Sermon Audio Archive

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 9/8/02 Radio Program

Question:

Is it better to go to some church, even if you don't agree with all they teach, than to not go at all?

Answer:

Perhaps we need clarification on what our querist means when he/she says "you don't agree with all they teach." Is this a matter of a teacher/preacher saying something in a way perhaps you wouldn't have said it, or a matter in which one recognizes false doctrine is being taught by this group? Sometimes, things are not stated in a way which we think it ought to be stated, and therefore, some might say they "don't agree" with what was said. However, this is a far cry from false doctrine being taught.

If it is the case of false doctrine being taught, then we certainly cannot simply "go along and get along." It needs to be corrected. The Bible shows this quite plainly. When John wrote his second epistle to the Christians, he said, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" (II John 9). In simple terms, verses 10-11 go on to declare that we cannot simply allow false doctrine to go unchallenged, for in doing so, we become partakers with it. To continue in something that is Scripturally wrong, makes you a partaker with them. God declares that for someone to stand idly by and allow souls to be deceived makes you as guilty as the false teacher.

Yet, it is also true that there were some who stayed in a congregation in error for a certain amount of time. Revelation 3:1-6 records a letter to the church in Sardis, who had many things wrong with them. Christ even said this church was "dead" (v. 1). At the same time, Christ recognized some who "had not defiled their garments" (v. 4). In other words, there were some individuals who were still faithful to the Lord though in this dead church. Does this mean they simply compromised their convictions in order to stay with the church at Sardis? By no means! If such were true, Christ would not have said that they had not defiled their garments. Evidently, Christ saw a glimmer of hope, for He told them to "strengthen the things which remain" (v. 2), and no doubt those mentioned in verse 4 would play a part in that.

One who is a Christian has a responsibility to stand for the truth, to speak out for it, and to correct those when needed. But, if those around refuse to change, then this Christian may need to leave, if for no other purpose than to save his/her soul and keep from being further infected with spiritual error and wrongdoing. Read II John 9-11. Am I guilty of partaking in things I ought not?

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