WHITEWASH THEOLOGY

   While preparing to paint the kitchen of our old house, I'm cleaning the walls, putting on a coat of primer, and then I will apply a coat of paint.  When finished, the kitchen will look new---yet the house is still old.
   In like manner, this is the same system that religion does to people:  they go through the rites and rituals as written by men, bow and pray, stand and sing, and when they leave the institution, they feel fresh and clean as if they are new---yet underneath their fresh coat of new paint, they go home as they came in:  with their sins whitewashed:  covered, but not forgiven.
   Many people go through this same system from their toddler years until the day they die.  They are good people.  They work, pay taxes, and they raise their children in the same religious system, being led to believe that their righteousness is gained from their performance of the rites and rituals, written by men.  They have been taught how to work the system and that the system will work for them.
   Unless there is a confession of sin to God, there is no forgiveness from God.  And unless there is an acceptance of Christ for salvation, there is no salvation.
   There are many, many people in Christian churches and Christian religions who believe in whitewash theology, which is a learned behaviour.  They believe that their righteousness is gained from their performance of the rites and rituals, written by men, and thus by-passing Christ. 
   A fresh coat of new paint does not make our old house new.  It only appears to be new. 
   In like manner, a fresh coat of religion does not forgive a sinner of his or her sins against God.
   So then, is your faith in Christ, or is your faith in your Christian church or in religion?  Have your sins been forgiven, or have you accepted whitewash theology?