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STANDING
FAST IN THE FAITH
by Darryl K. Harrison
To say that the world in which we live is divided
religiously is certainly an understatement. Any seeker of religion will
have no problem finding a church or doctrine which suits his own tastes.
Just like the local buffet restaurant, many selections are available, but
all honest persons yearning for the truth must question this present
arrangement. Is it God's will that people be divided over the most crucial
of subjects? The Philippian jailer asked the question, �What must I do
to be saved?� That question is still being asked today, but
unfortunately Bible answers are not being given. False doctrines relative
to the plan of salvation abound and the Lord's church must equip itself to
fight these errors tooth and nail.
The apostle Paul wrote in I
Corinthians 16:13, �Watch
ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong.� Every
word in this powerful verse rings out with the concept of war and
spiritual conflict. Paul, in essence, was calling the church at Corinth to
arms. The New Testament church today must also heed this militant call to
war. The line of demarcation has been drawn and the enemy has been
identified, but the fact of the matter is that many pulpits throughout the
land have imposed a self-restricting ban on doctrinal preaching for fear
of offending the masses (2 Tim. 4:1-4). Weak elderships are retreating
instead of preparing the flock for a protracted confrontation with the
wicked adversary of God's people -- none other than Satan. Peter describes
him �as a roaring lion�
(1 Peter 5:8) of whom Paul said �we
are not ignorant of his devices� (2 Cor. 2:11). The church
has an obligation before God and man to stand for the truth by which we
shall gain the ultimate victory.
Concerning the doctrine of
Christ, that is, the inspired teaching of the New Testament (Acts 2:42;
Titus 1:9), we should uncompromisingly promote and defend it. The beloved
John wrote so forcefully in 2 John 9, �Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the
Son.� Keep in mind that John was known as the apostle of
love and wrote much on the subject in his epistles. It is therefore not
unloving or unkind to expose false teaching and those who propagate it! In
fact, it is the most loving thing any faithful Christian can do for his
fellow man. There is a current trend in the religious world and also in
the church to tone down this blessed doctrine. The preaching which
characterized the first century church was plain, bold and loving. The
Gospel which filled the streets of Jerusalem and caused men to be �pricked
in their heart� (Acts 2:37) is the same Gospel that will
save men today (Rom. 1:16).
Considering the fact that we
have the responsibility to stand for and defend the Gospel, there is an
inevitable conclusion that will be drawn. When the doctrine of Christ is
presented as it should be, then conflict is to be expected. Darkness hates
light (John 3:20). In the same sense, error does not like to be exposed by
the light of truth. If the church never faces any attack from the world,
particularly the denominational world, then that is a good sign that we
are not standing as firmly as we should. Whatever happened to the kind of
preaching and Christian living that caused the church to grow in the first
century? This was a time when God's people loved God and man more than
their own lives (Acts 20:24). They unhesitatingly drew the �sword of the
Spirit� and met in battle the foes of the Gospel of Christ.
The church of the 21st century
must return to the Divine pattern of evangelism in order to be pleasing to
God. We must be convinced the only answers that are sufficient in matters
of religious doctrine are Bible answers! Will we not hearken unto the
commands of the captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10) and faithfully
execute our mission so that souls may be won back from the devil's grip
and that God may be glorified? May each and every member of the body of
Christ heed the personal admonition to �earnestly
contend for the faith� (Jude 3).
NOTE:
All articles are by
Darryl K.
Harrison
unless otherwise stated. DISCLAIMER:
The author does not
necessarily
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