THE WORLD AND FALSE RELIGIONS - CAN THEY TEACH THE VERY BODY OF
CHRIST TRUE CHRISTIANITY?
by
Keith Hunt
Is it possible that an individual who has not been called by
God, does not know the truths of the Lord, is not even interested
in any kind of "religion" - just rides along with the world and
many of its ways, who is merely a product of their environment
and up bringing, can actually TEACH the members of the very true
Church of God, aspects of true Christianity?
Can a group of persons, a "club" of individuals, an
organizations of people, who do not obey many of the laws and
commandments of the Eternal, who are blinded to many truths of
the word of the Lord, who practice false customs, who believe
false doctrines, who are deceived (maybe sincere, but sincerely
wrong) by the god of this world, TEACH the members of the true
body of Jesus, certain aspects of true Christianity?
Is it correct to say to members of the Church of God, the
church that Christ said He would build and that the gates of
hell(the grave) would never prevail against it. Is it correct to
say to them: Look at this individual or this organization and
take a lesson on what is true Christianity (used in the context
of a certain aspect/point of Christianity)?
SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH SOMETIMES TEACHES US WITHIN
The "church" - the called out ones of God, to whom the Lord
revealed Himself, gave them His laws and commandments, formed a
covenant with them, entered into a marriage agreement with them,
said they were His, did NOT begin on the feast or day of
Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. That was the start of the New
Testament(NT) Church of God. But the Old Testament nation of
Israel is also called the "church in the wildemess(Acts 7:38).
Those who were not Israelites, who were Gentiles, were as a
whole, WITHOUT GOD in the world "being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of
promise, having no hope ...(Eph.2:12).
Jesus was at Capemaum, a centurion, a Gentile, came
beseeching Him to heal his servant who he loved. Christ offered
to come to his home, but the man said he was unworthy to have Him
under his roof, "....but speak the word only, and my servant
shall be healed" said the man to Jesus.
He went on to show how he understood Jesus to have authority
over such matters for he also was a man with authority in ceratin
physical things pertaining to this life. It is written: "When
Jesus heard it, He MARVELLED, and said to them that followed,
verily I say unto you, I have NOT FOUND SO GREAT FAITH, NO, NOT
IN ISRAEL" (Mat.8:10).
Wow! A man not part of the commonwealth of Israel, an
outsider, a man uncircumcised, as the Jews would have called him.
They would have called him a lot worse - a "dog" - unclean,
definitely not part of the true "church in the wilderness" but a
part of them who were basically without God in the world. AND
THIS MAN WAS TEACHING ISRAEL A LESSON IN FAITH FOR HEALING!
Jesus was impressed! I guess He was, especially when you
consider He had to tell His very disciples "oh, you of little
faith" at one point, and they lived, walked, ate, saw day after
day His miracles, and were so close to Him so much of the time.
One day while in the area of Tyre and Sidon, a Greek woman,
a Gentile, a woman not part of the nation of Israel, a woman
outside of the covenants of promise, a part of the world without
God, came to Jesus asking Him to cast the demon out of her
daughter. Jesus answered in no uncertain a manner, in a way that
most would not only have been upset with but darn right angry
with, certainly in a way that was not "politically correct" and
many today would say was out and out "racist."
Yet this unconverted woman, this "dog" from the Gentiles,
answered in a manner that used the kind of wisdom that many in
the "church" could LEARN from. She said: "Yes, Lord, yet the dogs
under the table eat of the children's crumbs"(Mark 7:28).
Jesus was impressed! Because she answered correctly in this
particular situation - her request was granted.
Oh, we should be learning from this another point. God can
and does answer the requests of those outside "the church of God"
if He desires and wills.
Is it wrong to have WISDOM? Why of course not! James was
inspired to tell us that if we CHRISTIANS, lacked wisdom (ah, ah,
God's people are often unwise then), then we should ask the Lord
for it(James 1:5). True wisdom does come from God as Prov.2:6,7
shows.
Now turn to Luke chapter 16. Jesus here gives a parable to
TEACH the children of light an important lesson. Note verse 8,
"....for the children of THIS WORLD are in their generation wiser
than the children of light."
