Think of how many different "churches" there are today. Do they all belong to Christ? Of which should one be a member or does it matter?
It surely must make a difference, for we read in Ps. 127:1,"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." Jesus said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matt. 15:13).
How is one to decide which is right? Out of the 2000 plus "churches" in the world, how can one know which is the true church of Christ? We read in Prov. 16:25,"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isa. 55:8). It is not what one thinks but what God said, for we read, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jere. 10:23).
What will be our guide? How would one decide anything without a standard? Without a standard, we could not judge right from wrong, distance, speed, height, or weight. We all understand this standard. Recently, a Daily Press article told of a city inspector "grabbing the whole batch of 960 patties and fined Wendy's $100 a burger, or $96,000." All because some of their quarter-pounders were 1/4 of an ounce light.
The Bible is the standard with reference to the Lord's church. But, when it comes to religion, many will say: "We don't understand the Bible alike." That is a contradictory statement. It is either understood alike or at least one doesn't understand it at all. Others will say: "It doesn't make any difference, just as long as one is honest and sincere in what he believes." (The Bible doesn't teach that principle.) But, such people don't use that same reasoning with other standards. What would the city inspector have said if Wendy's should have used that kind of reasoning. I believe we all know that answer.
God instructed Moses: "See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed thee in the mount" (Heb.8:5; Ex. 25:40).
We are instructed to, "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21); "...believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1); "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves..." (II Cor. 13:5).
By what standard are we to "prove, try and examine?" Should it be by some man made creed, discipline, etc.? Note what the noble Bereans used: "They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Christ stated: "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John. 12:48).
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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