Lies in Disguise: Salvation for God-Haters??

“Non-Christians from various backgrounds have long held universalist beliefs, claiming that all people will pass from life into eternal paradise, no matter what they believe. 

“And when it became popular to define God’s love as unconditional, an increasing number of professing Christians adopted the modified version of universalism, which is called ‘universal salvation.’”  

Chapter 9, Lies in Disguise.   

Universal salvation has grown in popularity with the assistance of books like The Shack, which fictionally portrayed God as forgiving and saving everyone according to the author's beliefs (source).

How can we believe that someone who has spent their whole life rejecting God will end up in heaven with missionaries, martyrs, and faithful Christians?

It can be hard to see past the errors promoted in modern "Christian" culture, but it's absolutely critical that we do it.

Those who promote universal salvation use out-of-context Scriptures to claim Jesus will save everyone because of His unconditional love. This is one of many ways this description of God's love leads to false beliefs. See Lies in Disguise: Unconditional Love.

Besides giving unbelievers false hope, universal salvation encourages them to be content in their sins.

These strong influences in our culture deserve our attention so we can correct them. But to do that, we need to learn truth from God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15). We need Berean skepticism, carefully checking everything a teacher says against Scripture (Acts 17:11). 

So let's do our best to learn God's Word so we can refute things like this that distort and disguise God's truth.

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Chapter 9 in Lies in Disguise gives us solid biblical help by thoroughly exposing the way Scripture is manipulated to support universal salvation. 

And it offers Digging Deeper questions that can be used individually or in small groups to better understand this half-truth belief.

Even if you haven't been confused or convinced of this half-truth, Lies in Disguise will give you Scriptural wisdom for refuting it.

💙 Currently available from the publisher with a discount: Lies in Disguise. Also available on Amazon and CBD. And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.

 

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Lies in Disguise: I Love Me

A half-truth that has greatly influenced our culture and the modern church is this one: “Our well-being depends on high self-esteem.”

For the last 40-50 years, our world has been proclaiming the importance of praising, affirming, and approving ourselves and others, especially our children. 

The unsaved world cannot accept the fact that we are fallen, sinful human beings, so they've created the self-esteem lie-in-disguise to claim that all human problems, whether violent crime or depression, are caused because people don't think highly enough of themselves.

Scripture says something quite different:

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:3

This self-esteem philosophy is loosely related to the “judge-not” half-truth that tells us not to judge sin and sinners. And studies show that self-esteem philosophy has created a world of self-assured, self-confident adults who lack motivation and self-control. It's also promoted the boundaries movement because self-assured people tend to end relationships if they aren't constantly affirmed. 

Christians must understand that we are called to humility and self-sacrifice, not pride and entitlement. 

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Jesus, Matthew 10:38

It's important that we understand the way this self-esteem lie is tangled into many “Christian” teachings. We need to replace self-esteem with God-esteem to have a valid view of ourselves.

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My book Lies in Disguise exposes this destructive half-truth, using understandable explanations and multiple Scripture references to unpack the self-esteem movement and replace it with the God-esteem movement.

Lies in Disguise is available:    

At a discounted price from the publisher for a limited time: Lies in Disguise. 

On Amazon. 

And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.

 

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Lies in Disguise: The Most Popular Half-Truth

One of the most prevalent lies in disguise corrupting the modern church is the “judge not” half-truth. It has been cleverly promoted by misusing countless Bible verses. And it has been repeated so often that most Christians innocently believe some aspect of this lie.

Just as Satan presented half-truths to Eve in the Garden, he is promoting this powerful half-truth in the modern church.

The “judge not” heresy is presented as a way to promote love and grace, but it does just the opposite. It actually disables the body of Christ from doing things God commands us to do (1 Corinthians 2:15-16). 

We need to understand the way “judge not” is used in Scripture, specifically in Matthew 7:1-5. We need to know what, how, who, and when we are commanded to judge. And we need to recognize and reject the misunderstandings that the “judge not” teachings have promoted.

You may be surprised how many other half-truths this “judge not” lie has produced.

How can we avoid these lies in disguise? We must read our Bibles, judging all things by God's perfect truth. We must be willing to give up these popular half-truths when we find out they're misleading Christians. We can use free online Bible study tools (e.g., Bible Hub or Open Bible) and study God's Word with other believers (2 Timothy 2:15).

Are you preparing yourself to respond to “judge not” lies in disguise? Ask God for guidance in improving your understanding of His Word (1 Peter 3:15).

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Many popular teachings in the church "blur" the truth. 

In my book, Lies in Disguise, Half-Truths Many Christians Believe, I spend several chapters exploring this dangerous “judge not” lie and the other half-truths it promotes. It's an important starting point for identifying half-truths:

✓ Understanding Matthew 7:1-5

✓ Things we are commanded to judge

✓ Considerations when judging

✓ Judge-not misunderstandings

 

Lies in Disguise can help you understand biblical judgment and equip you to explain it to others. It's a good book for individual and small group study because it's filled with Scripture, and each chapter includes a Digging Deeper section with thought-provoking questions.

