Following Jesus without Denominationalism
Part 6: ‘What Many Accept as Authority in Religion’
Within the last message, I endeavored to show you three things . . .
(1) That it is through the writing of the apostles, the “apostles’ doctrine” that the LORD speaks and directs HIS church . . .
(2) That the “New Testament” is how CHRIST speaks to us today and leads us to life ever lasting . . .
(3) And that it is the “apostles’ doctrine” which ought to be our standard of authority in matters of religion, in which the Bible tells us we must “continue steadfastly” . . .
Acts 2: 42:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Many of people say that they accept the “apostles’ doctrine” as their authority in religion . . . yet faced with an issue in which a cherished position of view is being challenged, these same people often appeal to a source for their authority that is quite different.
And believe it or not . . . this is easy to do, and perhaps the best way to avoid this is to be aware of other sources of authority in religion.
Consider this . . . some of the ‘objective’ standards of authority could be the sources outside of ourselves that we look to direct us . . .
In that same respect, there is that which is of the ‘subjective’ authority whereas we look within ourselves for the answers we want.
In this message, I am hoping that I can briefly touch upon various ‘standards’ that people commonly turn to when faced with questions about what they believe and why they practice the things they do in religion.
(1) “Objective” standards of authority . . .
If I may indulge your attention to five quick points here, I think you might really appreciate these thoughts in regards to the standards of authority . . .
A. The Old Testament . . .
It is common for people to resort to the Old Testament to provide authority for some practice, when they can’t find authority for it in the teachings of CHRIST or HIS apostles.
A few good examples of this might be a clergy-laity system, the burning id incense, using instrumental music in worship, keeping the Sabbath, etc.
Now even though there is NOTHING wrong with these, the Old Testament was designed to be temporary, to fulfill a specific purpose and as a covenant which has been replaced by the New Covenant, aka: The New Testament.
The Old Testament was given because of transgressions, till CHRIST should come . . .
Galatians 3: 19:
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”
For those under the Law (in particularly Israel), it was a tutor designed to lead them to CHRIST . . .
Galatians 3: 24:
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
And a tutor that has been taken away . . .
Galatians 3: 25:
“But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
In reality . . . those who were under the Law came to CHRIST, and they became dead to the Law . . .
Romans 7: 4:
“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
As such, they were delivered from the Law . . .
Romans 7: 6:
“But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”
As prophesied by Jeremiah, GOD has made a ‘new covenant’ to replace the ‘first covenant’ which is now obsolete . . .
Hebrews 8: 7 – 13:
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”
Now in their handling of the issue of circumcision, the apostles demonstrated that one cannot use the Old Testament to teach something which the apostles themselves did not command.
Some actually sought to enforce circumcision and the Law upon Gentile believers . . .
Acts 15: 1, 6:
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.”
But the apostles, under the inspiration of the HOLY SPIRIT, were able to defuse the problem by simply stating that they themselves “gave no such commandment” . . .
Acts 15: 22 – 29:
“Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”
ALL OF THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT IS NOT OF VALUE TO CHRISTIANS!!!
SO PLEASE DON’T GET THAT IDEA!!!
The Old Testament was written for our learning, to provide patience, comfort, and hope . . .
Romans 15: 4:
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
It was written for our admonition, that we may not make similar mistakes . . .
1st Corinthians 10: 6, 11:
“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
FOLKS . . . WE JUST CANT USE IT TO ENJOIN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES UPON OTHERS WHICH THE APOSTLES’ THEMSELVES DID NOT TEACH!!!
B. Majority rule . . .
Perhaps one of the most common of all others . . . as so many people accept whatever it is that the majority thinks about . . .
Yet here, I would challenge you to consider the words of JESUS, as HE describes the end of the majority . . .
Matthew 7: 13 – 14:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Now if you had decided to follow the majority in Noah’s day, you would have perished in the flood . . .
In Joshua’s day, you would have perished in the wilderness . . .
RATHER THAN SIMPLY FOLLOW THE MAJORITY . . .
LET YOUR ATTITUDE BE THAT OF JOSHUA WHEN HE SAID . . .
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE . . . WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!!!
(Joshua 24: 14 – 15)
C. Parents . . .
So many times I have heard it said, “If it was good enough for Mom and Dad, it’s good enough for me!”
Yet . . . as much as we may love and respect our parents . . .
CHRIST MUST COME FIRST!!!
Matthew 10: 37:
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
You know the saddest thing is when you consider the fact that if every generation had simply followed their parents, then we who are Gentiles would likely still be idol-worshippers and polytheistic (the worship of or belief in more than one deity, especially several deities).
D. Preachers . . .
I know there are a lot of people out there that put their trust into their ‘preacher’ . . . their ‘pastor’ . . . or their ‘priest’ . . . and its quite understandable . . .
