I want to highlight the difference between the popular theology of men, and the truth - which is found in God’s word.   It is clear from the letters of the apostles that lies have been preached from the very beginning of the church.  Lies change to suit the times but the truth does not.  The truth is constant.  The most popular lie taught in ‘churches’ today, is that the truth depends on our perspective and our upbringing.  The truth depends on neither.  The truth depends on nothing.  It is the truth, and it stands alone.  There is nothing new or clever to be preached.  The truth does not change.  Yet men are constantly trying to come up with new ‘angles’ to preach, in an effort to become popular.  They blend worldly views with the Scriptures, to make themselves more appealing to the masses.

I was once given the following advice in a letter from a pastor.  This is just an example of the kind of teaching that is passed off as wisdom in the churches.  It is obvious when you read this letter, that my presence in this ‘pastors’ congregation was uncomfortable for him.

The offence I committed was simply telling the ‘pastor’ that he was wrong, and nothing has changed in that regard (he is still wrong).  This had nothing to do with the words or attitudes of the rest of the congregation (as he implies).  It was about what he was preaching.  And what he preached there was wrong.  I believe that he is a genuine, well meaning man.  He is also very likable. 

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However - genuine, well meaning and likable men still get things wrong.  It is written, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4)  This is the pastor’s letter-

 

“Thank you for putting your thoughts down in writing for me. Firstly, it seems a bit of a shame to me that you dwell on discrepancies and difference of opinions as much as you do. On any given Sunday I could find dozens of things in peoples words and attitudes that contradict scripture but I've learned to let God be God and over a long time of loving, encouraging and building relationships with people I see God changing those things to be more like Himself. So as far as the point about Paul and the other issues, I could keep pushing 'my' perspective but that will get us nowhere. ‘As far as whats right and wrong, and two differing opinions not both being able to be right... this feels very 'old covenant' to me and the stuff religious spirits love. Of coarse two different opinions can be right. The Scriptures are a living word that can be interpreted from different angles, perspectives and cultures over the ages. It needs to be breathed upon by the Holy Spirit to become relevant to the readers life where they are at. There are many different churches and home churches around the place that all preach slightly different things, and I think that's great. To think that one interpretation of God and His Word could paint the picture of who He is, is just crazy. Our job is to find one that is closest to our belief system and add ourselves to it and let God do a work within us and through us. I'm not saying that you need to become just like us but the way you come across, when you may think you are 'adding to' actual is taking away from the meeting. So my suggestion would be to either 'go with the flow' a bit more and trust that God will sort out what He wants to sort out in time or if you can't do that maybe you need to find another group of people that are more like-minded and flow with them.”

 

This advice may sound perfectly reasonable from a worldly perspective.  But we are not called to believe worldly perspective. It is crucial to remember the words of our Lord; “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Only the truth saves.  So, if the ‘pastors’ advice is true, then we should find the same assertions in scripture.   Let’s see if we can.

Starting with these questions:  Should we all have our own ‘belief systems’?  Is it true, that ‘our job is to find a church that is closest to our belief system and add ourselves to it’?  Is it acceptable to simply find a ‘church’ where we can ‘go with the flow’ – or to seek out ‘another group of people that are more like-minded and flow with them’?   

Do we find any such teachings in scripture? 

For example- 

If I was a man who was involved in homosexual activity; I know I could find a church where I would be told that homosexuality is acceptable.  I have heard it preached, even though scripture denounces it.  (Rom. 1:24-27, 1Tim. 1:9-11)

 

If I was a married man who was committing adultery; I know I could find a church that would allow (even encourage) me to divorce my wife and marry the other woman.  I have seen it happen.  In one instance, when an elder in the church I was attending became involved in adultery, he was put out of the church because he refused to repent.  He and the woman he was committing adultery with, simply went to another church, where people ‘flowed’ slightly differently.  They were accepted as a couple in their new church, and completely avoided any need to repent.  Adultery is sin, and scripture denounces it. (Matt. 19:8-9, 1 Cor. 7:11)

 

If I was brought up in a culture where eating blood is traditional, and I wanted to keep doing so, I could find a church that goes along with it.  I know one ‘pastor’ who has even encouraged children in his care to do so, but scripture denounces it.  (Gen. 9:4-5, Acts 15:20+29, Acts 21:25)

 

If I did not want to believe in Hell, I know that I could find a church that preaches ‘there is no Hell’ (I have heard it preached), even though scripture clearly says there is a Hell. (Luke 12:4-5, Matt. 25:46, Rev. 20:14-15)

 

If I did not believe in Christ’s resurrection from the dead; I could find a church that also denies it.  In fact, I have also heard this preached by a popular theologian, even though the Bible clearly says that the resurrection is crucial to our faith.   (Rom.6:5-10, 1 Cor. 15:13-17)

 

If I did not want to believe that God created the heavens and the earth in six days, I could find a church that preaches ‘evolution fits into the Bible’.   However, this is a lie.  The Bible is specific and consistent about creation. (Gen 1:1-31, Exodus 20:11, Matt. 19:4-6, Luke 3:23-38, Acts 17:24-26, 2 Peter 3:3-7)

 

 

It is a sad fact, that I can find a church that will go along with any ‘perspective’, ‘angle’, ‘culture’ or ‘belief system’ that I care to come up with.  And all these churches will still claim to believe the Bible.  Does that make it right?  Of course not!   Are all these ‘slightly different’ things, still the truth?  NO!

   

All these ‘churches’ will tell us that the Bible is true.  However, they deny the truth by telling us that at one point or another, the Bible simply doesn’t mean what it says.