 THE
quality of the faith of anyone who professes Christianity does not
depend on his oral acceptance of Jesus Christ but on the soundness and
purity of the doctrines he believes. If the doctrines are pure or true
in the sense that they are established in the Holy Scriptures, then the
faith is also genuine and well founded; but if on the contrary the
doctrines are false, the obvious fact is that the faith, no matter how
elegant or gigantic its outward structure, is as well spurious. And
Jesus warned, "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees"!
As lack of good food is capable of impairing bodily health and
causing death, so too doctrines that are devoid of truth are harmful to
the spiritual health of all people and can send them to destruction.
Thus spiritual malnutrition is more dangerous than the physical one.
The fact remains unfortunately, that many still suffer from
spiritual malnutrition. They have been so tied to the apron-strings of
false apostles and prophets, hypocritical ministers and visionists or
dreamers that they can swallow without question any dogma no matter how
unreasonable and unscriptural it may be. Such are the people who are fed
with stones, (lies) instead of bread (truth).
Some people think that once they express their belief in God,
attend church services and pay dues in their church organizations they
will be saved. They do not care whether the doctrines of those
organizations are in total harmony with the Scriptures or not. This
indifference on the part of certain people in regard to doctrines has
made false prophets and teachers to gain undue advantage of them. But
except such ones go out of the grip of blind leaders to follow the light
of Jesus Christ, the end will be gloomy. God said: "A wonderful and
horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it
so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" - Jeremiah 5: 30, 31.
Jesus Christ does not want his followers to believe false
doctrines because he knows that they cannot lead to salvation. In the
course of his ministry on earth, he warned his disciples against the
teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He said: "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
Not understanding what the Master meant his disciples thought
he was talking of ordinary bread. After Christ had advanced a few points
more, "then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the
leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees".-Matthew, 16: 6-12.
The apostle John stated: "Beloved, believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1st John 4: 1
And St. Paul said: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1st Thessalonians 5: 21)
But how many pay heed to these admonitions of the apostles? How many
people take time to examine doctrines before they believe? Do some not
just stick to certain church organizations because of unspiritual
reasons such as being born into that particular church group or for its
being one of the oldest orthodox churches or for having married in that
church or for attending the college or university founded by that
church? To remain in a church, which teaches false doctrines, for these
unscriptural reasons is wrong and disastrous in the end -Proverbs 16:
25.
However, we thank God that through the publications of God's
Kingdom Society (GKS) and some other christian groups, many people are
now getting out from the shackles of dogmatism and ignorance and are
seeing the light of Jesus to appreciate the importance of doctrines.
They no longer want to be led by the nose. It was Christ who said: "And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."-John 8: 32.
Owing to lack of spiritual knowledge and because of simplicity
many people have been deceived with the result that they base their
faith on errors or false teachings. There is need to be critical of
doctrines, not with the aim to find fault but to ascertain the truth of
our beliefs. Said St. Paul: "That we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow
up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." - Ephesians 4: 14, 15; Hebrews 13: 9.
Many institutions of learning have become places where children
are fed with lies about God and His purposes of creation. Some of those
who are employed to teach religious knowledge in the colleges do not
know God, they themselves being sceptics or nominal Christians. It is
most unfortunate that certain people who do not believe in the Bible are
made to be religious teacher: merely because of paper qualifications.
In- stead of imparting divine knowledge to their students they preach
their own imaginations and doctrines of devils and consequently the
children become godless and come out of schools as atheists or
agnostics.
In certain public examinations the answers to some of the
questions which have been given credence in the subject of religion and
for which some obtained credit are a farrago of untruth. Of course, it
is not from secular, academic authorities people should expect to gain
the knowledge of God's revelation that will make them to be saved; it is
from ministers of religion who preach the truth of God without
corruption as recorded in the Bible. - Proverbs 12: 17; 14: 25; Jeremiah
3: 15.
Also in many church organizations the ministers, priest and
catechists teach a lot of things for which they have no scriptural
authority. They always stick to the vain traditions of men and invented
dogmas of their predecessors, though some of such teachings are against
their own conscience.
