BACK TO THE
BIBLE FOR AUTHORITY
INTRODUCTION: “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us”. (II Tim 1:13-14)
NKJV
n Hold Fast = hang on for dear life
n Stay within the revealed “pattern”
n Sound Words = scriptural words or revealed words of God
n (Unsound words = words that change the message by adding foreign material or that tend to subtract God’s will and replace it with human will, philosophy, or imagination)
Love for Christ urges upon us the desire to keep His commandments (John 15:10, 14), and wisdom would call upon us to acknowledge Him in all our ways (Prov.3:5, 6). Churches were invaded with false brethren in the first century, and it definitely took a strong commitment of love and loyalty to God to stand against the many “winds of doctrine” that were blowing upon the early church. The false teachers came in secretly (II Pet. 2:1f), often with attractive personalities, and slowly changed attitudes toward truth.
In the same way, “winds of doctrine” have been blowing upon the church in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. Churches that we would call "liberal" in regard to church support of institutions, recreational facilities, etc., view themselves as "conservative" compared to many churches of Christ which they view as liberal in regard to fellowship with denominations i.e. the Christian church. Over the years, the drift toward more liberal ideas and activities has been accepted by the younger generations who seem to be ready for even more subtle changes. Many of our young people have no idea how to handle these shifts in attitudes and practices. Unless they believe deeply that every generation must insist on going "back to the Bible for authority", they, too, will be swept away by unsound thinking.
In all things that humans make or copy, there is a need to follow a pattern. (Example: cutting out and making a dress; putting together a model airplane). Without a pattern we actually copy nothing and things are invented as we go along. What we would end up with is only something that pleases man. If God gave a pattern and we ignore it, then we are only pleasing ourselves even as Nadab and Abihu (Lev.10) or as Cain (Gen.4). But, this is not pleasing to God.
If one wanted to start a McDonald’s restaurant in another city, what pattern would have to be followed? Could you learn from the Bible how to start a McDonald’s chain? Can one learn from the Bible how to start and operate a Masonic Lodge? How about a Southern Baptist Church church of Christ
It is easily seen that we DO have a pattern for being a “Christian” only, and a pattern for starting and sustaining a local church of Christ
In the opinion of some, there was a time when the book of God became “out-of-date” with the times. During that time, the book of God was stored in the back of the temple . . . lost from view, lost from use, and lost from the memories and hearts of the priests and the leaders of the people. Read II Kings 22:8-13. Read about them finding God’s book. Think about them analyzing. . . what point in time took them down the road so far from the Law of God? Did it happen quickly or was it a slow process? Think about what attitudes must have prevailed for God’s word to have become so distant to the heart of the leaders of the time. Did God’s people spend less and less time reading it and dwelling upon the promises and righteousness found in God’s law? Did people get tired of hearing it? Did people prefer the ear-tickling motivational sermonettes they were hearing at the nearest pagan temple? What set the stage for people to begin to desire the religious gimmicks of the religions and nations around them? At what point was “the pattern of sound words” found in God’s law no longer popular or even wanted? Has something similar happened in our own times? Is our own generation in the midst of just such a spirit of blindness and apathy?
We should think of our Bibles as our most prized possession, because it is the standard measure for truth concerning life, God, and service to Him. God’s word is the compass that directs us in the way we should go in this life. . . to heaven. The word of God is like a flashlight in a dark and dangerous world to guide our feet in a safe way. It should, therefore, be the emphasis of a Christian’s time and interest. . . our daily “walk in life” and assembling with other Christians. . . desiring to hear what God has so lovingly given us. A church that does not emphasize the Bible and the Bible ONLY is not a true church of Christ
I. IT IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH TO SURVIVE THE WAVES OF HUMANISTIC THOUGHT AS IT IS, THAN TO TRY IT WITHOUT A TRUSTWORTHY COMPASS AND A DEEP RESPECT ANCHORED IN GOD'S WORD.
II. PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR CHANGE. THEY VIEW THE BIBLE AS “OUT OF DATE”; NOT RELEVANT FOR THE MODERN MAN AND HIS SOCIAL NEEDS.
A. Yet, God and Jesus are the same as ever. (Heb.13:8)
B. SIN is still the reason Jesus came and died for all, and people in the first century did not automatically know and appreciate this either.
C. A great many of the social ills of society could be resolved if people would believe the gospel and repent. Think of AIDS and Syphilis, abortion, drunkenness, drug abuse, homeless children, etc. Repentance is the cure for many ills brought on by CHOICE.
