The Bible is under assault and one of the primary sources of that assault is from within. The biggest threat to the truth of God’s Word does not come from outside the church but from within. Ever since the time of Christ the church has had to confront false teachers. Part of the reason for the writing of the New Testament was to combat heresy and false doctrine. So, confrontation from false teaching is nothing new to the church! (See Acts 20:29 and II Timothy 3:1-9)
The havoc of which I speak has come from six sources … according to Pastor and author John MacArthur. I do not have space for elaboration but I will list them for your reflection:
1. Roman Catholicism exchanged the authority of Scripture for the authority of man and religious tradition.
2. Higher criticism of the Bible exchanged the authority of Scripture for human reason and atheistic naturalism.
3. Modern day cults exchanged the authority of Scripture for the self- appointed wisdom of people like Joseph Smith and Joseph Weatherford.
4. Pentecostalism exchanged the authority of Scripture for the authority of personal revelations and experiences.
5. Clinical psychology exchanged the authority of Scripture for the authority of Freudian theories and clinical therapies (psychotherapy).
6. Market driven churches have exchanged the authority of Scripture for the authority of felt needs and various marketing schemes.
Doctrine gave way to pragmatism.
Pragmatism gave up to popularity.
Popularity became soft on sin.
Compromise redefined as love.
Doubt was extolled as humility.
Truth was substituted for error.
The results were and are catastrophic!
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