True Christian faith is not merely a general belief in God, but a specific faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the only one capable of forgiving our sins and giving us eternal life.

This means believing that Christ died for our sins and that He was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). It means believing that the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes—first the Jew, then the Greek (Romans 1:16).

Although Christianity has the most followers worldwide—probably over 2 billion believers—the actual number of people with true faith is a tiny fraction of that figure. 

The message of the Gospel has spread to the ends of the earth, just as the Lord Jesus prophesied would happen (Matthew 24:14, 28:18–20).  Nevertheless, those who follow the Lord Jesus as true Christians are persecuted in many parts of the world, and in so-called Christian countries, the church is compromised by false teachings, with true Christians facing increasingly overt opposition. Thus, in North America and Europe, we are witnessing the infiltration of Christianity with ideas and practices that clearly contradict the Bible.  As these ideas become increasingly dominant in society and infiltrate the church, those who oppose them face opposition that can turn into actual persecution.

Speaking of the days leading up to His return, the Lord Jesus said that many false prophets would arise and deceive many (Matthew 24:11). False prophets will deny the power of the Gospel to redeem us and the need to teach and preach this message to a lost world that is about to face judgment.

One of the main trends in today’s liberal Western society is multiculturalism and interfaith teaching, which translates into the idea that each of the world’s religions, including Christianity, contains only partial truths, rather than absolute truth. Therefore, all religions are paths to the truth and are equally valid in God’s sight. 

This clearly contradicts the Bible. In the Old Testament, God says that all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens (Psalm 96:5).

God constantly warns Israel not to mix the worship of idols and other gods with the worship of the Lord: “I am the Lord; that is My name; and I will not give My glory to another, nor My honor to idols (Isaiah 42:8).

The New Testament teaches us that the Lord Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity, the only one who can grant us salvation. He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Likewise, the apostle Peter told his listeners to repent and believe in Jesus as Savior, for there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The biblical approach toward people of other faiths is to show them God’s love in Jesus and also to seek to lead them to faith in Jesus Christ.

However, there are many Christian leaders who practice proselytism, which to them means that the church must accept all people just as they are and never try to change their minds or hearts—accepting everyone as they are, including atheists.

Most so-called believers do not have a biblical worldview. Thus, most believers do not acknowledge that God is the eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, and righteous Creator; that people are sinful by nature and need forgiveness of sins through repentance and faith in Him; that the Bible is true; and that the purpose of life is to know, love, and serve God with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul.

In fact, the church is increasingly being infiltrated by secular thinking and a multiconfessional agenda through the promotion of religious diversity and the idea that all paths lead to God, including Islam and Hinduism.  Moreover, there are churches that bless people in same-sex relationships, including those that accept same-sex marriage. But how can the church be permitted to bless what God says is sinful?

In contrast to this practice, the Bible urges us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16–20) and to proclaim the Word of God at all times (2 Timothy 4:2). This means speaking out openly against abortion and homosexuality.

The Bible also teaches us that salvation comes only through faith in Christ, who is the sole mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5).

The true Church of Jesus Christ exists to bring people to God on His terms, to prepare them for eternity in heaven. We can enter heaven only on God’s terms.  Those who do not accept God’s conditions for entry will be left out forever, in hell (Revelation 21:8).

All people are invited by God into His church, the ark of salvation in this world that will soon be judged by God. But a genuine conversion to God is required—a turning back to Him from this sin-loving world through repentance and faith. 

God does not allow us to change His commandments to make people feel comfortable living in sin, because if they do so, they will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9–11). 

A church that justifies practices that contradict the Word of God and God’s fundamental order for the family and marriage cannot lead people into the Kingdom of God. 

Given that many churches compromise on the Gospel, true Christians in Western countries often find themselves as a remnant in the midst of a sea of apostasy and confusion and may even find themselves persecuted and excluded because of their stance on biblical teaching regarding these issues. Even at the cost of isolation and social exclusion, we must remain faithful to the Word of God, for in this way we will be on the winning side. When the Lord Jesus returns, we will have a glorious future in His Kingdom. If we stand with Him now, then His words are a comfort to us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me, so that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:1–4).