In part one of this brief series of articles, we began discussing some of the factors
that help determine when individuals and congregations are taking the journey to
denominationalism.
(3) The journey to denominationalism is taken when subjectivism and
emotionalism are allowed to override the objectivity of divine truth. It is quite
common to have someone ask what the word of God teaches about a certain subject,
and upon giving them the correct answer from scripture, to have them respond, "Well, I
know that's what the Bible says, but my God is bigger than a book, and I just believe
his grace and mercy will make allowances." Many times a spouse, parent, or child has
died in a state of disobedience to God, and rather than accept the fact that they died lost,
people try to cope with their grief through self deception, or by attempting to persuade
themselves and others that God's word is not the final court of appeal in religious matters.
(1 Pet. 4:11; 1 Cor. 4:6) They are trying to convince themselves that God will do something
different than what the Holy Spirit revealed from the mind of God in scripture. The Book
says, "Let God be true, and every human being a liar." (Rom. 3:4, NIV-11)
God's word is truth. (Jno. 17:17) It is "the word of the truth of the gospel," (ASV)
that is, "the true message of the gospel" (Col. 1:5, NIV-11) Inasmuch as it is "the word
of the truth," it is the gospel of our salvation." (Eph. 1:13) There is but one gospel, and
no additions, subtractions, perversions, or modifications of any kind are tolerated. It
stands as written and whatever it teaches on any issue must remain intact. Paul wrote,
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the
grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel; which is really no gospel at all.
Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the
gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel to
you other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we
have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other
than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse." (Gal. 1:6-9, NIV-11)
We live in a day when many among the Lord's own people no longer tolerate the
same forceful, bold, straightforward preaching that we heard a generation ago. It is
not uncommon to hear a brother or sister say "I do not appreciate the fact that he said
those who die in denominationalism will be lost. By preaching such, he has assigned
my dear old mother and father to hell." I wonder if such people would be pleased if
preachers of the gospel were to compromise and say that people who die in man-made
religion will be saved in spite of what the Bible teaches? They probably would be
happy, but God would not, and that is what matters! Nevertheless, there will be a
"softie" in a pulpit somewhere who will accommodate such people. There are always
preachers who will tell people whatever they want to hear, whether true or false. They
are like the false prophets in the Old Testament. They cry "Peace, peace; when there is
no peace." (Jer. 6:14; 8:8-12) They are hirelings!
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father,
except through me." (Jno. 14:6) Salvation is in Christ. Paul said believers have "the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim. 2:10) He also said we
have "the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:9) A
person cannot get into Christ without being immersed into him. (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:
3-4) Therefore, since a person cannot come to the Father except through Christ, and
since salvation is in Christ, and inasmuch as a person cannot get into Christ without
being immersed into him, immersion is essential to salvation, and the accountable person
who dies without immersion will die lost! The Bible teaches this and the Bible is right.
No amount of tears poured out over the casket of a dearly departed lost spouse,
no amount of sorrowful moans over the cold body of a mother or father who died in
rebellion against God, and no amount of heart wrenching screams over the body of a lost
child, will change the word of the living God. Scripture says what it says and it teaches
what it teaches. We must be careful that we do not put family over God by falling prey
to the devil's allurements through the human way of thinking. Many are doing this,
and it will not be overlooked on the day of judgment. We are to love no one
more than God; no one! (Mat. 10:34-39; Lk. 14:25-27) Can we not see that
denominationalism is not a friend. It is a thief of souls. It is a perverter of divine truth. It
gives false hope and comfort to sinners. Both the adherents and founders of man-made
religion will fall into the pit. (Matthew 15:9,13-14)
I have never known anyone to take the journey to denominationalism without first
allowing human emotions and human reasoning to become the foundation of their ability
(or inability) to study the word of God. It may be that the greatest test we face on
earth is to see whether we will turn our backs on family when they turn their backs on
God. Most people unlike Abraham, are not willing to give up a child, wife, mother,
father, or self in order to have something much better when this life is over.
