MAN’S NEED FOR BIBLE AUTHORITY - No.2
In the closing paragraph of the last article I began to discuss some standards men use to justify their religious practices. The first one introduced was: I DO IT BECAUSE I LIKE IT. Some religious people do what pleases them. They are not concerned with what God wants or demands, they just do what they want. They feel no need of scriptural authority. This attitude is clearly illustrated by the children of Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Three months earlier they had been delivered from Egyptian bondage and Moses was going up the mountain to receive the 10 commandments. Before his departure he calls the people together to remind them they were God’s “special treasure” and “laid before them all the words which the Lord commanded him” and ‘all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do.’” Ex.19:7-8.
Yet, while Moses was delayed in coming back down the mountain what did the people do? They showed their disdain for God’s authority. They decided to make a molded calf of their golden jewelry to honor the god “that brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Ex.32:1-4. And the next day they “sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Ex.32:6. This was in plain disobedience to God’s earlier command, “you shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourselves a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I am a jealous God…” Ex.20:3-5a. They clearly understood what God wanted, but they did what they did because they liked it. Why? Because they wanted to!
Today many of the things utilized by brethren to attract people to their assemblies are not done because they have scriptural authority for them. They admit there is no biblical authority for them, but they do them anyway, simply because they know people like doing what they do. “If they like it, we’ll do it. Who cares what God wants,” is their attitude. Some of the more liberal brethren have gone way beyond introducing mechanical instruments of music into the services. They now offer different types of worship services. They give people a choice between “traditional” or “contemporary” worship services. They have been building their large play houses (family life centers, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, etc.) for years, not because they are scriptural but because of their entertainment and social value. These are just a couple of prime examples. Beware brethren, just because it is something we like to do, or want to do, that does not make it right before God. He still demands “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” Col.3:17.
Another standard used by people to justify their religious practices is the conscience. IF MY CONSCIENCE DOESN’T CONDEMN ME IT WILL BE ALRIGHT. Years ago there was a song with the following phrase, “It can’t be wrong when it feels so right.” That may work in a song, but it won’t work with God. Paul learned this while on the road to Damascus. He followed his conscience as he persecuted Christians. He was thoroughly convinced he was doing right and that God was pleased with what he was doing. He could say of his conscience, “I, myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and man.” Acts.24:16. Even though he had done wrong he could later say about his previous actions, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” Acts 23:1; 26:9. Thankfully, he learned better. He learned that his conscience was not a safe guide in religious affairs.
A conscience is a creature of education. What and how one has been taught will form the thinking. If the teaching is wrong then the thinking is also wrong. Many have not been taught to respect Bible authority because they have listened to preachers, elders, and leaders who have no clue as to what constitutes true Bible authority. So, it is no wonder that the members, having been raised on fun and games, have little interest in a “thus says the Lord.” As a result their conscience does not condemn them when things are introduced by those they are trained to look to for guidance.
Many religious people today go merrily along singing the old refrain, “it can’t be wrong when it feels so right.” They are thinking, “Since it makes me feel good, God should also be happy with me.” They give no thought to what Jesus said in Matt.7:21-23. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
The Greek word (anomia) translated “lawlessness” (iniquity –KJV) means “properly, the condition of one without law – either because ignorant of it, or because violating it.” p.48, Thayer. Trench, another Greek scholar, defines it as “…the condition of one living without law, but always the condition or deed of one who acts contrary to law…” pp.243-244. The same Greek word (anomia) is translated “sin,” in 1.Jn.3:4 where it is found twice. So, the thought of “lawlessness” is that when one practices anything in religion that is not authorized in the law of Christ they commit sin. We have no right to engage in such things. It may not condemn one’s conscience to serve coffee and donuts before church services. One’s conscience may not be offended by the introduction of choirs and/or praise teams to improve the singing, or by having dramas and plays instead of Bible classes and sermons, but they all fit into the category of “lawlessness.”
We will continue to pursue this subject next week by examining another standard used by religious people that negates Bible authority. People ask, “How can it be wrong when so many people think it is alright?”
By Thomas Thornhill via THE BUCKHORN TEACHER Vol.6 August 26, 2007 No.7
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