Let us examine some few points of doctrine that are being taught today:
- For instance, many have been taught to believe that God's
Kingdom is only in heaven which they say is the home of all the
righteous. Yet they pray for God's Kingdom to come to the earth. And
Jesus Christ said: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the
earth." (Matthew, 5: 5) And if all the good are in heaven and the wicked
are in hell-fire as they believe, why did Jesus Christ say that in the
day of resurrection all the dead, both good and bad would come from the
graves? He did not teach that the righteous would descend from heaven or
that the wicked would come out of fire but that all of them would rise
from the GRAVES!- John 5: 28, 29; see also Acts 24: 15.
- Some say that the soul can never die. But this view is the
very opposite of the truth of the Scriptures. St. Peter said that
unbelieving souls shall be destroyed. (Acts 3: 23) If "the soul can
never die" as some churches are teaching why did St Peter make such
statement? Look up also Psalm, 89: 48 (Psalm, 88: 49-Douay); Ezek.
18:4,20; Matthew, 10:28 and Revelation 16:3.
- It is also held as an article of faith in certain circles
that Mary is the mediatrix between God and men but this has no
foundation in the Scriptures, rather the Bible states positively that
there is "ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1st
Timothy 2: 5), NOT Mary.
- It is also believed and taught that Mary was carried body
and soul by angels to heaven. This is a blatant lie. We challenge anyone
to cite a single proof from the Scriptures, which all churches agree is
the AUTHORITY, to substantiate this view. The human corruptible body
CANNOT go to, or dwell in heaven. It is written clearly in the
Scriptures that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" in
heaven. (1st Corinthians 15: 50) Jesus himself went there, NOT with
human body, but with the spiritual body by which God raised him from the
dead.-l Pet. 3: 18-20; Acts 1: 1-9; 1st Corinthians 15: 40, 44, 49-50.
- There are certain religious organizations that allow women
to preach from house to house or to mount the pulpits to preach sermons
in the churches. But St. Paul says, "Let your women KEEP SILENCE in the
churches: for it is NOT PERMITTED UNTO THEM TO SPEAK." (1st Corinthians
14: 34,35) And he further stated: "BUT I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH,
nor to usurp authority over the man." 1st Timothy 2: 11-14.
We have brought the foregoing few points to
light to show how many errors have been accepted by people knowingly or
unknowingly, and to stress the need for vigilance.
Any doctrine that is not in conformity with the holy
Scriptures is counterfeit and must be discarded. If anybody tells you
to accept a dogma whose authority is derived from a source outside the
Holy Bible, never must you give in-even if he calls himself the most
holy angel. Here is St. Paul's stern I warning: "But though we, or an
angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we
have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so
say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that
ye have received, let him be accursed."-Galatians 1: 8,9; see also
Isaiah 8: 20.
Furthermore, St. Paul in his first letter to Timothy stated:
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings, perverse disputings as of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such
withdraw thyself." - 1st Timothy 6: 3-5.
Doctrine of Christ The importance of doctrines cannot be over-stated. True doctrines are from God. Jesus Christ said: "My
doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His
will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I
speak of myself." (John 7: 16, 17) These true doctrines cannot be obtained from anywhere other than from the Holy Bible.
And St. Paul stated emphatically: "All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, 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." - 2nd Timothy 3: 16,17.
Anyone who wanders from the teachings of Jesus Christ as
revealed in the Scriptures will lose the favour of God and the grace of
life. It is worthwhile to warn people therefore not to take things for
granted nor do anything to support false religious ministers and to
promote the cause of falsehood and unrighteousness. John the apostle
wrote: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God."
"He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." - 2nd
John 9-11.
True Christians of today must follow the example of Jesus
Christ and see to it that his doctrines are jealously guarded against
corruption. St. Paul said: "For we are not as many, which corrupt the
word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God
speak we in Christ." (2nd Corinthians 2: 17) And knowing the importance
of doctrines he (Paul) charged Timothy: "If thou put the brethren in
remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus
Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,
whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables,
and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. Take heed unto thyself, and
unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both
save thyself, and them that hear thee." - 1st Timothy 4: 6-7,16.
The apostle also counselled Titus to be a pattern of good
works, and added, "In doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity,
sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of
the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."
-Read Titus 2: 1,7-8.
The facts are quite clear. Let no one
expose himself to the poison of false doctrines and so suffer spiritual
malnutrition. Rather let everyone ensure that he receives but the
untarnished truth of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ as clearly
recorded in the Bible for his spiritual well-being and salvation.
CULLED FROM THE GOD'S KINGDOM ADVOCATE.
Gmail acount: johnsonwowo@gmail.com
Blog address: johnsonwowo.blogspot.com
|
0 Comments