In the book of Titus 2:1 The bible speaks of sound
doctrine and of course we’re aware that sound doctrine is doctrine
that can be supported by scripture and has a solid foundation throughout the
bible as established teaching. And
course, if it were that simple we could all go home. Unfortunately, that’s not all there is to it, because men can twist scriptures to
support their own teachings ideas and opinions all the while using the bible to do
it.
I heard a preacher say one time that
some people put their ideas above the WORD. The WORD says this but I don’t agree with that, thus making themselves God. Some put their ideas on the same level
as the WORD, my thoughts are just as good as God’s; and some do what they
should do, which is keep their opinions under subjection to the WORD.
So
where does that leave us? Has God left benchmarks in the scripture to show what is sound and what is not? In a later post, I will go over the details
of some false teachings but just to start us out, below are some basics.
Over
the years of teaching and preaching and seeing pulpit disasters, I have come to several conclusions that I am going to share with you. First, it is a fearful thing to mishandle the Word of God or slant it or misuse it to my own benefit. We can be sincerely wrong, but God is faithful and won't let us stay wrong for long.
So, in
order for a teaching to be an established teaching of the church of
God, three things must be examined before we run around thumping our bibles:
1.
It has to be in its
proper context to be taught as a doctrine of the church. So many preachers and teachers take
advantage of their position by not being careful in this one area. Whole
denominations and groups and religious practices have been established from
misrepresented scriptures. Preachers who
are not careful in this area may satisfy themselves, but not God, and do irreparable
harm to people’s souls practicing things that are taken out of
context. Something being passed down to
me from a “good brother” is not enough.
Is it properly administered?
Read the scriptures above and below---sounds simple but many will
not do this. Study the context of what
is being said, and why it was being said, and pray. You will emerge from your
quiet place with proper principle that cannot be slanted too far one way or the
other.
(of recent years, some
have taken Acts 2 regarding the disciples being labeled as drunk by the
onlookers on the day of Pentecost and have started a whole holy
laughter/unspeakable joy movement from it where people sit in services and laugh
uncontrollably or act drunk
2.
No one scripture can make a doctrine or a practice. There
has to be a witness to this teaching or practice in other places in the bible: (does
this teaching fit the character of God as displayed in the rest of the
bible. God is not going to contradict
himself, or place a heavy burden that His Word has not established in a solid
way). Deut 17:6, Deut 19:15-18.
(I have heard people use the scripture in I Corinthians 11 to say
that a woman cannot even cut split ends on her hair, when this one passage is
no way teaches this at all. Many have ruined their beautiful hair trying to
practice this).
And finally…
3. Look at
the Fruit of the teaching. If the fruit is not holy and righteous, more than likely, the root
is not holy. Can that precept be applied
in every age, every situation, and still end up with a holy conclusion? We are talking proper bible principle. Matt 12:33
James 1:12-13; Romans 11:16 (the source, the seed of the thing) You can tell the seed by the fruit it yields. What are the results of this belief, are the
results confusion—God says he is not the author of that-- people stumbling over
my testimony—does it lead to disobedience to other parts of the bible and the
Holy Ghost trying to hold this teaching—some
type of false balance in my life.
(for example, I diligent working with the church, but ignore my
family , my job or my health all of which God gave me as well and teaches just
as soundly in scripture the importance of maintaining.)
I
heard a minister at meeting relay how a particular church group told a
man that was a backslider that whoever he had married before he was saved, was still his
wife, according to the scripture. Sounds
good because anyone could point to certain scriptures where Jesus seemingly is teaching that
if you marry someone, in the eyes of God that is your spouse forever and you
should never remarry under any circumstances. So the man went to rekindle his relationship with his ex-wife
who was in another state (they had legally divorced). She was remarried by this time to another man
(not sure whether there were children in the picture). She was not happy with her marriage at the
time, one thing led to another and they had sex. He
went back to the good brethren and told them what he had done but argued with
them that he had not done any sin, because in God’s eyes, that was his wife! So in essence he broke up another home to “obey
God” based on the wrong principle. Was
that right, of course not. They
apparently didn’t know what to say to this.
2
Timothy 2: 16 But shun profane and vain
babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat
as doth a canker: [2] of whom is Hymenaeus and
Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection
is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