 

It's available at Amazon and CLC in the U.S. and at Equipping the Church and Eden in the U.K. 

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Never Join Those Who Shrink Back

What can we do as our culture falls deeper into lies-in-disguise and brings pressure against Christians to conform? Hebrews 10:36-39 offers the answer:

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (v. 36).

James 1:12 and Galatians 6:9 echo this truth.

Hebrews 10:36-39 continues explaining that Jesus will one day return and He will take no pleasure in those who shrink back. And it ends with a statement we all should proclaim.

“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” 

Satan is working overtime in culture, promoting soul-damaging sins. In addition, violent, chauvinistic religions like Islam are favored or left alone while Christianity is consistently attacked. (See The Religion Responsible for the Greatest Persecution of Christians.)

Standing firm is becoming harder all the time, but we can depend on Christ's strength (Philippians 4:13). His grace is sufficient when we feel weak (2 Corinthians 12:9). We are “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:9-14).

So let's not shrink back—let's stand firm as “Christ's ambassadors,” compelled by our love for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

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More more encouragement, see 3 Things that Helped David Stand Firm and God's Remnant People.

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Speech Lessons: Learning God's Language

Genuine faith involves controlling our tongue, because words can do great damage. And James 3:1-12 is a reminder of this truth.

 

The first verse talks about higher standards for teachers because their words have greater influence. 

Then James admits that we all “stumble.” 

How do people stumble with their tongues?

• By sharing lies, half-truths, gossip, and slander. 

• By flattering or misleading someone. 

• With boasting, angry rants, and hateful statements. 

• By remaining quiet when we should speak up. 

 

James 3:3-6 goes on to remind us that small things can have enormous consequences. Lighting a small match can set an entire forest ablaze, and a few short sentences can light or extinguish an argument.

 
As our love and dependence for God grow, so should our ability to speak truth graciously, honestly, and unashamedly (Romans 12:2).

 

That's why it's good to periodically examine our speech and ponder the strong teachings of Scripture so we can continually grow more faithful in our speech. 

 

Please consider reading at least one of the additional one-minute devotions below. And please take a few minutes to carefully and prayerfully read the passages below.

 

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Devotions: 
Seasoned with Salt 

Do You Know What Makes a Fool Look Wise?

Is It Just My Imagination, or Is “Rude” the New Normal?  

 

 

Don't be a blabbermouth! 

Proverbs 10:19-21: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. The words of the godly encourage many,  but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.”

 

Consider how your words might encourage a friend going through difficulty. 

Proverbs 12:25: “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

Proverbs 16:24: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

 

Never forget this important warning. 

Matthew 12:34-37: “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

 

 

 

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Our Strongest Heritage Is Not Bloodline, Country, Race, or Culture

I've lived all over the U.S., from California to New Jersey, Florida to North Dakota. I've also lived four years in Germany and five years in Hungary. And I've learned that most people think their country, region, race, culture, or subculture is the best.

There's nothing wrong with this...

unless it divides us, makes us feel superior, makes us insensitive to others, or makes us prideful.

Being a Christ-follower is our most important heritage, and the family of God, which is multi-cultural and multiracial, is our most important family. 

God's family is also multi-denominational. By that I mean that genuine Bible-believing denominations have different views about non-essential beliefs, and we shouldn't let these differences divide us.*

If we let our denomination, earthly heritage, family, income, education, country, race, or culture divide us from other genuine believers, we're grieving the Holy Spirit (James 2:1-9).

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” should be the character traits of God's family (Galatians 5:22-23).

We must love the unsaved and seek to share the gospel with them, but we must remember that the saved are our true family, deserving of our deepest loyalty. 

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

We must give up anything and everything that negatively affects our love for the family of God. We must reject cultural anti-Christian stereotypes. We must speak up and defend those who are unfairly criticized for speaking God's Word.

Why? Because Jesus is our true home, and the family of believers is our true family.

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For more inspiration on this subject, see Are You Sticking Up for Your Family? and Did You Know Your Brother Is a Songwriter?

* We do not compromise on essential beliefs: Genuine believers oppose any denomination that denies God's Word is perfect, inerrant, and eternal. We believe that some Old Testament commands were for a specific group or time in history, but all New Testament commands are loving, applicable, and unchanging. See Understanding the Law. 

We believe Jesus is fully God and part of the Trinity, one God in three persons. See Don't Claim You Understand the Trinity. That's why we don't have Christian fellowship with Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses. See Articles on Mormonism. Jesus is the only way of salvation, and we must accept His offer of forgiveness and follow Him to be saved. See Eternal Life as one resource to help explain this truth to others. 

