It is quite lamentable in these modern days that we are forced to waste adjectives such as “true,” “legitimate,” “genuine” and others to qualify “church,” “Christian,” “Christianity,” “believer,” “salvation,” “religion,” “faith” and other terms whose definitions ought to require no clarification.  However, since we cannot deny the reality that we live in an era of widespread ignorance of scripture and scriptural concepts, it is of no use being stubborn.  Instead, as true believers we can actually turn this nuisance to our advantage for God’s purposes.  Rather than an irritation, the challenge to constantly differentiate genuine scriptural doctrine from the various and numerous counterfeit offerings actually presents a bountiful blessing of witnessing and teaching opportunities.

For no longer may we assume that folks possess a working knowledge of things Christian or an accurate view of God and the teachings of His Word.  In times past, even self-professing non-believers were generally familiar with biblical history and Christianity’s essential teachings, though they rejected them or maintained apathy.  It seems that more and more now, in addition to the usual and expected encounters with folks who are untaught, disinterested or confused, we find that many who claim to hold true Christian doctrine actually possess an unavailing, simplistic version of it – or an outright erroneous one.

Acts 20:30 and 2Pe 2:1-2 warn us of false teachers – just as false prophets plagued God’s people in Old Testament times.  Jude 4 points out that deceivers had already infiltrated the early New Testament church.  From the inception of the post-resurrection church, impostors of all sorts have been masquerading under the same banner as true Christians (2Co 11:13-15).  This has created great and ongoing confusion, making it difficult for the unwary to separate legitimate, God-provided doctrine from all the inventions and distortions of man.

As a result, many folks who undertake a sincere search still fail to “discover” the truth.  Some become trapped in one error or another.  Others find themselves lost in a maze of false teaching; always searching, but never confident of finding the truth.  Some of these eventually abandon their search in frustration.  Still others, bombarded with a variety of nonsense, mistake genuine doctrine for more of the same – and dismiss it along with the rest.  And sadly, countless folks simply refuse to concern themselves with God or the doctrines of scripture at all, wrongly persuaded by all the chaos that the attempt to resolve the truth for themselves is impossible, unnecessary or just not worth the effort.

This presents a variety of challenges for true believers, to whom God has delegated the responsibility for spreading the truth of the gospel; the message of reconciliation (2Co 5:18-20).  Though we would hope to reach folks before they reject the truth or accept any of the substitutes, even so the task involves labor and commitment – with no guarantee of “success.”  And when this hope is not realized, the work becomes even more problematic.

In all cases, we must first and foremost build sincere, loving relationships (1Co 13:1-3; 2Co 1:3-5; 2:4; 6:3-13; 1Th 2:5-12), thus creating an environment which allows the greatest opportunity for effective sharing and acceptance of the truth.  This is no small challenge, and not at all the easiest component of our overall assignment.  But the adage applies: “No one cares how much you know – until they know how much you care.”

Moreover, it is critical that we remain humbly submitted to God, realizing that it is not the brilliance of our presentation, the commitment of our labor or the profundity of our wisdom which effects salvation in souls.  This supernatural work requires the power and wisdom of God; we are unable and unqualified in ourselves.  God must direct, oversee and empower the effort.  His superintendence alone enables and equips those He calls to the work (2Co 3:4-6; Heb 13:20-21; Col 1:28-29).

To the one who has already rejected the truth (Heb 6:4-6), we can offer nothing else; nothing more, nothing new.  However, having established a personal relationship as above, a door of opportunity may open at some future juncture, allowing us to revisit the truth with them – perhaps in a divinely-arranged circumstance which will elicit a different response.

With those currently snared in the trap of false doctrine, we are challenged to master and handle the Word of God with a level of accuracy, conviction and confidence (2Ti 2:15; 1Th 1:5; 2Co 3:4) which enables us to clearly, boldly, and fearlessly (Col 4:3-6; Act 4:31; 20:27; 28:31; Eph 6:19-20) contrast the truth of God’s Word with the error they have embraced.  Yet, we must be ever mindful of what is at stake: We must be effective for God’s purposes, from His view – not ours.  The mere winning of intellectual debates does not save souls or necessarily bring glory, honor and praise to God.  In fact, such “debates,” when improperly conducted, often do more harm than good to the cause of Christ.

