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"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
Is God’s Word The Final Authority?
Todd Brainard
Maranatha Baptist Watchman
"Now we command you, Brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
"And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (II Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15)
Bishop J. C. Ryle once wrote, "Controversy in religion is a hateful thing. It is hard enough to fight the Devil, the world, and the flesh, without private differences in our own camp. But there is one thing which is even worse than controversy, and that is false doctrine tolerated, allowed, and permitted without protest or molestation."
Dr. James M. Gray, author of the Home Bible Study Commentary, had this to say about controversy, "Controversy? It is either controversy with the powers of darkness, or compromise with them, or silence which gives consent that they may have their way."
The command has been given, the Word of God has spoken. There is no room for concession. Fence straddlers beware! Obedience to the Word of God will not always bring the applause of other believers.
It will never be popular to expose dangerous trends and error in ministries and personalities. But faithful obedience to the Word will bring glory to God and a "well done thou good and faithful servant" from the Bema of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.