D. Humanism by definition is “a system of thought that rejects religious beliefs and centers on humans and their values, capacities, and worth” (The American Heritage Dictionary) and is a basic concern for the outward, social creature. Churches have turned away from solid preaching to meet the social "needs" of a “me first” society. From the spiritual, to the carnal and physical, churches have been diverted from their GOD-ASSIGNED mission. The world is calling upon the church to change to meet social and recreational desires.
1. The Lord is calling upon the church to give Him what He wants.
2. Which voice will prevail upon our hearts to direct the church in this century?
E. Many brethren have dreamed up ways
1. The world is calling upon the church to entertain us and “give us physical advantages”. Many churches are now more willing to answer the world’s call than the Lord’s call.
2. Today, we are hearing brethren set up a variety of “ministries” before the world such as: "Kindergarten", "Mother's Day Out", "Gymnastics to the Glory of God", "The Martial Arts Gospel Ministry", etc.
3. We are seeing churches move from a spiritual emphasis to a more social emphasis. Jesus' death on the cross for SIN becomes the bad news for those who merely want to come use our gym. Churches become reluctant to tell people the truth because it might drive them away. So, if we have to get them in by carnal appeals, then we will feel it necessary to KEEP them by carnal appeals as well.
4. The church should make a distinct call to the world to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38; 17:30, 31). Perhaps it is even time for the church to repent as they were called upon to do in Revelation 2-3 .
III. CHANGES IN CHURCHES OF CHRIST HAVE CREATED A NEED TO FINE‑TUNE THE DESCRIP-TIVE USE OF THE TERMS "LIBERAL" AND "CONSERVATIVE".
There are many different areas in which a person or church may be either “liberal” or “conservative”. The following areas will help us determine the area of thought or practice in which a certain person or church may be found to be “liberal” or “conservative”.
A. AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE
1. The liberal view of the Bible is that it is either:
a. subject to error (fallible),
b. insufficient to guide us completely,
c. an inspiring document but not the authoritatively inspired revelation of God.
2. Notice how loose or liberal this view has to be with such passages as II Tim.3:16-17; II Jno.9; Matt.28:18‑20; II Pet.1:19f
The view that is most conservative with the issue of authority is the view that the Bible is complete, giving us God’s full will, and is authoritative for all issues of faith and practice.
B. APPEAL USED TO DRAW PEOPLE
1. The liberal view is to view the cross of Christ as an insufficient appeal or incentive in reaching out to the lost and drawing him to God. Entertainment, recreational facilities and events are used to cover the painful gospel "hook" with a more appealing kind of bait. They will get the hook after they come for the bait.
2. This view will often study a variety of marketing techniques to out‑do the denominational competitors. This attitude takes a liberal view of such passages as I Cor.1‑3. Follow this line of reasoning:
a. If the eloquence of a speaker should not be the attraction, and
b. If nothing should be the attraction but the message of the cross, then,
c. Entertainment, facilities, music, gymnasiums, etc., should not be allowed to be the basis of appeal to people. Nothing but the cross, the story of man’s deepest needs addressed in Jesus and Him crucified, should be the appeal of the church of Christ
C. WORK OF THE CHURCH
1. The liberal view of the work of the church is that it should include in its scope of work: 1) secular education, 2) recreation, 3) social services such as Kindergarten, Mother’s Day Out, and 4) even medical services.
2. It takes a liberal view of such passages as (ITim.3:15; 5:16; Eph.4:12; Acts 6:1 ‑4.)
3. The conservative view looks at these passages and sees that the main work of the church is to hold up the gospel. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
D. FINANCING THE WORK
1. The liberal view is that the church may use rental, car washes, raffles, etc. to raise money for its work. They don’t feel a need to limit themselves to a particular pattern. ( I Cor.16:1‑3; I Cor.9:7‑9) They reason that the Bible doesn't say NOT to do these things.
2. The conservative view is that the Bible tells how and when to raise funds and the pattern of sound words sets the limits within which to operate.
E. UNIT OF ACTION
1. The liberal view is that several congregations may team up in area‑wide, state‑wide, and national projects. Those holding this view think they see authority for it in uniting and giving toward the emergency situations described in the New Testament where several churches sent aid to a church in physical need. Therefore, it is concluded, churches can create a "need" of any kind and appeal to brethren everywhere for financial support. In doing this, the “united” churches take a liberal view of the local church as God's independent unit of action. (Phil.4:14‑18; Acts 20:28 ; I Pet.5:1f)
2. The conservative view is that the local church is sufficient as God’s unit of action in evangelism and in benevolence. That sufficiency is always within its own ability until circumstances beyond their control puts them in emergency need of help.
