Posted on 12/24/2002 4:49:47 PM PST by RMrattlesnake
Dangers of False Doctrines
By Darren Morrison
1 Timothy 4:1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truths. Heresies leave people hopeless when they think they have hope. They are things that sound good and true but lead to destruction. The cults of the world will use some truth, like putting poison in honey. They will tell us that certain meats are a sin to eat or that all meats are sinful. They will forbid us to marry or tell us when and to whom we can marry and even what we can do in the marriage bed. Telling priests they cannot marry is found nowhere in the bible. If your church has a doctrine that is found nowhere in the bible, then how to you weigh it as truth. The bible is our counterweight on the scale of truth, because we must weigh everything with the bible. If the bible says it, it is truth. If it is not found in there then it is false or trivial. If it were important for us to know it would be found in the bible.
This is a time of theological confusion and compromise. A time when so many people have turned aside the truth to follow after things that fit their personal beliefs. How often do I meet a person involved in a false doctrine say that the religion they are involved with matched what they believed so they joined. Psalms 58:3. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Therefore if the bible is true, and it is, we must not follow after our own judgment.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. You see the bible warns us clearly about the false doctrines out there and we must be aware of them. Romans 16:17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. So the word of GOD also instructs us what we are to do here and that is to mark them and then avoid them.
Titus 1:13. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. So we are to rebuke them, this also includes the person sitting next to you in church that will tell you false doctrines or fables. Within the patriot movement there are many fables today. So I do not have to wary about old Jewish fables so much but there are many fables out there told by so-called people of our faith. I was told that Christians we going to have to run and hide when the government comes to give out small pox vaccines. This is a fable and the bible doesn’t tell me to run but to stay and feed the flocks or to stay and preach the gospel.
Ephesians 5:11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. That means we are not to allow the Jehovah witnesses into your house for tea. We can talk to them at our doorstep. But don’t let them into your house for discussion.
2 Thessalonians 3:6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. This may seem harsh in the standards of the world, but it is there so we don’t get caught up in their heresies or follow them into rebellion.
2 Timothy 3:5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. We are told in the word of GOD that we ought to turn away from those who turn toward false doctrines that deny the power of Jesus over sin and salvation.
2 John:10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. As I said do not let those who come with another doctrine into your house. Don’t bless them or offer then money. Tell them the truth, that which cometh from the word of GOD. Do not fellowship with them whatsoever. They are dangerous. 2 Thessalonians 3:14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Titus 3:10. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;. We need to reject them that are a heretick. Of coarse we should witness to them in love, but not befriend them to the point were they can influence us.
2 Corinthians 6:17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. We are to be separate from the world and we must remember to be separate from those who have a false doctrine.
From the time of the early church even when the apostles were still walking the earth there were false doctrines. To us many false doctrines are obvious, but some are less obvious. Some can come from the person who visits your church. Some can grow inside people in your church many even next to you. Some times those who come to your door have false doctrines sometimes you hear it on Christian radio stations as well. Sometimes rebellion toward the government is told as if it were part of Christian doctrine, which it is not. Beware fellow believers. False doctrines are so thick these days. There are even churches out there that ordain women as Deacons and Bishops when the bible teaches otherwise. There are longhaired hippy-like Christians who want to live according to their way instead of GOD’s way. There are those who marry homosexuals and even ordain them as preachers. There are churches that teach the most loony doctrines. If the bible says it, believe it and if it doesn’t don’t. Beware brothers and sisters.
Read your bible and pray every day. Attend a church where the bible is the only doctrine taught there, one where they teach out of no other books. I would recommend an unaffiliated independent fundamental Baptist church. Once you find a church that has the doctrine of the bible submit to it.
No reference to joyful noise in the NT.
What the NT does say about singing and song can be found in:
Eph.5 [19] addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart
Col.3 [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Now I'm not going to judge you in how you should make a joyful nose. I can tell you this. When I attended the "Church of Christ" and they sang a-capella, I was struck by the fact that I did not sense that they people who were making the "noise" were all that joyful about it. Now maybe it was just that church, or maybe it was a bad day for everyone there, but it clearly, in my mind, seemed like they were merely going through the motions and there was no emotion at all in their singing neither joyfil or sad, nothing. Just a noise.I think you will find plenty of people in every church who just go through the motions.
One problem I see with the inclusion of instruments is that it takes away from the worship rather than adding to it in that it becomes a form of entertainment and for some even the main focus of their reason for being at a worship service.
Now if you can show me anywhere in the Bible where it prohibits the use of musical instruments in worship, then maybe I'll consider that you have a valid point. As it stands right now, your prohibition of instruments is silly. You might as well prohibit pulpits for preaching, pews for sitting, and tone whistles for starting the songs. Those aren't mentioned in worship either.
My premise for the exclusion of instruments in worship is the same as I stated before. The OT is very explicit when it comes to the use of instruments in worship the NT is silent on the subject. Again, is this an oversight. I think not.
Until then it is clear that your attitude about things which are not mentioned in the Bible is similar to the Pharisee's reliance on tradition as superior to scripture.
