A Shaking of Faith

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

Jesse Babcock Ferguson is an example of how the sins of one can spiritually injure multitudes.  This example should caution us to beware: (1) Men may disappoint; (2) Our actions may affect others.

Ferguson was born in Philadelphia, Pa. but moved over time to various  places in Virginia, Ohio, and eventually Kentucky.  In Kentucky, Ferguson began to preach and his talents and abilities were soon obvious.

In the early 1840’s, while living in Kentucky, he held a couple of meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.  They were so impressed that they tried to persuade him to move to the city and work with them.  At first, he declined, but in the spring of 1846, at the age of 27, he accepted and moved to Nashville (approximate population 40,000).

Never had a preacher in Nashville so captivated the city; And he did it so quickly!  Rapidly the church grew from maybe 300 to 600.  A new building was constructed which would seat 1200.  Ferguson was popular with Nashville’s leading citizens (examples: U.S. Senator John Bell, Governor of the State W.B. Campbell; the city’s mayor; and the city’s leading doctor, W.K. Bowling).  Also, a young David Lipscomb admired him (he was 15 years of age when Ferguson moved to Nashville).  Tolbert Fanning made Ferguson the editor of his paper, The Christian Review (later changed the name to Christian Magazine.)

Ferguson’s ego became enormous while in Nashville.  He boasted that he had calls to preach in Memphis, New York City and in the state of Ohio but Nashville “needed constant teaching and oversight.”  Tolbert Fanning, looking back on things said later that Ferguson, “Flattered all, and was flattered by all in return.”  These things (flattery, ego) seem not to have been seen so clearly at the time.

Unsoundness began to be a concern of some by 1852, and increased through 1856.  Ferguson taught/practiced: (1) A view of 1 Peter 3:18-20 that had many believing he was teaching that a second chance existed on the other side; (2) Many, in time, thought he had adopted universalism; (3) In time, he rejected very clearly the concept of a future punishment of  the dead;(4) Open membership was practiced – anyone who wished to be considered a member there was accepted as such without question; (5) The last straw for many was when he proclaimed that one could communicate with the dead – and that he had so done himself.

Initially, most defended him saying, “He surely wasn’t saying such” …“He’s being misunderstood”…  But in time, the truth was undeniable.

The church split into many parts.  Only 15-25 were left in a building which seated 1,200.  In 1857 the building burned.

Ferguson left the city and is reported to have gone into denominationalism.  He seems to have disappeared from history.  H. Leo Boles wrote, “Like a meteor which flashes across the horizon, making a trail of glorious light behind it, and then suddenly disappearing and leaving nothing but darkness in its wake, so Jesse B. Ferguson… perhaps no preacher of the gospel ever stood so high in the estimation of the people and received the plaudits of the populace and then dropped so low as did this man.”

The effect was disheartening on many.  Lipscomb later wrote, “When the Ferguson defection hung heavily upon the churches, when many older brethren of promise and prominence throughout the country were discouraged, disheartened and many turned away from the truth – some to other churches, others to sin and infidelity, we too felt discouraged and disheartened.”

THINGS TO REMEMBER

1.  Men may disappoint.  Our faith should not stand in excellency of speech or the wisdom of man but in the God above (1 Cor. 2:1-5).  We should follow a man only so far as they are following Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).  Keep your eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:1-ff).

2.  Our actions may affect others.  The man or woman who commits adultery or enters into some shocking behavior, might harm not just themselves, but also others.  The man or woman who stops attending church services affects potentially numerous others, especially their close friends and family members.  The hypocrite, when discovered to be such, causes potentially many not to want to be a Christian (Rom. 2:23-24; 2 Sam. 12:14).  Take very seriously your influence on others! (Read Matthew 18:6-7).

 Resources for Bio.

1.  Crying in the Wilderness: A Biography of David Lipscomb by Robert E. Hooper, page 47-50.

2.  The Search for Ancient Order, (Vol. 1) by Earl Irvin West, page 261-265.

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Keeping Unity

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

The church is composed of those of different geographical origins, cultures, ethnicities, educational achievements, occupations, and even hobbies.  How can true lasting unity be maintained?

I would suggest that it is possible for true Biblical unity to be maintained, if we hold to two things:  (1) The right attitude; (2) The right standard and focus.  These two things are essential for “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

 Attitude (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Verse one begins with “Therefore.”  This points back to a previous point (Ephesians 2:15b-22; 3:6, 17-19, 21).  God wants us to live harmoniously together in one body, bringing honor and glory to Him.  The wording “walk worthy” means to live a life pleasing unto Him (cf. Colossians 1:10), a life which becometh the Gospel (cf. Philippians 1:27).  He wants us to “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2) and “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

Verse two mentions the attitude we need if we are going to so dwell together:

1.  Lowliness – (humility NASB; completely humble NIV).  Self exaltation was common then, and it is common now.  When men are self exalters and self promoters, difficulties are bound to happen.

The Bible warns one, “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3).  We would do well to have Paul’s attitude.  He said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10) and “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).  Man has much to be humble about  (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Remember, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

 2.  Meekness – (gentleness NKJV).  Cruden’s says this word means “gentle, kind, not easily provoked, ready to yield rather than cause trouble.”  We should ‘bend over backwards’ if necessary in order to keep peace.  “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated…” (James 3:17).  Paul instructed “as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).

3.  Longsuffering – (patience NASB).  Someone has said that “patience is the ability to idle the motor when you feel like stripping the gears.”  We should be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).  But, being longsuffering involves more than this.  It includes the idea of patiently enduring to help save a soul (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2).

4.  Forbearing… in love.  Vine’s says the word carries the thought of “to hold up, to bear with, endure.”   We should not walk around with a ‘chip on our shoulder.’  We should overlook each others quirks, and even when we have been sinned against ‘forbearing’ would include the idea of standing ready to forgive (Colossians 3:13).

