Dr Paul Allen

In light of the shooting in Oregon, where the gunman asked students if they were Christian, and if they said ‘yes’ the gunman shot the student in the head, what would happen if a Christian lied? What if it would have been me, and I would have said ‘no’? Would I still go to heaven when I die? This question is of particular importance because Christianity contains no exception to prohibitions against lying . Islam, for example, has a doctrine called Taqiyya , which allows a Muslim to temporarily deny his faith if his life is in danger—so long as it is not a “heartfelt” objection. But Christianity is differen t. In fact, martyrdom is one of the chief means of propagating the gospel . As people boldly stand for Christ and refuse to recant even in the face of death, the gospel message is strengthened. The gospel itself is an example of this. Jesus valued his mission from God as more important than his own life, and his followers ought to do likewise. And yet… many Christians have de

“But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth” (1 Tim. 4:1–3, ASV). The expression “in later times” refers “to a period future to the speaker.… In the apostasy of the present the inspired Apostle sees the commencement of the fuller apostasy of the future.”56 Thus demonic doctrine has been increasing and will continue to increase in the church, reaching a climax at the end of the age. LIARS OF NEW MORALITY That this false system of teaching originates from demons is clear, but the text also says that it is promoted through men who speak lies . Comparing this passage with 1 John 2:19 and 4:3, it appears that demonic spirits directly emp