A lady a few years ago actually stated to me at the funeral of her father: “If my daddy is in hell, then I want to go there because I love my daddy and want to be with him.” Consider four thoughts about her statement: (1) I didn’t conduct the funeral. (2) She was a member of the church where I preached. (3) She knew that the Scriptures teach that “…those who know not God, and that obey not the gospel shall suffer punishment even eternal destruction from the face of God, and the glory of His might” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). (4) Her father was not a Christian, though he knew what the Scriptures taught about the need for and the way to become a child of God. This brings forth the question: “Does or will ancestral religion save the believer of it? In short, will such a religion put one into an acceptable relationship to Almighty God?” Notice the following.
A few years ago, Mr. Tiger Woods had some sort of problem in his marriage that caused quite a stir among those who followed him in his golf career. In an attempt to explain some things to those who were evidently encouraging him to “Read the Bible and ask God to forgive him and become a Christian,” he stated in a speech before the television cameras something to the effect that he was a worshiper of Buddha and that he was not a Christian. This leads to a couple of questions. “Can one be right in the eyes of the God of the Bible, the Creator of all things, if he is a Buddhist?” “Can one follow his ancestors who were members of the Hindu religion and still expect the God of whom they are not even acquainted to save them?” Neither of these religions believe in the God of Christianity.
Let’s get closer to home in a personal way. One of my grandmothers lived and died believing in the false doctrine of the Presbyterian Church. As far as I know, she never once in her life heard a true Gospel sermon. The church of which she was a member taught and still teaches many things that are contrary to the Word of God. Concerning such doctrines Jesus said, “In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Thus, as far as the Scriptures teach, the Lord could not have added her, my dear grandmother, to a religious institution which He did not establish, nor for which He did not shed His blood to purchase. That religious system did not come into existence for more than fifteen hundred years after Jesus had died and shed His blood to purchase His church—His eternal kingdom. Do I pronounce my judgment on my grandmother? Absolutely not! I neither have nor want that authority—authority that belongs only to God.
Some may remember that old hillbilly song in which some of the lyrics was, “Give me that old time religion.” The lyrics would then rattle on about “It was good enough for my momma; it was good enough for my papa; and it is good enough for me.” It had a rather “jumpy” little tune that would make one tap a toe along the way, but there wasn’t a word of truth in its sentiment. The religion of which it spoke was that devised and practiced by man—not by God.
What shall we say about Abraham? If one is no more than a casual reader of the Old Testament, he or she is probably well acquainted with the call of this grand old patriarch. In Genesis 12:1, we are told, “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get thee out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.’” Then, in Joshua 24:15, Joshua called on the people to choose between God and the gods that their fathers worshiped on the “other side of the River.” Abram’s (Abraham’s) fathers worshiped idols. Would God have been pleased with Abraham if he had stated to God, “My kinfolks worshiped idols, and that is good enough for me”? We all know the correct answer to this.
Some folks’ kinfolks taught and still practice the religion that states that one “is saved by faith alone.” Others teach their kinfolks to “just say the sinner’s prayer to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.” It would take volumes upon volumes to list all of the false doctrines that have been followed by one’s ancestors. I have one complete shelf in my bookcase filled with the creed books of these false organizations. Yet, in somewhat less than 500 words, God tells one in His Book—the Bible—what He requires one to do to be saved from his sins.
God told those in Micah’s day, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). In the New Testament, ratified by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are told, “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).
Jesus commissioned His apostles to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). If your ancestors or mine, whether close or distant, did not do what Jesus commanded one to do to be saved, then we must follow Him instead of them.