Verse three does not tell us to create unity but to be “endeavoring to keep…”   When we were converted we became a part of one family.  God unified us into one body.  However, we must make effort to keep such oneness, unity, and peace.

 Standard/Focus (Ephesians 4:4-6)

True Biblical unity can only exist when we have the same correct standard and focus religiously speaking.

 1.  One body.  The body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23).  We are added to this body upon proper baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13 cf. Galatians 3:26-28).  There is not one body for Jews and one body for gentiles; such is not how God designed things.  Neither should we be divided after men (1 Corinthians 1:12-13; 3:4-7).  The body belongs to Christ (Ephesians 4:12).  He is the head (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18).

2.  One spirit.  This one spirit has delivered one message (Ephesians 2:18, 20 cf. 3:5-6).  The consequent is stated in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

Moreover, this one spirit had given them different gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-ff).  Instead of being divided over these gifts they should be laboring together as one body.  It is not as if different gods had given them different competing gifts.

 3.  One hope.  The ultimate hope for each Christian is eternal life in glory (Titus 1:2; 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:8).  This hope helps us to have endurance in this life (Romans 8:24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:2).

Now here’s the thing: we’re all striving for the same place, as Christians.  If we can’t get along here, what’ll we do there?

 4.  One Lord.  In the words of Peter, “God hath made… Jesus… both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).  The book of Romans says, “there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Romans 10:12).  He is Lord over both Jew and Greek.

The language “Lord” is language of authority (Luke 6:46).  He has authority over “all flesh” (John 17:2).  He has been given “all authority… in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18).  It is by His words we’ll be judged (John 12:48; cf. 2 Corinthins 5:10).

 5.  One faith.  If this is speaking of personal faith, then it simply makes the point that both Jew and gentile christians believe the same message.  Remember, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17 cf. Luke 8:11-12; John 5:45-47; 17:20; 20:30-31; Acts. 17:11-12; 18:8; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:10).

It is possible that this is speaking of the source of personal faith, that is the objective standard of faith (cf. Acts 6:7; 14:22; 15:9; Romans 5:2; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 1:23; 3:23; 3:25; Philippians 1:27; 1 Timothy 3:9; 4:1; 4:6; 5:8; Jude 3).  It is true the definite article is not present, but neither is it in passages like Romans 1:5; 1:17; 16:26, etc.

Either way, the message is similar.  Whether it is personal faith (which they held alike, and which came by the same objective standard) or whether it is the system of faith which is being spoken of in this passage, the message is they did have the same standard and the same trust.

6.  One baptism.   Various baptisms are mentioned in the pages of the Bible: (1) The baptism in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:1-2 cf. Exodus 14); (2) The baptism of John (John 1:26; 3:23; Matthew 21:25); (3) baptism of suffering (Luke 12:50; Matthew 20:22-23 cf. 26:39 and Hebrews 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15:29); (4) baptism with Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:4-5 cf. Acts 2); (5) baptism with fire (Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17); (6) Great commission baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:12-16; 10:47-48; 19:5, etc.).

Which is the one baptism?  (1) The baptism in the sea was a one time thing.  Moreover, it was not something which Jewish and gentile christians had in common.  (2) The baptism of John anticipated a coming Messiah (Acts 19:4).  It is spoken of in the past tense even in Jesus’ lifetime on earth (Matthew 21:25).  It clearly is not the one baptism (Acts 18:24-19:7).  (3) The baptism of suffering?  It is true that we are all called upon to suffer when necessary for the cause of Christ (2 Timothy 3:12).  It is also true that both Jew and gentile experienced this (1 Thessalonians 2:14).  However, this is figurative language, and water is mentioned later in this same book (Ephesians 5:25-27).  (4) The baptism of the Holy Ghost?  It is interesting that Holy Ghost baptism (a promise, not a command – Luke 23:49; Acts 1:4-5 cf. Acts 10:6, 47-48; 11:14) occurred in Acts 2 (cf. Acts 1:4-5); Many believe that it also occurred in Acts 10-11; However it is never spoken of again as occurring after Acts 10-11.  (5) The baptism of fire?  I don’t think we want this one (Matthew 3:10-12; Luke 3:16-17).

This leaves (6) The baptism of the Great Commission.  It is necessary for salvation (Mark 16:15-16 cf. Acts 2:38).  Water is connected with the baptism that saves (1 Peter 3:20-21).  Water baptism is a command to be obeyed (Acts 10:48).  One must obey the Gospel to be saved (2 Thes. 1:6-ff).  The Gospel at its core is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4).  We obey this in our dying to the love and practice of sin, being buried in water, and raised to walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:1-ff).   The baptism of the Great commission clearly is not Holy Ghost baptism [watch the consistency of the original language: Matthew 28:18-f; Acts 8:6; 19:5, lit. “Into the name…”].  The “washing of water” is mentioned in this very book (Ephesians 5:25-27 cf. Acts 22:16).  It thus stands to reason that water immersion of the Great commission is the one baptism.

It is after this one baptism that one is added to the church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47).  Thus both Jew and gentile christians would have gone through this same entrance (Read Galatians 3:26-28).

7.  One God and Father.  There is not multiple competing gods as the heathens thought.  there is not one God (Jehovah) for the Jews, and another (Diana) for the gentiles.  “He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:25-26).

 Spiritually, He can be the Father of us all (Galatians 3:26-28). In Ephesians 2:16, 18 we read, “That he (Jesus – B.H.) might reconcile both (Jew and gentile – B.H.) unto God in one body (church – B.H.) …For through Him (Jesus – B.H.) we both (Jew and gentile – B.H.) have access by one Spirit (because he revealed the truth Ephesians 2:18, 20 cf. Ephesians 3:4-5 – B.H.) unto the Father.”

 Meditating on these things should help in our maintaining the unity we should have.

