CAMDEN — By Rod Halliburton
Friends, you don’t have to look very far to see that there is a vast amount of disagreement today among those persons who profess to be Christians. Many of these people refer to themselves by different names and worship in different ways. These people all claim to be Christians. Yet, in matters of doctrine they stand in stark contrast with one another. When pressed to defend their beliefs they often reply, “It really doesn’t make a difference what we believe. You believe what you want and I’ll believe what I want. It’s really not possible for everyone to see the Bible alike. But what matters most is that we all serve the same God. After all, we’re all going to the same place, we’re just taking different roads.”
What these people are essentially saying is: “Everyone has a right to his own belief.” Friends, neither your Bible nor mine teaches such a thing. Consider for a moment the logical conclusion of such a false idea. If it makes no difference what a person believes, Jesus would not have warned against false prophets.
But listen to Jesus’ words, recorded in Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.” Also notice the inspired words of Peter, recorded in II Peter 2:1: “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.”
Note further the words of John, recorded in I John 4:1: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
If it makes no difference what a person believes, there would be no such thing as error. But in Ephesians 4:14-15, Paul warned against succumbing to false doctrine. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
If it makes no difference what a person believes, then error, if it did exist, would be as valuable as truth. But notice John 8:31-32: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Friends, did you notice Jesus’ words? The truth, not error, shall set you free! Error cannot set a man free from his sins. Only the truth can set men free!
If it makes no difference what a person believes, there would be no need to teach others. But notice Paul’s words to Timothy, recorded in II Timothy 2:1-2: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
Why would Paul emphasize the need to teach others if in fact it really makes no difference what a person believes?
If it makes no difference what a person believes, the scriptures would not be needed for correction. But notice Paul’s words to Timothy, recorded in II Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Let’s consider the question: “Does every man have a right to his own belief.” When considering this question, let’s do what we ought to do with all questions in matters of religion. Let’s go to the Bible for our answer.
When we examine incidents in the lives of just two individuals, it is readily apparent that every man does not have a right to his own belief. First, Cain did not have a right to his own belief. Notice Genesis 4:3-5: “And it process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and unto his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” Along with this thought, notice the following: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” (Hebrews 11:4)
In order for Abel to have offered his sacrifice to God by faith, God must have given him instructions as to what type of sacrifice was to be offered and how, for “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Because God is no respector of persons (Acts 10:34-35), God must have given Cain these same instructions. Yet, Cain offered his sacrifice according to his own idea, his own opinion. Because Cain offered his sacrifice according to his own desires, and not God’s, God rejected Cain’s offering.
Sadly, many people today ignore God’s simple instructions concerning worship and instead worship God according to their own desires, their own ideas or opinions. For example, God has instructed us to worship him by singing. But some people ignore these simple instructions and instead choose to use mechanical instruments of music in their worship to God. You can be sure that God rejects their worship just as he rejected Cain’s offering. Friends, if God wanted us to worship him with these mechanical instruments, don’t you think he would have told us? But he has told us to sing. Too often, people offer their worship to God in a way that they desire, rather than in a way that God desires!
Second, Naaman did not have a right to his own belief. II Kings the fifth chapter reveals that Naaman was captain of the army of the king of Syria. He was a great man and an honourable man. He was a mighty man in valour. But he was a leper. Elisha, a man of God, sent a messenger to Naaman with instructions as to how Naaman could be cleansed of his leprosy. The messenger told Naaman he was to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times. The messenger told Naaman that, when he did so, he would be cleansed of his leprosy.
Naaman became angry. Naaman thought that surely some great thing would be done to cleanse him of his leprosy. But wash in a river? And the Jordan River at that? Why, Naaman knew of better rivers than the Jordan!
But Naaman’s servants came to him, saying, “If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? Why then, won’t you do this simple thing? Why won’t you wash in the Jordan River and be clean?”
Naaman then went and dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times, just as he had been told to do by the prophet. Of course, Naaman was then cleansed of his leprosy.
Friends, do you really think the power to cleanse Naaman was in the water? Not at all! I know of no one who would claim such a thing. Naaman was cleansed by the power of God! But friends, make no mistake about it. Naaman was not cleansed by the power of God until he obeyed God by dipping in the Jordan River seven times! The lesson we should learn from Naaman is too simple to misunderstand. Naaman did not have a right to his own belief concerning how he would be cleansed of his leprosy.
Unfortunately, many people today think they have a right to their own belief when it comes to being cleansed of their sin. Friends, the Bible plainly teaches “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16) But sadly, many people respond to this simple command in much the same way as Naaman. What? Have my sins forgiven by being baptized? In water? What power could there possibly be in the water?
Friends, please don’t misunderstand. Our sins are forgiven, not by any power in the water, but by the precious blood of Christ. But our sins are not forgiven until we, like Naaman, obey God by going down into the water.
No man has a right to his own belief concerning how to be cleansed of his sin.
Those persons who claim that every man has a right to his own belief often do so in an attempt to justify rejecting the plain teachings of the Bible. Paul spoke of such people in writing to Timothy. They do not want to comply with Christ’s simple teaching concerning matters such as terms of forgiveness, wearing Christ’s name, or being member of Christ’s church. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” (II Timothy 4:1-4)
(Rod Halliburton preaches at Antioch Church of Christ in Shongaloo, Louisiana. He can be contacted at [email protected], or through his blog at www.savedbythegospel.com.)