What If My Church Is Wrong?

broken_church

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. 2 Cor. 4:4

Have you ever thought that your church may not be right? I mean, its church, they are all right aren’t they? We just interpret the bible differently and that’s OK.

I hate it. This is hard, uncomfortable and politically incorrect, but it is not OK.

Jesus actually addressed seven historical churches in the final book of the Bible, most of whom were not OK. They were whole churches that were wrong.  Among their problems were leaving their first love, immorality, false teaching, being dead and being apathetic. Jesus was so disgusted that he told the church in Laodicea that he was going to vomit them out.

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be in a regurgitated church.

So how do I know if what my church is doing is wrong?

Read

No matter who tells you that you can’t understand the bible alone, do not believe them.  You can read it for yourself and you can understand it.

Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us. 2 Cor 1:13

When you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. Eph 3:4

Test

Just because it feels right doesn’t mean it is. Test the doctrine. Examine the practices and the heart of your church.  Nothing is beyond scrutiny. Nothing is out-of-bounds of careful study. Measure it all by the one standard that you know is true, the Bible. Make sure it is led by the only one who is qualified to be its head, Jesus.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom. 12:2

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 1 John 4:1

Pray

As you read and test, always communicate to the Father. Ask for guidance and truth. He loves to answer that request in full.

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand. Eph. 1:16-18

Take Responsibility 

It is up to you, not your parents, pastor or priest. It is your job to read, study and discern truth.You cannot tell God at your judgement that someone else led you down the wrong path. You will stand alone and answer to the Lord for how you understood and followed his word.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men… Col 2:8

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven. Heb. 12:22-23

 

 

Serena
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Comments: 9
  1. Paul Thrower
    8 years ago

    I believe that if we expect others to ‘measure up’ their churches to the bible and leave if they are in error, we are held to the same rule. Having said that, I believe that some issues are difficult (not how to be saved) to understand, even as Peter said in 2 Peter 3:15-17. For instance, I was somewhat surprised to hear that “our view” (meaning many churches of Christ) is labelled “preterist” regarding eschalogical (end times) teaching, and labelled as “replacement-theology” related to “our view” of the nation ofIsrael and the church. I believe that Yahweh made His word such that one can never ‘know it all’ and close the bible; thus will I continue to search the scriptures……

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    • 8 years ago

      I completely agree with all of that. Some issues are muddier than others.

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  2. Hop
    8 years ago

    Everything is a part of God’s glorious plan. The items that we are united in are universal regardless of our calling or season. But there are different callings, and different needs, and different seasons in our walk. Did we not learn today that we were not as clear or refined about something yesterday as we are today? How much time do we dedicate today, chasing the wind thinking that we have it all “right” compared to someone else? Do we not know from our own experience that being a Child of God is a personal growing experience, not an “I’ve got it right and you have it wrong experience”? If we know that we are growing and changing in our seasons, do we not expect others to be growing as well? If we know this to be true, then how can I ever think that I am “right” and know better than others what they need, since i don’t even know what I need and will learn tomorrow. We look inside and grow ourselves, we share with others in love in hopes that something that we have is both refined for ourselves and is helpful to others – but we don’t judge bad on where someone is in their current understanding – we help each other grow.

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  3. Sarah
    8 years ago

    Where does the bible claim that the bible is the ultimate authority of truth? And where does it say that the entire bible (not just some letters) are written clearly enough to be understood by anyone, anywhere, from any culture, in any age (not just the immediate audience to whom they were written)? For that matter, where does the bible tell us which ancient books and letters are supposed to be in the bible and which are not?

    The doctrine that the Bible is our only and/or ultimate authority for spiritual matters is called “Sola Scriptura”. You may already know that, but I find it useful to assume that people in your religious tradition do not, because so many don’t. It’s a self-refuting doctrine. It’s like someone claiming that there is no truth. You want to ask them if it’s really true that there is no truth. I want to ask you if the bible teaches that the bible is the only authority. I think if you look into the question, you will find that it does not. In fact, over and over, it teaches otherwise.

    Acts 8: 30-31 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

    1 Tim 3:15 …the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
    The CHURCH, not the bible, is the ground of truth.

    2 Pet 3: 15-16 …even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
    Peter apparently didn’t think Paul’s letters were all that clear. Even in the passage you quoted, Paul said he “hoped they would understand someday”, which doesn’t make much sense with the translation that also has him saying that everything he had written was easy to understand.

    You told us in your post to not believe ANYONE who tells us we can’t understand the entire bible by myself. I guess I now can’t believe the bible, because that’s what it seems to be telling me.

    What really began my change of mind on this question was when I realized that people in the church of Christ are not remotely the only Christians who think they are following only the bible. Every single other Christian church believes they follow the bible. Catholics and Orthodox and some (but not all) Anglicans/Episcopalians acknowledge that they rely on tradition along with (not instead of) scripture. ALL the others (except Mormons, if you count them – some do , some don’t) believe that they are following the bible while the other churches are not.

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    • 8 years ago

      I think you haven’t taken into account the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.

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      • Sarah
        8 years ago

        Look at the context for that reference. It’s from John 16. It was part of the last things Jesus told his apostles before he went to his death. It was a promise he made to his apostles. It’s not directed to all believers everywhere forever. If it means that the average believer can count on being led into all truth, then why are there so many sincerely mistaken believers? If that’s actually what the verse means, then the multitude of Christian beliefs are evidence that either Jesus lied or the Holy Spirit failed. The other option is that your interpretation of that verse is incorrect. I’m going with the option that allows me to continue to believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

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  4. Chuck Bronson
    8 years ago

    Regarding the 7 churches of Asia in Revelation 2 & 3, Jesus was not critical of all of them. There are no negative remarks about Smyrna nor to Philadelphia.

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Serena
8 years ago 10 Comments American Church, Bible Study, The Church341