A True Church - March for Jesus

Marching On The Broad Way

Jesus said,

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Also in Luke 13:24 Jesus warned,

Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Jesus' warning in both Matthew 7:13-14 and Luke 13:24 (in context) was to the Jews (the people of God). The warning of the wide gate and broad way is in the context of those who are among the "people of God". It is not a warning in the context of the myriad of religions in the world. It is in the context of within the correct religion (which at the time was Judaism). Jesus' warning was (and is) this: Within or among the "people of God" there is a wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction (i.e. to hell). Be warned! Most are deceived. Few end up finding (and following) the way to life (i.e. eternal life, heaven, Matthew 7:14).

This warning given by our Lord Jesus is completely rejected in this "March For Jesus". In reality, this "March For Jesus" is no march for Christ, but a march for the "broad way" (Matthew 7:13-14) which leads to hell!

In the May, 1998 edition of the newspaper, The Forum, A Christian Publication (PO Box 901625, Palmdale, CA. 93590), pastor Bob Quintanar from New Beginning Christian Center (in Lancaster, CA.), wrote on the upcoming "March For Jesus". On page 10 he said, "This March is not a protest, it is a peaceful gathering of Believers in Jesus Christ who for one day are willing to come out and lay down our own church names and our doctrinal differences and come together as one body in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Mr. Quintanar exemplifies here the hypocrisy, and error of this "March For Jesus". To encourage Christians to "lay down . . . doctrinal differences" is a call to "not love the truth" (i.e. don't love Jesus, John 14:6). It is a call to follow the broad way. It is a call to do the exact opposite of what God says to do; "contend for the faith" (Jude 3). It is a call to not "hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104, 128). It is a call to "greet" those who do "not bring this doctrine" and to share in their "evil deeds" (2 John 9-11).

Revelation 12:9 says that Satan "deceives the whole world". He is fast at work in the "Christian" community, just as the Lord has warned:

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, . . . And many will follow their destructive ways, . . . (2 Peter 2:1-2).

As this "March For Jesus" illustrates, many are following!

"March For Jesus" is very similar to "Promise Keepers". Promise Keepers likewise teaches the gate is wide and the way is broad by their espousal of Promise #6. "I will reach beyond . . . denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity." (The Power of a Promise Kept, p. 2). This promise is actually antithetical to biblical unity. Jack Hayfords's statement in Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper on page 19 illustrates this fact. Speaking of "Redeeming Worship" Hayford writes,

Redeeming worship centers on the Lord's Table. Whether your tradition celebrates it as Communion, Eucharist, the Mass, or the Lord's Supper, we are all called to this centerpiece of Christian worship.

Hayford's statement above gives credence to Catholic worship ("Eucharist, the Mass") and calls it "Christian worship". Catholic worship is false Christian worship and leads to hell. The Christ of Catholicism is a false Christ (i.e. "Transubstantiation" which teaches the wafer of the Mass literally becomes the literal body of "Christ", and Catholics literally worship this wafer). Actually, Catholicism is filled with idolatry (praying to Mary and the saints) and false doctrine (Matthew 23:9; 1 Timothy 4:1f). To embrace Catholics (and therefore Catholicism) as brothers in Christ is to embrace a religion that is demonic and leading millions to eternal torment (Revelation 21:8; 22:15). This is no small matter, and this is not biblical unity. It is promotion of the very issue Jesus warned about - - the broad way (Matthew 7:13-14).

Likewise, "March For Jesus" promotes the broad way and exemplifies the turning away from the truth which Paul warned of in 2 Timothy 4:3.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, . . . (2 Timothy 4:3)

Has anyone ever warned you of the "heap"?

As a few examples of those on the broad way and among the "heap", note the following damning doctrine of a few well-loved (Luke 6:26) teachers of today.

Tony Campolo - On the Charlie Rose show on January 24, 1997, speaking in the context of a Buddhist monk's claim to know Jesus Christ, Campolo says, "I'm not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians." (HyperScribe LLC, 1535 Grant St., Denver, CO 80203, transcript #1821).

Greg Laurie - In his book Discipleship, Giving God Your Best, Laurie writes, "It is my conviction that every disciple is a believer but not every believer is a disciple! (Introduction, and on page 9). How does he explain this? "The requirements of discipleship are different than the requirements of salvation. To be a Christian, you need to believe in Him whom God has sent, and then you will receive eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is a gift. To be a disciple is to take up the cross daily and follow Him, making His will your will. It is a commitment. As you are learning, every disciple is a Christian but not every Christian is a disciple." (p. 30-31). THAT IS A LIE! It is a slap in the face of the warning from Christ in Mark 8:34-36.

Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

If you are not a disciple of Christ, you are not a Christian. If you are not a disciple of Christ, you are not a believer. If you are not a disciple of Christ, you are on your way to hell!

Chuck Smith - In Answers For Today Smith states,

Q: Is a person who commits suicide totally lost for eternity?

Smith's Answer?

A: Definitely not! I believe that a person who is driven to the point of committing suicide no longer has full responsibility for the things he's doing. Driven to a point of such mental extremes, he isn't necessarily responsible for the action of taking his own life. (p.88-89).

THAT IS A DAMNING LIE! In Colossians Paul wrote that you are saved,

if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel . . . (Colossians 1:21-23).

Committing suicide IS being "moved away from the hope of the gospel". It is wicked, and a complete breach of any faith (trust) in God. It is a satanic lie and a dreadful door to hell! [For more on suicide, see our report MacArthur On Suicide.]

James Dobson teaches the false gospel (Galatians 1:8-9) of self-esteem (to esteem one's self). God says, "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." (Proverbs 26:12). And, "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, . . ." (Proverbs 28:26). To esteem yourself (self-confidence, etc.) is to trust in yourself. God says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in man . . ."

Billy Graham - Contrary to much of the Word of God (e.g. Romans 8:5-7; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5-6; Revelation 21:8; 1 John 2:3-5; etc.), Graham writes, "The previous day, President Clinton called and asked me to stop by the White House. . . It was a warm fellowship with a man who has not always won the approval of his fellow Christians but who has in his heart a desire to serve God and do His will." (Just As I Am, copyright 1997, p. 656)

As the above illustrates, there is SERIOUS ERROR within Christendom today. Yet this "March For Jesus" calls you to "lay down . . . doctrinal differences" and Promise Keepers wants you to "reach beyond . . . denominational barriers". In other words, don't "contend for the faith" (Jude 3); "don't love the truth"!

PK masks its evil (as the Pharisees of old, Matthew 23:27-28) by promoting good concepts (e.g. sexual purity, personal integrity, etc.). "March For Jesus" masks its evil by purporting to be marching for Christ.

If you love Jesus, you will love the truth (John 14:6). If you love the truth, you will contend (fight, 2 Timothy 4:7; Jude 3) for it. If you love the truth you will not "lay down . . . doctrinal differences", you will contend over doctrine, and in so doing, those who are His true sheep will agree on doctrine (1 John 4:6); because they follow the same Shepherd (John 10:4-5). If you do not love the truth (i.e. Jesus), you will be damned, as 2 Thessalonians 2:10 illustrates: "and with unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

Psalm 145:18 says, "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." May the Lord give you eyes to see and ears to hear. Psalm 118:22 still stands true today.

The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.