The modernists and the intellectuals want to discuss and appease. They want to dispute the teachings of the scriptures and change the teachings to suit modern thinking which is nothing more than a denial of the eternal truths of the Bible. Those who so behave today are in the mold of the Pharisees who thought they had the answer for everything. But they were wrong then, and the men of the modern age are just as wrong now.

When Jesus confronted the nefarious ways and demands of the Pharisees after they tried to trap him, he showed them no mercy and spoke plainly. His words were sharp and to the point and left nothing to the imagination. He said in Matthew 23: 27-28: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Does that not describe many of the church leaders of today? They claim to teach the gospel but turn a blind eye to sin and teach that unrighteous conduct is acceptable to God because he loves everyone.

Paul told Timothy in I Timothy 1:5-7: Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. Paul did not discuss the issues of the false doctrines nor did he try to appease those teaching untruths. He made that very clear in verses 8 through 11.

In the second Timothy letter Paul wrote: 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  Does that read as if Paul wanted Timothy to discuss and appease those who wouldn’t adhere to the gospel of Christ?

Additionally, in the letter to Titus, Chapter 1:10-11 we find the following: 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: [Jews teaching false doctrine]11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Is that not occurring in this day and age with many of the false teachers of every stripe? The he told Titus: 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.  Then in chapter 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That is in reference to the qualities of church leaders and their wives. After instructing Titus on those matters, he wrote in verse 15: These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. No discussion and no appeasement on the truth of God and on what he and Jesus expect from believers as they walk in newness of life can be found.

Revelation 22:18-19 gives the instruction about he consequences of changing God’s word: 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  No discussion and no appeasement in regard to those who won’t follow the gospel as written is very apparent. For you who claim to believe in God and follow Christ, those words must be heeded for the sake of your salvation to gain the reward of eternal life.

© 08-26-2007 DEC

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