THE LAW OF THE LORD LOST IN
THE HOUSE OF GOD
In talking with mankind about the salvation of his soul, often
the question is asked "What is wrong with Christianity today?" Is
there something wrong with Christianity? Does the man outside the
church see something that we do not see? Is Christianity failing? Is
the church failing in its responsibility? What does the world expect
from Christianity? Is the church fulfilling its mission?
Let us answer these questions by looking at Christianity as
the man on the outside sees it. What does he see in those professing
Christianity? First, the religious world has somewhat abused the
grand privilege of freedom of worship as the conscience directs. I
recently spoke on the subject, "Is conscience a safe guide in
religion?", pointing out that one must be conscienous, yet one can be
conscienceous in his religious beliefs, yet be wrong in serving God.
The conscience alone is not a sufficient guide in religion. There are
some 400-500 differing denominations reading the same Bible; praying
to the same God; through the same Christ; endeavoring to go to the
same heaven. Yet, out of this number, none of them agree in doctrine,
else there would be no reason for their existence, and the majority of
them do not fellowship each other. They read the same Bible but
present conflicting doctrines. All this is confusing to the
intelligent thinking mind. Those who do not bother to think things out
for themselves are satisfied. Many intelligent men have spent a
lifetime in studying the Bible, yet do not agree among themselves.
What a picture to the man of the world. It is of no wonder they
hesitate to enter the confusion and study for themselves. Many profess
infidelity while others turn to Atheist cults.
Is this division in Christianity the answer to the Lord's
prayer? Hear Him in the very shadow of the cross, "Neither pray I for
these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their
word; that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one is us: that the world may believe that
thou hast sent me" (John 17:20-21). Let me repeat, "that they also may
be ONE in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
Jesus says that unity amongst religious people would cause the
unbeliever to become a believer in Christ. Division amongst religious
people will cause people to remain unbelievers in Christ. Paul, led
by the Holy Spirit said, "Now I beseech you brethren by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and there be
no divisions among us" (1 Corinthians 1:10). One of the seven things
God hates is division as stated in Proverbs 6:19.
Is the Bible the cause of all this division? Did Jesus and the
Holy Spirit give us a book filled with these conflicting doctrines?
No, my friends, God's book is not at fault. It is given by divine
inspiration. It reveals the mind of God. The failure is on the part
of mankind. We are living in an age of specialists. The old country
doctor who treated everything is about gone. Preachers are now placed
in the specialist class. They are supposed to know the Bible and what
it teaches; in fact, it is my persuasion that too much confidence is
being placed in the preacher. The Bible is a book all can study.
Christians are admonished to study for themselves. Preacher are not
infallible and the theory is false that preachers are guided by the
Holy Spirit in some supernatural way to a better understanding of the
Bible than other church members. If the Holy Spirit was guiding them
they would all speak the same thing. The Holy Spirit does not say one
thing to one person and something different to another person. When
two people claim to be divinely guided by the direct operation of the
Holy Spirit, but speak different things, there is something grossly
wrong.
History seems to repeat itself. Paul said the Old Testament
was written for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). In the twenty-
second chapter of 2 Kings, we read the story of Josiah, the young king
of Judea. How in the eighteenth year of his reign he went about to
repair the temple--the place of worship. While the repairs were being
made Hilkiah the high priest came to Shaphan the scribe and said, "I
have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord" (2 Kings
22:8). Think of that, the law of the Lord lost in the house of God,
covered with debris and rubbish of the crumbling walls. Lost to the
people and the priest. If any institution should have kept the law of
God alive it should have been the house of the Lord. The youthful king
wept at the reading of the law because his people and their fathers
had neglected the Lord's commands. He called the people together and
had the law read to them and instituted a reform throughout the
nation.
A little over nineteen hundreds years ago our Lord built His
church. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles in the
establishment of His church and to lead them in writing a series of
letters and books so uninspired men might know how to behave
themselves in "the house of God, which is the church of the living
God" (1 Timothy 3:14-15). The New Testament, or these letters and
books, was so thorough that the man of God might be complete,
"furnished completely unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In
fact, being guided by the Holy Spirit, these early disciples were
given "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).