We will also encounter folks who have already escaped various entrapments of deceptive teachings – but a significant number of these move not from error to truth, but merely from one error to another.  Others, having weathered traumatic experiences, become apathetic – no longer interested in God or His Word.  And then there are those who are calloused and bitter; hostile toward any further attempt to present genuine scriptural doctrine.  In all these cases, we are forced to rehabilitate the image and reputation of the truth (2Pe 2:2).  This requires faithful commitment, loving compassion, great patience and careful instruction (2Ti 4:2).  Again, we must maintain a proper perspective; we are not out to win a competition – we are ministering reconciliation to God (2Co 5:18-20).

Finally, reminded that true conviction ultimately relies upon God’s working and timing, we must always be prepared to step aside or move on from the current effort – yet prayerfully hopeful for another opportunity should He so arrange.

Turning now from those who are lost to the community of professing Christian believers – and more to the point of this writing: There can be only one true and legitimate set of Christian theological doctrine; that which is genuinely faithful to the scriptures precisely because it is exclusively and purely drawn from this God-provided, pristine source – unblemished by additions, subtractions, twistings, misinterpretations or modifications of any sort; untainted by the corruptions of men, whether intentional or not; undefiled by those who abuse it for personal profit (2Co 2:17) rather than applying it for God’s purposes.

Setting aside, for the purpose of this writing, the false doctrines of self-identified, non-Christian enterprises, if all professing Christian entities maintained this one legitimate doctrinal set in common (they should, but this is far from the case), there would be no need to concern ourselves with the irrational assortment of false doctrines and false and/or incomplete “gospels” proliferating among the illogical variety of such groups.  As it is, there is great need to address this concern – but scant attention and effort applied to it.

Beyond that, there is all manner of continuing argument and calculated separation caused by an inexcusable inability or outright unwillingness to pursue and achieve the doctrinal unity which God demands of true believers.  This diversity of doctrine among those pictured in scripture as one body under one Head who is Christ (Rom 12:5; Eph 4:4-5; Col 3:15; 1:18a) is plainly irrational.  Satan must revel in such senseless chaos.

Proper Christian doctrine consists of the true and accurate teachings of scripture alone.  These are fixed – unaffected by popular opinion, cultural influence, ecumenical consensus or the demands or consequences of situation and circumstance.  God has graciously provided them for our benefit.

However, when a particular local church is discussed these days, the most common and predictable questions to arise are: Where is it (the building) located; how is the facility?  Who is THE pastor; what is he (or she) like?  How is the preaching style?  How long is the service?  Do they have great music?  They don’t do any of that crazy stuff, do they? … Concerns related to doctrine (or organizational and administrative model and practice) are sadly absent.

Long ago lost are the concepts that the church is not the building, but rather the called of God (the ecclesia), and that every local congregation of true believers is part of the one and only true Church.  There is “my” church and “our” church and “your” church and “their” church – but whatever happened to God’s Church, the scriptural picture of one Body whose Head is Christ? (Rom 12:4-5; 1Co 10:15-17; 12:12-13, 27; Eph 4:3-5; Col 3:15)

Of course, all the folks in all these illogically separated “churches” put on their best smiles and magnanimously allow that all the others are right with God, too – and destined for Heaven just as they are.  “We all believe in and worship the same God …,” etc., etc.  So then, why not obey His command to unite in faith and doctrine?  Where is the local and universal unity of Rom 15:5-7; 1Co 1:10; Phil 2:1-2; Eph 4:13; 2Co 13:11; Act 4:32; and ultimately, Jn 17:20-23?

Instead, virtually every community now offers the obligatory spectrum of “Christian” church choices – with the ubiquitous city-limits sign: “The Churches of [Our Town] Welcome You.”  Churches?  Even many of the tiniest hamlets have the full assortment, with a “church” on every corner.  And each Sunday morning, the various community social clubs dutifully report to their assigned buildings to get their weekly dose of favorite doctrinal flavor.