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Franklin’s Faith

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706.  He was the 15th of 17 children.  His father was not wealthy, but a poor candle maker.  His education was scant, just two years of formal education.  Yet, his accomplishments and contributions to society are legendary.

His interests and thirst for learning seem almost insatiable.  He was a writer, publisher, inventor, scientist, statesman, politician, and great contributor to society, even a man interested in languages and spelling.

He was a writer and publisher.  Some of his “proverbial sentences,” as he called them, still survive to this day, such as: “haste makes waste” and “God helps them that help themselves.”

He was an inventor.  Among his inventions were the Franklin stove, a musical instrument called the Armonica, an odometer for wagons, a mechanical hand for getting books off of high shelves, a battery, and the lightening rod, even swimming fins.  He patented nothing; He simply wanted to benefit society.

He was a scientist.  His experiments discovered that light colors reflect more heat than do dark colors.  His experiments with electricity laid much of the foundation for future studies of the subject.

He was a statesman and politician.  In 1754 he proposed the Albany Plan, which if followed might have prevented the Revolutionary War.  He was a member of the Second Continental Congress.  He had diplomatic missions to Britain, France, and Canada.  He served as President (Governor) of Pennsylvania.  He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and proposed The Great Compromise between the small and large states.  He is the only person who signed all four documents that led to the creation of this country: The Declaration of Independence; the treaty with France (that brought French money, troops, warships); the peace treaty with Great Britain (ending the war); and the U. S. Constitution.

He was a great contributor to society.  He helped organize Philadelphia’s first fire department, and street cleaning department.    He helped organize America’s first fire insurance company.  He served as Postmaster of Philadelphia and later all of the colonies, entirely reorganizing the Postal Service.  He helped establish what is today the University of Pennsylvania.  He was an abolitionist.

He also taught himself the French, Spanish, Italian, German and Latin languages.  His interest in languages also led him to try to create a new alphabet and simplify spelling, but his efforts never were accepted.

At age 84, Franklin received a letter from Ezra Stiles (President of Yale University).  Stiles wrote, “As much as I know of Dr. Franklin, I have not an idea of his religious sentiments.  I wish to know the opinion of my venerable friend concerning Jesus of Nazareth… If I have said too much, let the request be blotted out and be no more; and yet I shall never cease to wish you that happy immortality, which I believe Jesus alone has purchased.”  That is, to paraphrase,  “Friend, I am concerned for you.  You have not much longer on earth.  What do you believe?”

Franklin’s response “Here is my creed.  I believe in one God, the creator of the universe.  That He governs it by His providence.  That He ought to be worshipped.  That the most acceptable service we render to Him is doing good to His other children.  That the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this… As to Jesus of Nazareth – my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think his system of morals and his religion as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is like to see… some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble…”  Paraphrase, “I’ve studied many things but never found time to study this.  I am not going to start now, for soon I’ll be gone and will know the truth.”

Franklin never saw another year.  Don’t you think it is tragic that the man who had interest in nearly everything, never found time to investigate spiritual matters more thoroughly?

Don’t waste your life finding the answers to nearly everything except what really matters.

Is there a God?

Is the Bible from God?

Is Jesus the divine Son of God?

What must I do to be saved?

How should we worship?

How does one find the right church in this day and age.

How does God want me to live each day?

“Come, let us reason together…” Isaiah 1:18

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Preparing To Worship

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

When you come to the worship assembly, what preparations have you made?  What thought and meditation have you given to what you are about to do?  What is your attitude?  Where is your mind?  What is your spiritual condition?

Moses and the children of Israel were instructed to prepare themselves for the Lord’s presence (Exodus 19:10-11, 14-15).  True, they were in His presence each and every day; But, He was about to bless them with His presence in a special way.

Even so, He is uniquely in our assemblies (Matthew 18:20 cf. Matthew 26:29).  What preparations do we make?

1.  We should prepare by seeking to be clean from sin. 

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:8).  It is not possible to worship God properly, and have sin issues unresolved in our lives.  He desires that we “keep the feast not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8).  We are to approach Him in prayer with “holy hands” (1 Timothy 2:8; Note the words ‘holy hands’ is a figure of speech, a metonymy.  What is being said is that we are to be holy when we approach Him in prayer and worship cf. Isaiah 1:15; Lamentations 3:11; Psalm 143:6).  It is “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (which) availed much” (James 5:16).  On His regard of those who approach Him without such preparation see: 1 Samuel 15:22; Proverbs 16:8; 21:27; Isaiah 1:14-ff.

2.  We should prepare by seeking to get things  right with our fellow-man.

Jesus said, “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembers that thy brother hath aught against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24).  One cannot mistreat his/her spouse and be received favorably by Him in prayer (1 Peter 3:7; cf. Malachi 2:13-14).  Consider also these words, “out of the same mouth proceeded blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:10).

3.  We should prepare by determining to be thankful. 

Worship should flow from a grateful heart.  We are to sing “with grace (thanksgiving) in (our) hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).  We should “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4).  Let us determine to “serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).  Let us set our minds to “praise the name of God with a song, and magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30).  Our giving should be done cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).  We should be glad to be in the worship services.  The Psalmist said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1).

How do I prepare my heart to have such an out-look?  Meditate on His goodness (Psalm 23:6; 100:4-5; 106:1; 107:8, 15, 21, 31; Psalm 126:3; Lamentations 3:22-25).  Remember what He does daily for you (Psalm 68:19).  Especially, we should think of His redemptive love (1 Timothy 1:15).

4.  We should prepare by determining to put our all into worship.

We should not be passive in worship.  We should not come to worship wishing to be served, or entertained, or catered to by others.

We should come desiring to pour out our whole hearts unto our Great God.  The Psalmist said, “I will praise Thee, O Lord with my whole heart… I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praises to Thy name, O Thou Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2); Again, “I will praise the Lord, with my whole heart” (Psalm 111:1).  Let us “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2).

