You’ve probably heard someone say, “It doesn’t
matter what you believe, we’re all going to
heaven when we die.” The sentiment is that the
only thing you have to do is believe in Jesus.
And in today’s religious climate, that’s not
even seen as essential by some. The underlying
premise to this view is that doctrine
(principles or positions in a system of belief)
does not matter. Those who do not embrace
ecumenicalism are often viewed as narrow and
prejudiced. In his book “Reckless Faith” John
McArthur Jr. wrote, “The church in our
generation has become astonishingly tolerant of
aberrant teaching and outlandish ideas—and
frighteningly intolerant of sound teaching. The
popular evangelical conception of ‘truth’ has
become almost completely subjective. Truth is
viewed as fluid, always relative, never
absolute. To suggest that any objective
criterion might be used to distinguish truth
from error is to be egregiously out of step with
the spirit of the age. In some circles,
Scripture itself has been ruled out as a
reliable test of truth…And many believe there is
truth beyond the Bible.”
While it is certainly true that there are core
issues in the Bible that are of “first
importance” and “weightier” (1
Corinthians15:1-4; Matthew 23:23) it is no less
true that the “less important” must still be
taught, believed and put into practice. After
commanding His apostles to “Go and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit” Jesus then added “teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you.” (Matthew
28:19,20). That includes not only the direct
words of Jesus (John 14:26; 16:13) but also the
things taught by His apostles and prophets in
the rest of Scripture as well (1 Corinthians
14:37,38; 1 John 4:6). Notice the Scriptures’
warnings about what we believe. “The naive
believes everything, But the prudent man
considers his steps” (Proverbs14:15). Jesus
warned that we should let no one “mislead” us
(Matthew 24:4). How can we be mislead if what we
believe doesn’t matter? Paul said that with
smooth and flattering speech some “deceive the
hearts of the unsuspecting” (Romans16:18). So
quick acceptance and tolerance are not
necessarily virtuous and suspicion has it’s
place? Seems so. We are to “examine everything
carefully [and] hold fast to that which is good”
(1 Thessalonians 5:21). Thus contrary to popular
belief there is that which is good and that
which is not good. “The Spirit explicitly says
that in later times some will fall away from the
faith [impossible according to a widely accepted
heresy since the Reformation], paying attention
to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”
(1 Timothy 4:1). And Peter warns “There will
also be false teachers among you, who will
secretly introduce destructive heresies, even
denying the Master who bought them, bringing
swift destruction upon themselves” (2 Peter
2:1).
As Paul drew near to the end of his life he
wrote to Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound
words which you have heard from me, in the faith
and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2
Timothy1:13) “And the things which you have
heard from me in the presence of many witnesses,
these entrust to faithful men, who will be able
to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). What was
true and right and moral in the first century is
what is true and right and moral in the twenty
first century. Satan is the source of
half-truths and outright lies (Genesis 3:1-6;
Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44). Jesus is the truth
and teaches the truth (John 14:6; 1:17).
Measure what you are taught and what you believe
by the Bible to “see whether these things are
so” (Acts 17:11). If they are, stay the course.
If not, straighten the ship.
God bless you,
Brad Fry