This touches on another error which has infected the local church: denominationalism (and other designed divisions and distinctions which justify themselves with loud proclamations of, “We are not a denomination!”)  Though it has more pervasively manifested itself in modern times, this error crept into the Church shortly after its founding.  Paul was forced to address it in 1Co 1:10-13.

There are no “church denominations” in God’s economy.  The ongoing and ever-greater division among those who claim to be of one family – children of the same Father, brothers and sisters of one another and Jesus Himself, filled with the one Holy Spirit – is surely a grievance to the Holy Spirit.

The NT is replete with calls to unity, as modeled in the Trinity itself, and as Jesus prayed in Jn 17.  Such unity cannot be achieved and is not being sought when folks attach a denominational label to themselves.  Lack of unity among Christians is perhaps the single-most offered excuse encountered from non-believers as they resist evangelistic efforts. (Eph 4:3-6, 30; Rom 15:5; 2Co 6:14)

Sadly, many (most?) denominational Christians have no idea what their denominational “distinctives” actually are, why they are necessary, or how their denomination differs from all the others anyhow.  Many “churchgoers” – even “church” leaders – easily move from one denomination to another when circumstances arise (marriage, moving to a new location, “church” closure or merge, and more).  That simply proves that their denominational separation wasn’t necessary after all.

In sad irony, many of these separated congregations do indeed hold similar and even essentially identical doctrinal convictions.  And their separation is also not owing to size, space, geographical community limits, diversity of culture and language within otherwise common boundaries, or any other appropriate reason for the united in Christ to meet and carry on the work of the Church separately (the legitimate concept of “working together separately”).

Rather (and even where doctrinal disagreement does exist), these divisions have been forged primarily with wedges of pride, heritage, tradition, ethnicity, national origin, leaders’ egos, the seeking of ministry niches, worldly politics, improper partnership with state, and practical concerns at odds with God’s concerns.  That has led to the evolution of and allegiance to “denominational distinctives” conjured up by men over the course of history; developed despite the obvious predictability of the inevitable alienation which would result.  As James says (in a different context) in 3:10, “My brothers, this should not be!”

Actually, a large part of what keeps these Christians in disobedient disunity is merely unnecessary and silly disagreement over church administrative polity; a common ignorance of or refusal to adopt the scriptural model.  This has led to the implementation of diverse improper structures in place of God’s design.  But how can this disunity and such clearly self-proclaimed and self-identified division exist and be tolerated among those called to be united in the one true Body of Christ?  Is Christ’s body to somehow exist as the sum of separate and distinctively identifiable, disagreeing factions?

And yet, it is sadly ironic that in order to justify and excuse their disunity when confronted, each group will betray the self-conviction that their disunity is not justifiable or pleasing to God by quickly claiming, in well-rehearsed fashion, that there really are no essential differences between them; that they truly are united.  One is then left to wonder and to ask the obvious: So why not simply raise one banner over all?  A disingenuous attempt is made to claim that the banner of Christ does indeed reign over all, but that claim is easily seen as specious when, under the banner of Christ, each group proudly waves their own – and shamelessly maintains their separation and chosen doctrinal niches.

In final actuality, the details and reasoning behind all the nonsense which has led to and continues to drive these divisions is, in great measure, known exclusively to the scholarly elites and leaders within each denomination.  The average congregant is unaware of and does not bother himself with any consideration as to why the 50 folks meeting in several adjacent buildings, each designed to hold hundreds or more, do not simply walk across the street and meet together – or, where the numbers are large enough to require separate assemblies, why there is nevertheless a need to label each one so differently.  Though many would never consider changing affiliation, most could not explain why – because they do not really know why.

Even so, marriage, relocation, and other life changes do force some to switch denominations after all – some reluctantly, and even, perhaps, with some angst; others with no qualms at all.  Many local church pastors also manage to cross over to a different denomination for various practical reasons.  And some whole congregations switch affiliation in midstream for reasons usually not fully understood by or of any real importance to its members.

