What About Other People's Religion? - Part 1 by Kenneth
E. Thomas
(http://www.gospelanchor.com/articles/otherrel.htm)
The devil must be happy to hear people parrot his most subtle lie of all times, as they say, "It is wrong to oppose or criticize other people's religion." Usually these folks will throw in a passage of scripture (perverted of course) to "prove" their point and supposedly clinch their argument. The devil knows of course that the more people who are convinced of this, the more his errors will have free course to flourish unopposed.
It follows that those of us who stand up in opposition to religious error are considered by those so deceived by Satan and his "sweet spirited" promoters of all manner of error, as the bad guys. Often they quote (Matthew 7:1) wherein Jesus was condemning the professional faultfinder who, with a log in his own eye, would attempt to remove a splinter from his brother's eye. When Jesus said "judge not that you be not judged." He went on to say "for with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged" (V-2). To make this a blanket statement forbidding all judging, makes Jesus at odds with Himself, for in another passage of Scripture Jesus said clearly; "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." Here too an improper judging is condemned but the same passage enjoins a proper method of judging. Jesus calls the proper judging "righteous judgment" (John 7:24). How could we possibly obey Jesus' instruction given through the inspired apostle John when he said; "test or prove the spirits (teachers ket) whether they be of God", (1 John 4:1) if all judging was forbidden?
When we use the standard which God has given to determine who is and who isn't teaching the word of Christ, we aren't personally judging, Christ is. In Acts 17:11 some folks were praised for comparing a preacher's message with what was written in the Scriptures. "These (the Bereans) were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
"CONTENDING EARNESTLY FOR "THE FAITH"
Satan would really be pleased if every one of God's children were spiritual weaklings who never obeyed Christ's command to "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once (for all) delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). To contend means to discuss, strive, dispute, and to debate. The Lord is pleased with those of us who love and uphold the truth by opposing all error. David said long ago; "Through Thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way" (Psalms 119:104). One's love of the truth of Christ is in direct proportion to one's hatred of error. One who loves the truth of Christ could as easily stand by and see the side of Jesus pierced and say nothing as he could hear the word of Christ perverted and be silent!
PAUL REBUKED PETER PUBLICLY
When Peter's actions toward the Gentiles tended to undermine the truth that they were all teaching by inspiration i.e..."God is no respecter of persons..."(Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34-35), Paul did not allow this to go unchecked. He rebuked Peter to the face before the whole church for his hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-18).
CONDEMNED FOR CONDEMNING
I cannot recall the many times I have personally been "condemned for condemning others." It seemingly doesn't occur to folks who are so vociferous against those of us who "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered," that they are doing exactly what they say one shouldn't do, namely condemn another for what he teaches! How inconsistent can they be?
How well this scribe remembers preaching a flannel board lesson designed to expose the many wrong concepts of denominational baptism, only to be condemned in strong language as a fellow went out the door of the meeting- house. I had brought a lady who had been involved in denominational error for years and had gone from one "church" to another. She asked me to pick her up for the services due to listening to my sermons on the local radio station. The man who condemned me for condemning, was a member of the church of Christ. He said, "If there had been visitors here today, you would have run them away." He was ignorant of the fact that I did have a visitor and the lesson was designed in an attempt to save her precious soul! The lady in question is still a good friend and she was not offended at my lesson.
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
I suggest that the problem lay with the brother in Christ!
He was ashamed of the Bible's teaching on baptism! Many times
this happens. Some brethren in Christ are in fact ashamed of the
faithful gospel preacher and the message he preaches. This isn't
something new to be sure, for Paul had to encourage some not to
be ashamed of him or the gospel. It reads thus in 2 Timothy 1:8,
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord,
nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God." Paul himself
affirmed that he was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ
for it was the power of God unto salvation..."(Romans 1:16-
17).
Paul spoke of Onesiphorus a co-worker who was not ashamed of my
chain (2 Timothy 1:16). Paul was bound because of how plainly
he preached the truth of Christ, which condemned all who rejected
or perverted it, and this good brother wasn't ashamed of his message
nor of the messenger who proclaimed it. Not all (not even all
brethren) are so disposed I am sad to say! Revelation twenty-one
verse eight, shows how God feels about those who are "fearful"
(cowardly) as well as those guilty a several other ungodly activities.
He says their part in eternity will be the "lake of fire
and brimstone."
"JESUS WILL BE ASHAMED OF THOSE WHO ARE ASHAMED.."
The Master spent much of His time teaching against those who, because of their own traditions, were guilty of perverting the way of the Lord as taught in the Law of Moses. He pronounced a woe unto them calling their attempts to worship God vain worship. He also called them hypocrites. Some folks must have never read the New Testament as yet from the way they talk. If it is wrong to condemn those teaching and practicing error, then Jesus is indicted too, for He certainly did so in no uncertain language. He referred to some of the Jewish leaders as "children of the devil." Sure they protested and claimed that they were the seed of Abraham. Jesus said in essence "if you were you would do as he did." He was the "father of those who walk by faith." Read these passages please before you proceed! (Matthew 14:1-8; Matthew 23:1-38; John 8:31-44).
When Jesus' disciples told him that the Pharisees were offended
at His teaching He did not apologize. What He said was "every
plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted
up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind, and if
the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch"
(Matthew 15:14-15).
He also said "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me
and of My words; of him also shall Son of man be ashamed, when
He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels"
(Luke 9:26).
The teachings of Jesus were never popular with the masses of people, nor shall they ever be. When Christians, and especially those who have made it their life's work to "preach Christ," get better manners than the Son of God Himself, they have missed it somewhere!
Many of the teachings of Jesus condemn what men desire to believe
and practice. This is why they never were and never will be popular.
We must stand firm behind His word regardless of how unpopular
we may become. My Lord plainly taught that the way to eternal
life is "narrow and few there be that find it" (Matthew
7:13-14). Conversely, He taught that the way to destruction is
the "broad way and many there be which go in thereat."
[Editor's Note: Bro. Thomas will conclude these thoughts in next
week's issue.]
Short Exhort - Written and/or Compiled by David J. Riggs
(http://www.public.usit.net/driggs/)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matt. 6:33)
Someone, who had put one of those humming bird feeders into his yard, told this story about a particular humming bird. At first, several humming birds used the feeder. Later, however, one humming bird began to guard the feeder and chase all other birds away. The little bird sat days on end guarding his self-claimed feeder, so much so that he became a slave to it. He could go nowhere and do nothing but sit and guard his feeder. Thus, what was supposed to be an aid became a hindrance to this one bird. Isn't this the case with many of us when we become overly occupied with things which hinder us in our service to the Lord? The owner of the feeder decided to bring the bird feeder inside so that the humming bird could once again run free.
Let us free ourselves of all slaving hindrances and truly put the kingdom of God and His righteousness first in our lives.