The world is full of gods of all shapes and sizes, in and out of sacred texts. Some believe we are gods, while others believe there are hundreds, if not thousands, of supernatural gods watching over us.

For the Biblical Christian, it is easy to separate our theology from those who accept multiple gods into their worldview (Hinduism, Buddhism, Mormonism, etc.). Christians believe in a trinitarian, singular God of the Bible. However, what is often forgotten is that not all religions that promote a singular god are referring to the God of the Bible.

Again, when Christians use the word “God”, we are talking about the God of the Bible.

God is not always God

There are false teachings that also apply a singular noun to god, but they reject many of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. As such, their use of the term “god” can only mean the evil one who masquerades as an angel of light. There are only two choices in the supernatural realm … either the supreme, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God or the evil one who tries to pretend he is a god.

2 Corinthians 11:14 - And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

It is in the nature of the human psyche to desire that we all serve the same God, just with different traditions and slightly different theology. That has been conditioned into mankind because we live in a gray world where it is often difficult to discern right from wrong, good from bad, etc. What we fail to understand is that there is no gray on the other side of the grave. There is a clear demarcation between good and bad, right and wrong, Heaven and Hell. And, from that perspective, there is either God or there is evil … and nothing in between.

So, if a religion, denomination, church, or individual does not accept the Biblical path to a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord … if they do not accept the Good News of the gospel message, then they are not saved or born-again from a Biblical Christian perspective. Sadly, they will not experience a relationship in and through the Holy Spirit in this life and will not spend eternity with God in Heaven. Again, this is a black and white, Heaven or Hell dichotomy, regardless of how much we may desire otherwise.

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

So if the above is true for Biblical Christians, then what denominations that promote a singular “god” are really promoting the evil one instead?

Roman Catholics

The theology of Roman Catholicism includes a belief in a trinitarian god. However, their official view of salvation is based on works, or earning one’s place in Heaven, rather than by God’s grace alone. Since the Bible makes clear that being a good person (works) or following some extra-Biblical traditions are not requirements for entrance into Heaven, their actual pathway upon death is, sadly, in the opposite direction. Though there will be millions of Catholics in Heaven, it will not be because of the official stance of the denomination but because of their personal understanding of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice rather than any effort or exercising any traditions demanded by their leadership. Further, as the Catholic Church becomes more ecumenical and universalist in their attempt to remain relevant, their watered-down message is further made impotent in offering eternal life for their members.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

JWs believe in a singular god. However, they do not believe in a trinitarian God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). For them, there is only one god, Jehovah, a spirit being, invisible and eternal. Jesus is considered a “lesser god,” and the Holy Spirit is seen as an “active force.” Similar to Roman Catholics, JWs believe salvation requires conformance to specific works such as baptism by immersion and the maintenance of high moral standards as a prerequisite for their version of heaven. Again, these requirements and beliefs (among many others) set them apart from the God of the Bible and leave them at the mercy of the evil one.

Islam

All versions of Islam believe in a singular god, Allah, who they claim is a supporter of the Biblical Abraham through the line of his rejected son, Ishmael. Allah is invisible, eternal, and unknowable. The Christian trinitarian view is considered supreme heresy. As with JWs and Roman Catholics, Muslims believe one must earn a place in their version of heaven through their efforts (works). This includes praying five times a day, tithing, fasting, a pilgrimage to Mecca, etc. At the end of a Muslim’s life, Allah will weigh their good deeds against their bad deeds and decide if they warrant heaven. A rejection of Jesus Christ as a pathway to God, coupled with a works-based effort toward an uncertain heaven, supports the view that their god is not the God of the Biblical Christian.

Judaism

Orthodox Jews vary widely on their beliefs but do rely on the Hebrew Bible for inspiration … which Christians refer to as the Old Testament (purists, please ignore the variations … this is not a seminary class). They see God as a singular Creator and not through the lens of the Christian concept of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Further, they do not believe in original sin and see humanity as having inherent goodness. They see God as rewarding those who demonstrate admirable behavior and punishing those who do wrong. They continue to look for the Messiah, not as one who will act as a savior, but as one who will gather Jews together and bless them, confirming their position as God’s chosen people. Though they do believe in the resurrection at the end of the ages, most do not believe in Hell, and good Jews will be judged by God based on their works and will be rewarded as such in a form of Heaven.

Since Orthodox Jews reject Jesus as Lord and Savior, reject the New Testament entirely, and see Heaven and salvation from a works-based perspective, they are not serving the God of the Biblical Christian.

Four Views of “God”

There are four basic views of the term “god,” with many variations and subcategories. Sadly, only a small subset of the latter group truly recognizes and worships the true God of the universe as a Biblical Christian.

Atheists/Agnostics – There is no God or supernatural; there is just the natural world, and science is slowly moving toward a full understanding of its secrets.

Polytheists – Those who believe there are many gods in the supernatural realm. This includes Hindus, Buddhists, and Mormons, mentioned earlier. Most of these gods are unknowable and distant. Some are actually awaiting their turn to be born human (Mormons), such that mankind is a type of divinity.

Monotheists – Those who believe there is only one god but do not recognize He is made up of three separate and distinct parts. This would include Orthodox Judaism, Islam, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. They do not recognize Christ as both Lord and Savior and therefore fall outside of verses such as John 14:6. Further, as with all other religions that include an afterlife in their theology, they reject verses such as Ephesians 2:8-9 (grace-based salvation) in favor of a works-based theology where mankind has to earn their place in Heaven.

Trinitarian – A form of monotheism that correctly acknowledges that God includes the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit as three distinct persons in one Godhead. Within this group are denominations that are (1) worshiping God, and others (2) that worship a god that is not God. The second group includes Catholicism, some Main Line denominations, legalistic churches, and Eastern Orthodoxy. These groups all fall into the trap of a works-based theology for salvation and entrance into Heaven.

The Point

The Biblical Christian God is one who is knowable through the Biblical testimony of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as the Counselor to the believer. Our faith is based on a trinitarian Lord of Lords who set a path for mankind to be with Him for eternity in a place that is beyond our imagination. As we seek Him, we need to recognize that imposters abound on this earth who can distract us from growing in our faith, love, and trust of the true God of the universe. Further, as we seek opportunities to share our faith, we need to expand our recognition that groups that purport to be in agreement with our path to Heaven may not be what they seem.

2 Corinthians 4:4 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Finally, I fully realize that this assessment of true and false faith, based solely on a Biblical Christian worldview, seems narrow, inflammatory, harsh, legalistic, and exclusionary. Clearly, it’s not an effective approach as a witnessing tool for seekers, much less unbelievers. However, a recognition of the complete view of Jesus confirms He was not exclusively a “love thy neighbor” prophet, ignoring the false theology that sends people to Hell (Matthew 7:13).

Matthew 10:35-36 - For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

Salvation and eternity in Heaven are available to all who choose to follow the Creator and Savior of the world … but not on our terms … but on His terms. He will be the final judge (Hebrews 9:27), and it is infinitely better, while in this life, to recognize who is preaching (believing in) the true God who offers salvation to the world. We must face the reality that those who offer a plethora of false gods are inadvertently promoting the evil one and consequently sending people to Hell.

POSTSCRIPT: Below is a great verse regarding the subject of this post.

1 Corinthians 8:5-6 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.