The above title is from an article, written by Toby Lester, that appeared in "The Atlantic Monthly" in February, 2002. Under the title was the following: "Religion didn't begin to wither away during the twentieth century, as some academic experts have prophesied. Far from it. And the new century will probably see religion explode in both intensity and variety. New religions are springing up everywhere. Old ones are mutating with Darwinian restlessness (emphasis mine). And the big problem religion of the twenty-first century may not be the one you think."

This article contained some very enlightening facts, as well as penetrating insights into the religious landscape that surrounds the true church. What I found especially disturbing about this lengthy article (pages 37-451) was the number and diversity of the new religious movements! Quoting David B. Barret, the editor of World Christian Encyclopedia, Toby Lester said, "We have identified 9,900 distinct and separate religions in the world, increasing by two or three new religions every day. What this means is that new religious movements are not just a curiosity, which is what people in the older denominations usually think they are. They are a very serious subject (emphasis mine)." I would agree, but probably not for the same reason. The seriousness is that countless souls are being led straight to hell! 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." {Matthew 7:13}

The article contained "just a few representatively diverse examples of new movements around the world," and a staggering number of souls are involved.

"The Ahmadis. A messianic Muslim sect based in Pakistan, with perhaps 8 million members in 70 countries, the Ahmadi movement was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a Punjabi Muslim who began receiving divine revelations in 1876. In the Ahmadi version of religious history, Jesus escaped from the cross and made his way to India, where he died at the age of 120."

"The Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University. A prosperous, ascetic-meditations movement based in India, with some 500,000 members (mostly women) worldwide. The group was founded by Dada Lekh Raj, a Hindu diamond merchant who in the 1930s experienced a series of powerful visions revealing 'the mysterious entity of God and explaining the process of world transformation."

"Cao Dai. A syncretistic religion based in Vietnam, with more than 3 million members in 50 countries, Cao Dai combines the teachings of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, and also builds on elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Geniism. The movement was formally established in 1926, six years after a government functionary named Ngo Ming Chieu received a revelation from Due Cao Dai, the Supreme Being, during a table-moving séance. The movement's institutional structure is based on that of the Catholic Church: (with) prayers to a pantheon of divine beings, including the Buddah, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Quan Am, Ly Thai Bach, Quan Thanh De Quan, and Jesus Christ. Its "Three Saints" are Sun Yat-sen, Trang Trinh, and Victor Hugo."

"The Raelians. A growing new international UFO-oriented movement based in Canada, with perhaps 55,000 me mbers worldwide, the group was founded in 1973 by Rael, a French race-car journalist formerly known as Claude Vorilhon. Rael claims that in Dec. of 1973, in the. dish of a French volcano called Puy-de-Lassolas, he was taken onto a flying saucer, where he met a four-foot humanoid extraterrestrial. On six successive days, Rael had conversations with the extraterrestrial, from whom he learned (by means of DNA manipulation) that the human race was the creation of beings known as the Elohim - a word that was mistranslated in the Bible as God and actually means those who came from the sky."

"Soka Gakkai International. A wealthy form of this-worldly Buddhism, based in Japan and rooted in the teachings of the 13th century Buddhist monk Nichiren, Soka Gakkai has some 18 million members in 115 countries. It was founded in 1930 by Makiguchi Tsunesaburo and Toda Josei and then reestablished after WWII, at which point it began to grow dramatically."

"The Toronto Blessing. An unorthodox new evangelistic Christian Charismatic movement, based in Canada, the movement emerged in 1994 within the Toronto Airport branch of the Vineyard Church (itself a remarkably successful new religious movement founded in 1974), after a service delivered by a Florida-based preacher named Rodney Howard Browne. To date, about 300,000 people have visited the movement's main church. Services often induce a 'move of the Holy Spirit' that can trigger uncontrollable laughter, apparent drunkenness, barking like a dog, and roaring like a lion. The group finds support for its practices in passages from the Bible's Book of Acts, among them "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them and Some, however, made fun of them and said, They have had too much wine..."

"Umbanda. A major syncretistic movement of spirit worship and spirit healing based in Brazil, with perhaps 20 million members in 22 countries, Umbanda emerged as an identifiable movement in the 1920s. It fuses traditional African religion (notably Yoruban) with native South American beliefs, elements of Catholicism, and the spiritist ideas of the French philosopher Allan Kardec. The movement grew phenomenally in the 20th century and is sometimes considered the 'national religion of Brazil,' uniting the country's many races and faiths."

And these are just a FEW! What we are witnessing is nothing new, for it happened long ago in the Lord's church; it just appears to be on a greater, and more rapid, scale than ever before. Paul warned the Ephesian elders: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:29-30) Further, we read in the epistles to Timothy: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils...This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves,.. boasters,.. blasphemers,.. unholy,.. despisers of those that are good,.. ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1,2,3,7,13)

In light of the statement--"Old ones are mutating with Darwinian restlessness"--made at the beginning of this article, the following comes from-a letter received just last June. "Day Spring Fellowship-A Church of Christ, was born Sunday, Sept. 9, 2001. The congregation was formed by the merger of the River Road Church of Christ of Eugene and the Gateway Church of Springfield. Before Day Spring had its first worship assembly, God provided the opportunity to include a third congregation, New Hope Christian Fellowship, in the merger." Of course, the letter went on to talk about Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17, and how unity is far more important than doctrinal differences. They then asked for God's Holy Spirit, who gave birth to this new congregation, to make all people one. How arrogant and sad this is.

Brethren, we need to BEWARE! (cf. 1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Peter 3:17-18). We need to be able to defend the truth, and thereby, Lord willing, save some souls. Thus, it is written, ".. earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; .. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God and Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power now forever. Amen." (Jude 2-3, 23-25)