Instead of thinking of ourselves as the audience and the one in the pulpit as the performer, let us each think of ourselves as performers before God.  He is the audience.

5.  We should prepare by deciding to participate mentally.

When taking the Lord’s Supper, our minds are not to be on how brother or sister Smith is dressed, or the pot roast at home, or the movie I want to see this afternoon, or the ball game that will be on T.V..  My mind should be “discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29).

You might try reading from the Bible about His death at home before going to worship.

When you listen to a sermon, listen with the intent of learning something new, or at least being reminded of something that you need to know.  Have the attitude of Samuel who said, “Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9).  Be like Cornelius, who said, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (Acts 10:33).

Don’t listen for mere entertainment (Ezekiel 33:30-33).  Don’t listen just to apply the message to others (Matthew 7:3; Romans 2:1).  Haddan Robinson, in his book, Biblical Preaching, reminds us, “A congregation convenes as a jury not to convict Judas, Peter, or Solomon but to judge themselves.”

We should listen eagerly.  Jesus said that we should, “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6).  Our “delight” should be in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2).  The Psalmist says, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10), speaking of God’s Word.  Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

We should listen and verify (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonins 5:21; 1 John 4:1).  Once verified it should be received as from God (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and should be put into practice (James 1:22).

When prayers are offered I too should be actively and sincerely engaged in the prayer.  I should be able to render an “Amen” to the prayer (1 Corinthians 14:16).

6.  We should prepare by planning.

Thought should be given before arriving to things like how much am I going to give.  A man is to give “as he purposed in his heart” (2 Corinthians 9:7) according to how he has “prospered” (1 Corinthians 16:2).  The point is budgeting and planning should go into our worship preparations.

We should not have to be digging through our billfolds or purses trying to figure out what we are going to give.

Let us have the attitude of the Macedonians whom Paul described as “praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:4).

7.  We should prepare physically for worship. 

Rest the night before may prove helpful.  I’ve witnessed some who have had trouble staying alert or even awake on Sunday morning, only to find out that they stayed up late the night before.  Let us seek to give God our best.  If possible, we should all seek to get some rest the night before (this is not addressed to those who happened to have had to work the late night shift the night before).

8.  We should prepare by ever learning more about Him and His word.

The more one learns Biblically, the more one can get out of a sermon.  Don’t get me wrong, one with little knowledge can get something out of  a sermon or Bible study.  But, the more one learns and the deeper he/she studies in private outside of the assembly – the more things will fit together, and the more one will appreciate an accurate expository or a detailed topical study.  A good Bible student may pick up on many finer or more minor points in a lesson that others will miss altogether.

9.  We should prepare for worship by considering one another.

“Let us consider one another to provoke one another unto love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).  The context here is the assembly (Hebrews 10:25).  We ought to thoughtfully and lovingly consider one another.  We should think of ways that we can spur one another on to greater service.  One suggestion is before we assemble, let us pick out someone who we are going to personally make a special effort to encourage and exhort on to do great things in the coming week for the glory of Jehovah.  The next week we might pick yet another.  If we each would do this it could make a huge difference in how the coming week goes for each one of us here.

Conclusion

Let us each make the worship assembly be all it should be to His glory:

“To God be the glory, great things He hath done; So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin; And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice!  Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Let the People rejoice!  O Come to the Father thru’ Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.” (song: To God Be The Glory by Fanny Crosby).

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Eternal Life: Future or Present?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

I read an article recently regarding eternal life.  It was written, “Everlasting life doesn’t begin when you die.  Everlasting life begins the moment you believe in Jesus for it.  Jesus says, ‘He who believes in Me has [right now – original emphasis] everlasting life’ (John 6:47).  Since it is ‘everlasting life,’ it cannot last 10, 20, or 30 years and then be lost.  It has to last forever.”

This is a very common argument.  Due to how many sincere people believe this way, I feel compelled to write upon this subject.

It is absolutely true that eternal life is at times spoken of in the present tense (John 5:24; 6:47, etc.).  But, does this mean that once one is saved, he is always saved and can‘t lose it?

Jesus said that if we faithfully follow Him we shall “receive an hundred fold now in this time… and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30).  Watch that eternal life is not something we have in actuality here and now.  We receive it in the world to come. Paul indicated that we live “in hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2).  Folks, we don’t hope for what we actually have (Rom. 8:24).  Moreover, we must take care – not to be “moved away from the hope of the gospel,” if we want to be presented “holy and unblameable and unprovable in His sight (Colossians 1:21-23).

John settled the issue.  He wrote, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning.  If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the faith.  And this is the promise that He hath promised us, eternal life” (1 John 2:24-25).  The word “if” is a conditional word.  Eternal life is a promise conditioned on our abiding in Him (cf. 2 John 9; John 15:5-10).

In summation – believers do have eternal life, but they have it in prospect, hope, and in promise, and that promise is conditional.

This is much like the children of Israel’s situation with the promised land, before they entered in to possess it.  The promised land was a gift (Gen. 15:7; 17:8; Exodus 6:4, 8; Joshua 1:2).  At times it is even spoken of as if they currently had it (Joshua 6:2), when in actuality they hadn’t entered into it yet.  They didn’t earn it, or merit it or get it by their own strength or wisdom (Joshua 24:13).  Yet there clearly were conditions to be met in order to actually receive the gift (see Josh. 6).   In truth, not all the Israelites actually gained possession of this promised land.  Eternal life is a gift (Rom. 6:23).  Yet, there are conditions (Heb. 5:9).

Man indeed can fall from grace (Gal. 5:4).  He can depart from the living God (Heb. 3:12).  Thus, he is instructed to take heed lest he falls (1 Cor. 10:12).   Jesus said in Revelation 2:10, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”  Many think they already have that crown on their heads, but this isn’t what it says.  “Let us not grow weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).  This is speaking of reaping “life everlasting” (Gal. 6:8).