F. ORGANIZATION
1. The liberal view is that organization between churches can be had by assigning boards, inter-congregational committees to control and direct certain aspects of church work bigger than a local church can handle. This view was seen in the Christian Missionary Society of the 19th century and later in the various evangelistic and benevolent organizations of the 20th century such as the Herald of Truth broadcast and benevolent institutions like Potter's Home and Childhaven, etc. These organizations tied several churches into a supportive role for the human institution.
2. The conservative view is to limit ourselves to the Bible pattern of churches organizing only on a local scale (Phil.1:1), each church working independently, but concurrently at the same kind of work with the same mission.
G. MORAL PURITY
1. The liberal view allows for immoral behavior to go unmarked, unreproved, and tolerated under an umbrella of grace and love. There is danger in accepting a liberal view of such things as adulterous marriages, because eventually, by the same rationale, homosexuality and many other vices will sooner or later be reasoned under that same umbrella of “grace”, etc. This view deals very loosely with such passages as I Cor.5; 2 Thess.3; Tit.3:10‑11; Rom.16:17f; Matt.5:32; 19:9; etc.
2. The conservative view is to mourn over sin and seek to encourage repentance as such issues arise among the members. Teaching on moral issues is to be encouraged, not discouraged.
H. WORSHIP: Designed by God? Or, by Man? (Jno.4:24; I Cor.11, 14)
1. The liberal view is that what we do in assembly to worship God can be designed by human wisdom and desire.
2. The conservative view of scripture is that worship has always been regulated by God from the worship of Cain and Abel (Gen.4) through the Mosaic Tabernacle period (Lev.10) and on into the New Testament. Therefore, we must conduct our worship in the way that fits the pattern of sound words. Doctrines of men can corrupt and make our worship “in vain”. (Matt15:8-9; Col.2.)
Iv. TWO SOURCES FOR AUTHORITY
A. The Bible
1. The revelation of God’s mind and will (1 Cor.2; Eph.3:1-4)
2. The COMPLETE guide (Eph.3:1-4; 2 Tim.3:16-17; Jno.16:13)
3. God’s religion abides within the boundaries of this revelation (II John 9-10 ).
B. Human Desire
1. There is a religion to support every human desire (thus hundreds of different denominations today)
2. This serves MAN’s interests, but not God’s interests
3. This creates conflict of interest (supporting and maintaining a human division is a sinful work of the flesh – Gal.5:19f).
WE MUST GET BACK TO THE BIBLE FOR AUTHORITY OR ADMIT THERE IS NO AUTHORITY HIGHER THAN HUMAN DESIRE.
Conclusion: There is a religion to support every human desire. When everyone does what is right in his own eyes and believes that God accepts that, then SIN becomes pure imagination, and Jesus came and died in vain. He died because man was "wrong" about something (thus committing “sin”) and we should not deceive ourselves into thinking we are right. (I Jno.1:7‑9) The gospel we preach must be distinguishable from the many fads and fashions of modern denominational gimmickry. It must be the same pattern of sound words employed by the early Christians or it is not the same gospel. (Gal.1:6‑10)
This lesson demonstrates that churches have lost their sense of direction and need to get back to biblical authority for everything, learning how to properly use the Bible, and how to use it properly in establishing authority for what we do as a local church and the individuals of His greater universal body or church. Has this generation “lost the book”? Or, will you do all within your power to make sure ours is the generation that will step up to the challenge of holding up the book of God as a light that every man, woman, and child so desperately needs? Will YOU “hold fast the pattern of sound words”?
QUESTIONS:
1. Is there a better source of authority than the Bible?
2. Is the Bible out‑dated and irrelevant today?
3. If the world is dark in its understanding of the purpose of life, how can the Bible help us?
4. If Jesus is the light of the world, where can we find out about Jesus?
5. Have churches of Christ always remained true to the pattern of sound words?
6. Is it wrong to think or say that a person is “liberal” or “conservative” in their thinking? Explain.
7. Do you think we need to be more precise in describing the area or areas in which a person or church is liberal or conservative?
8. If a person is described as "conservative" in certain areas of his thinking and life, does this mean he is right with God in every area of his life?
9. Can we be pleasing to God if we participate with others in an activity we are not convinced is right?
10. Do you think it is important how a person looks at Bible authority and how he applies it?
