Is your theology the absolute? Many times we want to use our theology as our absolute, but theologies are as far as the east is from the west in comparison. We have Jewish, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, western, eastern, and I can go on and on.
The one thing we can say about all of them is that they all think that they are right and that the others are all wrong. So, we make all of our decisions by our theology and our absolutes may be in error or wrong. Most theology is based on a truth but it is intermingled with error, and some gross error. Many cases the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient, but we don’t want to take it to lasciviousness.
Now one might say “Brother I know the absolute is the King James Bible!” We all say yea and amen. But then I can say that the Baptist preacher, Pentecostal preacher, the Calvinist preacher, the Armenian preacher, Trinitarian preacher, Oneness preacher, and I could go on and on, and all use the same King James Bible, but their views and doctrines are miles apart.
Then when we differentiate between them, and we see theology and ideology mix and it sets them apart. We find them chiding with one another on a daily basis. I may say that their absolutes are questionable.
I find a lot of people that are under the grace of God. They love the Lord, and I would even go on to say that they are very sincere. But they may have doctrines with error. I can go on to say that most of the above denominations, doctrines, and theologies have very awesome and powerful truths, but they are intermingled with very gross errors. Now, one might ask what would give me the authority, or what am I using for my absolute, to make such a statement? I know that I am no better than you are. But I can say one thing. I examine myself to see if I be in the faith. But this isn’t about me. The purpose of this article is about you. What makes you think that you and your family are right in their theology? What makes you think that your church is right in its doctrines? I have counseled men and women alike that are so dogmatic that they don’t ever consider nor challenge themselves to see if they be in the faith. I challenged a man with his own King James Bible. I asked, “Sir, with all respect, if I could show you in your Bible that the statement you just made is error, would you reconsider or change?” He said, “No. I was born a Baptist, I’ve been raised a Baptist, and I will die a Baptist.” The error I was referring to had nothing to do with being a Baptist. It had to do with the Word of God. I was exposing the ignorance of overconfidence and having the wrong absolute.
Is your absolute or the strength of your faith built upon a foundation other than Christ? Let me give you an example. Your family may have been a part of a religious order or a denomination that is based around Jesus Christ, maybe the Mormons, Jehovah Witness, Catholics, Baptist, United Pentecostal Church, Assemblies of God, etc. You may say you know some of these have errors mixed in with some wonderful truths. But I could go on to say that many of the Pentecostals don’t see eye to eye on the Word, but they feel like they are standing on the absolute Word of God and that they are right, and that if any one doesn’t agree with them, then they are in error. So again we come back to what is the absolute?
One may say, I know that Jesus Christ is the absolute. Again, we all say yea and amen. Is it the Catholic Jesus, the Mormon Jesus, the United Pentecostal Church Jesus, or the Jesus that the homosexual community uses to justify their perversion? So, now again, which Jesus is the absolute? These doctrines project a Jesus that has a different mind, a different purpose, and a different way to eternal life.
When I interview people from these different denominations and doctrines, they all seem to be so sure that they are right and they are in the Word and are partakers of the absolute. They will defend themselves and their church with a real dogmatic arrogance, many times with a self-righteous demeanor.
I’m sorry to say that most of the time when you are defending your belief, it isn’t in the defense of the Word of God. It is done in a way of pride, defending your own self with a desire of being right and the others being wrong. Even if you are right, the spirit or demeanor that you are projecting could be very un-Christ like and turn one away from the truth. My Bible says that you that win souls are wise.
One might ask, what is the purpose of this article? Are you going to point us to the absolute? I say the purpose is to get you to consider. I have found over the many years of serving God that people will say that your denomination isn’t right. You might ask the question, “What is that statement based on?” Well, my Grandma, my pastor, etc. But they have no strength to back their claim. I find that people will bundle themselves in like-minded groups and fellowship one with another, and that is great. But yet, we sometimes see that it strengthens error just as much as it binds truth. You may say I would never fellowship with a Calvinist or an Armenian, but you may be missing out on a doctrinal truth. I am not trying to pull us all into a big compromising bundle here. But sometimes, we have to look past our little denominational walls to see that there is more to God than what your denomination or your theology is offering. Yes, be careful, because I have seen people that eat so much trash out there that they are just a confused mess.
I Corinthians 2:12-14: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The above Scripture teaches us that the things of God have to be spiritually discerned. Pray and ask God to grant unto the spirit of discernment.
John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
There is one thing that is the absolute, and that is without question. Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
When you have the mind of Christ, it will lead you into all truth, and it will set you free from all error. The mind of Christ frees you from private interpretation of the Word of God. The mind of Christ frees you from your ideology. It frees you from false doctrine, over confidence, self-righteousness. It will set you free.
Ephesians 1:16-17: “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.”
Brothers, sisters and friends, ask God to grant unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit and His mind that you can discern all things by His Spirit, and He will lead you into all truth. God bless.
Pastor Rob Coones
This message, along with other printed and audio teachings by our pastor, Bro. Rob Coones, are available on our web site, and published for free distribution. For more copies, write to the address below, and state how many tracts you can wisely use.
Christian Temple Ministerial Association
3844 Mount Gilead Church Road
Sophia, NC 27350-8820 USA