Don’t be deceived by those who teach once saved, always saved.  A man told me once that he could die in the arms of his adulterous lover and go straight to the glories of heaven.  This is wrong.

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Tongue Speaking: What was It?

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

There are two ordinary Bible usages for the word “tongue.”  (1) The word “tongue” in the Bible is at times used to refer to the body part within our mouth which helps us to speak (Luke 1:62).  (2) It is also at times refers to human languages.  The Douay Bible reads in Genesis 11:1, 7 – “And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech … come ye therefore, let us go down, and there confound their tongue, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”  In speaking of the great exile of old, Isaiah says, “For with stammering lips and another tongue with he speak to this people” (Isaiah 28:11) or listen to Revelation 5:9 – “Thou… has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”  Here again the reference is to human languages.  This is an example of a figure of speech known as ‘Metonomy of the cause’ where the cause (human tongue) is put for the effect (human speech).

There is, of course, a third usage and that is of miraculous tongues (or speech).  The question is what was this?  Did it resemble what people refer to as “Pentecostal tongue speaking” today?

Usage in Mark and Acts

In Mark 16:17-ff the promise is given, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”  The reference is clearly to the miraculous.

The word “new” does not come from the word which means “new in time.”  But, the word of… origin means according to Vines – “new of that which is unaccustomed or unused…”

The next passage of significance is Acts 2.  Acts 2:4 reads, “And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  What kind of language was this?

Remember there were present that day people from various places, and that Acts 2:6 says, “…every man heard them speak in his own tongue,” and that Acts 2:11 has the people saying, “…we do hear them speak in our own tongues…”  This certainly sounds very different from the unintelligible utterances of the charismatic groups today.

Some have understood that the miracle was upon the hearer’s ears.  But consider this: (1) Christ said they would speak in new tongues (plural) – cf. Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4.  (2) If the miracle occurred upon the hearers then the miracle occurred on those who did not have the spirit in a miraculous way, and not in the apostles who did have the spirit.

The next occurrence to study is Acts 10 and 11, Cornelius’ house.  In Acts 10:46 it says that Peter and his company, “…heard them speak with tongues…”  Is there anything in context which suggest that this occurrence was similar to the gibberish spoken today by various Pentecostal groups?  Absolutely not.

In fact, the event here was very much like the one on Pentecost (Acts 11:15, 17).  What happened on Pentecost?  Acts 2:6 says, “We do hear them speak in our tongues…”

The next case of miraculous “tongue speaking” is in Acts 19.  Acts 19:6 says, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”  The nature of the tongue speaking is not described for us here.  But get this: (1) All three accounts looked at (Acts 2, 10-11, 19) occur in the same book (the book of Acts) which was written to the same man (Theophilus); (2) Miraculous tongue speaking described in Acts 2 was the miraculous speaking of human languages.  Acts 10 and 11 tied itself back to Acts 2.  With such before us, we must conclude that Acts 19 is speaking of the same for the nature of tongue speaking has already been described.

From the book of Acts it is impossible to draw the picture of unintelligible ecstatic utterances.  Instead we have the words, “every man heard them speak in his own language” (Acts 2:6) and “we do hear them speak in our tongues” (Acts 2:11).

Now that we have determined that the miraculous tongue speaking found in the historical record of Acts  was that miraculous ability to speak in foreign, human languages, which the speaker was (without miraculous aid) unaccustomed.  Before we look to see if the same holds true in the book of 1 Corinthians, we should observe how drastically different the teachings of 1 Corinthians are in comparison with the practice of tongue speaking today.

Observations from 1 Corinthians

First, not all first century believers spoke  with miraculous tongues (1 Cor. 12:28-30; 14:5).  This is important to understand because some have taught that unless you speak in tongues, you are not of God.  Such simply is not true.

Second, first century tongue speaking was controllable.  I mean by this that the Holy Spirit did not so overwhelm the speaker that he could not control his own tongue (1 Cor. 14:27-30; Also see 2 Tim. 1:6).  “The spirits of the prophet are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32).

Third, the Bible plainly teaches that not all are to speak in tongues at the same time.  Watch the words of 1 Corinthians 14:27-33 (NASB), “If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn … And let two or three prophets speak, and let others pass judgment (discern-ASV).  But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, let the first keep silent.  For you can all prophesy one by one … for God is not a God of confusion but of peace as in all the churches of the saints.”  Not everybody was to speak at once.

Fourth, if tongue speaking could not be done in such a way that those present could understand, then it wasn’t to be done.  Listen to 1 Corinthians 14:28, “But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church.”

Imagine for a moment that I could speak in Swahili and you could not.  Imagine that I stood in the pulpit Sunday morning an preached in Swahili.  Would you profit from it?  Listen to 1 Corinthians 14:13-16, 19, “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.  For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.  What is it then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at the giving of thanks, seeing he understand not what thou sayest?… Yet, in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”  The Bible is clear – if it couldn’t be interpreted, then it wasn’t to be spoken.

Fifth, It’s the content not the tongues themselves which is the important (1 Cor. 14:6-9).  Paul wrote, “Now brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”  (1 Cor. 14:6).

Sixth, tongue speaking (or any speaking) which is not understood does not edify.  Listen to 1 Corinthians 14:9, “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?  For ye shall speak to the air.”

Seventh, far from impressing the unbeliever, the manner in which many Pentecostals speak is confusing.  Listen, “If therefore the whole church be come together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say the ye are mad?” (1 Cor.  14:23)

Usage in 1 Corinthians

Now we turn our attention to the New Testament epistle of 1 Corinthians.  Are there reasons to conclude that miraculous tongue speaking mentioned therein is the same?

The first chapter to look at is 1 Corinthians 12.  Three times is tongue speaking mentioned – 1 Cor. 12:10, 28, 30.  Look carefully.  Is there anything in these verses which demands that this is not a reference to the miraculous ability to speak in other human languages?  No!  In fact,  look at the words “kinds”  (v. 10), and “diversities” (v. 28).  In the original they are the same.  Thayer says the word means “the aggregate of many individuals of the same nature, kind, sort, species.”  Kind of sounds like human languages, doesn’t it?  (Especially since the historical record of Acts has already mentioned such).

