During the 400 years between
the Old & New Testaments, the Jews became divided into various sects. Two
of these sects that we often read of in the gospels are the Pharisees & the
Sadducees. Jesus warned against their teaching (leaven) because of a most
crucial reason. It would cause all who believed in it to be lost. In Matthew
23:15, Jesus not only called the Pharisees ‘children of hell’,
but He said that those who believed and practiced their teachings would become
twice as much a ‘child of hell’ as themselves. Jesus also said in Matthew
16:6, 11-12, to watch & BEWARE OF THEIR TEACHINGS. In Matthew
15, Jesus said that these ‘traditions’:
— transgressed the commandment
of God (v. 3).
— were contrary to the Law of
Moses (vv. 4-5).
— made void the word of God. (v.
6),
— caused worship to be in vain
(v. 9).
The scribes and Pharisees
sought to bind this tradition of the elders upon the multitudes. When Jesus’
disciples were observed not keeping these traditions, the Pharisees and scribes
objected (v. 2). Mark 7:3-4 lists some of
these ‘traditions’ referred to herein. These oral traditions were not from
Moses but regarded as equal in authority with the written word. Moses had
commanded, “You shall not add to the word which I am
commanding you, nor take away from it…” (Deuteronomy
4:2).
WHAT IF SUCH WERE DONE TODAY? Would
the results not be the same? There are several SUPPOSED, inspired doctrines
that are only “commandments of men” yet are regarded as equal in authority with
the Bible by those who teach and practice them. Today, one cannot become a
member of any existing denominational church without submitting to that
denomination’s ‘statements of faith’. You will not be accepted into their
‘fellowship’ without submitting to their commandments, whether by ‘vote’,
‘letter’, or by ‘baptism’ as their statement of faith declares.
Protestant denominations were
founded on just such writings. These ‘statements of faith’ or ‘creeds’ are NOT
the inspired word of God, YET THEY ARE THE CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO THEIR
FELLOWSHIP. They are held up as authoritative as the Bible.
The problem with creeds is
seen from the fact that THEY CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER. For example, the Methodist
Discipline, p. 410, reads: “let every adult person, and the
parents of every child to be baptized, HAVE THE CHOICE OF SPRINKLING, POURING,
OR IMMERSION.” On the other hand, the Hiscox Manual for the
Baptist denomination says on p. 20, Note 8: “BAPTISM
IS AN IMMERSION…”.
These statements are clearly
contradictory. ARE BOTH DOCTRINES TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE?
These creeds clearly define the differences of belief between each
denomination. They are also undisputable evidence of division. At best, they
can only serve to proselyte an individual much as did the scribes and Pharisees
of Matthew 23 by their teaching of the traditions
of the elders.
Creeds promote a ‘unity in
diversity’. The gospel alone provides a standard by which there can be unity
and “one-ness” in the sense that Jesus meant in His prayer (cf. John
17:20-21). Are we to understand the unity between Jesus and His
Father as “agreeing to disagree”?
How can all creeds be
supported by the Bible, yet contradictory? We must remember; it is possible to:
— “corrupt the word of God” (2
Corinthians 2:17)
— “pervert the gospel of
Christ” (Galatians 1:6-9;)
— “wrest the scriptures” (2
Peter 3:16) and,
— “handle the word of God
deceitfully” (2 Corinthians 4:2).
How so? By teaching doctrines
and commandments of men. All doctrines taught today must conform to what was
revealed by the Holy Spirit to those chosen "men of God" (cf.
2 Peter 1:20-21).
Since the Holy Spirit guided
the apostles into all truth, we ought to heed HOW THEY TAUGHT SALVATION. If we
teach as they taught, we will not only be correct, but we will also be ‘one’ in
the sense that Jesus meant in John 17:20-21.
Many people who are friends,
sadly, are divided in their religious beliefs. They can be with one another in
many walks of life; they can be involved in many functions, work together, and
agree on many things, yet they do not worship God together! I emphasize that
they “DO NOT”, rather that they “CANNOT”. The reason for saying “DO NOT”, is
because they COULD if their teachings were the same.
The Methodist and Baptist creed wordings on baptism bear this out. The
Bible does not teach both, nor does it contradict itself. It takes courage to
question and investigate one’s personal convictions to see if he was taught
inspired doctrine, or a tradition of man. But, if one is sincere in his desire
for truth, he will do so. The exhortation of Paul in 2
Corinthians 13:5 to “examine yourselves,
whether ye are in the faith”, appeals to such a person. The apostle
Peter gave a similar exhortation in 2 Peter 1:10-11.
What about you? Do you have
such a desire? Your soul’s salvation is God’s desire. However, your soul’s
damnation is Satan’s desire. Choose wisely, that you may be "approved
unto God" (2 Timothy 2:15).
