Do Men Have The Right To Be Wrong?
The great majority of people in this nation feel that they have the right to be wrong in their religion. They feel that if they are a member of the wrong church, have followed the wrong plan of salvation, etc., that it is a matter of little importance since it is their privilege to be wrong. This idea causes men to be satisfied with error and to stop looking for truth. It causes some to even hate the truth and stop their ears against it.
From two standpoints, men in this nation do have the right to be wrong. The constitution of this nation provides for every man the freedom to follow whatsoever he will in matters of religion. No one is FORCED to follow the directions of anyone else. Also, men have the right to be wrong in the sense that God is not going to force them to follow Him and the ways laid down in His word. Man is free to follow God or not to follow Him. But no one has the right to be wrong if he wants to go to heaven!
This can be illustrated from the physical realm. Man is free to drink poison. In fact many do. But man is not free to drink poison if he wants to live. From a civil standpoint, a man has the right to be wrong and believe that poison will be as good for his body as vitamin pills — BUT NOT IF HE WANTS TO LIVE!
Men Do Not Have The Right To Be Wrong About Faith In God
From a civil standpoint they have that right. No one is going to put a man in jail because he does not have faith in God. But no one has the right to be wrong in the matter if he wants to go to heaven when he dies. Hear the writer of the Hebrew letter: "And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him."
Men Do Not Have The Right To Be Wrong About Faith In Christ
God is not going to force anyone to believe in His Son. From that standpoint, men have the right to be wrong. But no one who wants to go to heaven has the right to be wrong about faith in Christ. Jesus said, "...except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (Jn. 8:24) Spiritual life is conditioned upon faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. (Jn. 20:30, 31) No one can be wrong about this—and still go to heaven when he dies.
Men Do Not Have The Right To Be Wrong About Believing The Gospel
Many do not believe the gospel of Christ to be true. They have the freedom to make up their own minds and come to their own conclusions. In this sense, they have the right to be wrong—but if they die in that condition, they will be condemned and go to hell. Hear the words of Christ as recorded in Mark 16:15, 16: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned."
Men Do Not Have The Right To Be Wrong In The Matter Of Repentance
Many exercise their civil freedom and refuse to repent of their sins. They stubbornly determine to continue living a life of serving the devil. Many need to repent of moral evil (drunkenness, fornication, etc.) but say that it is their own business and so continue in it. Others are living upright moral lives but need to repent of religious error. But they love the glory of men more than the glory of God and will not forsake the ways of men for the ways of God. This course can only lead to their eternal damnation. Hear Paul in the sermon on Mars Hill: "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent." (Acts 17:80) Without repentance, there can be no remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) Thus no one, who wants to go to heaven, has the right to be wrong in the matter of repentance.
Men Do Not Have The Right To Be Wrong In The Matter Of Confession
In John 12:42, the record of men who refused to confess Christ is found. They exercised a civil privilege, and God did not strike them dead for so refusing. Thus from two standpoints they had the right to be wrong...but they didn't have this right to be wrong if they wanted Christ to confess them before the Father. In Romans 10:9, 10, Paul says: "Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Thus all who wish to be saved must be right in the matter of confession.
Men Do Not Have The Right To Be Wrong In The Matter Of Baptism
Many preachers devote their lives in attempts to convince men that they do not have to obey this command given by Jesus. Because of their efforts, thousands have been convinced that they have the right to be wrong in the matter. But Jesus said man did not have the right to be wrong in the matter. In Jn. 3:3 are found these words: "Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." No one can be saved if he is not born again. (Jn. 3:8) To be born again is to be baptized in water as a means appointed by the Spirit for a birth. Thus no one can be wrong about baptism and be born again. Again, Jesus said: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." One who is not baptized cannot be saved. No one has the right to be wrong about it if he wants to be saved.
Men Do Not Have The Right To Be Wrong In The Matter Of. Church Membership
Men teach: "Go to the church of your choice; one is as good as another." It is true that all man-made are worthless so far as salvation is concerned. One of these is as good as another. But none of them can compare with the church purchased with the blood of Christ. Reconciliation unto God is in the one church described in the New Testament. (Eph. 2:14-16) No one has the right to be wrong about it for every plant which God did not plant will be rooted up. So Jesus said. (Matt. 15:18)
Men must learn that error is not just as good as truth. Truth will make men free. (Jn. 8:82) Error will damn one's soul. (2 Thes. 2:11, 12)
—O—
Garnie Atkisson, Lovington, New Mexico, Feb. 4: "Paul Fouts of Sweetwater, Texas, closed a meeting here last night. Seventeen responded to the invitation, five being baptized."