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Fire is fire, is it not? What difference does it make where the fire came from? All fire is hot
and burns.
Do those arguments sound familiar? They should, being used by so many religious people in today's world, trying to justify their religious practices. This argument may have been used by Nadab and Abihu, in relation to their choice of fire to burn, as recorded in Leviticus 10. From a careful reading of the text, it is obvious that God did not accept that line of "human reasoning." Nor does He accept it today. Offering of "strange fire" is the basis for every denomination in existence in the world today. Men have added to, or subtracted from the Word of God and substituted "human reasoning" in place of a "thus saith the Lord." When the Lord's church was still in its infancy, God, through the apostle Paul, warned that the time would come when this would happen. Read carefully, these words from God: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:28-32). It happened just exactly as God had said, and has caused the rise of all the various "apostate churches," with all their different opinions relating to their worship and practice. They left the "word of God" and have put their own wisdom up against that of God's. They cannot show a "thus saith the Lord" for all their ungodly practices, and, like Nadab and Abihu, will one day reap "like treatment" from God. They are trying to glorify God by actions and practices which "God commanded them not." And they use arguments such as: "God did not say, not to do it." We must listen to what God did say and respect the silence of Scriptures. What God did say, is all important, and cannot be brushed aside lightly. After all, God had given specific instructions on the fire which was to be used in worship to Him. The use of "instrumental music" in worship is "strange fire." God clearly said to "sing...with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col. 3:16). We can each understand that plain language, if we so choose. The use of "holy water," "burning of incense," "partaking of the Lord's supper on days other than the Lord's Day," "the use of church dramas," "teaching that baptism is not essential for our salvation," and a host of other such beliefs and practices are all "strange fire" being offered to the Lord. Each practice is a sign of unbelief. Can we then, fellowship those who hold to, and practice such? Let God answer. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Will we hear God? Moses understood a profound lesson, and declared it to Aaron. Would to God that we learn that same lesson. "Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace" (Lev. 10:3). When we try to worship God in our own way, we are offering strange fire to the Lord, and like Aaron, we will have no right to say a word about the consequences. God will be glorified in our worship. |