Still, while denominationalism is to some degree undeniably intertwined with the fallacy of varied and false doctrine, it is not driven entirely or even mostly by doctrinal concerns.  In fact, where doctrinal differences do exist, they are merely convenient excuses for perpetuating the divisions; the other factors driving the denominational separations are actually more powerful than the mere differing of doctrinal views.  It is the separation and denominational pride which are more coveted than any loyalty to whatever doctrine is deemed to be more faithful to scripture.  In many cases, these doctrinal differences could easily be resolved.

Indeed, from one church of the same denomination to another, there is often the same manner of minor differences in doctrinal view as exists between differing denominations.  Again, the congregants themselves do not really much care.

In the end, while denominationalism is fraught with its own distinctive set of flaws, it is simply – as the phenomenon of doctrinal chaos – another tool of Satan in his attempts to disrupt, distract and destroy that which God has designed and provided for His perfect purposes.  Of course, Satan must and will fail.

Returning to this writing’s focus – the errors of false doctrine and doctrinal diversity: The erosion of sound doctrinal teaching, understanding and application among professing Christians has been occurring, once again, since the church’s beginning – and it continues in steady, incremental fashion.  Of late, it would appear that the steps of decline have become larger and have significantly quickened in pace.  Teachings which were surely unthinkable just a relatively short time ago are now ruling the day – not only in the court of popular public opinion where they are nevertheless still surprising and shocking, but even, and most lamentably, in bastions of so-called “Christianity” where they must be characterized as nothing short of outright apostasy and blasphemy.

Of course, God will always occupy the ultimate and empirically authoritative throne.  And the declarations of His eternal, never-changing Word will always stand.  The final judgment and sentence upon men in their foolishness will be issued from the uncompromising divine bench, not the one occupied by ever-evolving worldly opinion, elitist philosophy and progressive religion.

It is not that the philosophies and practices condoned and promulgated by these corrupt teachings did not always exist; it is the fact that folks have now championed the cause of repackaging them as legitimate, moral, right, and true – somehow viable and consistent with right relationship and obedience to God.

Worse, opposing these detestable lifestyles and specific sinful practices – on the authority of God’s Word; in accordance with His view – has now become, so their proponents claim, what is truly wrong and offensive.  Rather than simply living their own lives on the basis of their aberrant beliefs, they are on a mission to indoctrinate everyone else with them, as well.  In the process, they seek to snuff out any view rooted in genuine truth and to scuttle any effort to unmask their own teachings and practices for the abominations they actually are.

Although it has always been so, modern culture finds itself more definitively at the crossroads of Isa 5:20-21.  Professing Christians ought to know better than to join the non-believing world in such an eternally-fateful exchange (1Jn 2:15-17; Jam 4:4-5).  But it has become commonplace now for otherwise educated, reasonable and wise folks to offer and claim as legitimate teachings of God what is easily refuted from even an elementary grasp of the scriptures.

This departure from the solid, reliable moorings which God has graciously provided may be largely attributed to an historical and ongoing failure to properly hand down the fullness of God’s truth from generation to generation (Dt 4:9b-14; 6:1-25; 11:1-32; 31:11-13; 32:45-47).  We see an example of the results in Judg 2:10-15.  The New Testament renewal of these Old Testament directives, though differently focused, is the Great Commission of Mt 28:18-20.

In both cases, this responsibility was entrusted to those who could fulfill it with unparalleled confidence rooted in first-hand, intimate communion with God.  The delivered Israelites, and the disciples who walked with Jesus, had both experienced God’s power and presence in miracle and provision so unmistakable and profound that even their enemies acknowledged and feared God (Dt 32:31; Jos 2:8-24; 4:23-5:1; 2Ch 20:27-30; Mt 27:54; Phil 1:27-28).

God intended for His OT people and His NT disciples to faithfully pass along what He had shown and taught them and had done among them – with freshness, accuracy, excitement and urgency.  This testimony would provide great encouragement, motivation and guidance for true worship and obedience among God’s followers.  Among the lost, an authoritative proclamation of genuine truth and accurate history would be compelling, serving as a solemn warning of the imminent danger threatening to engulf them, while also revealing the Source, power, wisdom and unfailing nature of the plan to escape it.

