WHY DO various Christian groups differ on the many simple statements found in the Word of God when practically all believe the Lord's last commission to carry the Gospel into all the world? His command to teach them "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" is just as imperative as the "go ye therefore, and teach all nations." We herewith call attention to truths that are most surely taught in the Word. The message from our Lord in glory, sent to one of the seven churches in Asia, emphasizes the importance of holding to His words in order to receive His approval: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Rev. 3:2).
The Bible teaches nonresistance regarding evil:
1. The peace procured by Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace through the blood of His cross expresses itself outwardly in the non-resistance of evil and is the only true, practical, and lasting peace there is. Isa. 9:6, 7; Col. 1:20.
2. Christ and the apostles taught this truth. Matt. 5:38, 39; Rom. 12:14-21.
3. Christ and the apostles practiced it. Matt. 26:51, 52; Luke 23:33, 34; John 19:8-10; Acts 7:59, 60; James 5:5, 6.
4. This practice reveals the grace of God as no other. Luke 23:34; Heb. 7:26; Rom. 5:8, 10.
5. This practice affects the use of the tongue (I Pet. 2:23), the use of civil law (I Cor. 6:1-7), the use of physical force (Luke 6:29), and participation in war (James 4:1; John 18:36; II Cor. 10:3, 4).
6. A striking contrast between nonresistance that belongs to the church and resistance as the right of the civil power is found by comparing Romans 12:14-21 and 13:1-7.
The Bible teaches against lawsuits for Christians:
1. Lawsuits between brethren are wrong. I Cor. 6:1-8.
2. Christians should rather suffer wrong than do wrong. I Cor. 6:7.
3. Arbitration with the unsaved is always recommended. Matt. 5:25.
The Bible teaches against the swearing of oaths:
1. Christ and James condemned it. Matt. 5:33-37; James 5:12.
2. Our witness or testimony should be with a "yes" or "no."
The Bible teaches nonconformity to the world:
1. This teaching is found in both Old and New Testaments: Deut. 7:1-6, 22, 24;22:5, 9-11; II Chron. 18:1, 2; 19:2; John 15:19; 17:16; 18:36; II Cor. 6:1-18; Gal 1:4; James 1:27; 4:4; I Pet. 2:9; 1 John 2:15-17.
2. God has always demanded a difference in the conduct, the conversation, the thought life, and the appearance of His own as contrasted with the world. If we are not aiming to share in the world's destiny, we should not be conformed to it. Rom. 12:1, 2.
The Bible teaches against worldly amusements, sports, and entertainments:
1. Moses renounced the "pleasures of sin" for Christ and the people of God. Heb. 11:24-26.
2. Worldly amusement and spiritual death go together. I Tim. 5:6; Rom. 8:13.
3. Banqueting and idolatry do not belong to the Christian life. I Pet. 4:1-4.
4. The social intermingling of Moabites and Israelites brought the displeasure of God upon the Israelites and loss of many lives. Num. 25; Rev. 2:14.
5. Pleasures highly esteemed among worldlings, as cards, dancing, swimming pools, prize fighting, ball games, movies, television, and such like, are an abomihation to God. Luke 16:15; I Pet. 4;4.
6. The Christian's pleasures and recreations must meet the test of I Cor. 10:31 and Col 3:17 to please God.
The Bible teaches against the wearing of gold, pearls' and costly or immodest apparel:
1. The testimony of Paul and Peter. I Tim. 2:9, 10; I Pet 3:3,.4.
2. Christians who do not want to be like the world in principle or character should not desire to look like the world in appearance.
3.. Modesty adorns a Christian, while display misrepresents our Lord who was "meek and lowly of heart."
4. The clothes problem troubles the unsaved world (Matt. 6:24-34) while the Christian should have it settled by adopting a modest, church-approved garb.
5. A plain bonnet is the most consistent headwear in connection with the woman's veiling.
6. Let every Christian seek the ornament of a "meek and quiet spirit" in preference to external ornamentation', to be "clothed with humility" instead of the fashions and fads of the Christ-rejecting world; to pattern after the godly of all ages, rather than the underworld and fashion designers of Paris and New York.