(Heb. 11:8-10, 17-19)
R. Daly
Copyright 2011
that help determine when individuals and congregations are taking the journey to
denominationalism.
(3) The journey to denominationalism is taken when subjectivism and
emotionalism are allowed to override the objectivity of divine truth. It is quite
common to have someone ask what the word of God teaches about a certain subject,
and upon giving them the correct answer from scripture, to have them respond, "Well, I
know that's what the Bible says, but my God is bigger than a book, and I just believe
his grace and mercy will make allowances." Many times a spouse, parent, or child has
died in a state of disobedience to God, and rather than accept the fact that they died lost,
people try to cope with their grief through self deception, or by attempting to persuade
themselves and others that God's word is not the final court of appeal in religious matters.
(1 Pet. 4:11; 1 Cor. 4:6) They are trying to convince themselves that God will do something
different than what the Holy Spirit revealed from the mind of God in scripture. The Book
says, "Let God be true, and every human being a liar." (Rom. 3:4, NIV-11)
God's word is truth. (Jno. 17:17) It is "the word of the truth of the gospel," (ASV)
that is, "the true message of the gospel" (Col. 1:5, NIV-11) Inasmuch as it is "the word
of the truth," it is the gospel of our salvation." (Eph. 1:13) There is but one gospel, and
no additions, subtractions, perversions, or modifications of any kind are tolerated. It
stands as written and whatever it teaches on any issue must remain intact. Paul wrote,
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the
grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel; which is really no gospel at all.
Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the
gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel to
you other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we
have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other
than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse." (Gal. 1:6-9, NIV-11)
We live in a day when many among the Lord's own people no longer tolerate the
same forceful, bold, straightforward preaching that we heard a generation ago. It is
not uncommon to hear a brother or sister say "I do not appreciate the fact that he said
those who die in denominationalism will be lost. By preaching such, he has assigned
my dear old mother and father to hell." I wonder if such people would be pleased if
preachers of the gospel were to compromise and say that people who die in man-made
religion will be saved in spite of what the Bible teaches? They probably would be
happy, but God would not, and that is what matters! Nevertheless, there will be a
"softie" in a pulpit somewhere who will accommodate such people. There are always
preachers who will tell people whatever they want to hear, whether true or false. They
are like the false prophets in the Old Testament. They cry "Peace, peace; when there is
no peace." (Jer. 6:14; 8:8-12) They are hirelings!
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father,
except through me." (Jno. 14:6) Salvation is in Christ. Paul said believers have "the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Tim. 2:10) He also said we
have "the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:9) A
person cannot get into Christ without being immersed into him. (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:
3-4) Therefore, since a person cannot come to the Father except through Christ, and
since salvation is in Christ, and inasmuch as a person cannot get into Christ without
being immersed into him, immersion is essential to salvation, and the accountable person
who dies without immersion will die lost! The Bible teaches this and the Bible is right.
No amount of tears poured out over the casket of a dearly departed lost spouse,
no amount of sorrowful moans over the cold body of a mother or father who died in
rebellion against God, and no amount of heart wrenching screams over the body of a lost
child, will change the word of the living God. Scripture says what it says and it teaches
what it teaches. We must be careful that we do not put family over God by falling prey
to the devil's allurements through the human way of thinking. Many are doing this,
and it will not be overlooked on the day of judgment. We are to love no one
more than God; no one! (Mat. 10:34-39; Lk. 14:25-27) Can we not see that
denominationalism is not a friend. It is a thief of souls. It is a perverter of divine truth. It
gives false hope and comfort to sinners. Both the adherents and founders of man-made
religion will fall into the pit. (Matthew 15:9,13-14)
I have never known anyone to take the journey to denominationalism without first
allowing human emotions and human reasoning to become the foundation of their ability
(or inability) to study the word of God. It may be that the greatest test we face on
earth is to see whether we will turn our backs on family when they turn their backs on
God. Most people unlike Abraham, are not willing to give up a child, wife, mother,
father, or self in order to have something much better when this life is over.
(Heb. 11:8-10, 17-19)
R. Daly
Copyright 2011
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