The second chapter that we’ll consider is 1 Corinthians 14.  The subject is found throughout this chapter.  The tongue speaking of this chapter involves word (1 Cor. 14:19).  But what kind of words?  I believe that 1 Corinthians 14:21 helps answer this question.  Verse 21 quotes from Isaiah 28:11 where languages are in view.  The point of Isaiah 28 is that instead of listening to God’s plain words, they chose to have God speak to them in a foreign human language, that they did not understand.  Even so, the Corinthians were turning from plain speech to listen to foreign human languages that they did not understand.  Nothing here indicates that this was anything other than foreign human languages.

Is there anything in the words “unknown” which demands that this is speaking of ecstatic utterances?  Richard Black has written concerning the word “unknown”: “The ‘unknown’ of unknown tongues in the King James Version being italicized publicizes that the term is not in the original … unknown tongues does not mean ecstatic utterances… but means a language unknown by study to the speaker.”1  Wayne Jackson paraphrased 1 Cor. 14:2 this way: “He that speaks in a foreign language (if his audience is of a different language and no translator is present) speak not unto men, but unto God; for no man (of this alien audience) understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries (things which are hidden from the audience because of no interpreter).”2 There is nothing in this word “unknown” which warrants the idea of modern-day tongue speaking.

There is much in this chapter that sounds like human languages.  (1) verse 21 quotes from Isaiah 28 which is speaking of foreign human languages; (2) verse 19 indicates tongue speaking involves words [Vine’s indicates this means “the expression of thought” – not just strange emissions of sound]; (3) verse 11 uses the term “barbarian” – such refers to human languages (Acts 28:1-2).

What about 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal?”  It seems to me that this is language of hyperbole, given for emphasis sake.  Similar language appears in Galatians 1:8.  Brother Wayne Jackson wrote: “Paul neither literally expects angelic perversion of the gospel, nor his speaking in angelic tongues; he is simply stressing a point.”3  Moreover, some have suggested that the “tongues of angels” refer to the source.  Manna is referred to as angel’s food, not because angels at the food, but due to the source (cf. Psalm 78:25).

Historic records (such as Acts) describe what happened primarily for those not there.  The book of 1 Corinthians however, is a letter written to people who possessed this gift.  Such did not need to be described to them.  There seems no good reason however to conclude that both books aren’t speaking of the same.  In fact, 1 Corinthians 14 provides reasons to believe that such is the case.      Whatever the case, let us remember: (1) The standard of Final judgment is not emotions  but God’s word (John 12:48, etc.).  (2) It‘s the message that’s important (1 Corinthians 14:28).  If a message differs from God’s already revealed truth it is to be accursed (Gal. 1:6-9).  (3) Tongue speaking has ceased (clear from proper study of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13).

Another thing, somebody tell me how unintelligible, incoherent words prove anything?  How would you know  whether or not the “words” were being faked?  And with such a wide range of religious groups speaking with ecstatic utterances (the Mormon’s, some Catholics, various ‘holiness’ groups, the Quakers, some Muslims, and even Pagan groups), which are you to believe if tongue speaking (ecstatic) be a sign?  They all teach different doctrines; the Mormons for instance even have their own books!

Notes

1.  “Studies in 1 Corinthians” The First Denton Lectureship, c. 1982, page 197

2.  Tract – “Speaking in Tongues,” Wayne Jackson (Haun Publishing, Pasadena TX)

3. ibid

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JESUS: a god?

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

The New World Translation (NWT), the product of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, renders John 1:1, “In [the] beginning the word was, and the word was with God, and the word was a god.”  The do so because the definite article does not appear before the second ‘God’ of the verse.  Moreover, by changing the second ‘God’ to ‘god’ they imply that Jesus is somehow a lessor essence than God.

Ray Summers, in his classic work, “Essentials of New Testament Greek” tells of the use of the Greek article.  He writes, “The basic function of the Greek article is to identify … when the article is used with a construction, the thing emphasized is ‘identity’; when the article is not used, the thing emphasized is quality of character.” (page 129-130).  Thus, while Jesus is not the same personality as God the Father, He is in essence Divine.

Read John 1:6, 12, 13, 18.  The article is absent in each of these verses.  Yet, in each NWT has ‘God’ with a big “G.”  Why?  Because in some of these verses the reference clearly is not to God the Son, that is Jesus, but to God the Father.  In fact, look at John 1:18.  The NWT renders this: “No man has seen the one that has explained him.”  It is indeed inconsistent that both occurrences of “God” has the article missing, yet one they render with a big “G” and the other “g.”  In fact, of the 282 times the word “God” appears without the article in the New Testament, only 16 times (or 6% of the time) do they follow their own rule of “G” verses “g!”

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The “Thief upon the Cross” argument

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

Many honest, sincere people will neglect baptism.  They will go to their graves thinking that they’ll be saved in spite of this neglect because, after all – “the thief on the cross wasn’t baptized, and he was saved.”  Let us look at this reasoning, made by so many, which is based upon the world’s most famous thief.

First, why do people insist that the man was not baptized?  He may very well have been.  How do they know he wasn’t?  Many of that land had been (Mark 1:4-5; John 4:1).  The man obviously knows of Jesus’ character.  He may have been baptized, and then forsook the right way, and now’s restored.  No one today could prove, if his life depended upon it, that this man wasn’t baptized; Yet, the argument demands that he was not.

