Vol. 8, No. 1, 1991

Salvation by Lucre, Labor or Law

Rick Branch

Examples of salvation by Lucre are the many New Age groups. For instance, trance channeling has become one of the latest fads.

Jach Pursel, who channels Lazaris, "charges his customers an average of $700 a year" and admits "a lot of money gets made," (Time, 7 December 1987, p. 66).

J.Z. Knight who channels Ramtha speaks to audiences of "thousands at a price of $150 each per session," (Ibid).

Leonard Orr, famous for his Rebirthing techniques says that, "Many people think our suggested fee is too inexpensive, considering that rebirthing is the most effective, fastest technique of self-improvement that we know," (Rebirthing In The New Age, p. 108).

While his fees, $35 to $50 per session, are cheaper than most, remember, Rebirthing is not a one time event.

Orr explains, "If you devote your complete attention and will to the rebirthing, it is easy. If you are essentially unwilling to face the truth about yourself, it may take a hundred sessions to do the same thing," (Ibid).

No New Age group gives complete enlightenment in only one session, and each session costs!

Salvation By Labor

Other cults exchange salvation for good works. This heresy is represented by the Unification Church's teaching on ridding oneself of "debts" or sin.

"God is constantly urging and inspiring man to pay off his debt quickly so that man can return to Him." Why pay them off quickly?

"If they arrive in the spirit world with unpaid debts, they will have to work to assist perhaps the very ones they hurt in order to pay what they owe. Payment in spirit is much more difficult, and thus it behooves us to attend to our obligations while we are yet in the flesh," (Divine Principle and It's Application, pp. 48 & 50).

Salvation By Laws

Finally, many cults teach salvation is earned by obedience to certain laws, special diets, holy days or chants.

The best example of earned salvation is the Worldwide Church of God.

"We are saved by grace, and through faith - make no mistake about that; but - there are conditions! ...people have been taught, falsely, that `Christ completed the Plan of Salvation on the Cross' - when actually it was only begun there," (All About Water Baptist, p. 6).

What are these conditions which complete the salvation process? One must follow the many Old Testament feast days and dietary laws, as well as worshipping on the correct day of the week.

"Thus did God reveal which day is His Sabbath, and also that it does make life-and-death difference - for to break God's holy Sabbath is SIN, and the penalty is eternal death!" (Which Day Is The Christian Sabbath?, p. 20).

Hence, regardless of ones relationship with Jesus, according to Armstrong, if the Sabbath is broken, eternal death is the reward.

While the Hare Krishna's believes in an Eastern deity, Krishna, they also believe that another name for Krishna is Christ.

"When Jesus said, `our Father, who art in heaven, sanctified be Thy name,' that name of God was `krsta' or `Krsna.' Actually it doesn't matter - Krsna or Christ - the name is the same," (Chant And Be Happy, p. 96).

The ultimate purposes of enlightenment or salvation is to overcome the endless cycle of reincarnation.

As His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada says, "By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant His holy names - Hare Krsna ... Hare Rama... - simply by chanting this maha-mantra, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters the spiritual sky.

"He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. Simply by chanting the holy mane of the Lord, one can surpass the ocean of death," (Ibid, pp. 94-95).

Contrary to the teachings of the various cults, salvation is not gained by Lucre, Labor or Law. It is gained only through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.