Comfort Doctrines (7)

1
Comfort Doctrines (7)

• A teaching which is designed to give comfort and
  remove the fear of consequences to one who
  refuses to repent of some sinful activity.

2
Today

• Comfort DoctrineIt Doesnt Matter What We
  Believe (2)

3
The Doctrine Explained
Last Week

• Many denominations have moved away from
  exclusiveness and are embracing a concept that we
  should agree to disagree.
• Doctrinal difference is dismissed as unimportant

4
Rick Warren, Pastor, Saddleback church
Last Week

• the two largest faiths on the planet must work
  together to combat stereotypes and solve global
  problems, and  Some problems are so big you
  have to team tackle them,July 4, 2009 Islamic
  Society Forum

5
Examples of this doctrine

• I consider myself a Hindu, Christian, Moslem,
  Jew, Buddhist and Confucian.
• Mahatma Gandhi

6
Examples of this doctrine

• Linking arms with charismatics, pentecostals,
  and evangelisticals of every stripe, I have
  joined in the crusade against this outrageous
  perversion-not only by book and lecture, but also
  on the airwaves.  Sometimes uncomfortable
  airwaves
• F. Lagard  Smith Who Is My Brother 1997
  Cotswold Publishing  pg. 65

7
Examples of this doctrine

• Each time I have walked onto the set of Pat
  Robertsons 700 Club, for example, I have
  wondered what in the world Im doing there.  For
  the sake of the cause, however, I put on a brave
  face and do the interview
• F. Lagard  Smith Who Is My Brother 1997
  Cotswold Publishing  pg. 65

8
Examples of this doctrine

• (Christian television is one of the few avenues
  I have to promote my books and my message to the
  kind of readers who care about what Im
  saying.)...
• F. Lagard  Smith Who Is My Brother 1997
  Cotswold Publishing  pg. 65

9
Examples of this doctrine

• Despite yawning doctrinal gaps between us, on
  any number of issues I have common cause with Pat
  Robertson.
• F. Lagard  Smith Who Is My Brother 1997
  Cotswold Publishing  pg. 65

10
Examples of this doctrine

• The point is that ones view of baptism
  contributes significantly to ones view of
  fellowship.  The more narrow ones view of
  baptism, the more narrow the acceptable bound of
  fellowship...
• F. Lagard  Smith Who Is My Brother 1997
  Cotswold Publishing

11
Examples of this doctrine

• Or to put it another way, there is an
  independent relationship between baptism and
  fellowship An exclusive view of baptism prompts
  an exclusive view of fellowship whereas an
  inclusive view of fellowship demands a
  non-exclusive view of baptism.
• F. Lagard  Smith Who Is My Brother 1997
  Cotswold Publishing

12
The Doctrine Explained
Last Week

• Unity in diversity
• Ecumenicalism
• Grace-Unity Movement
• Attend the church of your choice

13
The Doctrine Explained
Last Week
Comfort doctrine?Such can lead to one
formulating doctrinal beliefs and THEN seeking a
church that will validate that belief.

• Distinction between matters where we do agree
  (i.e. social concerns) but keeping doctrinal
  distinct.I.e. difference between gospel and
  doctrine

14
What does the Bible say?
Last Week

• Unity is clearly taught in scripture, 1 Cor.
  110, Jn. 1720-21,Eph. 41-6
• Biblical unity is agreement BASED upon TRUTH!
  Jn.1717

15
What does the Bible say?
Last Week

• Agreement of truth produces TRUE unity - 1 Cor.
  110
• 1 Cor. 417 - Same in every church
• 2 Pet. 316 Paul Peter
• Phil. 21-3 like-minded
• Gal. 12, Rev. 111 letters to more than one
  congregation

16
What does the Bible say?
Last Week

• 2 Tim. 316, 17 All scripture makes the man of
  God complete
• Matt. 721-23 Not enough to say, Lord We
  must DO!

17
What does the Bible say?

• What about false teachers?
• Ecumenicalism allows for false teachers (
  teaching) to be acceptable!

18
What does the Bible say?
While there is some distinction between corrupt
false teachers and those honest in teaching error
(i.e. motives), NEVER is false teaching or
teachers treated as acceptable!BOTH needed
correction!

• What about false teachers?
• Does the Bible tolerate false teachers or
  teaching? Where?2 Pet. 21-3, 1 Jn. 41-3
• 2 John 9-11
• Cf. Acts 1824-28 Apollos, What about Paul?

19
What does the Bible say?

• Is the gospel exclusive?
• NO! Available to allJohn 316, Rom. 116
• YES! HOW one is saved HOW to serve God 2
  Thess. 18, Lk. 646, Matt. 713-14
• God expects us to obey Him!

20
What about core principles?

• Sometimes effort is made to distinguish between
  core values and matters of doctrinal
  disagreementDistinction between gospel and
  doctrineCan we dismiss doctrinal matters?

21
What about core principles?

• The gospel IS doctrine 1 Tim. 110-11
• What we obey Rom. 15 the faithRom. 28
  the truthRom. 617 doctrineRom. 1016 the
  gospel

22
What about core principles?

• Doctrine is described as1 Tim. 110-11 sound1
  Tim. 63 accords with godliness2 Tim. 316
  profitable2 John 9 doctrine of ChristActs
  242 apostles doctrineJn. 716-17 of the
  Father

23
What about core principles?

• WHO determines what is core doctrine and what
  is not?
• What if someone doesnt meet our core values?
  Can we reject them? Should they reject us?

24
What about core principles?

• Can we lend fellowship to a church practicing
  error?
• Eph. 511
• 2 Cor. 614-17

25
Why this comfort doctrine is wrong!

• It is UNscriptural and ANTIscriptural
• It promotes division denominationalism
• It promotes ignorance
• It removes true Biblical accountability
• Why contend for the faith?

26
Why this comfort doctrine is wrong!

• It redefines many Biblical termsGraceFellowship
  Gospel DoctrineWho are brethrenWhat is sin

27
TRUE comfort!

• Comes through knowing and doing Gods will! 1
  Thess. 418, Rom. 154
• Comes through TRUE agreement about TRUTH! (cf.
  Phil. 21-2)
• Seeking those of like precious faith.

28

• Does what you believe agree with what God teaches?