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There is a doctrine espoused by many which teaches that no church can be right on all matters of biblical teaching. In other words, absolute truth in doctrine is non-existent. Those who teach this view will acknowledge the existence of doctrinal errors, such as the false doctrine of infant baptism, but will often say that God's grace will cleanse those who teach error on the day of judgment. Can we, therefore, be right on some matters of doctrine while teaching error on others and expect to enter heaven?
Paul reminds us to
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).This means that by studying and making application of God's word to our lives, we are able to know right from wrong, truth from error. The same can also be said of the church. If the church is "rightly dividing the word of truth," then it will be right in all matters of doctrine.
The Scriptures teach that we are to preach sound doctrine. This form of teaching contains all truth
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Paul, in writing to Titus, said,
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).
Therefore, any doctrine that is contrary to that which the Bible teaches is to be opposed.
In addition, there is only one church where truth abounds, and that is the church of Christ. Of course, we speak of the church in the universal sense. In 1 Timothy 3:15, we read that the church is "the pillar and ground of the truth." There will be found, however, some truths that are taught in denominations, but one will only find the complete truth taught in the church of Christ.
The differences between doctrine and opinion have always been easy to recognize. Unfortunately, some of our liberal brethren have reduced some doctrines to matters of opinion under the cloak of Romans 14 and church autonomy. The main cause of this error is a rejection of biblical authority. For example, some have misused Ephesians 5:19 to teach that since God did not specifically prohibit instrumental music in worship, then it must mean He accepts it.
Matters which are seen as opinion should never be promoted as doctrine. Many churches have become divided over these types of issues. These include the use of the church building to hold weddings and funerals, the times of services, and the order of worship. It is one thing to respect the opinions of one another, but still another to give credence to false doctrine.
Although there will be moments in life when we will misunderstand what we read or simply forget that which we have learned, we must not use this as an excuse to say that it is impossible to know all truth. There are several ways in which the church can strive to be right in all doctrine.
"Earnestly contend for the faith." In his epistle, Jude exhorts the church to "earnestly contend for the faith," (Jude 1:3). As we are preaching the word of God many things will happen. There will be persecutions, trials and tribulations, pressures from the world to change the church to fit the culture, divisions within the body, etc. The church today continues to deal with these problems as did the church of the first century.
Be uncompromising of the truth for error. The "unity in diversity" movement continues to rage onward. This doctrine simply teaches that we are to have open fellowship with denominations on the sole basis that we agree on the necessity of the gospel of Christ, even though the doctrines which they teach are clearly false. Many churches of Christ have compromised the truth for error, and by opening their doors to denominations, have themselves become a denomination.
The Bible teaches that we are not to have open fellowship with those who are not of like faith. Paul, in writing to the church at Corinth, said,
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Preach the complete word of God. When we preach the word of God in its complete form, we are being right in all doctrine. We are commanded neither to add nor subtract from the word of God. Jesus said,
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).
If we desire to go to heaven, then we must be right in all doctrine. Of course, we must realize that we are going to misunderstand what we read and sometimes forget what we have learned, but that is part of christian growth. Brethren, it is important that, in order for the church to be a source where truth is taught, we must "earnestly contend for the faith" (Jude 1:3), be uncompromising of the truth for error, and preach the complete word of God.
Ira Mikell
ira@thechristianexaminer.com
The seed of error is born from the rejection of a need for authority. When men choose to establish worship upon their own feelings and notions while rejecting the word of God - apostasy begins. Eve disobeyed God because the devil gave her reason to question the authority of God. The law of God was simple to understand:
Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die (Genesis 2:16,17).
A small child can understand these instructions. When the devil came to the woman, the first thing he said was: "Has God indeed said?" (Genesis 3:1)
The worship of God has always been challenged with these words and when men answer the question as Eve did, error begins. The children of Israel knew it was wrong to bow down to idols as the Law plainly taught but teachings as commandments the doctrines of men, they became worshippers of the creature rather than the Creator. The warning given by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 shows how men would turn from the authority of God to their own desires:
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Jesus believed in the authority of the word of God. The tempter came to Jesus and sought to destroy him as he did Eve in the garden with the three elements of temptation:
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).
Notice how Jesus dealt with each temptation: "It is written..." (Matthew 4:4,7,10). It mattered not what Jesus thought nor what Jesus would say but only what the Father had established in His word. His condemnation of the religious world in His day was taken from the prophet Isaiah:
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men, (Matthew 15:8-9).
Our worship and service to God can only be based upon the authority of the word of God. We may proclaim that "we preach the word" but when we allow the doctrines of men to creep in among us and declare those things not found within the word of God, we stand in jeopardy of the same condemnation given to those Jews in Jesus time.
In churches throughout the country, women are leading in prayer and taking a more public role in the worship. Because the teachings of men have so long directed the affairs of man in worship to God, nothing is seen wrong with this kind of activity. What would Jesus say to such things? He would begin by saying, "It is written..."
Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says ... But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God ... Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression (1 Corinthians 14:34; 11:3 & 1 Timothy 2:11-14).
Bible authority means that what we have given ourselves to do is to follow only-- ONLY-- what is found in the word of God. If it cannot be established with a "thus saith the Lord" then the 'saith' will not be of the Lord but of men. When men begin to envelop themselves with the pride of life they begin to teach doctrine contrary to the will of God. Stand fast on the word of God and the word of God alone!
Kent E. Heaton, Sr.
others@thechristianexaminer.com
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