The reader may want to read (if not already done so) my
article called "Worldly Wisdom - Should Christians Have It?
Wisdom is from God, true members of the church of God should have
wisdom, yet often it is the unconverted children of darkness, who
could TEACH US a thing or two about the topic of wisdom, so said
Christ, so it is written.
GENTILES TAUGHT CHURCH AT CORINTH A POINT OF GOD'S LAW!
The problems the people of God had who lived in the city of
Corinth is plain to see, only too plain I am afraid. They had
"spiritual gifts" unmatched by any other church of God, yet at
the same time, they seem to have had as much fame in "carnal"
ways also. Paul even had to say to them: "I could not speak unto
you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto BABES in
Christ"(1 Cor.3:1).
Now a babe, although human, does not know yet much about
life or how to live as an adult, lots and lots to learn. So here
was a group of Christians, part of the true body of Christ,
called out of this world, given the truths of God, brought from
darkness to the light, shown what sin was, brought to baptism and
conversion, given the Spirit of God, yet only babes in spiritual
growth, much more carnal than spiritual. Still they were
classified by Paul as "in Christ."
Yes, this shows us clearly that Christians are not PERFECT
when they receive the Spirit of God to make them children of God.
There is GROWING TO DO! And sometimes our own lack of human
character pushes away the working of the character of God in us
via his Holy Spirit.
Turn to chapter 5. Mark verse ONE well. There was
FORNICATION being practiced in the church at Corinth, and the
whole congregation KNEW about it, and were ALLOWING IT! A man was
having sexual relations with his father's wife! This was a part
of sexual immorality that was against the law of God - it was
SIN! And sin is the breaking of the law (1 John 3:4; Rom.7:7).
Paul pulled no punches, he told them what they should do about it
and the man involved.
But notice verse one again, notice what Paul told the
brethren at Corinth. "...and such FORNICATION as is NOT SO MUCH
AS NAMED AMONG THE GENTILES...." Gentiles, the UNCONVERTED of the
world, those not a part of the true church of God, those not
called by the Lord, who really did not have the covenants of
promise and the law of God, who were by and large the children of
darkness. These Gentiles COULD TEACH the church at Corinth a
thing or two about the law of God pertaining to the specific
topic of "incest." It was not named among them!
At the time Paul wrote, the Gentiles around the city of
Corinth were obeying the law of God concerning incest. Paul was
telling them the Gentiles did not even do this sin and here it
was in their very midst, being openly practiced and they were
turning a blind eye to it.
Is it possible for person or groups of persons to teach us
an aspect of true Christianity while they themselves are not a
part of the body of Christ?
EVEN THOSE OUTSIDE THE TRUE CHURCH CAN TEACH US
INSIDE THE CHURCH POINTS OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY
Sometimes through time and chance, by common trial and
error, or with simple human logic, people of the unconverted
world, or from the false deceived "religious" community, can hit
upon a truth and law of God. They can "get it right" or be in
sink with the very law of the Eternal. They can do this ALL THE
WHILE the very true children of God are yet still "camal" and as
"babes in Christ" having to grow up in this truth that ones in
the world have come to see and practice.
In Romans chapter two, beginning with verse 14 we read: "For
when the Gentiles, which have not the law (revealed to them with
God's special calling), do by NATURE the things contained in the
law, these, having not the law (specially revealed) are a law
unto themselves (time, chance and logic). Which show the work of
the law written in their hearts..."
Paul goes on to show that those called into the commonwealth
of God's people, who believe they are of the light and know the
deep truths of the Lord, who can teach the secrets of God to
others, are often guilty of breaking in some point, the way of
the Eternal while claiming to be in the true "body of God." This
goes on while at the same time the blinded (overall to the ways
and laws of the Lord) have found and are practicing certain
truths of the law of God, that those inside the church of Christ
are breaking, and are yet to "grow up into" the fullness and
stature of.
Some from the parents they had and how they were taught by
them, or by their educational institution, by the culture of
their society or nation, even from their own rational thoughts
and logic (a native in deep Africa may come to see that it is not
good to kill a person from another tribe, as his friends may
could and kill him), have found certain truths of the Lord, and
are living them.
