God’s Truth & God’s Word Never Changes

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.’ (1 Corinthians 15:58); ‘Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.’ (1 Timothy 4:15)

I found this gem of a comment from a Mr. John Mason.  While I cannot verify the overall theology doctrine of Mr. Mason, I do find agreement in this one statement he shared:

“Christianity does not “progress” with the times.  If it did, it would be a false religion.  Do not be deceived into thinking there is a progressive form of Christianity.  It doesn’t exist because the truth never changes.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, AMEN.”

We have, since about 1900, been told of ‘progressive’ movements, in politics, education, science doctrine, and (unfortunately) Christianity.  Progressivism sounds good; to move forward we have to progress with new ideas and concepts, and in some things – even within worship – this is true.  We’ve progressed from horses and trains in our transportation to cars and planes; office work can now be anywhere there is connectivity to the Internet.  We can watch Sunday Service on YouTube when we’re under the weather, and the music is more contemporary (even the old hymns are getting modern ‘uplifts’ in tone). 

The same applies to America, although it should never apply to the US Constitution, as it should never be considered a ‘living’ document subject to change on the whims to fit society.  Political progressivism became vogue and now we see what happens when a progressive Supreme Court ‘invents’ rights, such as ‘the right to choose life’ (abortion, euthanasia).  When this is rightfully corrected (the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the Dobbs decision in the SCOTUS), it is greeted with much gnashing of teeth by those ignorant of what the Constitution really states. 

While we can and should allow the church to progress from the standpoint of advancements of technology and style, Mr. Mason is absolutely correct that the foundation of Christianity and Truths that we find within Jesus, His Gospel, and the Bible must never be subject to ‘revision’.  If the Truth as it is stated is not palatable, it is not the Truth that needs fixing but the one digesting it.  I made mention before that in Christianity tolerance is not a virtue, and while that may not sound appetizing or ‘Christianlike’ it is true when it comes to the foundational Truths of our Faith. 

We can tolerate changes in how we interact within the confines of our society in terms of technology, music, and style. However, we must stand firm and defend unwaveringly the Truth of Jesus and His Gospel and be intolerant to attempts to ‘progressivize’ it, Men with honor, integrity and righteousness must lead the church, those who exercise unrepentant deviate behavior cannot lead or serve within the church. 

Paul understood that progress in the terms of expanding capabilities, knowledge, and understanding by each Christian is a good thing.  We must progress, or grow, from being ‘baby Christians’ to become someone who can lead in our Faith.  This is true for all Christians, as we each must be able to defend and share our Faith with others. 

A young Timothy, who in his late teens/early 20’s, journeyed either alone or with Paul, had to grow quickly to become Paul’s emissary to the Thessalonians and others, and use his abilities and talents to share the Gospel.  Being young, Timothy may have found ways to attract people to the Gospel that Paul could not do, either simply for being older (young folks don’t necessarily like to hang out with us old bubbas), set in his ways (‘we never did it that way’), or perhaps unable to (Paul’s physical limitations, and later his imprisonment).  Timothy’s Spiritual progress in his Faith may have also allowed a progression in how the Gospel message was presented to Gentiles.

It was also understood by Paul that while the Church and its members had to progressively grow in their Faith, and perhaps the opportunity to progressively modify the presentation of the Gospel to a new audience, Paul also implored Christians to never change the message of the Gospel itself.   In part, Paul’s message to the Corinthians is to ‘stand firm’ in the Faith and not move away from the foundational Truth of the Gospel message. 

In other words, the Corinthians, facing pressure from their pagan neighbors, local authorities, and even their personal backgrounds and traditions, were implored by Paul not to be ‘bendy like Gumby’ with their Faith or the Gospel.  They could not change the Gospel message or Scriptural Truth to make it more palatable to the masses or to be more accepted.

We must all give up something; we give up unrighteous secular pursuits to follow Jesus, or we give up Jesus to follow unrighteous secular pursuits.  You cannot do both; there are no ‘Christians-but’!  You can be a Christian who shares the message in a progressive fashion, but you cannot be a Christian who shares a progressive message to fit into secular society.