“Brother
Bob, I hear you’re against the Lord’s Supper, water baptism and the New
Covenant.”
Are you serious? I’m no more
against the Lord’s Supper, water baptism or the New Covenant than I’m against
Noah’s ark or the tabernacle or the brazen serpent Moses lifted up in the
wilderness.
Though the ark, the tabernacle and brazen serpent played significant
roles in early times, I think you’ll agree that it would be a huge mistake to
build those items now and try to fit them into God’s program today.
The same may be said of all physical ordinances!
It’s fatal to sound doctrine to practice today what God made obsolete almost
2000 yrs ago.
“But brother, surely you’re aware that most all of Christendom - from the
Vatican on down to the smallest countrified church in America - believe in those
things. Are you ready to say you’re
right and everybody else is wrong?
My friend, God is right and anyone who doesn’t agree with Him is wrong!
“But the majority...think of the majority, preacher man.... think of the
thousands of gifted students of the Bible around the world, many of whom speak
Greek and Hebrew fluently; some hold Ph.D., Th.D., D.D., Litt.D. degrees from
some of the most prestigious seminaries on earth...and you’re willing to pit
your limited knowledge against these giants of the faith?
I don’t see any humility in that!”
Allow me to put it this way, my friend: regardless of the academic
achievements of such men in the field of theology—and I’m quite sure some have
mind-boggling records—we all have to come back to the Bible. Only there can we
safely weigh our spiritual convictions against the convictions of others.
Moreover, God is not looking for theological giants.
All He wants from that vast sea of humanity out there are men and women
who have ears to hear and hearts to obey. That’s all. Or, as Isaiah wrote,
“...but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor [realizes that of and
in himself he has nothing God needs], and of a contrite [i.e., humble] spirit,
and trembleth at my Word.” [he’s quick to respond when God speaks]
Isa. 66:2. And who of us do
not need to ask ourselves this question from time to time: how do
I measure up in this matter of
obedience when God speaks?
As for the majority, my inquisitive friend, outside of Noah and his
family during the flood, and for a brief period afterwards,
WHEN HAS
THE MAJORITY EVER BEEN SPIRITUALLY
RIGHT??
We both know the answer to that one, as the following references clearly
illustrate:
Matthew 7:13-14; Numbers 14:1-10 and Exodus 23:2.