You see, many people reasoning their hearts that sure these ‘men of GOD’ could not be wrong or lead them astray. . .
Yet Paul sternly warned of how we can easily be misled . . .
2nd Corinthians 11: 13 – 15:
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
JESUS made it even more apparent when HE spoke about ‘blind leading the blind’ in Matthew 15: 12 – 14:
“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
PLAIN AND SIMPLE . . .
OUR ATTITUDE NEEDS TO BE LIKE THAT OF THE BAREANS . . .
THESE PEOPLE CAREFULLY EXAMINED PAUL’S TEACHINGS IN LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES!!
E. Creeds and traditions of men . . .
Now this is where the denominations really get most of their authority . . .
Indeed . . . adherence to the creeds of men is what produces denominations . . . and like I have always said, “Denomination is a man-made term used to separate the children of God . . . as they fight and fuss over silly things, just as if it were a racial war.”
ACCEPT THE BIBLE ONLY . . . AND YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN ONLY!!!
ACCEPT THE BIBLE ALONG WITH SOME CREED . . . AND YOU BECOME SOMETHING ELSE!!!
I’m confused, Reverend . . .
Okay . . . consider it this way . . . and I mean no offense to anyone here . . .
Accept the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and you become a Mormon . . .
Accept the Bible and the papal (relating to the pope) authority and you become a Roman Catholic . . .
Accept the Bible and the Lutheran Catechism and you become a Lutheran.
CREEDS ARE REALLY NOT NECESSARY!!!
If any creed says more than what the Bible says . . .
THEN IT SAYS TOO MUCH!!
If any creed says less than what the Bible says . . .
THEN IT SAYS TOO LITTLE!!
But if they say EXACTLY what the Bible says . . . then why not let the Bible be your creed book?
The fact is just simple as this, creeds are filled with traditions and commands of men, many of which conflict with and displace the commands of GOD . . .
Mark 7: 6 – 9:
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
A lot to think about . . . and even further more to think about when you consider the creeds of men, preachers, parents, majority rules, even the Old Testament itself, are some of the ‘objective’ standards that people turn to rather than the authority of the LORD’S apostles. . . which brings me to my next point . . .
(2) “Subjective” standards of authority . . .
Now here is a rather different approach to authority in three different ways . . .
A. Conscience . . .
Have you ever heard that old motto people use which says “Let your conscience be your guide?”
Well . . . I have to be the bearer of bad news, but our conscience cannot always be reliable.
As you know, Paul served GOD with a good conscience throughout his life . . .
Acts 23: 1:
“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
And what may surprise you, is the fact that he even had a good conscience at a time when he was persecuting Christians . . .
Acts 26: 9 – 11:
“I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”
When you really think about it . . . your conscience is like a clock, as it works properly ONLY if it is set properly . . .
Once your conscience has been ‘set’ by the ‘apostles’ doctrine’ . . . THEN it can be a good guide . . .
B. Human Wisdom . . .
I have heard many people say that they feel that their own wisdom can help them determine that which is right and wrong.
But consider this . . . GOD’S thoughts and ways are not always our own . . .
Isaiah 55: 8 – 9:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
As a matter of fact, GOD has chosen to save man in a manner solely upon human wisdom . . .
1st Corinthians 1: 18 – 29:
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
For us to know GOD’S will, it was necessary for HIM to reveal it to us . . .
1st Corinthians 2: 9 – 12:
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
I have always wondered . . . how does God reveal His will to me, Reverend Sam?
That is a really good and fair question, and the good and fair answer is to tell you that HE has done this through HIS Spirit-inspired apostles, who in turn shared it with us through their writings . . .
Ephesians 3: 1 – 5:
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you–ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”
C. Feelings . . .
I think we can all agree that this is often the ‘standard of authority’ for many people who actually go by whatever ‘feels right’ or who place stock in a religion ‘better felt than told’ . . .
But we have to see and denote what the Bible declares as the danger of trusting in ‘feelings’ . . .
Proverbs 14: 12:
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Proverbs 28: 26:
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
Jeremiah 10: 23:
“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
I will close with these final thoughts . . .
Because the way we should live is ‘not in man’, we need an ‘objective standard’ for our authority in religion . . .
We cannot depend upon ‘subjective standards’ such as conscience, human wisdom, or feelings . . .
So the question becomes . . . which ‘subjective standard’ should we adhere to?
Not to the creeds of men, preachers, parents, majority rule, or even the Old Testament . . .
Only the ‘apostles’ doctrine’, i.e., the New Testament, the apostles were personally selected to be CHRIST’S ambassadors.
For they were inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT, to be guided in all truth and were inspired to write all that CHRIST would have us to know and do . . .
And when we are content to abide in the ‘apostles’ doctrine’, then we can be assured that we are:
Following Jesus without Denominationalism
I love you all!
Reverend Sam