Second, why do people always turn to this thief and not to the conditions Jesus gave to a rich young ruler (Luke 19:8-10)?  Both occurred prior to Jesus’ death.  While Jesus was upon earth He forgave sins (Mark 2:10); But the conditions varied (Luke 19:8-10 cf. Luke 18:18-23 cf. Mark 2:1-11).  {While Jesus was upon earth His conditions for healing also varied (John 9:6-7 cf. Matthew 9:27-30; also see Luke 17:11-14 cf. w. Old Testament account in 2 Kings 5)}.  Why the variety?  The answer is likely found in John 2:25.  Jesus knew the heart.  He knew what the rich young ruler struggled with, thus He set His conditions accordingly.  It is amusing that no one seems to want to return to the conditions given the rich, young ruler; Instead, all want to discuss the thief’s salvation.  Remember, both occurred prior to Jesus’ death.

Third, it must be kept in mind that the New Covenant had not yet gone in force (Hebrews 9:15-17).  The man lived under the Old Testament.  It was not until Christ was resurrected that He said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). 

Perhaps an illustration would be helpful.  While I’m alive I can give away my possessions as I see fit, based upon varying conditions if I so choose.  However, once I die the conditions of my will go in force and must be followed.  Even so, Jesus while on earth gave varying conditions to receive salvation based upon His understanding and knowing the heart.  Once he died however, His will must be followed.  Brother Dave Miller has written, “The last will and testament of Christ is the New Testament and consists of those teachings that apply to people after the death of Christ.  If we expect to receive the benefits of the New Testament (Salvation, forgiveness of sins, eternal life), we must submit to the terms of the will…”

Moreover, understand that New Testament baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6).  Yet, Jesus had not yet done these things.

Fourth, why is it the case that men want to go to this extreme case, and apply it to themselves, when they are not in this situation?  The thief couldn’t come down and be baptized if he wanted to; yet, those we talk to can be baptized; however, they continue to rest their souls on the thief on the cross.

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A Closer Look at Romans 10:9-10

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

This is a favorite passages of some who wish to deny the essentiality of baptism, and the need of living a faithful life.  Even some who know better than this, still struggle with explaining clearly, just what this passage teaches.  Therefore, we’ll take a closer look.

Verses 6-8

Let us back up in examining this passage (Rom. 10:9-10) to verses 6-8.  Read these verses.  The reference here takes one back to Deut. 30:11-14, with a few additional words added by the inspired Paul.

In Deut. 30:11-ff we find the people of that day being encouraged.  God’s will is not hidden high up in heaven, so that men have to ascend there to find it.  Neither, does one need to go on a long voyage across the sea to some mysterious land to find God’s will.  God’s will is as close to you as your own mouth and heart.  It can be accessed even now.

In Romans 10:6-8 Paul adds some words.  Some may have said, “If someone will go into the heavenly realm and bring Jesus back, or if someone will descend into the unseen realm and bring Him up, then maybe I could have faith.”  Paul says, “Such is not necessary for you to have faith.”  God’s will is so well revealed that one can even now believe in the heart, and confess it telling others about it (cf. Deut. 6:6-7; 30:14).  God sent forth His messengers (Rom. 10:15a).  The apostles preached a faith building message (Rom. 10:17 cf. John 20:31) and this message was confirmed (Rom. 15:18-19; 1 Thes. 1:5; Heb. 2:3; Mark 16:20).

Verses 9-10

God’s word (His will) is evident enough for one to confess Jesus as Lord.  One can believe that Jesus was raised from the dead [Keep things in context cf. v. 6-8.  Clearly in Moses’ day God expected more than mental belief alone and confession!].

Notice the type of confession mentioned is not just empty words or mere lip service.  It is from the heart (Romans 10:9-10 cf. 6:16-17).

Paul, what about repentance?  Obviously repentance is necessary  – yet such is not mentioned here.  However, repentance is the result of proper faith.

Is baptism necessary?  Absolutely! (see Romans 6:16-18 cf. 6:1-5).  But once again Biblical baptism grows out of faith.

Paul does not discuss living a faithful life.  Is such necessary?  Yes! (read Rev. 2:10; 1 John 1:16; 1 John 2:4).  But, again, such grows out of faith.

Why does Paul use this language found in Romans 10:9-10?  I think due to the context (see Rom. 10:6-8).  The point is that truth is revealed plainly enough to believe it, and tell others about it.

On confession, is mere lip service enough?  No, no, no.  (Read Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46; Titus 1:16; Heb. 5:9).  Is Paul suggesting that confession by itself guarantees salvation regardless of how one lives?  Hardly.  Consider 1 John 3:15; 4:20.

No, it seems to me that what Paul has in view here is a person that (1) truly believes in the heart, and (2) truly (sincerely) acknowledges Him as Lord.  Such a one is the type of person that will be saved.  Andrew Connally has written, “Here Paul is considering the Jewish point in particular.  He has already shown men must believe (5:1-2), be baptized (6:3-5) and walk after the Spirit (8:12-14).  Now why hadn’t the Jews received salvation?  They refuse to believe and confess” (10:9-10) – (Great lessons from Romans and Galatians p. 46-47).

Watch the fact that righteousness and justification (Rom. 4:1-2), and righteousness and salvation (Rom. 10:9-10) are used interchangeably in this book.  A puzzle for your “faith only” friends is to ask them, “Does salvation (righteousness, justification) come at the point of faith or confession?”  If they say ’faith’ then confession has nothing to do with salvation – which is at odds with Rom. 10:9-10.  If they say ‘confession’ then they must give up their ‘faith only’ position.

In truth, Paul is not giving steps here to salvation.  What he is doing is this: (1) He is telling the Jews that they have no excuse.  God has revealed the truth unto them (and us), and (2) they (and us) must learn to believe and acknowledge Jesus.

Verse 11

Compare this with Rom. 9:33 and Isa. 8:13-14.  To stumble is to: (1) reject the Gospel (1 Cor. 1:23); (2) to reject Christ (Acts 4:11); (3) to be disobedient (1 Peter 2:8).