The Bible teaches against membership in secret societies:
1 Many secret societies require an oath secrecy which is unscriptural.
2 Secrecy violates the principles of Christ and the apostles; John 18:20; Acts 23:12, 13; 26 28 Eph 5:8-13; John 3:18, 19.
3. Secret societies involve the unequal yoke for Christians, fl Cor. 6:14-18.
4. Their burial services usually hold out a hope of heaven upon unscriptural grounds.
The Bible teaches. against. membership in labor unions:
1. Unionism resorts to violence and force which is a violation of the Bible teaching of nonresistance.
2. Unionism manifests a "boycott" spirit which is anti-Christian. John 8:32-38; I Cor. 7:23; Rev. 13:16, 17; Luke 3:14, ARV.
3. Unionism destroys personal freedom and individualism. I Tim. 1:5; I Pet. 3:16, 17.
4. Unionism has failed to solve the problems of capital and labor, because there is no remedy outside of the Gospel of Christ. Eph. 6:5-9; Col 3:22-4::1, Moffatt.
The Bible teaches principles thur are against life insurance for Christians:
1. The life of the Christian is to be one of simple faith in God. Matt 6:25-34; Phil- 4:8, 19; Ps. 118:8; Jer. 49:11; Heb. 13:5.
2. The Bible provides through the promises of God and the fellowship of saints, all that life insurance offers, without its objectionable features. Gal 6:2, 10; Rom 12:13; Heb. 13:16; Acts 4:34; 11:29, 30; I Thess. 4:11; II Thess. 3:10-12; I Tim. 5:4, 8.
The Bible teaches the anointing with oil for the sick:
1. It was practiced by the twelve apostles. Mark 6:13.
2. It is taught in James 5:14 and is left optional with the one who is sick.
3. It symbolizes the Lord's work as the Healer of the body.
4. It requires the prayer of faith and soul-searching regarding sin.
5. It is for the healing of the body and not an unction for the soul of the dying.
The Bible teaches the wearing of a veiling for all Christian women:
1. Many Protestant denominations formerly believed and practiced it.
2. The Corinthian epistle was written for "all that . . . call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" (I Cor. 1:2).
3. The Apostle Paul taught in all of the churches as he taught at Corinth. I Cor. 4:17.
4. The spiritually minded acknowledged Paul's teaching as the "commandments of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37).
5. This veiling is a covering, a sign of authority, and a recognition of the spiritual headship. I Cor. 11:4-7.
The Bible teaches the washing of the saint's feet as a Christian ordinance: John 13:1-17
1. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples the night of the betrayal, giving them an example, and commanding them to do as He had done. Verse 15.
2. He was their Lord and Master; hence the institution of this ordinance is authoritative. Verses 13, 14.
3. It was given to the same group that received the communion command. The emphatic "ye should do as I have done to you" is of equal force with "this do in remembrance of me."
4. The Apostle Paul refers to the washing of the saints' feet. I Tim. 5:10.
5. "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (verse 17).
The Bible forbids mixed marriages and divorce:
1. The Scriptures indicate the sanctity of the marriage relation as a type of the relation of Christ (as Bridegroom) to the church (as bride). Eph. 5:23-32.
2. A Christian should always marry a Christian, never a worldling. II Cor. 6:14-18.
3. Divorce is contrary to the Scriptures Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5, 6; Matt. 5:31, 32.
4. Marriage of a divorced person whose partner is living, constitutes adultery. Mark 10:11, 12.
What will you do with these Biblical teachings?
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46)?
Obedience is essential for the saved:
"Salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9).
The security of Christ's sheep is conditioned upon the fact that they "hear my voice" and "follow me" (John 10:27).
This is from an old "Herald Press Tracts" ( Scottdale, Pa. , Printed in U.S.A., #HB65130).
This tract is available from Rod and Staff Publishers, Crockett, KY 41413 Phone 606-522-4348
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