Truth Magazine

By Dennis Abernathy

Martin Luther was a great reformer and is credited with beginning the Protestant Reformation. He was born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Saxony, Germany. He died February 18, 1546. Luther studied law at the University of Erfurt. In 1505 he became an Augustinian monk and was ordained a priest in 1507. The following year he became a member of the faculty of the University of Wittenberg, teaching philosophy and theology.

Martin Luther decried many of the abuses of the Roman church and finally came to oppose the supremacy of the Pope of Rome. On October 31, 1517, he nailed his now famous ninety-five theses or articles against papal abuses and corruption to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church for all to see. After several years of stormy disputes with the Pope and other church leaders, an edict was forthcoming from the Pope, which Luther promptly burned. Finally Martin Luther was excommunicated from the fellowship of the Roman Catholic Church in 1520 and all his writings were ordered burned.

Martin Luther’s influence increased and the Reformation spread throughout the continent. His greatest literary achievement was his translation of the Bible into the German language.

One of the important benefits of the Reformation Movement was the rediscovery of congregational singing. Martin Luther made singing once more the joy of the entire congregation rather than the sole duty of the choir. He even allowed the women to sing with the men in public, a privilege that had been withheld from them for many years.

One of the most powerful hymns of the Reformation Movement was “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It is based on Psalms 46. When Luther wrote this great hymn he was in a rather depressed state and took courage in the words of this Psalm and penned the words of the now famous hymn. The four stanzas are reminders that God is the fortress of the soul; Christ the champion of the soul; and Satan, the enemy of the soul. But the ultimate victory will be God’s whose “kingdom is forever.”

James Moffatt describes this as being the “greatest hymn of the greatest man of the greatest period of German history.” The first line of this very beautiful and inspiring hymn is fittingly inscribed on the tomb of Luther in Wittenberg.

No other man of that century exerted so widespread an influence as Martin Luther, who gave the German people in their own tongue the Bible and the hymn book. He truly served his own age in a great way, but he also left our age a fine legacy in writing and composing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

1. From the first verse and the Bible we learn that God is a mighty fortress for the people of God.

“A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe, His craft and power are great, And armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.”

Psalms 18:1-3 says: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Jeremiah said: “O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in times of distress” (Jer. 16:19). Again, the Psalmist says in chapter 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, and ever present help in trouble.” Verses 7 and 11 of that same Psalm says: “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

1. God is a bulwark never failing. A bulwark is a solid wall-like structure used for defense; a strong support or rampart. God’s protection will never fail us. He will not leave us nor will he forsake us (Heb. 13:5; Deut. 31:6-8; Josh. 1:5). We ought to be content with that knowledge. We can know that regardless of what the faithful Christian may not have, he still has God! Remember Job? He lost all he had, except God!

Yes, my friend, God is our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Shield, Stronghold, and Salvation. He is our strength and refuge, our ever-present help in trouble. As one so appropriately put it: “When you have nothing left but God, then for the first time you become aware that God is enough.

Allow me to illustrate:

A mother and her little four-year-old daughter were preparing to retire for the night. The child was afraid of the dark, and the mother, on this occasion alone with the child, felt fearful too. When the light was out the child caught a glimpse of the moon outside of the window. “Mother,” she asked, “Is the moon God’s light?” “Yes,” said the mother. The next question was, “Will God put out his light and go to sleep?” The mother replied, “No, my child, God never goes to sleep.” Then out of the simplicity of a child’s faith, she said that which gave reassurance to the fearful mother. “Well, as long as God is awake, there is no sense in both of us staying awake.”

2. Our ancient foe still seeks to work us woe. Of course, our Ancient “Foe” is Satan. He began his deadly work of woe toward mankind back in the Garden of Eden as he sought to deceive Eve with his lies. So, our greatest foe is not cancer, Communism, war, AIDS, or even death. It is Satan! In fact, the very word “Satan” means “an adversary.” Peter said:

Be sober, be vigilant, your adversary (enemy) the Devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

3. Satan’s powers are very great and he is very crafty. In the Garden of Eden he belittled God and advised the parents of the human race to disobey God (Gen. 3:1-5). He insinuated that Job only served God because of God’s blessings (Job 1:8-11; 2:34). It is Satan that tempted the Son of God (Lk. 4:1-13). He prompted Judas to betray the Christ (Jn. 13:2). He still blinds the minds of the unbelieving from the light of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:3-4). He is a schemer and used trickery and sets snares (Eph. 6:10-12; 2 Tim. 2:26). He sows bad seed (tares, Matt. 13:25,39). He seeks to take advantage of us and to outwit us (2 Cor. 2:11). On and on we could go, but surely this is enough to convince you that:

4. Satan is armed with cruel hate. He literally hates us! He is doing all within his power to damn our very souls to hell. Hence, we must be assured as the song says and the Bible teaches:

5. That on earth is not his equal. Alone, we cannot cope with our Ancient Foe. By ourself, we are not equal to the task. We are not strong enough. But thank God that we can say that we are not alone. We have God. We have the great Redeemer! John wrote:

Greater is He (God) that is in you, than He (Satan) that is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4)

We may not be Satan’s equal but with our God to aid us we are more than his equal and can put him to flight.

