[Biblemat] X-SPAM An Article, Do We Practice What We Profess?

[kenneth Thomas]

Do We Practice What We Profess?
By Kenneth E. Thomas
There is nothing that I presently believe, teach, or practice that I would
not immediately give up and repent for having believed, taught, or practiced
if I should learn that it is not in harmony with divine revelation as found
in the New Testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Conversely, there
is nothing that I presently do not believe, teach, or practice that I would
not embrace immediately if I should learn that it is a part of the will of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
If the bible teaches it, my brethren and I will accept it and put it into
practice, for we take seriously 1 Peter 4:11; John 12:48; Luke 6:46 and
related passages. Having the foregoing resolve, we likewise expect every one
whom we attempt to teach the will of Christ (if indeed they claim to believe
on Him as the divine Son of the living God, and that the New Testament is
indeed a revelation of His will) to give up every false belief and practice
when we identify the same to them, and to immediately embrace the truth of
Christ into their lives.
How do you like what I have written thus far? Are you in agreement with it?
More seriously than That, is it the attitude one must have toward the will
of Jesus Christ in order to stand acceptable before Him? I verily believe
what I have thus far written and stand by my beginning affirmation. What
really is quite disturbing to me is the fact that I have learned to my
chagrin that even though Many in the body of Christ will a-men the
affirmation: "We speak where the Bible speaks, and are
Silent where the Bible is silent," a paraphrase of 1 Peter 4:11 made by
Thomas Campbell many years ago; this "slogan" which became the battle cry
among those bent on a "restoration of New Testament Christianity" on this
continent in the 1800's, and even by many until this good day, isn’t as much
of a reality among us as it should be, consequently it has become a "hollow
slogan" with little true meaning or application to all too many among us.
The "digressives" and "change agents" among us long ago abandoned this
slogan because of an unholy and ungodly attitude toward religious authority.
In fact, I suggest that this slogan is gradually being dropped even among so
called "conservatives" and "non-institutional" brethren likewise, for the
same reason. After all, how can one claim this attitude as the hallmark of
one’s spiritual life and activities if one is prone to disregard some of the
clear teachings found in the scriptures which demand this of the faithful
disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ? I am well aware of the need to respect
the fact that folks begin as newborn babes in Christ (1 Peter 2:1-2;
Colossians 3:1-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17), and must be given some time for
maturity to come about. I also realize that we have the weak brethren with
whom we must contend carefully lest we discourage them before maturity is
accomplished. What we are concerned about are those who fall into the
category that the Hebrew writer wrote of, saying, "For though by this time
you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first
principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not
solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word
of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are
of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12-14)!
As simply and only Christians, members of the church of Christ, who have
accepted and obeyed Jesus as the Lord of our lives, we expect others to give
up just as we did when converted, all uninspired teachings and traditions of
uninspired men , and rightly so. What worries me is that it is Sometimes
apparent that some among us are unwilling to continue this attitude later in
our lives after conversion. My brethren, this ought not so to be! We should
be the "standard bearers" of the true religion of Christ and make any
necessary sacrifice to be just such.
SOME THINGS WE EXPECT CONVERTS TO GIVE UP
1. That babies are born in sin.(Eze. 18:20; Matthew 18:1-3; 19:14).
2. Their parents religion (Luke 14:25-35; Matthew 10:34-39).
3. Sprinkling and pouring for baptism. (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).
4. The celebration of so called "Holy Days" like Christmas and Easter (Col.
3:17; 2 John 9).
5. Their unscriptural religious names Baptist-Methodist-Lutheran, etc. (1
Cor. 1:10-12).
6. Their denomination (Psalm 127:1; Matthew 15:13).
7. The "once saved always saved" doctrine. (Gal. 5:4; 1 Cor. 10:12).
8. The idea of "church of your choice" (Eph. 3:8-11; Eph. 2:13-16; 4:1-6).
9. The "sinners prayer" for salvation (Jno. 9:31; 1 Pet. 3:12; Mk. 16:16).
10. The doctrine of "baptized because saved already" (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
11. Religious titles such as Father-Rev. etc. (Mat.23:8-11; 23:9; Psalm
111:10).
12. Multiple marriages without biblical right (Mat. 5:31-32; 19:9; Heb.
13:4).
13. All so called "alternate lifestyles" (Rom. 1:23-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal.
5:19-21).
14. Creed-Catechisms-Articles of Faith-Church Laws, etc. (Acts 2:22-23; Jn.
16:13).
15. The popular doctrine of "Salvation by Faith Alone" (Heb. 5:9; Mat.
7:21-23).
16. The "Direct Operation of The Holy Spirit" in claimed "conversion" (Eph.
6:17).
17. Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit for today ( 1 Cor. 13:8-13; Heb.
2:1-4; James 1:25
I haven’t listed everything by any means that could be listed in such a
grouping of false doctrines and practices, but this should serve to show
that many of us have given up much to become a Christian, and that we expect
those whom we convert to Christ to do the same as we did when we accepted
the Lordship of Jesus, His authority-His will as revealed in the New
Testament (Mat. 28:18-20; John 17:5; Eph. 1:22-23).
Alas, it has come to be that many times we hold fast to some of our own
ideas and practices which are just as contrary to the will of Christ as are
many of those found in denominationalism. Just because one is a member of
the church of Christ doesn’t give license to disregard His will. Actually
just the opposite is true. Notice what Paul wrote in the Roman letter, "...
and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to
those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes,
having a form of knowledge and truth...You, therefore who teach another, do
you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you
steal? You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You
who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do
you dishonor God through breaking the law?.." (Romans 2:19-23).
Some Christians refuse to fully embrace all of the truth of the religion of
Christ and all of its requirements for faithfulness. How can we expect the
Lord to be pleased with us if we simply exchange one set of doctrinal
positions and practices for another? Can we hope to please the Lord if we
refuse to embrace all that the religion of Christ demands of us? James
answers, No! (James 1:18-25; 2:14-26).
SOME THINGS SOME FAIL TO EMBRACE AS COMMANDED
SOME THINGS EMBRACED THAT ARE FORBIDDEN ALSO
1. Acting only where there is authority from Christ (Colossians 3:17).
2. Determine authority by 1. Command. 2. Approved Apostolic Example. 3.
Necessary inference. Generic or Specific authority.
3. Faithful Bible students-Hungering and Thirsting (Matthew 5:6; 2 Tim.
2:15).
4. Contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 3; 2 Timothy 4:1-8).
5. Unwilling to attempt to teach others (Acts 8:4; 2 Timothy 2:2; Heb.
5:12-14).
6. Attend local congregation regularly (Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 20:6-7).
7. The "one man one woman for life with one exception." doctrine (Matthew
5:31-32; 19:9).
8. Pull their part of the load in the local church (1 Thess. 5:11-21; Eph.
4:11-16).
9. Submit to the spiritual oversight of the elders (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5
etc.)
10. Worship heartily in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-25; 1 Cor. 14:15).
11. Use only pure speech, without corrupt communication (Ephesians 4:29).
12. Women will not submit to husbands as head of house (Eph. 5:22-33).
13. Refuse to dress modestly as commanded (1 Timothy 2:9-14).
14. Abstain from any of the "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16-21; 1 Cor.
6:9-10).
15. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
17. Fail to attend gospel meetings, weekly bible classes, etc. (1 Cor.
12:14-27).
18. Fail to pray diligently for government, the sick, the erring, etc. (Luke
18:1).
19. Visit the sick and assist others in need (Matthew 25:31-46; Gal. 6:10).
20. Attempt to restore the erring in meekness (Galatians 6:1-2; James
5:19-20).
I could extend this list many fold with things I know the scriptures teach
that Christians are supposed to believe, teach, and practice that are not
always readily embraced due to either ignorance, or a plain old
unwillingness to be so restrained or guided by what the will of the Lord
Jesus is for our lives. If you find yourself described in one or more of
these areas the kindest thing I can say to you is repent before it is too
late for your immortal soul!
To be in fellowship with the Godhead and with others who are, one must "walk
in the light" (1 John 1:6-7). To claim fellowship while walking in darkness
makes one a liar according to the inspired apostle John (v 6-7). One must 
abide in the doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9-10; Romans 16:16-18; Hebrews
5:8-9). Jesus plainly said, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who
does not gather with Me scatters abroad" (Matthew 12:30). As was asked by
Elijah of old, "How long will you halt between two opinions? If the Lord be
God follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). Or as Joshua
admonished the people of Israel, "Choose you this day whom you will serve..
as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
If you aren’t a faithful servant of Jesus Christ let me admonish you to do
whatever the will of God is in your case and keep in mind that "...today is
the day of salvation..".(2 Corinthians 6:2. "Now is the time (for Christ’s
return) nearer" than it ever was before (Romans 13:12). Now is the time that
Christ "commands all men everywhere to repent..." (Acts 17:30). The day of
reckoning is coming (Acts 17:31; Romans 14:12; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 2
Corinthians 5:10-12). Let us assist you in getting your life back in harmony
with the will of Christ.
Modified from An article on our home page
 
 
Kenneth E. Thomas
Pekin church of Christ
1451 Valle Vista Blvd.
Pekin, IL 61554
1 (309) 347-3582 - Office
1 (309) 347-5645 - Home
 
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