Revelation 22:18-19 tells us that we are not allowed to add to or delete from the Word of God. Then why are people preaching what they believe should be taught even when they can not prove it from the Bible. If we are going to teach that things are wrong then we had better be able to prove it. It is interesting that people preach that having a television is a sin, when all they can prove from the Word is that some of what is on television is a sin (Romans 1:18-32). Many people make the Bible say what they want it to say. I am not just talking about those who will tell you that the Bible supports homosexuality, infant baptism, or salvation through faith alone. I am talking about those who ‘over’ preach the Bible. By ‘over’ preaching the Bible, I mean those who would require more of you than can be supported through the Word (Acts 15:1-21). Circumcision was being taught in the early Church as being required for the salvation of the Gentiles. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with the men who came down from Judea to Antioch. The apostles met to consider the question and, after much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them. "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." (Acts 15:19-20) He told them to continue to bring forth that which is found in the Word. The Law of Moses was written to the Jews. They are the ones who are required to follow it. As Gentiles we are not bound by the Law of Moses BUT we definitely need to learn from it. Also while we are not bound by it, there are many very useful guides to our Christian living. As I started with last month, if we do not learn from the mistakes of the past we are destined to repeat them. If we do not learn from the history of the past we are destined to fall into error. When we teach Christianity, we need to teach it from the manual that God has given to us.
I do not expect that any two people will agree on everything concerning religion. Someone once said that if a husband and wife always agree then one of them is repetitive and thus unnecessary. God has given us a mind for a reason. Our mind will help us to study and may provoke others to understanding a point in the Word better. Your mind needs to be open though for the same to happen to you. Finally on this point, we need to make sure that we follow ‘safe’ religious discussions. Don’t let your guard down when dealing with someone that does not know and teach the Bible version of the plan of salvation. Always weigh ANY persons teachings with the Bible. I don’t care who it is! Many people say that Billy Graham is one of the most knowledgeable preachers today. If my information is correct, he may also be one of the most hypocritical. I have heard that he, and his family, have been baptized for the remission of sins, as taught by the Bible, yet he still openly preaches salvation by simply accepting Jesus into your heart. What happened to teaching that which you believe? Baptism for the remission of sins DOES NOT SELL WELL on television. Matthew 6:24 tells us that we can not “serve God and money.” Matthew 6:33 tells usto “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We are to stand by our beliefs. Matthew 26:69-75 tells us “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Peter obviously got it back together and became a solid worker for God (Acts 2). We need to continually check and make sure that we are on track!