The Holy Spirit then warned these early congregations of the dangers
ahead and in less than five hundred years the letters and books given
to guide it were lost to the public. None but the religious leaders
had access to the revealed Word of God. Instead of the Bible as a
guide book, the Apostles Creed was substituted. The Apostles Creed was
not written by the apostles, neither endorsed by them, since it was
written many years after the deaths of the apostles. It was during
this time that many false doctrines and practices began to appear.
Mankind was totally dependent upon the religious leaders to tell them
what to believe and to practice. With the Bible no longer accessible
to the public, as might be expected, much speculation was done. Much
of the religious division that exists today had its beginning during
these dark days . Yes, the law of the Lord was lost in the house of
God. Covered with rubbish and debris from the crumbling walls of an
apostate church. The Bible was taken from the common people.
Great men, men of renown, such as Luther, Knox, Calvin, Wesley
and others, cleared much of the rubbish away. But the price was dear.
Man with faint hearts dared not enter into the battle. Many lost their
lives and at times rivers ran red with blood. It was not until the
nineteenth century that the New Testament worship with the Bible alone
as authority was restored.
What's wrong with Christianity today? Can it be that the law
of the Lord is lost in the house of God again? Why so many churches?
Why the division in Christianity? All of this is contrary to the
Lord's plan. He wanted all of us to be ONE that the world might
believe He was sent of God. Why are we not One? Why do we not all
speak the same thing? Why do we not all practice the same doctrine?
The law of the Lord is lost. Again, it is covered with the rubbish and
debris of the crumbling man-made ideas and schemes. All modern latter
day revelations belittle the word of God. All creeds, manuals,
disciplines and articles of faith need to be cleared away so the word
of God might have free course. The New Testament was sufficient in the
first century to guide the church and it is sufficient now. What we
need is to return to the New Testament. Let it be the final authority
in all matters pertaining to religion. Clear out the rubbish. The law
of the Lord is lost in what is supposed to be the house of God. Not
only must creeds and disciplines go, but all preconceived ideas,
opinions and the stubborn desire to have one's own way must be cleared
out with all false practices. God's law must stand. This will
require sacrifice. Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace
on earth; I came not to send peace but a sword. For I am come to set a
man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her
mother" (Matthew 10:35-35). Paul said, "For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to withstand in the evil day" (Ephesians 6:12-13).
Christians must be willing to turn from everything that is contrary to
God's Book. If that which we do is not founded upon a "thus saith the
scriptures," we must be willing to lay it aside and no longer practice
it. Can you, my friend, give book, chapter and verse for each and
everything that you practice in religion? Or, does it really matter
to you? Do you really care? Perhaps you say, "What difference does it
make?" If that is your disposition may I remind you of the words of
our Lord and Master in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto
me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy
name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity." Did you hear what our Lord stated?? Yes, it does make
a difference what one does. We MUST do the WILL OF THE FATHER WHO IS
IN HEAVEN. And how can we learn what His will is? Only through and by
a careful study of His Word. Hear the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:
11, "For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit
of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth,
save the Spirit of God." I do not have the liberty to guess what
Jehovah likes or approves of. The only way that I can know what He
approves of is for Him to tell me. And that is done through His Word,
the Bible. This is the intent and purpose of this radio program. To
challenge each one to open the Bible, the book of God; to study from
it, and to measure all that we do by comparing it to this marvelous
Book. If your practice is not found in the New Testament, do you have
the courage to lay it aside in the interest of Unity, as prayed by our
Lord?
When the law was found and read to Josiah, he wept because his
people were not keeping the commandments. Let us clear all the
excuses and alibis out of the way and read the word of the Lord and
weep. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness (Matthew 6:33). The great apostle Paul said, "I
beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12 :1). Are we seeking
God's kingdom first? Are we presenting our bodies a living sacrifice?
Lost souls are dying every day, many of them crying for the bread of
life. We need lay aside the things that divide us; unite on the
revealed word of God, and take a united brotherhood to a lost and
dying world.
Remember, a divided Christiandom breeds infidelity. When the
world sees religious differences and practices, it will be lead to
turn away from the Christ. But, a united body of believers will draw
people unto Christ.
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