Things Not Found In The Word Of God
Every Bible student knows that there are many things practiced in the religious world today, that cannot be found in God's word. The authority for such is absolutely lacking, yet these things are engaged in as if they are commanded by the Lord. The list of such things would be almost endless if we tried to name them all, but I do want to enumerate a few of the more common practices and beliefs that cannot be found in the New Testament.
One cannot find where God, Christ or the Apostles ever told anyone to "get religion and join the church of your choice." There is nothing like this in the word of God, yet we hear this expression on every hand today and thousands of people actually think that they have done this.
The "mourner's bench" or altar of prayer is not to be found in the teaching of Christ. No one can find in the New Testament where any alien sinner ever received the remission of sins as a result of or in answer to prayer. Nowhere in God's book was an alien sinner ever commanded to pray for salvation or even a "second blessing." Men who teach such do so in disobedience to Christ.
One cannot find where any New Testament church ever engaged in the practice of washing the saint's feet in connection with the Lord's Supper. Feet were washed in New Testament times as a matter of hospitality and cleanliness and not as a church ordinance. Feet washing as an act of worship is another of the doctrines and commandments of men.
One cannot find in God's word where anyone was ever voted into the church, or was ever voted on to see if he should be baptized. Such is all the get-up of men.
One cannot find where any New Testament church ever used instrumental music in the worship of God. The New Testament does teach that we should sing and make melody in the heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.), but it is as silent as a tomb regarding any mechanical accompaniment. While such may seem insignificant to men and they may like such and see no harm in it, such is an unwarranted addition to God's order and a plain violation of His law. (Rev. 22:18-19; 2 John 9.) From the first verse of Matthew to the last verse in Revelation there is not so much as the slightest hint of the use of instrumental music in the worship of Christians. Christ nowhere mentioned it; no apostle ever sanctioned it; and no apostolic church ever practiced it.
One cannot find where any church ever had an ice cream supper, pie supper, mock-wedding, carnival or any other such affair in an effort to raise money for the church. This is some more of the foolishness of men as they attempt to improve upon God's order. The New Testament teaches that members of the church are to give of their means as God has prospered them for the support of His work. (1 Cor. 16:1-2. 2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7.)
Bible students know that they cannot find in God's word where preachers were ever called by distinguishing titles of honor; such as: "Reverend;" "Pastor;" "Father;" or "Doctor." The spirit and disposition which leads men to claim such honors to themselves and for them to be so elevated above others, is plainly condemned in Gods word. (Matt. 23:1-12.) Many preachers of this day and age covet such titles and honors. In such they are like the Pharisees described by Jesus in Matthew 23.
One cannot find in the Bible the doctrine of "justification by faith only." Yes, the doctrine of "justification by faith" is there to be sure; but not the idea that man is saved "at the point of faith without any further acts of obedience." Yet today there is no teaching accepted by a greater number of people. Men teach and believe it as though it were the truth of God, when perhaps nothing is further from the truth. No man in any age of the world has ever been saved "by faith alone," and the teaching will cause many an unsuspecting, honest soul to be lost eternally. Such people have been deceived by false teachers and have not studied God's word to find the truth. It is true that faith saves; but it is the faith that obeys. (Gal. 5:6.) Saving faith is the "faith which works by love." The New Testament plainly and emphatically denies that one can be saved by faith only. James wrote: "Ye see then that by works a man is justified and not by faith only." (Jas. 2:24.) How much plainer could it be put than that? Will you accept God or man?
One cannot find in the Bible where Christ is to come back to this earth to rule and reign for a thousand years; to establish his kingdom and sit upon the throne of David in earthly Jerusalem. Yet this idea is advocated far and wide. False teachers all over the land are teaching this as if it were the truth. Their speculations vary and their vain imaginations picture great and amazing things as they try to weave this theory and sell it to a gullible public. This theory is known as premillennialism. The Bible teaches that the kingdom has come and has been here fully established since the day of Pentecost. (Heb. 12:28. Col. 1:14; Rev. 1:9.) On Pentecost, Peter told the people that Jesus had been crowned king and was then reigning on David's throne. (Acts 2:29-36.) Before his ascension, Jesus taught that the kingdom and the power would come together (Mark 9:1.); and that the power and the Spirit would come together. (Acts 1:8.) In Acts 2:1-4, we learn that the Spirit came on the day of Pentecost; therefore, since the kingdom was to come with power and since the power was to come with the Spirit, we can know that the kingdom came on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Furthermore, the Bible nowhere indicates that Jesus will ever so much as set foot upon this earth again. As far as the New Testament teaches the nearest he will ever come is when he comes to meet the saints "in the air"! (1 Thess. 4:16-17.)
In the entire New Testament there is not even one instance of where any person, adult or child, ever had a little water sprinkled or poured upon his head and such a thing called baptism! Yet this is a fairly common practice today. Do people who accept such realize that there is no authority for such a thing in the New Testament? Baptism is a burial and a resurrection in water. (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12.) Those who have accepted one of the substitutions of men in lieu of baptism, have no higher authority for such than the Catholic church.
The list of such things could be multiplied. These should be enough to show people the necessity for investigating such matters to be certain that what is done has divine approval. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21.) We must know and obey the truth in order to be made free from sin. (John 8:32; 17:17; 1 Pet. 1:22.)