The OT historical record describes the vacillating commitment and “faith” of God’s people (Judg 2:10-19; Hos 13:5-6).  When life was good and their enemies were at bay, they turned away from God and His teachings to indulge their sinful desires.  When times were hard and their enemies held sway, they cried out to God and returned to His merciful and gracious protection and provision, once again worshiping and obeying Him.  Their hearts were torn between the numerous and various false gods and idolatry all around them (largely due to their disobedience of God’s command to eliminate them), and worship of the One who had shown Himself to be faithful, sovereign and true.

In the NT, the early post-resurrection church initially experienced great growth and success (Act 2:37-47).  However, just as the passing of time subsequent to the uniquely momentous events of the Exodus led the people of that deliverance to take their focus off the One who had undeniably and powerfully delivered them, the history of man subsequent to the equally unparalleled events of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus has also witnessed a turning to more mundane interests by those who might otherwise enjoy the even greater, eternal benefits of a far more prodigious deliverance.

A major cause of this turning away from God has been a combination of the neglect or outright rejection of true doctrine, and the promotion of corrupted doctrine in its place.  And yet, the teachings of Moses in the OT and Jesus Himself in the NT were being ignored, rejected and distorted even as both still walked the earth.  True doctrine – and God’s “right” to declare it and to hold folks accountable to it – has been under siege all the while since.

False doctrine has now become so rampant that it is difficult, humanly speaking, for the truth to be heard above the din or recognized amid the confusion.  As mentioned, many offer this as an excuse for abandoning the effort (or neglecting to undertake one at all) to determine the true teachings of God’s Word.  But God will judge them for failing to investigate the scriptures for themselves (Rom 1:19-20; Pr 15:14; 18:15; 19:8; 23:12; Act 17:11).  In failing to do so, they despise God’s gracious provision and preservation of His Word (2Ti 3:16), His patience in awaiting their repentance (2Pe 3:9), and the abundant and marvelous evidences He has masterfully arranged so that faith in Him and His Word is actually quite reasonable (Act 14:17; 17:22-31).

(See “God Holds Us Responsible”)

(Module 6a of the study entitled, “God’s Plan of Salvation”)

On one hand, Rom 1:18 and Eph 4:17-19 indicate that the failure of the rebellious lost to recognize and embrace the truth is due to their own dedicated pursuit of evil.  Devotion to wickedness suppresses the knowledge of God.  This preoccupation with and enjoyment of sinful pleasures leaves folks unavailable for an appointment with the truth, thus preventing them from acknowledging what God has mercifully placed in their very midst (Dt 30:11-14; Rom 10:6-8) until it will be too late – that day when everyone will do so (Phil 2:9-11).

On the other hand, those who do seek the truth encounter a different complication: the invention of new “truth.”  Man has discovered that doctrine can be created to suit his own desires (2Ti 4:3-4) – even if old truths and God’s desires must be set aside.  These creations are then easily sold to the masses because they are strategically designed to reflect what sinners desire and are already enjoying.  However, no extent of widespread consensus among men concerning what is or is not true will ever replace the unchangeable dictates of God – and woe will surely fall upon those who pursue such folly.

 Still, so-called “Christian leaders” continue to turn away from serving God and His eternal desires in order to accommodate the worldly desires of “Christian customers.”  The phenomenon of seeker-sensitive churches flows from this effort to placate the “customer” rather than to trust and obey the Master.  The former is better for “business,” which is sadly what much of “Christianity” today has been reduced to.  No business wants to drive away its customers, but when the Word of God is taught accurately and boldly, those whose interests lie in mere religion or the effort of 2Ti 4:3 are likely to move on to a competitor’s business conveniently located on an adjacent corner or a short distance down the street (Jn 6:66).  And so, the presentation of “truth” has been adjusted accordingly; driven by motivations apart from the serving of God’s interests.