II. The second verse teaches us that if it were not for the “right one,” the “man of God’s own choosing at our side” we would lose the struggle for the salvation of our souls.

“Did we in our strength confide, Our striving would be losing,

Were not the right One on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is He;

Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle.”

1. Man’s strength alone has never been sufficient (Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:12). Paul said that without Christ’s death man was without strength and powerless (Rom. 5:6). Jesus said that “apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). Again, the apostle Paul said that on his own, man is wretched, and he then goes on to show what God did (Rom. 7:24; 8:13).

My friend, you have never had an enemy greater than Satan. It was he that plunged the human race into sin and death. Every tear ever shed, every pain ever experienced, every heartache that man has ever had can ultimately be traced back to Satan, our Ancient Foe.

The man of God’s own choosing is Jesus Christ, also. called the Lord of Sabaoth, or “Lord of Hosts.” God chose Christ to suffer as our sin-offering. This choice was made before the foundation of the world (Isa. 53:10).

2. The Lord is the same through the ages (Heb. 13:8). This means that our never changing Christ can do for us today what he did for lost souls in Bible times. He can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He can save us completely (Heb. 7:25). Please don’t forget this one thing brethren, if Christ, the Captain of our salvation – our Commander-in-Chief, must win the battle over Satan, then we too will be victorious!

III. From verse three we learn that Christians do not fear an evil filled world that threatens to undo us.

“And though this world with evil filled, should threaten to undo us:

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.”

We do live in perilous and evil times. But Christians know that Satan is the source of evil (Jn. 8:44).

1. It is important that we understand our enemy, “lest Satan should take advantage of us” (2 Cor. 2:11). We should know that Satan’s head was bruised through and by the death and resurrection of Christ (Gen. 3:15). We should know that Christ has triumphed over our spiritual enemies (Col. 2:15). Hence, in Christ’s death and resurrection he is said to “have driven the prince of this world out” (Jn. 12:31), and “to have entered into the strong man’s house and tied him up” (Matt. 12:29).

Because of what Christ accomplished in our behalf we can resist the devil and he will fall (Jas. 4:7). But, we must first submit to God. We must not give place to the devil (or give him a foothold) in our lives (Eph. 4:27). We must “take our stand against his schemes” (Eph. 6:11). Peter said:

Be self-controlled and alert. You enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

Faith is a must. When our faith wanes we are prime prey for the devil. That is why Paul said “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16). That is why the Psalmist said, “Thy word have I laid up in my heart that I might not sin against God” (Psa. 119:11). The word of God, is the source of faith (Rom. 10:17).

2. We should not fear because God has willed that truth triumph through us. God has placed his truth, his word, his treasure, in earthen vessels Oars of clay, 2 Cor. 4:7). The poet, William Cullen Bryant stated it this way:

“Truth crushed to earth, shall rise again,

The eternal years of God are hers;

But error, wounded, writhes in pain,

And dies among his worshipers.”

Truth will win over error. Darkness will be dispersed and driven away by the light of God’s word.

3. In order for God’s truth to triumph through us, we may have to make great sacrifices. We may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice. The song says: “Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also.” A generation ago, one wrote: “He is not fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

We ought to be willing to make any sacrifice needed for the triumph of truth because of what Jesus taught in Matthew 12:29:

And everyone that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.

The good news is that no matter what Satan and his cohorts may do to us (this body they may kill), God’s truth abideth still and his kingdom is forever.

“Truth never dies, the ages come and go,

The mountains wear away; the stars retire,

Destruction lays the mighty cities low,

And empires, states, and dynasties expire;

But caught and handed onward by the wise;

Truth never dies!”

Peter wrote: “The word of the Lord endureth forever” (1 Pet. 1:25).

4. The kingdom of God also abides and endures. Daniel said that Christ’s kingdom would never be destroyed (2:44). The Hebrew writer said we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken (12:28). Even the gates of hell could not prevail or prevent the church’s establishment (Matt. 16:18). So, all the forces of evil in this world cannot outdo or undo God, his word, and his church!

