One reason
given by Luke for his writing Theophilus was that he might “know the
certainty of the things” that he had been taught
(Lk. 1: 3-4).
Safety is another word given in lexicons for certainty.
There are
some realms in which one may be taught that which is not certain and it
not materially affect him, but there are others in which certainty is a
matter of utmost importance. It is not enough for one just to think that
he is right; he needs to be certain. I worked for a short time for a
business that installed plate glass windows. One of the things about the
man in charge of installation that impressed me was his carefulness for
certainty. I’ve often held the measuring tape while he measured the
window, then measured and marked the glass with a chalk line, and then
back we would go and recheck the measurements of the window before he
would mark the glass with the cutting instrument. Knowing the certainty
of the measurements was essential to a properly fitted window and
insurance against ruining a valuable piece of glass.
Many in
religion are not overly concerned about the certainty of the things
which they are being taught. I once asked a man who was attending
services where I was preaching, and who was not a member of the church,
if his convictions were different from what he had heard me preach, and
if they were, for the opportunity to discuss them with him. His reply
was that he did differ with me on some things but that he was afraid to
discuss them for fear that I’d show him that he was wrong. There are
many like this, but not as honest as this man in admitting it. They have
been taught that just so long as one is honest and sincere, what he
believes and practices in religion is not important. This is not so.
We should
be concerned about the certainty of the things that we are being taught
in religion. The Bible warns against our being spoiled through
philosophy and vain deceit
(Col. 2:8),
our minds being corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ
(2 Cor. 11:3)
and our being deceived by false teachers
(Matt. 7:15).
Have you
been taught that one church is as good as another, that salvation is by
faith only, that a child of God cannot fall from grace or that one does
not have to be baptized in order to be saved? Did you measure these
things by what the Bible teaches to determine the certainty of them or
were you content to accept them as true just because you heard some
preacher say that they are taught in the Bible?
Our soul is
our most precious possession and for that reason we need to be concerned
about the certainty of the things that we believe. –
Truth Magazine, Feb. 4, 1971.
Other
Articles by Doy Moyer
As Long As It Doesn't Harm
Anyone
Pathetic Dust or a Living Hope
You May be Surprised to Learn
Moralizing Over the Gospel
Alcohol and Wisdom
Brotherly Love
The Logic of Authority
Was Jesus Literally
Forsaken?
Baptism and the Blood
The Problem With Creeds
For Past Auburn Beacons go to:
www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm
|
Anyone can join the mailing list for the Auburn Beacon! Send
your request to:
larryrouse@aubeacon.com |