Simply Christian, Part 11

There is “another Jesus” and a “different gospel” according to Paul, 2nd Corinthians 11:4. It is ministered by false prophets whose gospel and power are provided by Satan, who himself can beguile people as an “angel of light,” 2nd Corinthians 11:13-14. Satan too can use power, signs, and LYING wonders to deceive, 2nd Thessalonians 2:9. This is one more of many reasons why sound doctrine is the foundation of Christian experience; a church that strays from this course is destined to inherit a false gospel and another Jesus whom Paul did not preach.

Its lamp-stand will be removed; a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in that local church, Revelation 1:20; 2:4-5. Just as the Antichrist will not appear until the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way at the Rapture (2nd Thessalonians 2:7), a church whose lamp-stand is removed is destined to sink into utter apostasy. Error will flourish when the Restrainer is removed. For many such churches, Satan’s genius spirit is speaking lies from behind the pulpit. Religious equality, religious inclusivity, and the en-vogue “social gospel” are three such lies presently being pressed onto Christendom in the name of Christ. Such lies have been fostered since the Garden of Eden.

Those who abandon the faith for “new movements of the Spirit,” contemporary movements, ecumenical compromise, etc. are in danger of suffering shipwreck. Anyone who proclaims a gospel outside of Jesus Christ as the only and perfect Savior, the single and eternal way to the Father, is a profane and idle babbler according to Paul. They possess wisdom that is falsely called knowledge, but truly called foolishness, 1st Corinthians 1:18-21. Doctrine is where a church will stand or fall. The Bible is our single source of it. Denominations aside, any church will know its spiritual health by its emphasis on sound doctrinal teaching straight from the word of God as inspired by His Holy Spirit. God told us that faith ONLY comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (the Bible), Romans 10:17. Also, said faith must be in God as the Bible reveals Him, Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:6. If the word of God is no longer preached with clarity, or at all, a church has become a social club that is a mockery to the profession of faith that may have once dwelt there. Many churches, I fear, are led by the unsaved attempting to school the unsaved. It is as Jesus warned: The blind leading the blind; both will fall into a ditch, Matthew 15:14.

I am sorely convinced that denominations have distracted Christendom for too long. We have drifted from Jesus and embraced Luther, Wesley, et al. Were they Spirit-filled men? Perhaps. Would they want this atrocity to occur in their name? I believe they would denounce the notion, as Paul did in his time, when the Corinthians quibbled about who had been baptized or discipled by whom. “Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” 1st Corinthians 1:13. Again, if we have the foundation of Christ as Savior we have everything in common, Acts 2:44. To deny the deity, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is tantamount to confessing that you are not Christian. Such churches are mission fields for genuine believers to penetrate with the life-giving, hope nurturing gospel of Jesus Christ; that people may be translated out of the power of darkness, and into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love, Colossians 1:13.

Anyone reading this that takes offense if I have seemingly attacked your denomination: please hear me out. First, if I have not stated it clearly enough: I do not believe all denominational breaks are evil. Some were needed, and no particular evangelical branch could be utterly singled out as entirely bad. Yet the confusion they engender is real, and should not be played down as a trifle. Practice discernment (a most valuable spiritual gift) and discover exactly what your church teaches, comparing it with Scripture to see if they hold a strong, biblically grounded worldview. If they have strayed from the Bible, then you are not being fed truth, instead you are being lied to. The minister themselves may be self-deceived. Do not remain idle if you see your fellow Christians suffering this way! Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,” John 13:35. Do you want to be Jesus’ disciple? Then love your fellow Christian filling that pew next to you, and help them! Act, and demonstrate a love that is compelled by Christ’s great love; His love suffered the cross and bore our sins; will your love suffer nothing at all but keep silent? I regret that I may be misunderstood and reviled for this Post, but I do not regret writing it, if it helps anyone—ANYONE— to look past denominations.

My love and prayers go to my brethren, the body of Christ. I pray for our Lord’s soon coming, when all denominations and lies will cease, and we will know even as we are known; we will see Christ as He is and be like Him! Amen for that! “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for,” 2nd John 1:8. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2. God bless.