What a wonderful truth this great song teaches. Are you taking advantage of God’s ability to protect you from the Ancient Foe who is armed with cruel hate? The man of God’s own choosing, Jesus Christ, the Lord of Hosts, can save you from eternal ruin, if you will obey the gospel (Mk. 16:15-16).

Conclusion

The Christian need not fear overmuch the evil that seeks to undo him. God and his cause cannot be defeated. Obey God and live for him and when the dust has settled in this great struggle between good and evil, you will be victorious and go home to glory.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 18, pp. 562-564
September 17, 1992

By William V. Beasley

The New Testament clearly sets forth strong reasons for being a member of the Lord’s church. In the church one serves under the headship of Christ (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18) to give glory to God (Eph. 3:21). In Christ, his spiritual body the church, we enjoy all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3), where there is no condemnation (Rom. 8:1). Each of these, I believe, refers to the church universal, to being a member of the body of Christ. There are duties which cannot be obeyed, blessings which cannot be received, unless and until one is also a member of a local congregation, such as the church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:1), Smyrna (Rev. 1:8), etc.

The New Testament also sets forth strong, clear reasons for being a member of a local congregation. There is no such thing in the New Testament as a “member at large.” Saul of Tarsus “assayed to join himself to the disciples” (Acts 9:26). To the immature, nominal ones who “play church” all of the things to be mentioned may not seem like blessings. To those who truly want to go to heaven, the blessedness will be seen. Consider, with me, some blessing associated with membership in a local congregation.

Fellowship In Worship

When we meet together, as brothers and sisters in Christ, as the spiritual children of the Heavenly Father, to offer worship to God, we can draw strength one from another. Our God recognized this need, and such is shown in our worship. When we are “making melody with y(our) heart(s) to the Lord” we are also “speaking one to another” (Eph. 5:19), we are “teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16). When we partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week, we “proclaim the Lord’s death” (1 Cor. 11:26). Working alone, worshiping alone, standing alone, and serving alone are discouraging (see Rom. 11:2-3,4). We ought to recognize the blessing of being able to worship with others.

Fellowship In Work

The basic meaning of “fellowship” is “joint participation.” Fellowship in work means that all are working. If you are not working (there is more work to be done than there are willing workers) you are not in this fellowship. Surely it is good, is a real blessing, to be able to share the work (consider 1 Cor. 12:12f). There are some people whom I cannot reach with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but you can reach them. For this, I thank God, and see a great blessing in having others (you) to work with me.

Being Able To Do Work Afar

Few of us could individually support a gospel preacher . . . but together (in a local church) we can help with the Lord’s’s work in other states, in other nations. Few of us could afford to preach over the radio, through the newspaper, publish a bulletin, etc., but together (as a local congregation of God’s people) we can and do. Our little bit, in comparison to the great need, is multiplied and the work is being done. There is, beloved, much more to do.

Blessings Of Brotherly Love

In times of physical problems, thank God for brethren who care. In times of a spiritual crisis, some care enough to be there. Some love enough to “reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Tim. 4:1-2), when it is needed. “Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden” (Prov. 27:5). It even helps when one says, “We missed you.” When someone is there when we must cry “Help! “, we have received a great blessing from God.

Elders’ Watchful Care

If you are working, serving in a congregation that is fully organized, having qualified elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9) who are concerned for your soul, you are enjoying a blessing from God, found only in being a member of a local church of Christ. Elders are such only in a local congregation (1 Pet. 5:2). Elders must give account for your soul and how they worked for its salvation (Heb. 13:17). Your obligation is to obey (Heb. 13:17a); this is done only in the local church. Dear reader, Matthew 11:17 cannot be obeyed except through local church membership.

When an elder, as God’s appointed shepherd of the flock, comes to you to encourage, to strengthen, to reprove or to rebuke they are a blessing to you. Those people who are determined to live as the world see such ones as meddlers, busy-bodies; but those who want to go to heaven will see a blessing from God. This blessing is given only through local church membership.

Church Discipline

This, too, is a blessing. So many times when corrective discipline is mentioned someone will say, “It will drive them away.” Such is not the purpose. We strive to bring the erring back to God’s fold (2 Thess. 3:14; 2 Cor. 2:5-9) thus the blessedness.

Conclusion

We need to be thankful to God for all of his blessings to us. We need to be thankful for the blessings associated with being a child of God, a member of the body of Christ, which is the church of Christ. We also need to be thankful for the blessings associated with being a member of a local congregation. If you have never obeyed the gospel of Christ, you are not a child of God and are missing all of these blessings God has provided for you.

