Lately, this phrase (the post title)
has been showing up on my radar. Now everyone thinks and
believes things that other people will not agree with, or hold to. But it seems a
popular thing these days to have your own system of beliefs or your
own way of looking at things. It also seems to be increasingly
unpopular to bring the Bible to bear on these teachings and belief
systems.
For example: I listened to a song on
the radio during the Christmas season that went on and on about
“family” and then ended with “that's what Christmas
means.........to me.” The thing is, “family” is not what
Christmas is about. Another radio excerpt had a person being interviewed who was
praising the local food bank. “The food bank helps those who are
less fortunate, and this is what Christmas is all about.” Again,
Christmas is not about helping those who are “less fortunate”.
This kind of reasoning is to be expected from the world. Look what it's
done with Easter: An Easter bunny = Jesus death and resurrection???
Years ago, I attended a Bible School,
and awhile ago I was in discussion on Facebook with a fellow-
classmate of mine about Hell. He mocked the clear, biblical teaching
about eternal torment, fire, etc., saying it was something the church
invented. When I asked him to interpret some verses where Jesus used
those exact phrases (Mark 9:42-48; Matt 13:40-43) he told me he
didn't have time to get into a lengthy discussion outlining why he
didn't believe these things, but pointed me to a website I could
check out. He said they had some good teachings, but he had this
caveat: “Not that I agree with everything they teach.” So, I
checked the website out. From what I remember the link sent me to a
church site that had a Sunday bulletin insert or Bible study page
teaching on Hell and The Judgement. They appeared to also say that after
one dies there appears to still be hope for salvation, and then they had
some scripture references for this teaching. I sent a message to my
friend informing him that he would have to clarify exactly what he
agreed with and didn't agree with on this site because there were
multiple areas of concern, and I couldn't pick out what wrong
teachings he agreed with and didn't agree with. He never responded.
It is this kind of thing that is
worrisome and troubling to me. It appears Christians are more than willing to
tolerate unbiblical teachings and practices, attach this little
phrase and it suddenly becomes okay. One must wade through the chaff to find
the kernel of wheat. When these unbiblical teachings are challenged
one is met with indignation and sometimes mockery. I do not find
this attitude in the apostle Paul towards unbiblical teachings and
false teachers (2Tim3:1-9; Titus 3:9-11).
This is also worrisome to me because
it hits me where I'm at. I think the very root of the problem is an
almost total abandonment in the church of teaching sound doctrine.
One example: A Sunday school class where there is no
teaching/exegesis on the text we're “studying”, but everyone
around the room gives their opinion on what the text means to them.
The text has as many meanings as there are people in the room and the
actual intent and meaning of the text is lost.
If I don't know what sound doctrine is,
I have nothing by which to measure what is being taught. I, then,
develop my own weights and scales. As long as the teacher is nice or
“loving” or funny, then this appears to be the only key to
unlocking the hearer's heart and then that person accepts everything
being taught. This is a long way from Acts 17:11!
I was lead into charismaticism when I
was a relatively new Christian. I had little to no foundation in
sound doctrine and those whom I gobbled up the teaching on tongues
from were Pastors. BTW, they were also very nice people. How was
I to determine if what I was experiencing was real or counterfeit? I
was told, “Just love Jesus”, and “Don't entertain a thought
that this could be counterfeit and you'll be fine.” I can't tell
you how messed up I got after months and months of being involved in
this. Straying from the Word of God and living by emotion,
experiences, imaginings, and what I saw with my eyes almost destroyed
me. What rescued me out of the nightmare? Actually learning what
the Word of God says about the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit =
Sound Doctrine.
Sound doctrine, by it's very nature, is
divisive because it is a plumb line showing right from wrong. In our
culture such a concept is anathema! The Apostle exhorts
Pastors/Elders to teach sound doctrine (Titus 1:5 – 2:1), but it
appears everything else but sound doctrine suffices. 2Timothy 4:3,4 is so applicable for our age: “For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled,
they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their
own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will
turn aside to myths”.
“Not
that I agree with everything they teach” may be a sign you're on
the wrong road.
