December 15, 2003 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

The following was first published in O Timothy magazine, volume 3, issue 4, 1986:

“Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord...” (2 Kings 10:10).

Some men who claim to believe God’s Word do not. They act contrary to that Word, ignore that Word in their lives and ministries, break that Word, disobey that Word--and yet, strangely, still think that everything will turn out alright in the end; think that God will be pleased with them; think that their service will be found accepted before Christ. Let me give several frightfully common illustrations of how this is being done by those in leadership positions.

1. NOT BELIEVING THE TRUTH ABOUT LEAVEN.

“... Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Corinthians 5:6).

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9).

These two passages from the Apostle Paul’s epistles, written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, teach that leaven -- any form of evil or error -- will ruin an entire life or church or nation if it is joined together with the good and allowed to grow. In 1 Corinthians 5 the leaven is the leaven of sin. In Galatians it is the leaven of false teaching. In both cases, the only thing which will stop the whole from being leavened is to cut out the leaven. In 1 Corinthians 5 the church was commanded to put away the sinning church member. In Galatians the churches were told to put away those who were teaching the false doctrine. Why? Because “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

Does this happen once in a while in certain cases? Does this happen sometimes and not other times? No exceptions are given. God’s Word simply warns that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Consider the following quote:

“... a radio broadcast entitled ‘TRAINING TOGETHER--THE ECUMENICAL FRONTLINE MOVEMENT’ in which the Sydney College of Divinity was featured. ... Take more than eighty theological colleges in this country, put some of their libraries and best lecturers together and what you have is what for many is a much more efficient and healthy form of theological education. BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT YOUR FUTURE PRIEST OR PASTOR MAY BE IN TRAINING WITH THOSE WHOSE DENOMINATIONAL ALLEGIANCE IS NOT THE SAME AS YOURS. THAT WORRIES SOME--BUT SHOULD IT? That we hope to explore with the help of leaders in THIS NEW WAVE OF UNITED THEOLOGICAL TRAINING IN AUSTRALIA, its graduates, and its under graduates” (“Is the Sydney College of Divinity an Ecumenical College?” Ecumenism: A Serious Cause for Dissenting, J.O. Hogg, 1986, p. 13).

Think about this statement. It was made by a key Christian leader in Australia regarding whether or not spiritual harm will come from the joining together of every sort of denomination regardless of its doctrinal position. It describes an ecumenical union of more than 80 theological colleges in Australia. Those familiar at all with the condition of theological institutions in Australia understand that the majority of them are modernistic to the core, meaning the professors deny the miracles of the Bible, the divinity of Christ, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection and such things. Also included in this figure of “more than 80” are Roman Catholic institutions and priests, with their myriad of unscriptural heresies such as the supremacy of the pope as the supposed vicar of Christ, the mass as a re-sacrifice of Christ, the Roman priest blasphemously ordained after the order of Melchisedec, and Mary as the perpetual virgin, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. And this is not to mention the many “lesser” heresies taught at these seminaries, such as baptismal regeneration, infant baptism, sacramentalism, social gospel, amillennialism, annihilation, spirit slaying, gibberish tongues, etc. etc. There is no question that this endeavor involves lots of leaven.

Those involved concluded that they would “explore” the question as to whether it should worry churches if their preachers are training with “those whose denominational allegiance is not the same as yours.” It was acknowledged that some were worried about the matter, but they were advised just to wait and see what happens.

But what does the Bible say? It tells us exactly what will come of this ecumenical mess. One doesn’t have to be a prophet, nor do we have to wait and see what might happen in the long run. God has already told us. If a little leaven leavens the whole lump, what might we expect when something at its very inception consists of mostly leaven!

Those involves with this endeavor have a problem, and it is a very, very serious one. They don’t believe God and His Word.

“Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord...” (2 Ki. 10:10).

Here is another example:

2. NOT BELIEVING THE TRUTH THAT FELLOWSHIPPING WITH ERROR IS DANGEROUS.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches DECEIVE THE HEARTS OF THE SIMPLE” (Romans 16:17,18).

“But shun profane and vain babblings: FOR THEY WILL INCREASE UNTO MORE UNGODLINESS. AND THEIR WORD WILL EAT AS DOTH A CANKER: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some” (2 Timothy 2:16,17).

A wise Christian will lift his voice in warning against fellowshipping with those who teaching false doctrine, those who practice unscriptural things, but the majority scoff at such a thing. “Are we so insecure in our doctrinal position?” they argue. “Isn’t unity the important thing?” And they enter into situations into which God has commanded that the Christian not enter. This is not a testing of faith, but a testing of God -- something strongly forbidden in Scripture! “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents” (1 Corinthians 10:9).

