Does It Really Matter?

I Timothy 6:3-5

Many years ago, Dad was approached to attend a meeting of the pastors and missionaries on the Navajo Reservation. When Dad refused one of the pastors asked if it was because we believed that it was wrong to call a man father based on Matthew 23:9, because after all that seemed pretty unimportant. After all it was just a title. I don’t think he understood at all when dad tried to explain that that was just one of the minor issues, and that there were many more. After all, we should just overlook our differences and agree to disagree. Paul didn’t agree with that philosophy. In last part of I Timothy 6:2 he commanded Timothy, “These things teach and exhort.”

He told Timothy that teaching the things he has given thus far would qualify him as a good minister, properly matured in the word and good doctrine in I Timothy 4:6. “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” I Corinthians 11:19 makes it clear that such controversies identify who is really serving God in an acceptable manner and who is not. “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” He warns Timothy to disassociate himself from those who reject these teachings.

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (I Timothy 6:3-5)

Several times I have come into contact with children who have been told repeatedly how smart they are. They are convinced they know everything and will not listen to any attempt to correct their opinion regardless of ones qualifications or evidence. They will argue despite all evidence, because in their pride, they do not recognize their ignorance. They love arguing and unanswerable questions which conceal their ignorance.

Paul states that those who reject God’s word are the same way, denying God’s authority, and clinging to their ignorance. It results in conflicts, sinful actions, jealousy, and meaningless discussions by people who have no concept of the truth, I believe it was at the first council of Trent that a dispute arose over how many angels could dance on the head of a pin. The controversy dragged on for almost fifty years, and many Church councils were held to settle it. The winners were no more godly than the losers. Paul commands to withdraw from such.

In I Corinthians 14:37, he directs us to assume that one who rejects the scripture is just ignorant. “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” If he knew what he was talking about, he would know where it came from.

Romans 16:7-18 says that they are not serving the lord, but seeking their own benefit by deceiving others. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” We are not even to devote a lot of time trying to change them. “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” (Titus 3:10-11)

John 14:23-24 tells us, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” II John 1:9-11 makes it clear that the man who refuses God’s word is not a Christian, despite his claims. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Collaboration and cooperation make us participants in their sin, and deserving part of their punishment. We are not here to change God, but to convince men to change. Attempts to change the gospel try to change God. They are blasphemous, and we should consider the messenger as accursed. The saying, don’t shoot the messenger doesn’t apply when the messenger lies.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:8-10)

If they are preaching or teaching something else, they are trying to please man rather than God. They are not serving God. II Thessalonians 3:6 restates the command. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”

It matters that much!