CAMDEN — By the Rev. Richard Merritt
As a young person, I wondered why there are so many religions with such different beliefs, practices and traditions. No doubt, it is a question that many others have pondered. My mother gave me a book called The Little Baptist. She encouraged me to read it to understand how Bible convictions must be formed by a personal study of God’s Word.
The girl in the book was not raised a Baptist.
She discovered by reading the Bible that her religion did not agree with God’s Word. My mom made the same journey of faith many years ago in Forester, Arkansas near Waldron in Scott County, a small sawmill community where the same school building hosted religious services of four different religious groups every month. Mom read enough Bible to know which group of the four preached and taught doctrine that agreed with the Bible.
As a teenager, my pastor - Bro. Olen Johnson - challenged us to read the Bible for ourselves and not be a Missionary Baptist just because our parents were. I began to read and study the doctrines of the Bible.
What I heard at church agreed with what I read in the Bible. As I read, the Holy Spirit witnessed to me that the Bible doctrines I studied were God’s truth. I came to understand religious doctrine and practice must be based on God’s Word, not the thoughts and traditions of men. Jesus condemned vain worship when
He asked “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” (KJV Matthew 15:3).
It is a question everyone should consider.
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.” (KJV Matthew 15:8, 9).
Jesus also taught religion will not get one to Heaven. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (KJV Matthew 7:22, 23).
Jesus declared religious activities that were not according to Bible truth are works of iniquity—unacceptable to God.
The church I pastor is my home church, Trinity Missionary Baptist Church. There, I heard the gospel preached and taught. I was saved there. We believe there is one scriptural way for doctrine and practice. The Bible is the rule of faith and practice God has given. We use the King James Version of the Bible because it is based on the right text, translated the right method and blessed by God for over four hundred years.
For English-speaking people, the King James Version is the most accurate, the most reliable and the most beautifully phrased Bible. What we believe and how we worship is according to the Scriptures.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (KJV 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).
We believe all doctrine and practice must be according to the Scriptures or it is not acceptable.
We are sinners saved by grace.
We are not about feeling spiritually superior.
We just want to please God by believing and practicing the Bible way.
According to the Scriptures, Jesus was born of a virgin; lived a sinless, holy life; and commanded churches to believe and practice all the things He taught.
According to the Scriptures, Jesus the Lamb of God went to the cross of Calvary as every sinner’s substitute. According to the Scriptures, Jesus is the only Savior. According to the Scriptures, Jesus shed His blood and gave
His life on the cross so that whosoever will may be saved. According to the Scriptures,
He was buried and rose again on the third day.
According to the Scriptures, He began only one kind of church during His earthly ministry.
Any religious group started by any other person that is considered to begin after the ascension of Christ has no record of Jesus establishing their doctrines or practices. According to the Scriptures, there is only one way to go to Heaven.
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (KJV Acts 16:30, 31).
(Merritt is the pastor at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.)