UNSOUND TEACHING REBUKED
By John D. Bekemeuyer, Pastor
Scripture Reading: I Timothy 1:3
Our text for today makes it quite clear why Timothy was left in Ephesus: "That thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine." There was in Ephesus, as there will be in any Christ-honoring church, efforts to promote false doctrine; to entice believers away from the truth. With such there is to be no tolerance, but rather bold, outright confrontation. Timothy was not to reason with the false teachers, nor was he to seek to establish a "dialogue." He was to charge them, that is, he was to give an authoritative commandment that the promotion of false doctrine must stop.
Many complain that such an approach to the ministry is narrow-minded, and to that charge, faithful ministers of the Gospel must plead guilty. There is only "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5). If it is narrow-minded to believe that God has spoken; if it is narrow-minded to believe that God has given a distinctive message for the Dispensation of Grace; if it is narrow-minded to emphasize that we are expected to know what that message is; then let us all be narrow-minded.
The reason many are unsettled regarding doctrine, is that they do not understand where, in the Bible, doctrine is to be found. Efforts to amalgamate the Kingdom to the Body and Law to Grace are futile. Out of desperation, many determine that there are no absolutes---anything goes.
When such an attitude is prevalent, the ministers of Satan thrive. Paul warned the Corinthians of those who "corrupt"; the Galatians of those who "bewitch"; and the Colossians of those who "spoil." Let us also heed these warnings.
Our text for today makes it quite clear why Timothy was left in Ephesus: "That thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine." There was in Ephesus, as there will be in any Christ-honoring church, efforts to promote false doctrine; to entice believers away from the truth. With such there is to be no tolerance, but rather bold, outright confrontation. Timothy was not to reason with the false teachers, nor was he to seek to establish a "dialogue." He was to charge them, that is, he was to give an authoritative commandment that the promotion of false doctrine must stop.
Many complain that such an approach to the ministry is narrow-minded, and to that charge, faithful ministers of the Gospel must plead guilty. There is only "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5). If it is narrow-minded to believe that God has spoken; if it is narrow-minded to believe that God has given a distinctive message for the Dispensation of Grace; if it is narrow-minded to emphasize that we are expected to know what that message is; then let us all be narrow-minded.
The reason many are unsettled regarding doctrine, is that they do not understand where, in the Bible, doctrine is to be found. Efforts to amalgamate the Kingdom to the Body and Law to Grace are futile. Out of desperation, many determine that there are no absolutes---anything goes.
When such an attitude is prevalent, the ministers of Satan thrive. Paul warned the Corinthians of those who "corrupt"; the Galatians of those who "bewitch"; and the Colossians of those who "spoil." Let us also heed these warnings.
"Why So Many Different
Belief Systems?"
Les Feldick
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