GROUND OF THE TRUTH

More than before, the church has come under severe attacks from all fronts in recent times. The church, as consisting of God’s elects, who cannot be conquered by sin is an assembly of men and women who have been called out and who come together to worship God and serve Him. These men and women are supposed to be forgiven sinners. While the local church is a group of believers meeting in a particular location for fellowship, worship, preaching and teaching – Acts 5:11, 8:1, the invisible church is the universal church which is composed of the whole member of regenerated Christians from the Day of Pentecost to the first resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 204-6.

 

If however, the church, whether local assemblies or the universal, is of the regenerated Christians no wonder that the scripture refers to her as the Pillar and ground of the Truth. The owner of the church, Jesus Christ Himself, is the Truth John 14:6, and the church’s business is to tell the facts about Him and His message which the people should know.

 

Therefore, if the church is the Pillar and ground of the Truth, then the church in every respect must stand for the truth, must preach the truth and uphold the truth in all circumstances of life. Her message should elicit godly sorrow in the heart of people to produce genuine repentance from sins for transformation unto a new life patterned after Christ – the Truth Himself. But today, the truth has been substituted with motivational and emotional speeches which in many cases, do not address the sin life of people and the way out of it.

 

In an attempt to “modify” the truth, sin has been modernised and simplified! The once unheard of are now the common things and they have become the norms. Sin has been given “good” coloration and “beautified”. It is sad that today’s church is already in for it. The church is going farther and farther away from the truth, extremely far from the Lord’s desires and intensions.

 

Once the truth is subjugated to modification, moderation and modernisation, the result is always adulteration! The message of the true gospel has been further perverted to enhance self-ambitions and egos. Subjects, such as conviction of sin and holiness, are put aside so that no one feels uncomfortable or offended. Thus, these subjects have become unpopular and unpleasant.

 

Against the truth, the church is increasingly condoning activities which the Bible says are sin. For example, homosexuality is being accepted as normal and in-offensive and this is something which grieves the heart of God (Romans 1:24-28).

 

Though, there are few bright spots in the church today, there are people who still love the Lord, who are faithfully and truthfully doing His work yet, in general, the condition of most of today’s church is lamentable. The incidence of fornication (sex outside marriage) among believers today is not different from the world. In other words, sex perversion is rampant among professed “believers” as it is among those who have no faith. Adultery is as common in today’s church as out of her. Divorce, to our shame, is more common among church goers than among those outside the church.

 

The number of preachers and other church leaders who are involved in adultery and other sexual sins with members of their congregations is alarming. Also increasingly common is for churches to over-look or even justify such actions on the part of leaders instead of condemning them. How often do we hear of fight and struggles for posts and positions in the church today? The list of more obvious sin does not include such things as lying, hating, greed, gossip, backbiting, jealousy, leaders using their gift and positions to enrich themselves, taking advantage of others, pride, arrogance, strife, contentions for influence, fame or power, not repaying borrowed money e.t.c. These are so common that in the church almost no one takes notice or even considers them sin anymore.  

 

Why? The truth had been replaced with falsehood. The church has been deceived and robbed. She has received false and deficient teaching. She has been misled by many who have perverted and misunderstood God’s word and will. They have watered down the gospel message to make it more palatable and easy. They have twisted it so much that it no longer has any power to change people into Christ’s image. It no longer produces holiness and other results that God is seeking. Much of this distortion of the gospel message has been propagated by today’s preachers and teachers who are seeking to produce “results”. Many want to fill their church with members no matter the quality of life of such members. They wish to be seen as successful. So they tailor their message to be non-offensive and easy to take. They search for new techniques, doctrines, ideas and practices which will attract people to their church or ministry.

 

The gospel of Christ remains the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). Its nature produces the best in man to please God and releases power and grace upon believers even in times of difficulties and life adversities making them to be pure and strong. Many of today’s Christians fail to stand in difficult times simply because their foundation has been built more on man’s philosophy, traditions, ideas and practices that will not endure instead of on the doctrines of Christ. The gospel message should address the sin-life. It should produce godly sorrows (2 Corinthians 7:10) in sinners which bring true repentance. It should lead to assurance of salvation which is the Christian’s full conviction that he is saved, and that he is eternally kept as long as he remains doing the Lord’s will (1 John 3:2. 5:13). This is spiritual certainty of sins forgiven, of justification before God and of possession of eternal life.

 

The gospel message is the truth which sets man free from sin. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” – John 8:32. The testimony of which Paul has this to say: “But (we) have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully: but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”. 2 Corinthians 4:2.

 

By implication, the church holds the truth, has the truth, represents the truth, must stand for the truth and give out the truth to mankind for total freedom from the kingdom of darkness. The question comes to you and I: As a member of the church, are you standing for the truth even in the face of stiff opposition to it? Let it be known that there is nothing that can be done against the truth but for the truth!