I don't see where your reference to tradition applies. Can you find one example in the NT where instruments are used in worship?
The Bible commands us to make a joyful noise. In my opinion the level of volume should equal the level of joy and if an instrument can be used to make a noise unto the Lord, be it steel drums, trash cans, or electric guitars, then use it to the glory of God.
I didn't find where noise equates to instruments in the OT but the command to worship using instruments is explicitely present in the OT anyway.
Now if you want to make a joyful acapella noise unto the Lord, then Hallelujah! Make it. Just don''t go around questioning the committment of other Christians because they feel called to praise the Lord in other ways.
Did I question your committment? I was simply explaining my understanding of the scriptures concerning the use of instruments.
I've tried to answer ever question you have put forth. There were a few questions on my last post that you did not answer. Would you be so kind and address the questions I asked of you?
Colossians
Chapter 3
What is your authority for this surmised heresy?
1Tim.4 [1] Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, [2] through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, [3] who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
I think this verse address this question rather well.
So the verses you use to support your contention that musical instruments ought not to be used in worship, actually contradict your position. If God wanted the New Testament Church to worship ONLY with the voice, I think that God would not have suggested that we use the "psalms" as a guideline. He would have said that we should sing without instruments. God is capable of making himself clear on important subjects, is he not? I think he made himself perfectly clear in Psalm 150.
Got any other verses? Or do you feel comfortable arguing doctrine and dogma from silence?
BTW this, I believe, is how many chruches end up with false doctrines-- they argue doctrine and dogma from silence rather than relying on the clear guidance of scripture.
The Catholic Church does not forbid marriage. Chosing a life of celibacy is done voluntarily, and the Latin Rite Church selects for the priesthood those who have elected to be celibate.
Is the Old Testament still the Word of God? Should we rip it out of our Bibles?
He even speaks of physical training further on down. In physical training are not certain foods recommended and others witheld?
See below:
Matthew 19:10-12. His disciples said to Him, "If that is the case between man and wife, it is better not to marry." He said, "Not everyone can accept this teaching, only those to whom it is given to do so. Some men are incapable of sexual activity from birth;some have been deliberately made so; and some there are who have freely renounced sex for the sake of God's reign. Let him accept this teaching who can."
This one's good too:
1 Corinthians 7:27-35. Are you bound to a wife? Then do not seek your freedom. Are you free of a wife? If so, do not go in search of one. ............I should like you to be free of all worries. The unmarried man is busy with the Lord's affairs; concerned with what is pleasing to the Lord; but the married man is busy with this world's demands and occupied with pleasing his wife. This means he is divided. The virgin, indeed, any unmarried woman, is concerned with things of the Lord, in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit...............I am going into this with you for your own good. I have no desire to place restrictions on you, but I do want to promote what is good, what will help you to devote yourselves entirely to the Lord.
These words are truth.
The Bible is not a book of doctrine and wasn't written as such. Doctrine comes from the interpretation of Scripture. If the Bible is a book of doctrine, why are there so many Christian denominations? They all have the same book (or nearly so).
That is why Christ established a teaching Church - to help with the doctrine.
That would be the gnostics BTW. They eschewed sex (at least the Christian ones, not the pagan gnostics). They detested anything to do with the physical nature.
Do you follow all the Laws of Moses and the Prophets?
If not why not?
Now to answer your question.
First let me start by giving the definition of a psalm.
: a sacred song or poem used in worship
With that definition in mind your line of reasoning is that a sacred song or poem written about the use of instruments in worship changes the definition of psalm. Now the definition of psalm means a sacred song or poem or music made by the means of musical instruments.
Sorry. no sale.
, I believe, is how many chruches end up with false doctrines-- they argue doctrine and dogma from silence rather than relying on the clear guidance of scripture.
I would ask you to show me this clear guidence of scripture in the NT.
Yes, exactly. This teaching is based on 1 Cor 7:35.
Sure. How's this:
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Sounds to me like there are musical instruments being used in heaven for worship. Indeed the reference there is to a lute like instrument, which would probably how John would have described a guitar. At the least it is clear that there is musical accompaniment to the vocal praises that go forth at the throne of God.
Must he give up the priesthood?
Is there scripture to support the notion of a priest being celebate?
Where can I find the qualifications and duties of a priest?
What about the abstinence from foods part?
What does the church teach regarding lent and good friday and such?
Does the church teach that it is a sin to eat certain foods on certain days?
It is the word of God and it should not be torn out of our bibles.
But if we can find salvation in the OT then Christ died for not.
What does Jesus say regarding the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?
What does Jesus say about the laws of Moses and the Prophets?
What does Jesus say about works?
What in the most simplest terms does Jesus say about true worship?
Or would the book of Acts be a better place to look for patterns of how we are to worship?
The New Testament was not even written until several decades after Jesus' death and resurrection. The whole of the Old Testament points to Christ. Salvation is the theme of the Old Testament. Christ is the theme of the old Testament. The Church existed for decades with nothing for scripture except the Old Testament.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.