Foolish Preaching About The Church
This is the first of three articles in which we shall consider some foolish preaching concerning the church. At this time, we shall be thinking about the commonly expressed idea that "one church is as good as another; you can join the church of your choice." This idea is expressed in different ways. Some say, "It doesn't make any difference to which church you belong, if you are only honest and sincere in what you are doing." Others say, "all denominations are simply different roads leading to the same place." Still others argue that "there is some good in all churches, so one is just as good as another." All of these expressions demonstrate the same attitude toward the religious division in the world today. They are all attempts to justify one person being in one religious group and another person joining another. Denominationalism is present with us, and people try to justify it in their own minds. They cling to some particular sectarian body, and are not tiling to give up all to serve the Lord.
The first of these expressions to be considered is, "There is some good in all churches, therefore one is just as good as another." Friend, do you make that argument? You can look over in one religious institution and see that they preach some truth, and engage in some worthy practices. You can look into another group and see still other worthy preachments and practices. I know of no religious group that does not teach some good and commendable things. There might be some principles of morality and goodness taught in heathenism, but that doesn't make heathenism right. It does not make sectarianism right because there is "some good in all churches."
I do not deny that there is some good in all denominations. But, there is also some error in every sectarian institution on the face of the earth. Only the church of our Lord is the perfect church. Some people who argue like this think that it doesn't make any difference which church a person "joins." Why, didn't you know that this kind of "logic" would justify your eating out of the garbage pail. Isn't there "some good food" thrown into your garbage pail? No doubt but that good food is thrown into the garbage pail almost every day. Now, since there is some good there, would you feel like eating out of the slop bucket? Does it make any difference to you whether you eat out of the slop bucket or whether you eat from your nice, clean table? Why does your stomach revolt at the idea of eating out of the garbage pail, and your conscience does not revolt against the idea of sectarianism and denominationalism? Is it because men are more concerned about their stomachs than they are about their souls?
We should not be content to justify all religious institutions because they happen to teach or practice some morsel of truth. We should be concerned with leaning the Will of the Lord, obeying the gospel, and being added to His church. I think you can see that the argument, "there are some good in all churches, therefore one church is as good as another," is not adequate to justify sectarianism. If it justifies all denominations, it would justify no church, for there is "some good" in no church. Some people are benevolent and compassionate, and have never become members of any church. Yes, friend, the argument is insufficient. It is faulty. What proves too much, doesn't prove. This argument will prove that it is good to eat out of the garbage pail. It will prove that no church is as good as any church. I don't believe any of you will want to accept such consequences of such a doctrine. It is "foolish preaching."
The second expression is, "All denominations are simply different roads leading to the same place." The idea is that denominations all lead to Heaven. People think that church "A" is just as good as church "B", because they both lead to Heaven. But, what does the Bible say? Does the Bible authorize many ways? Does the Bible teach anything about many churches? Does the Bible justify denominationalism? Over in Prov. 14:12, we read, "There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death." Solomon said that the way that seems right to man may end in death. People may think they are right, but be wrong. Why, I have thought that I was traveling the right direction on a road, but later found that I had been wrong. Many people think they are right in religion, but are traveling the wrong way.
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father but by me."' (Jno. 14:6.) Jesus tells us that he is the way. He does not say that he is the ways, but he is the only way. No one cometh unto the. Father except by Jesus. Going to Heaven is not like going to Chicago. When you take a trip to almost any city, you have a choice of routes. But, Jesus tells us that there is only one way to Heaven, and that is by Christ. In Matt. 7:13-14, we find Jesus saying, "Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereat. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Friend, the narrow way does not have room on it for sectarianism and false doctrine. It does not have enough room for all the different kinds of denominations. The broad way has enough room for every kind of false doctrine, but the narrow way does not. You are on the broad way if you are supporting denominationalism and sectarianism. You ought to leave the broad way, and get on the narrow way, by believing in Christ and obeying His Word. The way that seems right, but is not, is the way of death. Man's feelings can do nothing about that. You may be lost, and still feel like you are on the right road.
The thin expression we shall consider is, "It doesn't make any difference to which church you belong, if you are only honest and sincere in what you are doing." Such an argument makes "honesty and sincerity" the standard in religion, rather than the Word of God. If we were to allow that honesty and sincerity were the proper standards of authority, we would admit as many standards of authority as there are people. One person might be honest and sincere in one practice, but another is honest and sincere in a practice directed opposed to the first. People can be honest, but honestly mistaken. People can be sincere, but sincerely wrong. The mother who throws her child to the crocodile is honest and sincere, but that does not make her right. The most consecrated Communists are honest and sincere, but that does not make Communism right. The Catholic who kisses the pope's big toe is honest and sincere, but that doesn't make Catholicism right. We need to be honest and sincere, all right, but our honesty and sincerity must be educated in the truths of God's Word.
Saul of Tarsus was honest and sincere when he persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it. In Acts 23:1, Paul said that he had lived "before God in all good conscience until this day." When he had persecuted the church of Christ, he thought that he was doing God a favor. But, he was wrong. When he learned the truth, he turned from his ways, and began to preach the gospel he once persecuted. Honesty and sincerity were not enough. Saul needed the truth. He learned the truth, and became the apostle Paul. He was still honest and sincere, but his change of religion came as a result of his learning the truth. If you are honest and sincere, you will obey the truth when you learn it. The honest and sincere man does not continue rejecting the simple truth of God when he hears it. When a person hears the truth, and knows that it is the Word of God, but refuses to obey it, he is demonstrating that he is neither honest nor sincere. He may have been honest and sincere in his ignorance, but when he learns the truth, he becomes dishonest and insincere if he refuses to accept it and obey it.
The last of these expressions to be considered now is, "One church is as good as another, so join the church of your choice." When a person makes that statement, he indicates that he feels that God has no choice at all about the matter. In Acts 2:47 we learn that God adds people to His church. He doesn't save them and then let them join the church of their choice. Men make mistakes; men would join the wrong church. But, God adds the saved to His church. He makes no mistakes about it. We ought to tell people to obey the gospel, and let the Lord add them to the church of His choice. God sent his Son into the world to die for the sins of mankind. God's Son died on the cross, and purchased the church with his own precious blood. So, God and His Son should have a choice in this matter. Their choice is the church you read about in the Bible. God only has one church, and you can read about that church in your Bible. Is the denomination to which you belong mentioned there? If it isn't, you ought to leave it, and obey the truth of God.
I have often wondered why those who argue that one is just as good as another don't just join as many as they can. People join clubs like that. Why not join churches like that? Is it because they don't really believe what they are saying? They believe that the church they are in is the best, or else they would not be there. That's the reason why honest and sincere people ignorantly remain in sectarianism. All who are honest and sincere and learn the truth will leave it. Why don't you leave it today? Obey the truth; be a member of God's Church.