless us greatly, He meets our "needs" NOT our "greeds". Our giving should be to helping fellow believers, helping unbelievers in order to open their hearts for the Gospel, and spreading the Gospel -- not making TV preachers rich. (see 2 Peter 2:3) If it really worked the way they say, then those TV preachers should be sending me money...
(l) Faith in Faith - this heresy believes that the power is in OUR faith and words. That if you have strong enough faith, then you can get what you want and if something bad happens to you or you don't get healed it is because you don't have enough faith (or are not donating enough money). This exalts man to "godhood" and reduces God to a vending machine. God is our provider and we look to Him to provide as He wills for the purpose of equipping us for performing His service.
(n) Sacred Names - believes only the hebrew names and pronunciations for Yaweh and Yashua are valid and anything else is the name of a false pagan god. The problem is, nobody can agree on the right spelling and pronunciations of. It is not knowing the right symbols, spelling, syllables, and sounds to produce with your vocal chords, it is knowing the character and personality that is important. Over emphasis on syllables and pronunciation is called "enchantments" in the Bible and has more in common with kabbalah, mystery religions, and witchcraft where the belief is in the power of certain words... God's truth is that He is the source of power and it has more to do with trust in Him than enchantments and incantations.
(o) Judiazers - beware of Judiazers and legalists that seek to put believers back under the law. I agree that it is good to get to know the culture of the people in biblical times, however, we should be careful about being lured into legalism often accompanied by kabbalism Gal 5:1; Gal 2:14-16, 21; Acts 15:8-9; 1Tim 4:3
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