Tag Archives: false doctrine

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Strengthening God’s Church

Leave a comment

Charles Stanley

The church is in danger of growing weaker every day. False doctrine, apathy, and a lack of discipline work together to diminish the local congregation’s influence in the community and the world. But the apsotle Paul reveals three simple ways to strengthen the church.

  1. Be alert to false doctrine. There is no more effective church-killer than wrong spiritual beliefs. We are living in a culture of immorality and iniquity, and some philosophies mix a bit of truth with falsehood. Believers not firmly planted in God’s Word are susceptible to those lies. Standing firm requires that pure Scripture must be preached from the pulpit and studied by individual church members.
  2. Appreciate God’s servants. Too often church members criticize their leaders more than encourage them. Certainly ministers and others in authority can make mistakes or fall into sin—they are human. But these Christians have devoted themselves to ensuring that people hear and understand Scripture.

    The congregation is responsible to show support and love; those who know the Lord most deeply will appreciate the pastor. God will not reveal Himself to those who can’t be bothered with caring for His chosen servant.

  3. Accept one another. Since we are a fellowship of believers, we are to develop a spirit of oneness. Everyone is loved by God and shouls be welcomed. This truth is based not on performance, but on the fact that each believer is the Lord’s child with a unique role in this life.

The church’s great potential lies in its members. Begin today to practice these strength-building exercises.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Strengthening God’s Church

1 Comment

Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

We all want the church to be strong, but false doctrine, apathy, and a lack of discipline work together to diminish the local congregation’s influence in the community and beyond. Paul reveals three ways to strengthen the church.

• Be alert to false doctrine. Nothing will water down a church’s effectiveness more than wrong spiritual beliefs. The world largely approves of immorality and iniquity, and we are bombarded by philosophies that mix truth with a bit of falsehood. Unless firmly planted in God’s Word, believers are susceptible to those lies. Standing firm requires that undiluted Scripture be preached from the pulpit and studied by the flock.

• Appreciate God’s servants. Too often church members criticize their leaders more than encourage them. Pastors and others in authority can certainly make mistakes or fall into sin—they’re human. But they have devoted themselves to helping people hear and understand the Word. The congregation is responsible to show support and love. Those who know God most deeply will appreciate His chosen servant. Likewise, caring for the pastor opens a believer to experience the Lord more and thereby know Him better.

• Accept one another. As a fellowship of believers, we’re to develop a spirit of acceptance and oneness. This principle has nothing to do with performance; rather, it’s based on the fact that God has given each of His children a unique role.

Every local body has great potential because of the believers and gifts God has put together. What step can you take now to start strengthening your church?

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Strengthening God’s Church

1 Comment

Charles Stanley

The church is in danger of growing weaker every day. False doctrine, apathy, and a lack of discipline work together to diminish the local congregation’s influence in the community and the world. But the apsotle Paul reveals three simple ways to strengthen the church.

1.Be alert to false doctrine. There is no more effective church-killer than wrong spiritual beliefs. We are living in a culture of immorality and iniquity, and some philosophies mix a bit of truth with falsehood. Believers not firmly planted in God’s Word are susceptible to those lies. Standing firm requires that pure Scripture must be preached from the pulpit and studied by individual church members.

2.Appreciate God’s servants. Too often church members criticize their leaders more than encourage them. Certainly ministers and others in authority can make mistakes or fall into sin—they are human. But these Christians have devoted themselves to ensuring that people hear and understand Scripture.

The congregation is responsible to show support and love; those who know the Lord most deeply will appreciate the pastor. God will not reveal Himself to those who can’t be bothered with caring for His chosen servant.

3.Accept one another. Since we are a fellowship of believers, we are to develop a spirit of oneness. Everyone is loved by God and shouls be welcomed. This truth is based not on performance, but on the fact that each believer is the Lord’s child with a unique role in this life.

The church’s great potential lies in its members. Begin today to practice these strength-building exercises

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Maintaining Doctrinal Purity

1 Comment

John MacArthur

“[Love] rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6).

Paul has just given us a list of things that love does not do: become jealous, brag, act arrogantly or unbecomingly, seek its own, become provoked, keep track of wrongs suffered, or rejoice in unrighteousness. Now he comes to the first of five things love does: “[Love] rejoices with the truth” (v. 6).

The contrast in verse 6 is between love’s inability to rejoice in unrighteousness and its joy when truth prevails. “Truth” refers to God’s Word, which is the standard of righteousness. Paul could have said, “Love doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with righteousness,” but he went beyond the mere deeds of righteousness and addressed its standard and motive.

Love won’t tolerate false doctrine or sinful behavior, but it rejoices when God’s Word is taught and obeyed. The psalmist said, “O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies. . . . I have more insight than all my teachers . . . . I understand more than the aged. . . . I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy word. I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances, for Thou Thyself hast taught me. How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Ps. 119:97-104). That’s the testimony of one who rejoices in the truth.

Often Christians are willing to compromise sound doctrine for the sake of loving others. They believe that doctrinal precision is somehow divisive and unloving. But Scripture says, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. . . . For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (2 John 6-8).

Biblical love always operates within the parameters of God’s Word and spiritual discernment (Phil. 1:9-10). The most loving thing you can do is live according to biblical truth. Doctrinal compromise simply diminishes the quality of love and plays into the hands of the evil one.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Ask God for wisdom and discernment to keep your love within its proper biblical bounds.

For Further Study:

Memorize Philippians 1:9-11.