Meanwhile, as this “evolution of truth” finds greater acceptance among an ever-growing majority, as it finds broader application and becomes a panacea for quieting the nagging conscience, as the volume of the brazen protest against God and His truth increases, as it becomes increasingly unacceptable (and downright repulsive; even illegal) to employ the Word of God as the trusted blueprint for life and the empirical standard for guidance and correction, as modern technology, political correctness, social “norms” and the sports, entertainment and media industries (among others) facilitate its promulgation, and as the natural embarrassment associated with what everyone inherently knows is wrong steadily diminishes (Zeph 3:5), we are being invaded and overrun by a shameless, non-stop parade of blasphemy and debauchery.

For just as it was in the period of the Judges, modern times continue to find the kingship and authority of God being ignored and denied; everyone does what seems fit in his own eyes (Judg 17:6; 21:25).  Nevertheless, the remnant of God’s faithful followers perseveres – maintaining and spreading true doctrine in the face of extremely adverse conditions (Jer 42:1-3; Act 8:1-4; Heb 11:32-38; Mic 5:7; Rom 11:5; Jam 5:10).  Despite this godly effort, however, the overall mission to communicate God’s Word in a manner which preserves its accuracy and highlights its imperatives would nonetheless be characterized as a dismal failure if judged by prevailing contemporary lifestyles.  Surely, the Holy Spirit is grieved (Eph 4:30) by the ongoing decline of societal mores, some of which is shamelessly engaged in by folks claiming to be God’s children.  But clearly, those claims must be false (Jn 1:12; Tit 1:16; 1Jn 2:3-6).

Conversely, as mentioned, Satan must take great delight in this pervasive doctrinal confusion.  While it is understandable that ignorance, rejection and distortion of true doctrine should exist among non-believers, it is quite discouraging and plainly irrational that among professing Christian believers and institutions it has become so easy to find all manner of teaching to affirm whatever deviant lifestyle anyone should desire to pursue (2Ti 4:3, as above).

Still, the current state of moral decadence caused by the rejection and corruption of sound doctrine did not occur overnight.  But its advancement, boldness and acceptance within the social, political and “religious” spheres has escalated in recent times.  Although there is truth in the argument that the sins of the present have always been with us, it cannot be denied that their flagrant manifestation and shameless public display, their “official” sanction by top “authorities” in all venues (including the “church”), and the increasing difficulty to employ the truth of God’s Word in an effort to bring reason and sanity to the situation are all portents of great and imminent spiritual danger.

Today, many “Christians” believe that everyone who claims to “believe in God” (in whatever way that holds meaning for them) can join together in working for God’s purposes.  Further, some fail to see the error in partnering with those who do not believe in God at all (2Co 6:14-17a) – as long as they are “nice” people and are willing to tolerate or overlook our “faith.”  As the “church” increasingly adopts and incorporates secular philosophies, it has even fallen into the ultimate trap of celebrating “diversity” of doctrine.  Any true and thinking Christian ought to realize that such doctrinal diversity precludes any meaningful unity of purpose.  We cannot allow secular influences and worldly “wisdom” to take hold and spread in the Christian community.  It is the Christian Church which God has designed and commanded to do the influencing! (Mt 5:13-16; Col 4:5-6)

Godly excitement and true fulfillment can be found only when believers are united in the sole body of truth and doctrine which is legitimate from God’s view – that which is of Him alone.  There can be no true or meaningful partnership in the work and role God has assigned to His Church apart from the sole purpose and effort worth uniting for: magnifying and glorifying the one true God, serving Him through serving others in spirit and in truth.  Any other doctrine is stamped with Satan’s fingerprints; any other effort is doomed to failure.

And there is an obvious distinction to be made: On one hand, there is the practical realization that despite careful vigilance, our own held doctrine falls short of complete and final perfection; that we rely on God’s protection and His provision for individual and corporate growth, development and correction; that we must remain humble, teachable and willing to make whatever adjustments are necessary to align ourselves with His Word, His will and His purpose.

On the other hand, there is the willful tolerance of improper doctrine due to deliberate corruption, intellectual pride, scholastic elitism, ignorance (due to lazy-mindedness or other causes), or negligence of our responsibility to investigate and confirm what we are being taught (Act 17:11).

There is quite a difference between active and continual self-examination and purification of what we hold as truth; removing and tossing away the chaff – and the casual tolerance, negligent introduction, or passionate promotion of error.