Even many varying Christian religious denominations by a
collective effort on the part of its leaders, as they logically
study the word of God, have come to see certain specific points
of truth contained in that word. An example would be the Roman
Catholic church, who I and many in the Church of God would claim
is NOT as an organization, part of the true body of Christ, but
the very whore woman of Revelation, have come to see from the
word that ABORTION ON DEMAND (as the "woman's right" movement
teaches) is WRONG, is AGAINST the law of God, is not the way of
true Christianity.
The RC church can teach us in the Church of God many things
about the "abortion issue" from the many publications they have
printed on the subject, yet they as a whole organization are not
a part of the true body or Church of God.
Going to learn "true Christianity" from them must be taken
as a phrase within certain limited context. The context telling
you about what PART of true Christianity is the subject that is
under discussion. If I was discussing "abortion" - if that was
what the subject was about, then I may at one point use a general
statement towards those practicing abortion, and say: "They
better go visit the RC church and learn a little more true
Christianity."
The context is not saying I believe the RC church is a part
of the true body of Christ, only that they have on this one point
found true Christianity.
EXAMPLES FROM THE UNCONVERTED WORLD
Is baptism a doctrine of the NT? Yes, indeed it is. Is it
part of true Christianity? Sure is. Does the religious
organization who call themselves "baptist" have the correct
understanding about how a person should be baptized in water?
They do indeed. They are the most famous group of people who
believe that baptism should be by complete immersion in water.
They have probably written more about this truth of the word than
any other church, for it is their trade mark of belief that they
wear on their forehead towards the world.
Within the context of talking about baptism would it not be
quite correct for me to say: "If you want to learn about true
Christianity, go to the baptist organization." The context is
about "baptism" - a specific subject, not the all encompassing
subject of what comprises total true Christianity, but a certain
topic WITHIN Christianity. In such a narrow area of discussion,
such phrases as "true Christianity" is quite acceptable and is a
figure of speech used in the English language.
The "baptist" people do have true Christianity when talking
about the doctrine of baptism.
If I wanted to find out all I could about the
"Sabbath/Sunday issue" or "law and grace" I would probably go to
the Seventh Day Adventist church, for they have written more on
these two subjects than anyone else I know, even whole books on
the above topics. Do they have true Christianity? In the context
of the two subjects we are discussing, yes they do, but our
subject is NOT total Christianity, only a part of it.
The Roman church may have written more on the subject of
"abortion" than any other church. Do they have true Christianity?
On the topic we are covering - abortion - yes they do.
Now, do I believe the "baptist" church as a whole
organization is part of the true Church of God, the very body of
Christ? No I do not! They have true Christianity on some points
but far too many areas of false Christianity to be part of the
living church Jesus said He would build. So also with the RC
church and SDA church (it is possible SOME in those organizations
are true children of God. Some practice teachings that their
organizatgion does not endorse - they have come to see it is
truth, and the keep that truth).
Such churches above and others may be VERY STRONG on certain
points of truth, even stronger in understanding and knowledge
than many groups of people within the very body of Christ. For
some people or groups of individuals God proclaims are His, may
yet have to grow in certain specifics of correct understanding,
or just plain repent of wrong practices. This is evident when we
look at the messages to the SEVEN churches of Revelation,
chapters two and three.
So when I talk about certain groups of God's true church and
say: "They better go visit the SDA church or Baptist church, and
learn a little more true Christianity" I hope you can now see the
truth of that statement. Yet my other statement still remains
just as true without any contradiction, namely: "I do not believe
the SDA church or the Baptist church AS A WHOLE are a part of the
Church of God as a whole."
The true church of God has a higher percentage of truth, the
correct understanding of the word of the Lord, than any other
church that calls itself "Christian." But the true
church is NOT PERFECT, YET! It is still made up of flesh and
blood persons, who are finite NOT infinite, who still have carnal
nature within them, and are not yet 100% holy spiritual character
like God is. The physical members of the body of Christ are still
to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Christ Jesus."
Sometimes some of us as individuals or groups of persons are
more carnal than spiritual, thinking and acting as babes in
Christ. Remember how Paul had to speak to the Corinthian church.
