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Topic: All Faiths Are Not Equal!
[DCLM Daily Manna 2 January 2020 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:14-33
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Key Verse: “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” (1 Corinthians 10:21).
MESSAGE:
Leonard Sweet, in his book ‘Soul Tsunami’ wrote: “Our postmodern American culture wants tolerance of all beliefs…” The result is the morphing of Jesus into Syncretism. Americans are deeply spiritual and secular. We cook up our own religion to our taste.
Dictionary definition of syncretism is the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures or schools of thought. Apostle
Paul, in our text, warned the Corinthian believers against the babit of mixing their pure faith in Christ with idolatrous practices among the natives which was their way of life before their conversion. He pointed out the degree of irreverence involved when a believer who partakes in the Lord’s Table with the brethren also maintains his fellowship with the pagan feasts and ceremonies of their days. There is no gain in any opportunity that accommodates every interested party.
Interfaith dialogues can easily slip into syncretism, if care is not taken. It doesn’t mean believers of different denominations should not network with each other; but such networking should have the Bible as its base. Deceivers preach about God but equate Him with other gods in an attempt to drown out the uniqueness of God in a crowd of all-commers; the aim is to confuse the simple. New age spirituality states that all faiths are equal and we have already witnessed attempts by so-called ‘Christian leaders’ to lead the body of Christ away from God through ecumenism and syncretism. These are wolves in sheep’s clothing and the true believers must not fall for this hoax.
We must not partake in the practice of syncretism. We must continue to live, walk and act in faith while watching against Satan’s attempts to spy on our liberty and corrupt the Body of Christ.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Do not eat with the devil at all; not even with a long spoon!
BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: GENESIS 4-6.