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The Rise of Mini-Crimes Among Middle-Class Americans

In the article “The United States of Fraud,” the author explains that many Americans are committing mini-crimes: cheating on self-checkouts, returning used clothing, shoplifting small specialty items, stealing small items from their employers, etc.

 

These people, who are otherwise law-abiding citizens, see their mini-crimes as “Robin Hood” acts, stealing from the rich to give to the poor (i.e., themselves). They think big businesses and rich people owe them something.

 
This sentence in the article spoke volumes: “Human beings are hardwired for fairness, and when we see an injustice, we instinctively want to rectify it.” 

Not true. These acts aren't about justice or fairness.

Humans are born with a conscience, demonstrating “that God’s law is written in their hearts” (Romans 2:15). When people justify selfish mini-crimes, they prove they've lost that conscience and changed their view of good and evil. 

 

They're driven by worldly passions and desires, and “love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15-17). 

Instead of doing what’s right, they do what’s personally beneficial, judging big corporations for injustice while committing injustice themselves.
 

Don’t let any of these lies entrap you, dear Christians. Maintain your conscience by standing firm on biblical truth and personal integrity. If you are born of God, you'll be faithful in both the little and the big areas: 

 

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10

 

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For more on this important subject, see Can We Afford It? and Saved by Shoplifting. 

 

A perfect way to improve your biblical discernment. 

 

Lies in Disguise, available: 

From the publisher—Lies in Disguise.  

On Amazon. 

And in the UK—CLC-UK or Eden UK.

 

 

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My Secret Room

Today I'm sharing one of the devotions from my book Wisdom for Life. I hope you enjoy it. ~ Gail 

My Secret Room

Mark is an engineer, and when he realized there was dead space beneath the stairs in his house, he decided to create a secret room for his children. They access it by climbing through a kitchen cabinet, and it’s big enough for their dad to join them. 

How fun is that? It’s meant to be a place to play, but it would also be a safe place to hide from an intruder. 

I’ve always wanted a secret room, something accessed through a bookcase or hidden door. I’m not sure why I find this so appealing. Perhaps it’s because I sometimes want to hide from all the worldly pressures. 

Recently when I was struggling with some heavy problems, my friend Linda wrote to tell me that while she was praying for me, God brought Psalm 32:7 to her mind: “You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.” 

There’s something special about a friend who writes with a Scripture attached, and God used Linda that day to remind me of such an important truth: when life hurts, when we feel broken and bruised, we have a safe place to go, a place where we can lay down our sad thoughts and rest in the love of our Lord and Protector. I am so glad that my Father thought to include a “secret room” in His love for me, a place of retreat and protection. 

For Further Thought 

“How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you. You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues” (Ps. 31:19–20).

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Solidly Biblical Christian Devotional!!

💙 If you enjoyed this devotion, please check out Wisdom for Life. It features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

It's a great idea for a Christmas gift that shares encouragement from God's Word. 

If you purchased Wisdom for Life from Lifeway, Amazon, or CBD, and you've enjoyed it, please leave a review. It helps others know what to expect.  

And if you aren't already a subscriber to Bible Love Notes devotional blog, please sign up for a free email subscription HERE. 

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Bringing Joy to Christmas!

I encourage you to read all of these devotions, perhaps one a day, to help focus your mind on Jesus for the holidays.

And if you've heard claims the we aren't supposed to celebrate Christmas, please see 6 Ways to Determine if a Scripture is Used Accurately and False Threats & Real Threats to Christmas and The Anti-Christmas Spirit.

Celebrating our Saviors birth!

5 Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas
5 practical Ideas to make your Christmas celebration more Christ-centered. 

 

Years ago, I shared creative ideas on Bible Love Notes. Here's one you might like:

Children’s Play Nativity
A fun way to help young children focus on the Christmas story.
 

Why Celebrate Christmas?

This 1-minute devotion offers Scriptural reasons to celebrate Christmas.

8 Steps to a More Meaningful Christmas
8 things that add meaning to your celebration of Christmas. Each  one is supported with Scripture.

6 Things to Believe in at Christmas (and always!)
Do you believe in these 6 things? They are the beliefs that make bring the true meaning of Christmas into our hearts. 

True Seekers Like the Magi
The Magi who visited Christ after His birth offer us some important truths about the way God deals with people who are unable to hear the Gospel.

The Shepherd of the shepherds
Shepherds were the very first to be told Christ's actual birth. This 1-minute devotion explains why that is important. 

The Pagan Magi Turn To Jesus – Revelation 7:9-10
The Visit of the Magi reveals the most wonderful truth about our God. Don't miss this sweet story within the story of Christ's birth.

Are You Among the Wise Men?
I bet you think that 3 wisemen visited Christ after His birth. Better read this 1-minute devotion and make sure you aren’t making incorrect assumptions. 

Christmas Gift Idea: 

💙 Please check out The Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It  features 1-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE.