Don’t Accept Substitution or Truncation of God’s Word
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘(1) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (2) Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.’ (1 Timothy 4:1-2); ‘(3) For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (4) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Paul, in his two letters to his protégé Timothy, stressed the need in Chapter 4 of both messages to ‘Tim’ for sound Biblically-based doctrine to overcome what Paul saw as the abandonment of faith by some churches. The Apostle John would a little later receive the Revelation of Jesus, where Jesus provides John seven examples of churches, including two (Pergamum, Revelation 2:12-17 and Thyatira, Revelation 2:18-25) that teach something other than the Biblical Truth, or have unsound and ungodly leadership that their congregations are following.
Today we see such activities in many churches, where ‘Progressive Christianity’ has taken root. This illicit form of ‘Christianity’ is not Biblical and in many cases rejects outright some or all of the Word of God, considering it ‘outdated and overrated’. This progressivism has taken upon a doctrine of either ‘feel good’ or ‘woke’ principles, and has overtaken entire denominations (such as Episcopalian and United Methodist) or in the case of the Baptist sect there are individual churches that have fallen to the ‘woke’ crowd. Some have declared the Old Testament ‘null and void’, and are embracing the integration of LGBTQ members without repentance or acknowledgement of sinful activities. These are similar to the Church of Thyatira, where Jezebel was a ‘priestess’ who led her members into sexual immorality.
Others reject the Word of God as being ‘too strict’ or they add the ‘feel good’ theologies of ‘name it & claim it’, ‘no one will go to hell’, or ‘we are all God’s children’. These theologies are mixed and matched together in a ‘the Bible doesn’t really mean what it says’ falsehood. These types of messages lead to a false doctrine which can then lead to a false sense and false belief of eternal security. The Church of Pergamum is their example. Someone falling in this trip may never seek Salvation, that it is OK to live out their sinful lives without repentance – until it is too late. Many who follow these churches will unfortunately hear Jesus say those words (when it is too late to adjust course) from Matthew 7:23, ‘I never knew you.’
We are fortunate and blessed that our current Pastor, Staff and Council of Elders are of like-mind and kindred Spirit, holding onto the Bible – the whole Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 – that is all of God’s inerrant Word, never changing in meaning or purpose. Jesus did not replace the Old Testament but fulfilled and reinforced it! His ministry was based upon that which the Old Testament taught, giving it an understanding and meaning that was unknown at the time. What is taught and preached is Biblically acceptable and good for teaching, learning, and following in growing disciples. One day (hopefully not anytime soon) we will have another Pastor, a new Staff, and different men appointed as Elders. Should any of these leaders fail to uphold the Word of God and the Gospel message of Christ, it is ultimately up to the congregation (should the other leaders fail to act first) to rebuke, correct, and if necessary, remove them from their position and ensure Truth of the Bible prevails and is upheld.