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 18, p. 554
September 17, 1992

By Bobbie Jean Cook Burnette

Recently, I was privileged to accompany my husband on one of his foreign preaching trips to Jamaica, an island country about 156 miles long and 51 miles wide, in the West Indies. One would think that it would be no problem to cover this territory. However, this is not true because the roads are barely passable. In fact, I reason that this must be the “pothole” capital of the world.

As I traveled in this country I began to consider how so many things reminded me of Bible times. Thus, I began notes for this article.

First, I noted that the people are ready to go everywhere they can to preach and teach the gospel. It reminded me of Matthew 28:19. Someone has aptly noted that God contains the word go while Satan contains the word sat. Constantly teaching in home Bible classes as well as publicly was done. It was 10:30 almost every night when we would get home.

Secondly, I observed the poor were ever present. Not only did I witness poor as in poverty, but I saw the poor in spirit as well. Scriptures such as Job 24:4; 29:12; Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalms 34:6; 40:17; Matthew 26:11; Proverbs 30:9; 14:31; 19:15,24; and many others came to mind concerning the poverty of this people. Yet others came into focus such as Isaiah 41:17; Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20; and Zechariah 11:11 revealing the attitude of the Jamaican people who were willing to study and learn from God’s word.

Another similarity in Bible times that was so vivid was the presence of beggars on every corner, in front of prominent buildings, and on every hand. Again, I was reminded of scriptures such as Psalms 109:10, 20:4, and especially Luke 16:3,20-3 1, telling about the famous beggar, Lazarus.

Of course, one would constantly be aware of another great commodity so prominent in Bible times – water. Jamaica is surrounded by the beautiful Caribbean Sea so blue, clear, and wide. One could just visualize the Sea of Galilee, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Caspian Sea, very visible in Bible times.

Along with the prominent seas are also many rivers in Jamaica which flow into the Caribbean. As we traveled we could see these rivers as they joined the waters of the sea. I could almost picture in my mind the mighty Jordan River where John baptized Jesus and did so much of his work because there was much water as we find in John 1:28, Matthew 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-22, Mark 1:9-11, and especially John 3:23. This is basically where the Jamaicans baptize the sea or the rivers – for most of the buildings for worship are not equipped with baptisteries as here in the States. One can just see the Scriptures come alive before his eyes as he witnesses the rivers sweeping away into the seas as in Judges 5:21.

Rivers of pleasure abound in the country of Jamaica causing Psalms 36:8 to come into focus. They have a resort called Hedonism II in the city of Nigril where, I am told, “anything goes.” I saw several school buses in the city of Savanna La Mar with this advertised on them. When I inquired about its meaning, I was informed about this place. Later, in one of our journeys we passed this resort which appears as others with beautiful flowers, trees, shrubs, etc. Isn’t this the way sin always presents itself?

One cannot go to Jamaica without realizing that transportation is so much like that in Bible times. Donkeys are everywhere. One morning I walked out on the veranda and saw a donkey going down the middle of the city street. Very few Jamaicans own cars. The most prominent mode of travel is walking. Some ride donkeys or carts pulled by donkeys. Others do have access to public buses or vans. Bicycles are used extensively, too. Yet amid all this lack of commodious travel opportunities, one finds brethren getting to worship on the Lord’s Day as well as for their mid-week services which may vary from Wednesdays to Thursdays or even Fridays. On Sundays they meet only once but for three and four hours once they assemble, With treacherous roads, presence of robbers, pedestrians everywhere along the roads, and animals tied to the sides of the roads, Jamaicans can still be seen traveling to worship God not unlike the Ethiopian eunuch as in Acts 8:27-39. And, we will stand in the judgment with these same ones who battle many hardships while we have access to good roads, comfortable vehicles with air conditions, buildings with padded pews and every conceivable convenience, and still we find many who continue to forsake the assembling together no matter when it is!

These Jamaicans remind me of bands of disciples in Bible times, who, in spite of poverty, heat, danger, and treacherous roads, still met together to praise God and worship him.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:12,13).

The word temptation (peirasmos) “is used of (1) trials with a beneficial purpose and effect [cf. James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6]; . . . (2) Of trial definitely designed to lead to wrong doing; . . . (3) Of ‘trying’ or challenging God, by men” (Vine, Expository Dictionary of N. T. Words, p. 622). The first definition has to do with trials which test and/or prove a person; i.e. how real, sincere, or true is his faith. The se Genesis 3:9 could not have been more highlighted than when I listened to one of the Jamaican brethren tell of his labors in the sugar cane fields for eight or nine hours per day to be paid only the equivalent of $2.50 in our money. Hera, that same man was there each service that week singing praises to God, praying, and studying God’s word. I could also imagine James 1:11 and Matthew 20:12 as I listened to his story.

