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"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
Standing for Sound Doctrine
Dean Robinson
The longer that the Lord tarries His coming, the more it seems evident that we are living in the "last days", as Paul declared in II Tim. 3:1, when "perilous times shall come." The worse it gets, the greater the need is for the true saints of God to take a stand for the Lord & His truth.
But over the years an attitude has seem to have developed and grown more popular (due mainly to the mainline Charismatics and interdenominationalists) that we of all the "Christian" world can lay aside our "petty differences" and love each other as brothers in Christ. The problem with this is not loving one another as brothers in Christ. The Bible definitely teaches brotherly love among the brethren.
But the problem is defining just what are the "petty differences." When these "petty differences" are closely examined, scrutinized, and carefully studied out, it is more than just being trivial & insignificant. For the most part it is in reality a doctrinal difference. This idea of "sloppy love" and overlooking our differences of opinions and beliefs is the same ecumenical trap that the whole religious world is falling into.
But whenever you take a hard, straight stand on the doctrines of the Word of God, you automatically are branded for life as being one who creates division & strife among the brethren.
These so-called "petty differences" are more than just "petty differences". Nine times out of ten it is a doctrinal issue. We have been accused of "majoring on the minors" and "minoring on the majors". But if it is a doctrine of the Word of God, it is all major in the eyes of the Lord. We believe that the Word of God instructs us to teach, preach, promote, spread, stand on sound doctrine.
Whenever sound doctrine is preached, it should cause & create "division". It will divide those who do stand for the truth and those who do not. The Word of God taught & preached in its purity and power will divide for the "the word of God is quick,and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
Whenever we take a stand upon the doctrines of the Word of God, we are not attempting to create strife, trouble, or division among the brethren nor does it mean that we hate everybody. We are simply doing what God would have us to do for we believe "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine." At Tabernacle Baptist we try to follow the same principle as Paul testified to the Ephesian elders, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).
Paul exhorted Timothy to "preach the word," not just one doctrine. We are to preach all sound doctrine, the entire Word of God! May God grant unto us His grace, strength, and power to faithfully stand upon and proclaim all the doctrines of the Word of God, even as Paul encouraged the church at Thessalonica, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle" (II Thess. 2:15).
My prayer is that every member of Tabernacle Baptist Church will be faithful & loyal to stand behind our pastor and support our church in your prayers & service unto the Lord as we strive to do God's perfect will and carry on His work as it would be pleasing unto Him. Paul warned Timothy, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine" (II Tim. 4:3).
Brethren, we are living in such a day now. But in the midst of such an hour, Paul also exhorted Timothy, "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (II Tim. 4:5). May Tabernacle Baptist Church continue to faithfully stand upon sound doctrine without fear or favor of man.