Has God promised to protect the Christian who willfully disobeys His Word and enters into situations whereby his spiritual, doctrinal and moral life is endangered? Of course not. What is the problem with these Christians?

They don’t believe God’s Word.

3. NOT BELIEVING THE TRUTH THAT FALSE TEACHERS ARE DECEITFUL, SUBTLE, CRAFTY, JUST AS IS THEIR FATHER THE DEVIL.

“And that because of false brethren UNAWARES BROUGHT IN, WHO CAME IN PRIVILY TO SPY OUT our liberty...” (Galatians 2:4).

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, BY THE SLEIGHT OF MEN, AND CUNNING CRAFTINESS, WHEREBY THEY LIE IN WAIT TO DECEIVE” (Ephesians 4:14).

“For of this sort are they WHICH CREEP INTO HOUSES...” (2 Timothy 3:6)

“But evil men and SEDUCERS shall wax worse and worse, DECEIVING, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and DECEIVERS...” (Titus 1:10).

“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you...” (2 Peter 2:2).

“... sporting themselves with their own deceivings... beguiling...” (2 Peter 2:13,14).

“For many deceivers are entered into the world...” (2 John 7).

“For there are certain men CREPT IN UNAWARES...” (Jude 4).

Can’t we hear the objections even now! Can’t you hear the same old ecumenical chorus protesting against these truths. “But we mustn’t be so doubting, so untrusting. Why can’t we give all of the brethren the benefit of the doubt? They claim to be brethren in Christ, don’t they? They carry Bibles like we do, don’t they? They pray, sing hymns, speak good words and fair speeches; why, they even speak in tongues, and you should hear them praise the Lord with uplifted hands! Let us not doubt our brethren.”

Away with such arguments. God has warned us that there are false brethren who look like true Christians, talk like true Christians, yet they are seducers, deceivers, and they are extremely crafty at hiding their true identity.

The average Christian leader today has been so blinded by the philosophy of new-evangelicalism and ecumenism that he cannot distinguish a sheep from a wolf, and doesn’t even think it proper to attempt to do so!

Their problem? They don’t believe God’s Word.

4. NOT BELIEVING THE TRUTH THAT THE DETAILS OF THE BIBLE ARE IMPORTANT.

“That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:14).

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:128).

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

“Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you” (1 Corinthians 11:2).

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou has heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).

Many agree that there are some important doctrines in the Bible. These are called by various names, such as cardinal doctrines, key doctrines, major doctrines, the fundamentals of the faith, etc.

But it is common to argue that apart from these cardinal doctrines, whether they be five in number or twenty, there must be freedom for “unity in diversity.”

This is not the teaching of the Bible. Regarding those things not clearly taught in Scripture, yes, by all means, let each man be fully persuaded in his own mind and in such things we are exhorted to receive one another without doubting or disputation (Romans 14). These are matters such as whether or not to eat meat or to honor certain holy days, matters about which the Spirit of God has given no revelation. But when it comes to anything clearly taught in Scripture, we have no freedom to ignore or slight them.

Consider the things about the church -- how it is governed, its purpose, the role of the man and the woman in its ministry, its ordinances and finances. Regarding these things clear instruction is given in the Word of God. In fact, the government and functioning of the assembly was Paul’s purpose in writing his first epistle to Timothy (as well as of most of the other epistles). Did Paul end that epistle by telling the young preacher that the things he had just been written were relatively insignificant, things over which he should not cause division or contention, things he should give freedom for others to accept or not accept as they pleased because they did not fall into the category of the cardinal truths of the faith? Of course not. The conclusion was “That thou keep this commandment WITHOUT SPOT, unrebukeable...” (1 Tim. 6:14). And how long are the things taught in the New Testament regarding the local assembly to be kept? Until the end of the first century? No, “until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is true that some teachings of Scripture are more important than others in that they have more eternal consequence. John 3:16 is more important than 1 Corinthians 11:14, in that one teaches men how to be saved while the other deals with something of lesser significance. But that does not mean that 1 Corinthians 11:14 is of NO or even of LITTLE significance and that it can be slighted or ignored by God’s people.

What is the problem, then, with those who are dividing the doctrines of the Scripture into essential and non-essential? They don’t believe the Word of God.

We could continue, but it is sadly and frightfully certain that we have already shown the root problem behind the major Christian movements of our day -- the ecumenical movement, the charismatic movement, the new-evangelical movement, the church growth movement, the Christian rock movement. Those involved don’t believe the Word of God.

Friends in Christ, beware of this spirit of unbelief. Don’t look at such passages of Scripture as those quoted above and then go away and forget what manner of things God requires. Don’t follow the popular leaders of our day, for they are leading in the wrong direction. They don’t believe the Word of God.

Do you?

“Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord...” (2 Kings 10:10).