So it is quite possible that other groups of people WHO ARE NOT A
PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, could be further ahead of us in some
point of biblical knowledge (such as "church government" or
"church disfellowshipping" or "allowing visitors to air their
differences" etc.), and even HUMAN RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER that is
also correct Godly character (remember what we looked at earlier
concerning the unconverted Gentiles in 1 Cor.5).
There are hundreds of examples that could be given of
righteous Godly character being exhibited by those not called by
God to His truths of His word, who knew nothing about His word,
who did not read it.
I will give a few that are dear to me. As a child growing up
I was a fan of Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys. It was not
until about 15 years ago that I read his biography.
He did not become a religious man until after marrying Dale
Evans. It was Dale who asked him to attend church with her.
Before that he was not interested in going to church or reading
the Bible, just had no interest. When he was an up and coming
star with Republic pictures, and the fan mail was pouring in,
flooding in, Roy went to Republic to ask if they would hire a
lady or two to answer all the mail. Republic laughed and said
they could not care less about how many wrote to him. No they
would not hire anyone to answer their big star cowboy's mail.
Roy was determined. He said anyone who took the time to write to
him deserved an answer. He could not do it himself, there just
was not the hours in the day to do it. Republic would not pay
anyone to do it. So Roy told his manager to book one night live
shows for him to raise the added money needed to pay the wages
for two ladies to answer his fan mail. He had to add to his work
load with entertainment shows just to make sure his fans would
hear from him and receive a letter and photo.
This was done as an unconverted, none religious man. Was he
exhibiting true Christian values? Oh, you bet he was! He was
showing kindness, and love, and appreciation to others. And those
are true Godly qualities.
Roy's manager was a religious man. He wrote in the biography
about the time when Roy's first wife died. She had given birth to
their son. A blood clot formed, the doctors could do nothing
about it in 1945. He remembered the day she died very vividly. He
said the scene he saw when he arrived at the hospital was
unbelievable. Roy had called him and crying, told him his wife
had just died, and would he come over to the hospital. When he
arrived he said there was Roy outside the hospital with kids all
around him, who had no idea his wife had just died, all they
wanted was his autograph, the King of the Cowboys was standing
with them, wow, it was great for them. He went on to say, Roy,
with tears rolling down his face, was even under this
heartbreaking personal situation, standing there signing
autographs for all the kids who wanted it. That is how much he
loved children.
Was he exhibiting a part of true righteous Godly character?
You bet he was, and doing it as an unconverted (at the time - not
at least interested in the word of the Lord) cowboy star.
I work (as I write this) for a young man of 34 who is
crippled up with a rare type of arthritis. He is twisted in the
upper part of his back, can not bend, walks quite differently
than the normal person. The anti-flamatory pills enable him to
function, but with a certain amount of discomfort. He has learned
to deal with it and live with his condition. We work with our
hands as Shoemakers/repairing, selling shoe products etc. A lot
of our work is with the public. His shop is located in a mall.
What a sight of friendliness, happiness, courtesy, he is to all.
He is not a religious man, never attends church, or makes a
confession of Christianity. He lives being friendly and courteous
at all times, in the shop and out of the shop.
On this one point I wish all of God's people could spend a
few days with him, he could teach some of us a little more true
Christianity, yet he is not a part of the true Church of God.
Ah, do you see the truth of this matter. My two statements
are both correct and they do not contradict each other.
What should all this do for us? I hope it HUMBLES us deeply.
Truly as Paul said, in most cases God has not called the GREAT
and MIGHTY of this world, but He has called the POOR and WEAK of
this world, to confound the wise. Some people of this world,
unconverted, blinded to most of God's truths, can still in some
areas of knowledge and character, outshine the children of light.
Let us not be afraid to learn some true points of
Christianity from the unconverted of this world, and from false
groups of "church" people. Let's be willing to do as the saying
goes: "If the shoe fits wear it." It may be possible the Lord
will give us shoes to wear from people we would never expect to
receive them from.
I like the car bumper sticker which says: "A Christian is
not perfect, only forgiven."
Be willing - have a willing and discerning heart - to learn
good things from the uncovered world.
................
Written October 1996
