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Gary
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Exquisite Counterfeit
by Betsy Childs
Something that is counterfeit is, by definition, intended to closely resemble what is genuine. Counterfeits are made of things that are valuable: jewels, works of art, currency. The more closely they resemble the genuine article, the bigger the threat they pose. The Department of Treasury does not concern itself with studying Monopoly money, and curators do not waste time examining poor copies of masterpieces. Those charged with protecting something precious realize that imitation is the most dangerous form of thievery.
Living as we do in a culture that has adopted pluralism as a supreme value, we would do well to take some time to think about the nature of counterfeit. Time and again I have had the same conversation in which people who reject the exclusivity of the Christian faith will say something to the effect of, "But surely you recognize that figures such as Mahatma Gandhi or the Dalai Lama are far more spiritual than most Christians. Look at their compassion! Look at their enlightenment! Do you mean to suggest that they are not truly spiritual?"
A simple "yes" is likely to shut down this conversation. But if we examine the nature of counterfeit, we may go a bit deeper. Consider that "spiritual" figures who do not bow to the lordship of Christ are practicing a kind of counterfeit spirituality. This takes into account that they may show genuine compassion. It acknowledges that they may have sacrificed their lives for others. They may be more disciplined or learned than we will ever be. But if they are not a genuine way to the Father, these virtues become even more dangerous. The beauty and mystery of false religion are the pied piper's tune leading souls to destruction.
Imagine that you go to your bank to withdraw some money. The teller gives you a stack of bills, which you discover are not genuine currency. When you protest, he or she points out the intricate beauty of the design on the bills, claiming that they must be the work of a master counterfeiter. Recognition that you are in possession of high quality counterfeit would probably not make you more inclined to accept it.
Some people use the word counterfeit interchangeably with the word hypocritical. If they say, "All religions are counterfeit" they really mean, "No religion is genuine." Yet counterfeit currency would not exist if there were not such a thing as genuine currency. Likewise, the existence of counterfeit spirituality actually testifies to the reality of a true spirituality. False messiahs exist because they are imitations of the true Messiah; they cannot gain us access to the God of the universe. Make no mistake, we are all spiritual beings. But the spirituality that God accepts is based on a relationship with Christ, and the indwelling of his Spirit.
Jesus Christ made the bold and polarizing claim that no one could come to the Father except through him. In other words, no other currency could satisfy our debt but the blood of the Lamb who was slain. He freely offers to pay our debt. There is plenty of exquisite counterfeit available, but only the genuine article can purchase eternal life.
© 2005 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
-source-
by Betsy Childs
Something that is counterfeit is, by definition, intended to closely resemble what is genuine. Counterfeits are made of things that are valuable: jewels, works of art, currency. The more closely they resemble the genuine article, the bigger the threat they pose. The Department of Treasury does not concern itself with studying Monopoly money, and curators do not waste time examining poor copies of masterpieces. Those charged with protecting something precious realize that imitation is the most dangerous form of thievery.
Living as we do in a culture that has adopted pluralism as a supreme value, we would do well to take some time to think about the nature of counterfeit. Time and again I have had the same conversation in which people who reject the exclusivity of the Christian faith will say something to the effect of, "But surely you recognize that figures such as Mahatma Gandhi or the Dalai Lama are far more spiritual than most Christians. Look at their compassion! Look at their enlightenment! Do you mean to suggest that they are not truly spiritual?"
A simple "yes" is likely to shut down this conversation. But if we examine the nature of counterfeit, we may go a bit deeper. Consider that "spiritual" figures who do not bow to the lordship of Christ are practicing a kind of counterfeit spirituality. This takes into account that they may show genuine compassion. It acknowledges that they may have sacrificed their lives for others. They may be more disciplined or learned than we will ever be. But if they are not a genuine way to the Father, these virtues become even more dangerous. The beauty and mystery of false religion are the pied piper's tune leading souls to destruction.
Imagine that you go to your bank to withdraw some money. The teller gives you a stack of bills, which you discover are not genuine currency. When you protest, he or she points out the intricate beauty of the design on the bills, claiming that they must be the work of a master counterfeiter. Recognition that you are in possession of high quality counterfeit would probably not make you more inclined to accept it.
Some people use the word counterfeit interchangeably with the word hypocritical. If they say, "All religions are counterfeit" they really mean, "No religion is genuine." Yet counterfeit currency would not exist if there were not such a thing as genuine currency. Likewise, the existence of counterfeit spirituality actually testifies to the reality of a true spirituality. False messiahs exist because they are imitations of the true Messiah; they cannot gain us access to the God of the universe. Make no mistake, we are all spiritual beings. But the spirituality that God accepts is based on a relationship with Christ, and the indwelling of his Spirit.
Jesus Christ made the bold and polarizing claim that no one could come to the Father except through him. In other words, no other currency could satisfy our debt but the blood of the Lamb who was slain. He freely offers to pay our debt. There is plenty of exquisite counterfeit available, but only the genuine article can purchase eternal life.
© 2005 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
-source-
