The Danger of Agreeing to Disagree

Today’s post on “Spreading God’s Word” is courtesy of Ken Matto and addresses something we’ve all heard at different times.  If two Christians are discussing a point of Scripture and one of them doesn’t have the answer to a question, then they’ll typically say something like, “Let’s agree to disagree.”

I’ve heard this often (and recently) and I’m sure you have too. Whenever biblical truths are being discussed and the parties can’t come to the same conclusion other than to say “Let’s agree to disagree”, then biblical truth suffers.  When it comes to spiritual matters, having a philosophy of Agreeing to Disagree (ATD) is quite dangerous.

There’s an old adage that goes something like this: put three Christians in a room and you’ll get four differing opinions.”  There will be disagreements on topics such as:

Free Will vs. Election

Fellowships vs. Churches

Tongues vs. No Tongues

Annihilation vs. Eternal Damnation

Women Preachers vs. No Women Preachers

Date Setting vs. No Date Setting

Age of Accountability vs. No Age of Accountability

Many other doctrines divide Christianity and increasingly whenever they’re discussed, the latest fad is to ATD. A fair question to ask is WHY?  Why does this happen? 

Frequently discussions are ended due to the unbiblical “love gospels” that have become entrenched in many churches. If someone who is teaching a false doctrine is challenged, then the person bringing the challenge is usually criticized for not having a spirit of love. 

But is it really loving to allow someone to relax in a false teaching or gospel?  1 Corinthians 13:6 states: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.  Love rejoices in truth not in falsehood. Therefore, it is entirely “loving” to try to bring someone out of a false teaching by showing them biblical truth. 

Many Christians don’t like the Bible because they don’t like what God has to say in it.  So instead they go to bookstores and buy some book from a theologian they admire and then interpret the Bible according to them.

Here’s another biblical definition of love from 2 John 1:6: And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Not only does love rejoice in the truth, but love also means living our Christian lives in accordance with the commands of God. This can’t happen if someone is walking in a false teaching that is diametrically opposed to a teaching in God’s Word.

Let’s now examine some of the dangers of the ATD philosophy:

1. Truth Remains Buried

Prov 25:2 – It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

When someone blurts out “Let’s just ATD” it really means they’re no longer interested in seeing if they’re incorrect on a given subject. They’ll continue to believe what they want to believe. They’ll reject any truth they’ve been given in order to remain steadfast in their present belief. Spiritual growth is hindered by this type of settlement philosophy.

 

2. No Challenge to Search The Scriptures

Acts 17:11 — These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

When someone becomes settled in their beliefs, they’ll no longer search the Scriptures. The word “search” in the above verse carries with it the meaning ”to investigate, inquire or examine.”

Let’s assume someone believes in a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ.  Then he comes into contact with a study that gives substantial biblical evidence pointing to the fact that the 1,000 year reign of Christ is figurative and represents the entire New Testament period from the Cross to the Last Day. Since he already has his belief system rooted and refuses to search the Scriptures diligently, he continues to believe an erroneous doctrine which then spawns other erroneous beliefs.

 

3. The Person Remains in a False Gospel

2 Cor 3:14 — But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ. 

The person who refuses to research their false belief will remain in the false teaching — and go deeper and deeper into it. Those believing in tongues will also be led to believe in further signs and wonders.  If only they would have studied the Bible more and researched these beliefs!  When they’re confronted with Scripture passages contradicting these beliefs, then they don’t want to hear it and they give their ”We’ll just have to ATD” response. Sadly, their minds continue to be blinded with false teaching.

 

Summary

When someone comes at us with an ATD, they’re basically saying, “I’ll believe what I want to believe, and you believe what you want to believe.” When someone uses an ATD, they’re being spiritually smug in thinking they’ve stopped an argument or debate. However, what’s really happened is that they’re truncating their spiritual growth and development by choosing to remain where it’s the most comfortable and palatable.

To God Be The Glory!

 

PS:  For the record, we understand the totality of Scripture to support the following doctrines: Election; Churches; No Tongues; Eternal Damnation; No Women Pastors; No Date Setting; No Age of Accountability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The admonition to every true Christian is found in 2 Peter 3:18: But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

 

If you’re someone who is frequently given to adopting an ATD philosophy, I pray that you’ll come to understand that you’re really hurting yourself spiritually.  How can anyone expect to grow if they’ve set the standard of belief rather than letting God set it? The answer is they won’t!

 

 

 

We must remember that the true gospel of the Bible is an offense…even to Christians since it zings us also.  If I were to try to define ATD, it would probably be “the avoidance of truth.” How many times have you heard, “Don’t rock the boat!”  Well, the true gospel not only rocks the boat, but it overturns ships. 

 

 

 

Identifying Religious Cults

Who Is Telling The Truth?

