This document discusses the dangers of "selective religion" or "cafeteria religion" where people pick and choose what parts of religion and God's word they want to accept. It notes that division has always been a problem for the church. The dangers are outlined as selective religion leads to destruction and damnation. Unity through accepting the whole counsel of God as revealed in scripture is emphasized as the way to avoid these dangers. People are encouraged to take God at his word rather than accept only what suits them.

3. Selective Religion!
Jer 36:1-2 Now it came to pass in the fourth year of
Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this
word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:
"Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words
that I have spoken to you against Israel, against
Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I
spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this
day. Jer 36:23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi
had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the
penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the
hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that
was on the hearth.

4. It is easy to see that today there is
great division in the world of religion!
According to the Center for the Study of Global
Christianity (CSGC) there are approximately 41,000
Christian denominations and organizations in the world
today. (2011)
▪ Truth be told, this is not a new problem, this has
always been a danger facing the church!
▪ Jesus has called us to be united & not divided!
▸1 Cor. 1:10-13; 3:1-4; 12:25
▪ From the beginning of the church, this was a problem
and it is still very much one today!

5. So why so many?
Truth or Tradition? Fact or Fiction?
(Mt. 15:1-9; 2 Tim. 4:1-5)
▪ I believe it is important for us to keep in mind that it
is God that we will have to answer to!
▸2 Tim. 2:15; Act. 5:29; Eccl. 12:14
▪ Today I want to study with you about the “danger of
division!” or as I have title this lesson “selective
religion!”
▪ God’s children need to learn to be united & not
divided so we can do the most good for the cause of
Christ!

6. Other titles for our lesson today: Cafeteria
Religion, or Buffet Style Religion!
▪ What is meant by this is that many want to
“pick & choose” what they will accept or reject
when it comes to God’s Word!
▪ Howard Young once told me about a woman
that had cut out every verse in her Bible on
baptism!
▪ It is our hope & prayer that we will learn to
take God at His Word & not be fooled into
believing that we can simply pick and choose!

7. I. The Danger of Selective Religion!
▪ The Bible is filled with examples of this!
▸The Scribes & Pharisees! (Mt. 15:1-9; 23:1-29 *23)
▪ There is great danger when we take it upon ourselves to
“select” what we will or will not do when it comes to
religion!
▸Cain & Abel (Gen. 4:3-8 cf. Heb. 11:4)
▸Nadab & Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3)
▪ We are warned about the danger of perverting the
Gospel!
▸Gal. 1:6-9
▪ We need the “mind” of Christ (Phil. 2:5)

8. The need for the mind of Christ!
▪ 1Cor. 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the
same thing, and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment.
▪ 1Cor. 2:16 For "who has known the mind of the
LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the
mind of Christ.
▪ Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus,

9. II. The Destruction of Selective Religion!
▪ Unity builds but division destroys! (Gen. 11)
▸This is an example of unity for the wrong reason, but
what an amazing example it is!
▸Gen. 11:6 And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are
one and they all have one language, and this is what they
begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be
withheld from them.
▪ As soon as there is division there is destruction!
▸Gen. 11:7 "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their
language, that they may not understand one another's
speech."
▪ One mind unity, more than one division!

10. The body of Christ is strongest when we
stand upon “the whole council of God!”
Act. 20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you
the whole counsel of God.
▪ God’s Word can be viewed like a puzzle, it is not
until we put all the piece in place that we see clearly!
▸Ps 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And
every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for
ever.
▪ This doesn’t mean one must know everything before
they become a Christian, but where to go for answers!
(Mt. 28:18-20)

11. Imagine trying to build a house with only
part of the plans, imagine taking a trip with
only part of the directions!
▪ This does not work in the physical realm of
things, so why would one think that it would in
the spiritual realm of things?
▪ When it comes to religion let’s make sure we
are going to the right source to find our
answers!

12. III. The Damnation of Selective Religion!
▪ I would like for us to now go back to the passage we
begun with (Jer. 36:1-3, 23)
▸Because of the actions of the King, damnation is
going to be poured out on him, and yet God’s Word is
going to remain & multiply! (Jer. 26:29-31)
▪ Paul’s words to the church of Thessalonica!
▸2Thess. 1:8-9 in flaming fire taking vengeance on
those who do not know God, and on those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall
be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

13. This is seen in the Great Commission!
Mk. 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
▪ One must believe in God & have faith to obey!
▪ The question really is, are we going to take God at
His Word, or just go alone with what is said by men?
▪ God has given all that we need to know Him & obey
Him!
▸2 Pet. 1:2-3; Jude 1:3 ct. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

14. Conclusion:
▪ Much division & confusion could be stopped
if people would simply learn to take God at His
Word!
▪ We must not & cannot only pick and choose
what we like, it is all or nothing!
▪ Let’s learn to do things God’s ways for God’s
reasons!
▪ If you are here and have not yet come to
believe and obey, then today is the day!