I have always been impressed with this quote from author, apologist, and thinker C.S. Lewis, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” It reminds me that talking about spiritual things is not about winning an argument or convincing someone to join my team. Our service to Christ is life or death. Our teaching of God’s word will either, “bring about the obedience of faith” and eternal life will result, or an individual will die in unbelief and eternal punishment will ensue. The truth of Christianity makes its consequences real.
So, how important is what we teach? How important is it that we get it right? How wrong can we be as a church before we cease to be true? Many in the religious world don’t think it matters. Their idea is, “We are all going to heaven, just on different paths.” The problem is that is not what Jesus says. Our Lord says there is one path (Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6). He tells us blindly following him is not following him: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”-Matthew 7:21-23. Is what we are teaching true? Is how we are worshipping true?
How far can our teaching on faith drift before it is no longer true? What if I preach Jesus was crucified but not his resurrection? What if I teach he was a great man but not the Son of God? What if I tell someone to be baptized but then sprinkle them or pour water over their head? Where does the deviation become false doctrine? How far away from Scripture can I go and still be a Christian? Instead of trying to see how far we can stretch the rope, why not hold on to the cornerstone (I Peter 2:6)? We can know what pleases God! He has not left us to blindly wander in this world hoping to do his will. He has given us the words of the Bible, “which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”-II Timothy 3:15.
We are told what we must teach and believe about Jesus (Matthew 16:16; Romans 1:1-6; I Corinthians 15:1-6). We know we must be baptized. We know the word baptize means, “consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence”-Vine’s Expository Dictionary. So, why must so many get so far from the truth. Read these verses: “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”-James 2:24; “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”-Mark 16:16; “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”-Acts 2:38.
We can know we are to give as a church (I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9;7). We can know we are to read and teach the Scriptures (Romans 10:14; I Timothy 4:13). We can know we are to pray (Ephesian 6:18; I Timothy 2:8). We know we are to sing (Ephesian 5:19; Colossians 3:16). We know we are to eat the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:23-26). So, why do some religious groups avoid these while others add to them? Any addition or subtraction from this list of worship items is to tread away from what is true. Holy God, keep us in your word, “your word is truth.”-John 17:17 . Amen.
[Editor’s note: This article was originally published in May of 2016. Truth never changes.]
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