Practicing What We Preach
The Apostle Paul chastises the Jews of his day for teaching one thing and practicing another. In Rom 2:21-24, "Thou therefore that teaches another, teachest thou not thyself?" Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law through breaking the law dishonoreth thou God. On one occasion Jesus told his
disciples that "thou scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: all there fore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works; for the say and do not." - Matt. 23:2-3
It is
evident by these scriptures that the practice of saying one thing and practicing that which is different is not something that is peculiar to our day, but it is being practiced in our day.
Article I of the
"Articles of Faith of the Standard Manual for the Baptist Churches" by Edward T. Hiscox DD says "we believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author,
salvation for its end and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is and shall remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard
by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried." ( Page 58 )
This statement concerning the Bible is true, but does the author of the statement truly believe what he said? It is evident he does
not, for he would not have written a creed to follow instead of the Bible.
On page 56 of the same manual we read, "all evangelical churches profess to take the holy scriptures as their only and sufficient guide in
matters of religious faith and practice. Baptist, especially, claim to have no authoritative creed except the New Testament."
How can one claim that they have no authoritative creed except the New Testament when
the very statement is written in a creed which is not the New Testament?
The Baptist are not the only ones who speak with a forked tongue. Some churches of Christ publish in the newspapers that they" speak where
the scriptures speak and are silent where the scriptures are silent". They accept the scripture as their only and sufficient guide in matters of religious faith and practice.
As we search our New Testaments for a
guide for the church to follow in providing recreation, suppers, gymnasiums, kitchens, and other social functions, what passage do we find? What one of the New Testament churches do we read of that engaged in such? Those that practice such today while
making the claim of the all sufficiency of scripture to guide them in matters of religious faith and practice usually justify their practice by reasoning, not by scripture. We hear them say "if it is good for the individual then it would be good for the
church". We eat together at McDonalds, so we can build a kitchen and use the church basement as a cafeteria. We as Christians play ball together, so why not form a ball team and call it a Church of Christ team? Should we not practice what we
preach?
As we search our New Testament for a guide for the church to follow in the use of church funds to build or contribute to human institutions for the care of the fatherless and widows, sick and infirm,
old, unwed mothers, what passage do we find? What one of the New Testament churches contributed her funds to a human institution of any kind? Those that practice such today while making the claim of the all sufficiency of the scripture to guide them in
matters of religious faith and practice usually justify there practice by reasoning, not by scripture.
We hear them say it is a method of "how" and ignore the fact that the scriptures establish "who" is to do
this work. Paul said; "unto him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end" - Eph 3:21. The Acts of the Apostles in various places shows us how the apostolic church cared for her widows, needy and by her own
organization-Acts 4:35-35 -Acts 6:1-5 -Acts 11:29-30. Should we not practice what we preach?
As we search our New Testament for a guide to follow in the practice of divorcing one's mate for a cause except for
sexual unfaithfulness and marrying another, what passage do we find? What church taught such in New Testament times? Those that practice and teach such today while making the claim of the all sufficiency of scripture to guide them in matters of
religious faith and practice, usually justify their teaching and practice by reasoning not by scripture. If we sincerely believe, "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" - 2 Tim 3:16-17, should we not practice what we preach?
Paul
Rockwell
Return To Voice Of The Valley Main
Index
Return To April, 1997 Volume 3 Issue 2