Consistency

The enormous amount of different doctrines and beliefs causes much confusion and uncertainty. It is not far-fetched to think that one who is searching for the truth could visit with two different groups, on two consecutive Sundays, and be taught conflicting and contradictory things. What a tragedy!

In very simple terms, it should have never gotten that way! There are not many different truths about worship. There are not many different truths about salvation. There are not many different truths about the church. The Bible instructs the same thing to me that It instructs to you. Either we will both understand alike, one of us will understand correctly and the other will not understand correctly, or we will both be wrong. Those are the only options available.

When Paul visited or wrote to congregations, he did not teach one thing to one group and another thing to another group. Paul was consistent. Consider, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church” (1 Cor. 4:17).

Would it not be refreshing to know that if you walked into a building on a given Sunday you would hear the same truth and see the behavior that you would witness at your home congregation? That is still attainable, but only if some are willing to repent of man-made doctrines and practices. Jesus said, “THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN” (Matt. 15:8-9). Until then, there will continue to be religious confusion, and it is not the fault of God. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:33).

The only way that denominationalism ends is if men and women are brave enough to leave it behind. Paul wrote, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul” (1 Cor. 1:10-13)? It can happen! It should happen! Will you help it to happen?

Consistency in doctrine and practice is not just a novel idea, but we must remember that it is commanded and expected. The first century brethren in Galatia were told, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-10). Now let me ask us a question. If the false teacher is accursed, what will happen to those that follow the false teachers and their doctrines?

What decision have you made? Are you going to make up your mind to seek truth and uphold it? Are you going to do your part to make sure there is no longer religious confusion? Paul made it clear, “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:17). We can be consistent and correct. Unfortunately, many will not do what is right and needed. Peter explained, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Pet. 2:1-3).
~ Corey Barnette