05/19/2017
"Oddly enough I have *never* been given any 'pushback' from atheists or skeptics when discussing the reasonableness of the Christian faith; and I have never been given 'pushback' from the Mormons or JW's when they sit on my porch as we discuss the insurmountable differences in what we believe - all three have, either explicitly, or implicitly, acknowledged that thinking about one's faith (or lack thereof) is paramount.
But do you know from whom I am given much 'push back' when I claim that Christians should know what they believe, and to know doctrine?
Christians. Always. Consistently. Overwhelmingly.
And it doesn't stop at mere pushback - it is almost always accompanied by a very smug/superior attitude which connotes that "that stuff is not that important if your 'truly love Jesus'"..."
However, I want to ask a very serious question: How many times do you, if you hold to such view, have to say that *you* are "right" and the Author of Scripture is *wrong*?
Because that is what you are doing. In essence, you are claiming that your view is superior to what your Scripture teaches - and you are claiming that your view is superior to the Holy Spirit whom inspired it.
Jude 1:3 - "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people."
Titus 1:9 - "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."
Titus 2:1 - "You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine."
Heb 6:1 - "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God..."
1 Pt 3: 15 - "...but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence..."
1 Tm 1:3 - " As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer..."
Eph 4:14 - "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming..." (and you must obviously know the correct, in order to avoid being "carried about" by the false).
Rm 16:17 - "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them."
1 Tm 1:10 - "for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine..." (again, you must obviously know the correct, in order to know the "contrary.")
1 Tm 4:1 - "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons..."
1 Tim 4:6 - " In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following."
1 Tm 4:16 - "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."
1 Tm 6:1 - "All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against."
2 Tm 4:3 - "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.."
Titus 2:7- "in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified..."
Titus 2: 10 - "...not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior."
And this could easily go on with more...
Of course, we all must check, and confess pride and arrogance - myself above most others. Yet, there is a time when, you, the Church must do the work of being obedient to the Scripture whether you like it or not, or whether you believe it to be "your thing" or not - and in light of the above, take note that the concept "born again" is mentioned 3 to 4 times...
Let us ask ourselves how many times must a theme be reiterated by the Holy Spirit before you take it seriously?"
- W Russell Crawford