Now Paul quotes Isa. 28:16.  Those who don’t stumble over Him, but put their trust in Him – will not be ashamed that they did in the end.

Paul changes the “He” of the original quote to “whosoever.”  Thus, he emphasizes the universality of this truth (cf. Rom. 1:16).

A parting shot, what kind of faith is spoken of in this book?  “Faith only” without obedience? Or obedient faith (Read Rom. 1:5; 6:16-18; 16:26).  Also read Deut. 30:14 – God’s word was in their mouth and heart “…that they mayest do it.”  It all ties back to Deut. 30.  The point is God’s word is near enough for you to do what He would have you do, and say what He would have you say.

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Ever Changing Doctrines

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

When the previous Pope died, numerous news reports cited various polls which asked the people what the next Pope should change: Should he allow the priest to marry? Should he allow female priests?  Should the church change its views on abortion or birth control?  Have you ever noticed how fluid doctrine is to some?

Consider Jehovah Witness doctrine.  On July 1, 1945 Jehovah Witness publication, The Watchtower, indicated that all blood transfusions and blood products were prohibited.  On September 15, 1958 they indicated that the use of blood products (fractions) was a matter of individual judgment.

Concerning the storage of blood, on October 15, 1959, The Watchtower indicated that to store one’s own blood even for a brief time would violate the scriptures.  On September 15, 1964, the same publication indicated that blood transfusions were wrong even of one used his own blood.  But, on March 1, 1989 they changed saying, “the recovering and reusing blood during surgery… a personal decision.”

Concerning the worship of Jesus, the October 15, 1945 Watchtower said, “You must worship and bow down to Jehovah’s chief one – namely Jesus.”  Then in November 1, 1964 they changed saying, “It is unscriptural for worshippers of the living and true God to render worship to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.”   [Note: one must understand that The Watchtower is not just a publication for them.  It is their standard.]

Next, consider the Mormon doctrine.  Concerning polygamy their doctrine has varied.  Originally the Mormons rejected polygamy.  The book of Jacob chapter 2:27, “…there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.  Jacob 2:24, “Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.”  Ether 10:5 reads, “…Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and concubines…”

In 1835 Doctrine & Convenants 101:4 reads, “We believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to remarry again.”  In 1843, D&C 132 was added which approves of polygamy.  D&C 132:34, “God command Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife.  And why did she do it?  Because this was the law… ” D&C 132:52 reads, “And let mine handmaid Emma Smith, receive all these that have been given unto my Servant Joseph…”  In 1876 D&C 101:4 was removed (see above).  Then, in 1890 when Utah was desirous of statehood then President Wilford Woodruff discontinued the practice of polygamy.

Also, consider Methodist doctrine.  It was not until the year 1910 that the Methodist church repudiated the doctrine of inherited sin.  In that year infant baptism became simply a baby dedication ceremony.  In 1948 Methodist Discipline reads, “we hold that all children by virtue of the unconditional benefits of the atonement are members of the Kingdom of God, and therefore graciously entitled to Baptism.  The minister shall earnestly exhort all parents to dedicate their children to the Lord in Baptism as early as convenient, and before Baptism is administered he shall diligently instruct the parents regarding the vow which they assume in this sacrament.  It is expected of parents or guardians… that they use all diligence in bringing them up in conformity to the word of God…” More recent Disciples say essentially the same.

Moreover,  in the news of late is the Methodist position on practicing lesbian ministers.  It is now allowed after initially being disallowed.

Let’s also consider Roman Catholic doctrine.  Many areas could be looked at but let’s focus in on the election of a Pope.  The current method of the Cardinals electing a Pope has not always existed.  The current method developed from two councils: The Lateran council, 1059 A.D., and The Third Lateran council, 1179 A.D..  In 1179 A.D. it was determined that, “the election of popes exclusively in the hands of cardinals, to be decided by a majority of two-thirds, and threatened with excommunication and deposition any one who should dare accept an election by a small number of votes” (Schaff, History of the Christian church, volume 5, page 118).  Yet in 1986 Pope John Paul changed the rules.  He decided that if after two weeks the two-thirds super-majority didn’t occur then, a simple majority would do.  The rules changed.

As a side point, if they truly are guided by the Holy Spirit in this selection process, why isn’t the decision unanimous?  Why is it that the conclave became necessary?  One time it took thirty-three months to elect a Pope (Nov. 29, 1268 to Sept. 1, 1271)!  The word ‘conclave’ is from clavis, meaning key.  Due to how long the previous mentioned case took, the cardinals were locked into seclusion.  If after three days no decisions is made, the meals are reduced to twice per day.  Should eight days pass, the food is reduced to wine and bread (at least such used to be the rules).  In the 1200’s when the election took so long, the roof of the room they were in was actually removed in order to give motivation to reach a decision.  Yet, this process is supposedly guided by the Holy Spirit.  Hmmmm… does this sound like the way Judas was replaced?  (see Acts 1:21-26).  Consider the chart on the following page titled Departures from the Apostolic Way for just some of the changes that have been made in the Catholic church.

We could also add to this information about various denominations changing their position on women preachers, homosexuality, and the like.  However, the point has been made to some doctrines can be changed.  Bill Clinton was interviewed at the Pope’s funeral.  After his kind words for the deceased, he was asked about what the Catholic church had ahead of it.  His response was that if churches don’t change with the times, they die.

Folks, let us always remember that the Lord’s church is not a democracy where the rule of majority reigns.  It is not an oligarchy, ruled by the minority.  It is not a plutocracy, a rule of the rich.  It isn’t an aristocracy, a rule of the privileged class.  Nor, is it a monarchy, a rule of one (unless that one be Jesus Christ).    The Lord’s church is a theocracy, it is to be ruled by God.

Moreover, let us remember that the Apostles were guided into all truth (John 16:13).  The system of Faith is complete (Jude 3).  It is by the words of the New Testament that we’ll be judged (John 12:48; Rom. 2:16).

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