The bottom line is this: Operating out of any doctrinal set not rooted in scripture alone is to partner with Satan (2Jn 10-11).  And the introduction of even the slightest error to the otherwise legitimate body of truth ensures that over time the whole batch will become thoroughly corrupted by such yeast (Mt 6:6-12).

Yet, the misguided efforts described above are undertaken and continue all around us in today’s local “church.”  The folks behind them must believe that no harm is done, and the true effort to accomplish the work which God has delegated to the Church is not greatly hindered by the presence of false doctrine or partnering with anyone professing Christianity, no matter how un-scriptural or nonexistent their doctrinal foundation.  Of course, this flows from the ever-worsening condition of the modern “church” itself.

Obvious in its general absence from the contemporary local church is a mature grasp of scriptural doctrine among congregation and leadership alike.  More basically – and beyond mere coincidence – evidence of the very presence of genuine spiritual rebirths goes begging.  This is not to suggest that right doctrine and mature understanding pave the way to salvation; rather, they flow from it.  Therefore, it is not surprising that churches filled with the merely religious are plagued with doctrinal ignorance and confusion; they lack the depth of insight which accompanies (results from) spiritual rebirth; they are simply unable to discern spiritual truth (1Co 2:12-14; Eph 1:15-18; Phil 1:9-11).

Although especially true in the slowly-dying mainline denominations, this has been evident for some time now in many “independent” and “evangelical” churches, as well.  “Receive-and-believe” and other simplistic, incomplete or erroneous “gospels” are springing up all around.  The necessary doctrines of repentance (Mk 1:4, 14-15; 6:12; Act 26:20b), obedience (Jn 14:15, 23a; 15:14; 1Jn 2:3-6; Jer 42:6a), personal holiness (1Pe 1:15-16; Eph 1:4; 1Co 1:2a; 2Co 7:1) and godly living (2Pe 3:11, 14; Tit 2:11-14; 1Th 4:3-5, 7) are being omitted or neglected.  Additionally, the scriptural concepts of exhortation, admonishment, rebuke, correction, discipline, and even encouragement and affirmation – one of another – are also out of vogue, having given way to the secular adages: “mind your own business” and “it’s best not to get involved.”

But most telling is the prevailing notion in modern “Christendom” that we should either avoid muddying the waters with talk of being born again or conform to the more enlightened, contemporary view of it; that it is a rather simple matter, penciled into one’s calendar whenever one finds it convenient.  God’s sovereign administration, Christ’s perfectly finished work of the cross, and the power and role of the Holy Spirit in regeneration have been eliminated; the supernatural components have been replaced with social religiosity, self-help feel-goodism, and counterfeit piety manufactured from ever-evolving human philosophy rather than true godliness rooted in obedient submission to a holy God.  And all of that flows from and is being driven by mere “scholarly” psychobabble (theobabble).

Essentially, many professing Christians will just not allow themselves to be bothered with investigating doctrinal integrity.  They fail to see its importance to and impact upon proper individual and corporate Christian practice.  As long as the church lawn is mowed, the supper is staffed, the VBS is scheduled, the speaker for the mission conference is booked, and folks are getting along and having fun, then all is well!

To make matters worse, many church leaders themselves ignore, reject, distort or violate the doctrines ostensibly held in their own church charters, so that God’s order to identify and adhere to the truth appears to have been vacated.  And though there are indeed those who have a proper knowledge and understanding of the truth, they shirk the duty of Pr 27:17 (“iron sharpening iron”), allowing rust and decay to set in.

There has developed within the modern Christian community an apparent lack of awareness or concern for the danger in putting the cause ahead of the One Whose cause it is.  The excitement of some virtuous end is allowed to trump the corrupted means employed in the process.  Beside the obvious problems in all that, the goals being sought, along with the virtue ascribed to them, are merely the desires and estimation of men, not the plan and view of God.

This overall deprecation of the sanctity of truth and its solemn import – at best, to unwisely accommodate the convenience of the “work of God,” or worse, as a calculated deception for personal profit – is, in actuality, the removal or disabling of the ultimate safeguard God has provided for us: knowledge of the truth (2Pe 1:3; Hos 4:6; 1Ti 2:4; 2Ti 2:25-26; Tit 1:1; Heb 10:26-27).