Other things such as storms quickly forming over the sea accompanied by floods would also remind me of Bible times. One day we were caught in one of these floods, and I was quickly reminded of Paul’s journey in Acts 27 and 28. Although we were in a different kind of vessel, I, too, knew in whose hands our safety lay. And, I believed God would protect us as he did Paul. Acts 27:25, “for I believe God.”

Zeal was so much manifested in the lives of the Jamaicans. Some of this is as in Romans 10:2. For its size, I was told Jamaica has more religions than any other country. Yet most is zeal without knowledge as Paul observed in Acts 17. However, we witnessed much zeal according to knowledge as in Psalms 69:9, 2 Kings 10:16, 2 Corinthians 7:11, and Colossians 4:13 in the lives of so many Jamaicans.

Certainly we could not conclude our thoughts about these similarities without mentioning that the Jamaicans are anxious as those in Bible times to triump through Jesus Christ. Scriptures again surface to remind us of their desire, as should be ours as well. Exodus 15:1, Psalms 25:2, 92:4, 106:47. The Jamaicans seem to thrive on the words of Paul in Philippians 4:13 when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I seem to hear the Jamaicans say to me, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” Do these words resound in your ears, too?

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 18, pp. 556-557
September 17, 1992

By Lewis Willis

An incident in the ministry of Jesus, recorded in Mark 11:15-33, is the focus of attention in this article. Jesus had entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. In the temple he found common, marketplace trade being conducted. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of them that sold doves and cast them out of the temple. Jesus quoted from Isaiah 56:7 that the temple, God’s house, was to be “the house of prayer.” He charged that they had made it “a den of thieves.” Though what these people were doing was clearly wrong, the scribes and chief priests sought to destroy Jesus for what he had done.

The next day, Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem briefly, When they returned, as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes and the elders came to him with a question. “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?” (v. 28) Jesus said that he had a question for them, which if they answered, he would tell them the authority with which he acted. He asked if the baptism of John was from heaven or from men? The Jews reasoned that if they said it was from heaven, Jesus would ask why they had not believed John the Baptist. At the same time, they feared the people if they said it was from men, because the people considered John to be a prophet. Thus, their answer to his question was, “We cannot tell.” Jesus said, if they would not answer his question, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things” (v. 33).

Had their motives been noble, the Jews asked Jesus a good question when they asked, by what authority doest thou these things? Had they been submitting to the authority of God themselves, they could have demanded to know the authority by which Jesus acted. What Jesus did was to expose their hypocrisy. Because they rejected his Deity, they were looking for some occasion to charge him with blasphemy. Hence, he knew they were insincere with their question, and that was what prompted him to reply as he did.

Nonetheless, we need to work a while with the question, by what authority certain things are being done. We will allow these hypocritical Jews to give us our thought. We need to be asking some questions about the authority with which people are doing in religion some of the things that we observe.

1. By what authority does the Catholic church ascribe to the Pope his supposed headship over the church? The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ, the Christ alone, was given that function (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).

2. By what authority do Protestant denominations teach that salvation comes by faith alone? Many of them do, such as the Baptist and Methodist churches. The Bible says we are not saved by faith alone (Jas. 2:24).

3. By what authority do Pentecostal churches teach that we today are baptized with the Holy Ghost, can speak in tongues, and receive further revelations from God? The Bible plainly teaches that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was promised to the Apostles (Acts 1:1-6); that the gift of speaking in tongues would cease when the perfect revelation was given (1 Cor. 13:8-10; Jas. 1:25); and that the revelation of God’s will was given “once” and not thousands of different times (Jude 3).

4. By what authority does the Christian church use mechanical instruments of music in their worship? The New Testament is emphatic in teaching us that we should “sing” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Jas. 5:13).

5. By what authority do some Churches of Christ build facilities (called fellowship halls) out of treasury funds for dinners and games? The Scriptures teach that “eating” is to be done at home (1 Cor. 11:22,34); and there is absolutely no assignment to the church to engage in recreational activities – it is assigned only the works of edification, benevolence and evangelism (Eph. 4:12).

It is evident that many things are done in religion for which there is absolutely no authority! It is surprising that this would be done when we are taught that every doctrine and action is to be done by the authority of the Lord (Col. 3:17). Respect for God, for Christ and for the New Testament demands that we confine our practices to those things they have authorized. Anything more or anything less is sin.

“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. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 Jn. 9-11). This is a lesson that must be learned or we will repeatedly jeopardize our relationship with God!

Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 18, p. 555
September 17, 1992