INTRODUCTIONFirst, let us identify what we mean by a cult: a counterfeit Christian organization that is not preaching the truth about how to get to heaven. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8 ) So then, in order to identify a cult, we need to show that they are preaching a false gospel, a false message of salvation. To identify a false gospel, we must first know what the true Gospel is. According to the Holy Bible, the true Gospel is the message that only the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ (plus NOTHING) can cleanse us of our sins and save us from eternal separation from God in Hell. Because the Bible says that “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Any religious institution that adds ANY other criteria for salvation to this message is preaching another gospel! Christ’s work is now complete. We sinners have nothing to offer God that will in any way contribute to our salvation. Many other Bible verses back up these statements such as Titus 3:5, Romans 5:8, and Isaiah 64:6. THE KEY TO DETECTING COUNTERFEITS God has given true believers His Spirit and His Word, the Holy Bible, to guide the true Church and protect the true Church from heresy and apostasy. If we, like the Bereans mentioned in Acts 17:11, study the scriptures CAREFULLY, we will find out how to distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit. As with money, a good counterfeit is not easy to spot. You must be looking for it to find it. Likewise, a false church preaching a false gospel will not always appear false on the surface. We may have to ask probing questions and dig deep to find out how a false church’s doctrine conflicts with the true Gospel. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) True Bible-based Christianity is truly unique and its message of salvation is of immeasurable value and like many genuine things of great value, there are many who wish to counterfeit it. At the same time, there are many who don’t like the plan of salvation that God provided so they have invented a kind of salvation more to their liking with lots of bells and whistles to disguise the fact that they are hopelessly lost sinners without Christ. Likewise, there are many who believe and preach that mankind can somehow save himself or at least contribute to his own salvation. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 ) True Christianity is not just another legitimate religion in the vast smorgasbord of world religions. It is positively ONE OF A KIND. It is the only religion where God truly revealed Himself (in person) to mankind and where God Himself became man’s Savior. This is dramatically different from all the man-made world religions which are just man’s attempt to define God and to specify man’s own idea of salvation. God already made the rules. He has already outlined the plan of salvation. He already earned salvation for those He intends to save since He knew we were incapable of meriting it. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9) Any religious organization whose teachings are not in agreement with the true Gospel mentioned above, is a false religious system in the eyes of God and people who follow these false religions, trusting in them and their unbiblical teachings for salvation, are headed for hell. HOW NARROW IS THE ROAD TO HEAVEN? “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) Fundamental biblical truths are those characteristics of Bible-based Christianity that make it unique from all other religious systems. They are the doctrines of the Christian faith that support Christ’s claims that there is only one narrow road to heaven, faith in the substitutionary death (and resurrection) of Christ alone as the sole means of a person’s salvation. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Considering that the Bible says we must worship God in spirit and in truth, it is important for people to know what the truth is, especially with regards to God’s precious gift of eternal life and with regards to the simple plan of salvation described in the Bible. Unless a Christian really understands how God saved them, they will not know who to pray for (with regards to salvation) or who to share the gospel with. A Christian’s job is to share the true Gospel with those who are lost so that through the scriptures, God can reveal to the lost that they are truly lost. MODERN DAY CULTS “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7) Some of the major so-called Christian groups that preach false gospels of Christ (our definition of a cult for this discussion) are listed here along with some of their writings that they elevate above the authority of the Bible: Mormons (Latter Day Saints) – the book of Mormon and other writings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young Jehovah’s Witnesses (Russellites) – Awake magazine, Reasoning From The Scriptures and other publications of The Watchtower Society Seventh-Day Adventists (Millerites) – The Great Controversy and other writings of Ellen G. White Christian Science – writings of Mary Baker Eddy Unification Church (Moonies) – the teachings of Sun Myung Moon International Church of Christ (the Boston movement) – the teachings of Chuck Lukas and Kip McKean and the original Churches of Christ Roman Catholic Church – various Catechisms and the decrees of popes and Vatican Councils the Catholic-like Orthodox churches (Eastern, Greek, Russian, etc.) – decrees of Ecumenical Councils, writings of various “Saints” and “Church Fathers” All the above religious organizations teach that you must DO something to obtain salvation from sin, primarily: follow the example of Jesus Christ or the teachings of some prophet, prophetess or some church/cult founder. True Christianity has to do with trusting in NOTHING BUT the FINISHED work of Christ on the cross on behalf of those He came to save: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” (Matthew 18:11) …”He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36) … “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1John 1:8 ) … “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:12) Salvation according to true Christianity and according to Jesus Christ is not a matter of human effort (i.e. following some doctrine or creed or tradition). In fact, Christ repeatedly made this point very clear: “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” (Matthew 15:1-3) In contrast, the Bible teaches that salvation is a gift that is not earned by man (because Christ earned it) and that a person receives salvation in this lifetime: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Upon receiving the gift of salvation, a person becomes able to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ – able to follow those teachings the way that Christ intended as compared to how the unsaved follow Christ: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:3)   NON-BIBLICAL BELIEFS OF RELIGIOUS CULTS “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) The beliefs listed below are not necessarily the beliefs of individuals but rather teachings of their organizations. All false Christian-like organizations subscribe to at least one of the beliefs listed. This list is by no means complete, but it covers many of the most common and significant conflicts with Scripture – things that cults and false churches do or preach because they do not understand or believe in the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work of salvation. 1. They deny the inerrancy of the Word of God (the Holy Bible) directly or indirectly by elevating someone or something such as traditions, customs, or private revelations of some individual, above God’s word. They may have some books or writings that they believe have equal or greater weight than the Bible. This belief is contrary to Psalm 138:2. See also Matthew 15:5-9 & Mark 7:13. 2. They preach that something in addition to the completed work of Christ is required for salvation, most often something unique to their organization. This may include having to be baptized, being a member of their organization, some kind of works or rituals or human effort of some kind. This belief is contrary to Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, and Colossians 2:10. 3. They have false prophets who have made false prophecies. This is a fulfillment of warnings in Matthew 24:23-24 and 1 John 4:1. 4. They deny the deity of Jesus Christ (that Jesus is eternal God). This belief is contrary to John 1:1, Colossians 2:9 and 1 Timothy 3:16. 5. They claim man can become a god or god-like. This is what satan said to Eve in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3:5. 6. They deny the existence of a literal hell – the place of eternal judgment in torment of those whose names are not written in the Book of Life (Rev 20:15). They might offer the ‘annihilation theory’ as an alternative, where it is claimed that you cease to exist when you die if you don’t qualify for heaven. This belief is contrary to Matthew 18:8-9 and Revelation 20:15 & 21:8. 7. They have a unique founder (who had his or her own unique revelations) or they have their own messiah – other than Jesus Christ. This belief is contrary to John 14:6 and Colossians 1:18. 8. They deny the existence of the Holy Trinity – God manifested in 3 persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This belief is contrary to Genesis 1:26, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, Luke 1:35 and 1 John 5:7. 9. They control what information members can access and they usually tell followers that anything that is not official church material is corrupt, of the devil, etc. They may also tell members not to visit other ‘unapproved’ churches. This attitude is contrary to 1 John 4:1 which says we should test the spirits to see if they are of God. 10. They claim that the nature of man is basically good rather than sinful. This belief is contrary to Isaiah 53:6 and Romans 3:10-12 and Romans 3:23. 11. They claim that only certain elite individuals in their organization are able to properly interpret the Bible for the rest of the followers. This is a fulfillment of 2 Peter 2:1-3 and contrary to 2 Peter 1:20. 12. They offer legalism, which is the earning of salvation based solely upon obedience to a set of rules which they determine. This is contrary to Matthew 15:17-20, Colossians 2:16 and Titus 3:5. 13. They have a false concept of heaven such as: A. it is a place for an elite few, who their leadership usually specifies. This belief contradicts Deuteronomy 10:17. B. it is a place where everyone will end up. This contradicts Matthew 7:14. C. it does not exist. This is contrary to John 14:2-3, Matthew 6:10 and Revelation 4:1. 14. They say the head of the ‘Church’ on earth is someone other than Jesus Christ (i.e. THEIR leader). This is contrary to Ephesians 1:22 and 5:23. 15. They say that the true ‘Church’ is some physical, visible organization (i.e. THEIRS) rather than a world-wide group of spiritually-born believers in Christ who are united by the Holy Spirit. This belief is contrary to 1 Corinthians 12:13. SUMMARY It is important to remember that there may be some people who have become truly, scripturally saved (born-again) and yet are members of churches that subscribe to some of the unscriptural beliefs listed above. These individuals must sooner or later, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, leave their corrupt churches and seek out born-again, Bible-believing churches if they wish to be obedient to God who says His worshippers “worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). If you have not yet realized your spiritual bankruptcy before an infinitely holy God, then ask God to open your eyes to the truth about your spiritual condition and about the one and only remedy, Jesus Christ, for your lost sin-sick soul. No amount of good deeds or self-righteousness can save you from the wrath of God. Only by Christ’s precious blood, can a person’s sins be completely blotted out so that they are made fit for heaven. Human effort of any kind saves no one. God must do ALL the work. It is He alone who takes hearts of stone and turns them into hearts of flesh, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Cry out to God to have mercy on your sin diseased soul that he might save you just as you are. “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man [Jesus], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:11-14) How do you know if this material you are reading is true? Check the various Bible references and ask God, in prayer, to reveal the truth to you. He will – in His time, if you seek Him and search for Him with all your heart. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 )