Is Teaching Jehovah God Or Nothing Else, Bigotry?
by Joel Hendon(755)
Bigotry
noun. The attitude, state of mind, or behavior characteristic of a bigot; intolerance. (Answers online dictionary
noun. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, orreligion: intolerance. prejudice. (Answers online Thesaurus)
These definitions leave room for almost anyone to call another a bigot. Yet,when you look closely at the descriptions, the terms irrational suspicion, hatred, intolerance and prejudice place a very undesirable approach or attitudein a person. But each of those terms are readily defined according to one's own perception. Let's look at an example and using this author's stand on religion.
I believe with all my being, that the Holy Bible is the revealed word of the almighty Jehovah God, that it is inerrant, infallible and absolute. This leaves no room for any other God, or the following of any man other than God or His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible also tells us that this Son was born and lived as a mortal on the earth, that He established His Spiritual kingdom wherein are all spiritual blessings. (Ephesians 1:3) It further teaches that, unless one is in Christ (in this spiritual kingdom) he will be eternally lost.
Now, does my teaching that cause me to be a bigot? If I do not believe that any other religion will give one an eternal life with God and His Son, Jesus, does that make me a bigot? I have no ill will towards any one who believes differently than I. I do not wish them harm. I am thankful to my God, that He has given man free moral agency to accept Him or reject Him. I pray for those who are serving an imaginary god, or who are trying to serve Jehovah wrongly.
Highly intelligent men have striven to destroy or render worthless, the Holy Bible, since it was first assembled. Some have devoted their lives to proving it wrong. None have succeeded. Voltaire, noted infidel, once remarked that the Bible would not be read any longer in fifty years. He has been dead now for some two hundred years and the Bible is still being read by millions every day and continues to be the number one best seller as it has been for many, many years.
It contains all things man needs for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) Early Christians suffered persecution, torture and even death rather than denounce the name of Christ. Read this:
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:32-40)
Webgazine Columnist.
Article submitted Thursday, June 25, 2009 & read 6 times.
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