One small step in the direction of falsehood leads to many larger ones – and each false step makes it more difficult to find our way back to the truth.  We cannot partner with the world and honor God at the same time (Jam 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-17; Mt 6:24).  We cannot mingle the truth of God with worldly philosophies (Col 2:8; 2Co 6:14-16) and expect God to be pleased with us and to shower us with the abundant blessings reserved for His obedient children.

This has become an epidemic problem, a cancer slowly destroying the very fabric of modern Christendom.  Ecumenism and coveted membership in the Council of Churches has led to worldly rather than godly social and political activism; the promoting and defending of philosophies and methods which are at odds with the scriptures and God’s plan for His Church.  This has drawn local churches away from God’s agenda and true doctrine, to be redeployed in the cause of the liberal cultural agenda of the day, the ultimate goal of which is to enable folks to feel better about their sin – rather than to be rid of it!

The scriptures provide ample warning about false teachers and their teachings – from the lips of Jesus, and from the pen of every NT writer (Mt 7:15-20; 24:4-5; Gal 1:6-9; 2Co 11:13-15; 2Pe 2:1-3; 1Jn 4:1-6; 2Jn 10-11; Jude 3-4 and many more).  It is time for us to make a serious and thorough examination of our held doctrine; to recognize the importance of employing the true doctrines of God alone as a sound and trustworthy foundation to guide our faith and practice.

Paul describes the formula for church sanity in Eph 4:11-16.  If we are to enjoy functional health and vibrancy, proper developmental growth, and achievement and maintenance of individual and corporate norms (all according to God’s view), we must be united in an accurate understanding of scriptural doctrine.  Vs 13 speaks for itself: “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  Rom 15:5-6, 1Co 1:10 and the entire sense of scripture’s repetitive treatment of Christian unity emphasize this need unambiguously.

Finally, beyond mere unity in sound doctrine, we are called to apply it in our daily lives (Jam 1:22-25).  Individually and corporately, if we are to be effective for God’s purposes (and our own ultimate best interests), we must work out – with godly wisdom – that which God has worked in (Phil 2:12; 2Pe 1:5-8).  Our daily lives must be fashioned after the truths which God has graciously revealed to us (Ps 119 (all); Lk 11:28; 3Jn 3-4; Gal 1:15-16).  By that same grace, He has given us a genuine love, an accurate understanding, and a godly excitement for Himself and the truth of His Word.  We must each be striving to fulfill 2Ti 2:15.  Together, we must be contending for the truth of the gospel (Phil 1:27; Jude 3).

(See “We’re Saved … Now What?”)

In summary, agreement upon and application of true doctrine are critical to the spiritual health and development of the local and universal Christian Church toward the end of fulfilling the mission and responsibilities God calls us to.  Without these, we fall prey to the natural human condition.  This is why true Christians look around today and lament the state of what attempts to pass itself off as “Christianity.”  And this also explains why it has become so difficult to minister saving truth to a world which, while desperately in need of the example and influence of true Christianity, witnesses instead a “Christianity” so corrupted and so far removed from true godliness – and God Himself – that its rejection as a moral and practical guide to righteous living should not surprise us at all.

Therefore, the first step in reaching the lost with the true truth is to separate ourselves from all the nonsense.  To do so, we must first identify the truth ourselves – confident that it is indeed a true reflection of God’s Word.  Then, we must maintain, as a top priority, a commitment to accurately represent it; in what we teach, yes, but especially in what we model (we must obey it ourselves – “Do as I say, not as I do” does not work!).  To that end, we have the Holy Spirit’s assigned role in enabling us to do so (Jn 14:26; 16:7-11; 2Co 1:21-22).  But we are also commanded and expected to draw upon the strength which doctrinal unity, like-mindedness and oneness of purpose among the body of Christ provides.  It is time for the true Christian community to unite in truth, for our own best interests and the success of the work – for God’s sake, honor and glory!

And so, our doctrinal profession is detailed below.