 |
Insidious Philosophy - Part 2 |
The dates of the Feast of Tabernacles this year are September 19 through the 25th. Opening night services will be on September 18th. This year the theme of the Feast will be the development of the entire earth – both physically and especially spiritually – during the 1000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Our sermons will revolve around the expansion of the spiritual body of converted brethren – between the time at the beginning of the millennium when the face of the earth is virtually destroyed – and the time of the Garden of Eden like perfection of the entire earth at the end of the 1000 years and the Great White Throne Judgment period.
Dear Brethren,
In these last days when the people of God should be spiritually mature and close to God in every way, we find various parts of the Body of Christ being subjected to attacks on our core beliefs. Jesus said that there would be many attackers, and sadly there would be many who succumb to their deception. “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11)
Who are they that are doing the deceiving – and who is receiving the brunt of their dishonesty? Jesus said that there are many seductive ministers – and a lot of brethren would be duped by them. We began looking last week at the insidious philosophy that is being foisted on much of the Church of God. We looked at the new strategy of a group with a new Head Guy that seeks to stem their loss of members by minimizing and diminishing their use of doctrine. They reason that it is doctrine that causes their members to be divisive, and they wish to facilitate the “getting along with each other” process in local congregations.
The Head Guy is asking the people of God to wink at doctrine for the sake of what he feels is most important – “just getting along.” High and lofty terms like, “Unity of the Spirit,” are being used in their promotion to make the new approach sound Scriptural and righteous, but the twisting and spinning of Biblical terms are no substitute for the true doctrine of God.
The wise brethren who understand that this insidious philosophy is being perpetrated on them are in a quandary. When they see all of Christ’s warning signs they ask themselves, “What are we to do – where else can we go – there is nowhere to go to church?” Jesus answers that question for us in Luke’s rendition of the same Olivet warning that we’ve been looking at. “Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go ye not therefore after them.”
Jesus says that we are not to follow then any longer. Supporting them; staying with them, are not viable options any longer. Those who change doctrine do not care that they are dividing families, friends and loved ones. Hardly a year goes by that some of those with whom we attend the last Feast of Tabernacles are gone away. “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew at 24:12)
Loving our brother according to the law of God is not a “take it or leave it” proposition – we are our brother’s keeper. What is a Christian to do if a friend or a local minister continues to support a headquarters regime that has begun to water-down the doctrine of Jesus Christ? “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy Commandments are righteousness.” (Psalm 119:172)
How do we speak righteousness in a situation like this? We are told in Leviticus 5:1 that when we become aware of a sinful situation like this we must speak up – or else we will bear the iniquity – and be as guilty as those who are deceiving the brethren. “If a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.”
The new Head Guy and the Local Man who helped formulate this insidious philosophy said, “Not so,” to Leviticus 5:1. They say that when your brother is wrong and you know the truth that it is divisive to “straighten him out.”
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)
“Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)
Look around at Church services and say the words of Jesus Christ to yourself: “Many are being deceived.” We cannot aid and abet those who are bringing in this devious deception. If we
encourage and facilitate the perpetrator of this insidious philosophy we shall also bear his iniquity.
Let me share one last example of this insidious philosophy of the new Head Guy and Local Man’s new teaching for an analysis by those who maintain their foundation in the Truth of God, and are serious about the fundamentals of doctrine.
“Young people are not interested in formalized doctrine. Doctrine is boring. Their understanding of the Bible is based on how to be happy, have fun, and be successful. Us old timers can learn from the young people.”
***
| 
