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"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
A House Divided
Gordon Silcox
From The Plains Baptist Challenger, January 2014
"But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth." (Luke 11:17
There are today a great number of people who are deeply concerned about the modernistic, liberal, socialistic, and communistic trends in the churches. Many honest and sincere people are greatly disturbed about the denomination or church where they attend on Sunday. They have seen this apostasy increase in their church until their pastor not only is preaching socialism and communism, but is openly supporting it. These sincere Christians are concerned about the lack of genuine Bible exposition in their churches. These honest Christians have seen their churches turn from the preaching of God's Word to the preaching of fables and fairy tales. These Christians have a right to be disturbed and concerned. Yet, they are not sure what to do or what the answer is.
This new socialistic, liberal message that is soft on sin has even infiltrated into some of the professing Bible churches. It is properly called in these cases "New Evangelicalism". Now my friend, what should you do about it? Should you stay in those churches and fight for what you believe or should you come out and go somewhere else to worship? Some believe that they should stay in and fight and try to clean up the churches. Others believe that by staying in they will be able to influence those churches for good and help reach many who are still in these apostate denominations. But, my friend, it is not what we think, but what the Bible says on this all important subject that matters. Is it scriptural to stay in?
The Bible says, II Corinthians 6:17 — "...come out from among them...." My friend, you may be able to stand in that church. You may even have an opportunity to preach to them, but what about your children? Are you going to be able to sit in on all the classes and see that they do not teach your children improperly? Yes, you may be able to stand, but you may lose your children as a result! Not only that, you may influence others to stay which in turn might even send some to Hell. Why not do what the Bible says?
Take your Bible and let us see the clear teaching of God's Word on this matter. The Bible says in Amos 3:3 — "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Light and darkness do not mix. II Corinthians 6:14-17 is a passage of scripture you should read. Note II Corinthians 6:14 and 17 — "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness... Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." The unsaved religionists are trying to tell us today that we can peacefully co-exist with the enemies of the cross and the enemies of our nation. That is an untruth. There can be no peaceful coexistence with sin, communism, or Biblical heresy.
Another false idea that exists is that if people do leave their churches, it will cause much confusion. It is true that the Bible says that God is not the author of confusion. (I Corinthians 14:33). But, my friend, there will be less confusion if you follow the Bible and come out from among them. That is a scriptural stand and will not cause confusion because the world will see and understand the difference between the saved and the lost, the true and the false.
The Bible tells us what to do with these apostate religious leaders and churches. The Bible says, reprove them, Ephesians 5:11 — "... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." To reprove means to kindly correct a fault (Galatians 6:1). However, this should be done in the spirit and in love. If they refuse to listen, it may be that they are unregenerated (II Corinthians 11:13-15). The next step is to rebuke them. Titus 1:1-13 has the answer. Read Titus 1:13 — "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."
That is why Paul told Timothy, II Timothy 4:2 — "Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering..." Then when this fails, refuse them (II John 7-11). I Timothy 4:1-2 tells of the last day apostasy and the false doctrine that will prevail. As a last resort, God says, reject them. Titus 3:10 — "A man that is a heretick after the first and second admonition reject." These false prophets and heretics are all over today and in every denomination.
That is why it says in II Corinthians 6:17 — "...come out from among them..." II Peter 2:1-2 and I John 4:1-4 describes them. We are told in Romans 16:17 — "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." It's just as simple as the old principle of one bad apple in a bushel of apples. If you do not remove the bad apple there will soon be many more bad apples. That is what has happened to the churches today.
These denominations failed to put out the false prophets and teachers and now these ungodly men have many ungodly converts and, therefore, the majority of the churches and denominations are unregenerated. Jude warned that this would happen (Jude verse 4). Paul also warned that this would happen (Acts 20:28-31).
My friend, if you attend one of these modernistic apostate churches that is a member of the World or National Council of Churches, you are helping support atheists, socialists, evolutionists, communists and the deniers of the faith. Your house is divided. How can the Spirit and power rest upon you? God never blesses anything contrary to His Word. Why not become obedient to the Scriptures?
You may honestly ask, what can I do? The answer is simple, come out of the apostate church and join a genuine New Testament Bible preaching, Bible believing church. You may say, "Well, there isn't any like that in our town!" Then start one. Find a Godly pastor in a New Testament Church and ask him to help you start one. If he is God's man, he will be pleased to help you, because he knows the blessing of God rests on those who follow the Bible. Some may say, "I should do that but it will be too hard, and so I will just not go to church anywhere." The Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling and fellowshipping together with the saints (Hebrews 10:19-25).
Why not be a man for God and take your stand with all the saints of the past and the present age who are willing to stand up and be counted for Christ. Why not follow the Biblical injunction to come out from among them and take your stand for the faith once delivered to the saints? It does make a difference where you attend church. Why support a church or denomination that does not preach the Bible or stand for the historic Christian faith? Why support a church that does not believe what you do and what the Bible teaches? Why not attend a genuine New Testament Bible preaching church? My friend, that is the clear command of God. If it's the Bible you want, attend a genuine Bible preaching church. James 4:17 — "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."