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Some folk put a lot of stock in what is called "the restoration motto." I like mottos if they are
Scriptural. This one happens to be so. This motto says "where the Bible speaks, we speak; and where the
Bible is silent, we are silent." This is good and Biblical. Consider, "if any man speaketh, [speaking] as
it were oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11 ASV). And again, "Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure
transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not [to go] beyond the things
which are written" (1 Cor. 4:6 ASV).
Thus, the words of Paul to Timothy are appropriate just here: "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15 ASV). Exposing religious error is not a pleasant task, but certainly it is a necessary one. Paul would remind us, "Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11 ASV). Since God's people face an awful alternative "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hos. 4:6), it seems only proper that we ought to warn one another about going onward from the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9 ASV) and exhort one another rather to "let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah" (Hos. 6:3 ASV). Have we "come to know God, or rather to be known by God" (Gal. 4:9 ASV)? Then let us by all means shrink not from declaring unto [others] "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27 ASV). In this way the church is kept pure, God is glorified, and we are saved. Here is the point: Christians must know false doctrine when they hear it! As Paul said, "that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11 ASV). We must also know how to correct false doctrine and give the proper answers regarding the faith (2 Tim. 2:25; 1 Pet. 3:15). Likely, when we do such work, we shall be accused of being legalistic or trouble-makers. But when we consider the meaning of "legal" we fear not. This word merely means "teaching the law." It is the sour context that gives "legalism" its bad taste. I want to teach and follow the law of God, surely you good readers do also. Let us never forget what Jesus said, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15 ASV), and "Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you" (John 15:14 ASV). This would necessarily demand that we do what Paul told Timothy, "And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2 ASV). Friends, let unbelievers call keeping the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2; 1 Cor. 9:21) and teaching it to others legalistic; Jesus calls it being faithful and strong (1 Cor. 16:13). Let us never call a truce, but always continue to expose the error of the devil and his angels: the doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1)! |