Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” – John 14:6(NIV).

Deception is the cheapest, commonest, and easiest way of depriving a person of anything. It is usually subtle, non-violent, and seemingly harmless. Besides, deception strongly appeals to logical thinking because it is predominantly carnal and sensual. Thus deception is the greatest tool for all kinds of thefts such as lying (dishonesty), robbery including soul-robbery, embezzlement, and corruption. Satan is the father and king of thieves. Through deception, he won one-third of angels (now called demons) in Heaven to join his rebel team; Satan, 6,012 years ago, smartly robbed Adam and Eve of their eternal glory and destiny; he enticed Cain to murder his younger brother; he deceived Noah’s generation to avoid entry into the Ark of God; and Satan deceived residence of Sodom and Gomorrah, except Lot and his two daughters, to harden their heart to God only to be consumed by the raining fire! Today, he is still deceiving countless people to partake in his eternal damnation in the perpetual burning furnace. His deceptive strategy is two-fold. Firstly, he is making the church of God (Zion) ‘comfortable’ for its seekers. Secondly, he deceives people outside the church that it suffices to believe in God.
It not is enough to be in Zion (akin to the Ark of God in Noah’s era); for instance, being ‘comfortable’ (at ease) in Zion breeds curse. ‘Woe to those who are at ease in Zion’. Christianity is more than being saved, and just sitting down and starring in church. It calls for constant worship, fellowship, service, evangelism and discipleship. Jesus and for that matter God primarily seeks disciples, not necessarily church members. To a real disciple, worship is more than a song; it is about pleasing God, fellowship is more than an association or a denomination or membership; it is all about relationships, service is more than a voluntary work, job, or profession; it is surrendering totally to God’s purpose and plan for one’s life, evangelism is more than soul-winning; it is the starting point of discipleship, and discipleship is more than being a church-member; it is always a right relationship with God and one’s neighbours. Christianity is just a description of what some people thought some disciples of Christ were. It is thus wrong, even by logic, to see a non-disciple of Christ as a Christian simply because she is a member of a so-called recognized church. Christianity is more than church-membership; it is a total and constant lifestyle in real worship, evangelism, fellowship, service and discipleship-the five-fold general ministry of every humanbeing. Therefore, it is a deception to perceive oneself as a Christian without fulfilling the five-fold general ministry, plus that person’s God-given unique purpose. Unfortunately, many churches today only take pride in their membership and are building kingdoms with it. Besides, many so-called Christians are at best prisoners in churches.
Satan’s deception outside Zion is the greatest! For example, formal education teaches that there are many religions on earth and that Christianity is one of them. To many people, all religions believe in God hence real Christianity is never the ONLY way to God. Yet many more people believe that they can serve God outside Zion and still please Him. Sadly, it appears majority of humankind is deceived to reject the truth that Jesus Christ is God!

Firstly, real Christianity is never a religion; it is the good testimony of non-disciples of Christ about the real disciples of Christ. This means that Christianity is simply the good testimony of the world about a real disciple who is doing what Christ commands that person to do, and doing it the way Christ would have done it. That is why Christianity is nothing more than or less than right relationships - with God and one’s neighbours. The relationship is anchored in loving God with all of one’s might, soul and mind, and loving one’s neighbour as oneself. Christianity is therefore not a religion but a demonstration of real love to God and His creation by obeying His commandments-the two-fold love. Religion on the other hand is about peoples’ opinions, beliefs and conviction, and systems (gods) regulated by strict codes, mostly devoid of real love. That is why Satan is the god of this world and its ungodly systems. However, it is worth noting that Satan has neither control nor power over real disciples of Christ on earth.
Secondly, believing in God is never the same as loving God. Even Satan and demons believe in God! It is foolishness to even think that there is no God; even demons know this truth. The only way to love God is to believe His Word-Jesus. God’s Word (Jesus) is His physical body on earth. That is why we cannot separate God from Jesus. God created human beings in His own image. A human being is a spirit which has a soul and lives in a body. Therefore, God is a Spirit who has a Soul and lives in a Body (Jesus). Jesus is God living with human beings. It goes without saying that one can only relate to God through Jesus-God’s Word. The word of God is His physical body on earth. No wonder, a right relationship with this body is all that Christianity is about.
Jesus is never a religious leader. He is the visible image of God. Through Jesus, a humble person gets to know the truth, the way and the life of God. The truth of God is not an opinion; it is a command, the way of God is not dictated by ever-changing religious or legal codes; it is settled in Heaven, and the life of God is not only physical but also spiritual. Thus the word of God is Spirit and Life. That is why God is a Spirit. And real disciples worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus (the word of God) is the total embodiment of the truth and the life of God. That is why Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life of God. Therefore, any person who does not have Jesus is spiritually dead! That person certainly cannot have a right relationship with God. Right relationship with God demands relating with God in body, soul, and spirit. However, saved souls and saved spirits with their bodies quickened by the Spirit of God can rightly relate with God. Christ is the savior of all souls, spirits, and bodies. Jesus Christ is therefore God’s Word who saves God’s creation from Satan’s deception of all forms.
Christ is the head of the church of God. This means that Jesus is the King of Zion. Therefore, it is very deceptive to think that a person can relate with God without being a citizen of Zion. Certainly, one cannot love the head (Christ) and hate the body (church). Zion is more than a physical church; it is a kingdom. Zion is God’s holy city. Zion is not Heaven; it is a part of Heaven. Thus real disciples enter real Heaven through Zion. The only way to enter Zion is through Jesus. God’s word is the constitution of Zion. And only real disciples of Christ qualify to be citizens of Zion. Citizens of Zion are both righteous and holy. That is why Christianity is righteousness (right relationship with God) plus holiness (right relationship with mankind, among others). And without them, no one can relate with God! Are you a Christian (real disciple)?
Richard Obeng Mensah, co-author of 37 Benefits of Reading. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com