Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 8
August 9, 1956
NUMBER 14, PAGE 11

Does It Make Any Difference?

C. D. Plum, Columbus, Ohio

We have almost any number of false teachers in the world today that are saying, "It doesn't make any difference what you believe and practice in religion; just so you think it is all right, it is all right." Is this teaching true? This teaching is emphatically not true. I hear this false teacher saying, "This way to Christ," and another false teacher saying, "No, this way to Christ," and when cornered, both of these false teachers say, "it doesn't make any difference."

I propose to show in this article that it does make some difference as to what we believe and practice in religion. There were religious people on earth before Jesus came to earth. If it doesn't make any difference what people believe and practice in religion, why didn't Jesus stay in heaven and just let these people alone?

Even before Jesus came to earth, why did God change the Patriarchal form of religion to the Jewish religion, if it doesn't make any difference what people believe and practice in religion? And if it doesn't make any difference what people practice in religion, why did Jesus abolish the Jewish religion, and establish the Christian religion? These questions should cause the honest hearted among us to think, and to understand that it does make a difference what people believe and practice in religion.

When Jesus was on earth he found at least four prominent, Jewish denominations: the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and Essences. If it doesn't make any difference what people believe and practice in religion, why didn't Jesus become a member of all or each of these denominations? He rejected every one of them. Their doctrine did not suit him. Their doctrine would not save them or others. How do I know their doctrine would not save? I know it because Jesus said so. Hear him: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two fold more the child of hell than yourself." These false religionists are great missionaries. But, most assuredly, they are not God's preachers.

Why did our Lord say, "Beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees," if it did not make any difference what people believed and practiced in religion? If it didn't make any difference, Jesus was showing partiality. "But there is no respect of persons with God." If all religions are right, God would accept them all.

Though the world was full of one kind of religion or another in Christ's day, yet, Christ said to his preachers: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." This would be a peculiar thing to do if it didn't make any difference what people believed and practiced in religion, don't you think? Not only did Jesus send his preachers, with his message, into all the world, but taught the apostle of his to teach the people they will be saved if they obey this message, and will be damned if they don't. Where are the eyes, and the minds, of these false teachers, that they cannot see in this that it does make a difference what people believe and practice in religion?

And our Lord further warned the people: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" It does make a difference. We must "hear" and "heed" what Jesus says. Either this or condemnation.

The apostle of our Lord said, "But there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." What talk is this, if a thing is all right, just so we think it is all right? Note these thoughts: "False teachers with damnable heresies" and "many shall follow their pernicious ways," would not all this be unnecessary talk if it doesn't make any difference what you believe in religion? And note this thought: "False teachers with pernicious ways (plural)" and "By reason of whom the way (singular) of truth shall be evil spoken of." What nonsense this would be if all religions are right.

And in the day of judgment, if all religions are right, why would Jesus reject any? Yes, why would he reject honest, sincere, conscientious religious people, if all religions are right? Yes, he will do that very thing, for he said he would. Here is what will be said to him by religious people in the day of judgment. "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" And here is what the Lord will say to those who are religiously wrong: "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:22-23.) There is no doubt about it, friends, it isn't enough to be religious, to be saved, we must be religiously right.

And to this I might add, it isn't enough to be a member of a church, to be saved, we must be a member of the right church. I am well aware of the dust false teachers will kick up over this statement, but after the dust settles which they make, the truth of the statement I have made here, still stands, and will stand for ever. When it comes to the matter of the church, take a look at these scriptures that follow.

1. Psalms 127:1, "Except the Lord build "the" house (church, singular), they labor in vain that build it."

2. Matthew 1618, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; (singular) and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

3. Hebrews 8:2, "A minister of the sanctuary, and of the "true" tabernacle (church, singular) which the Lord pitched, and not man."