The Conclusion of the Mater
Uprooting false doctrine is like pulling teeth without an anesthetic. It’s painful, but sometimes necessary. False doctrine, like a bad tooth needs to be pulled before it affects, or infects the good teeth. It certainly is painful to admit when we are wrong, but usually it is just our pride that is hurt and injured pride is not necessarily a bad thing. We need to evaluate what we believe and why we believe it. May all things be judged by God’s Word and may we be gracious to accept the verdict.
“5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom [his] father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” (Heb 12:5-8 NAS)
It is important that our doctrine be correct, that it is indeed the doctrine of our Lord. It is equally important that we learn to handle God’s Word correctly so we don’t dilute or corrupt the truth. Remember, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We must first start with the clear reading of Scripture.
My first experience presenting this information to a class unleashed a barrage of comments. Most of the comments could be categorized as: I think, I feel, I believe. Now there is nothing wrong with thinking, feeling, and believing. But a Christian’s belief should begin with what God has declared, God said it, so I believe it. As we embrace the truths of God and live them out we will experience the truth. Our thinking and feeling should be the results of our obedience to the Word of God, not the basis of our interpretation of His Word. It is very important that we have things in their proper order.
When considering the truth of a statement or doctrine I like to start with the faith principle. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Since I have accepted the Bible as the Word of God, that source alone will convince me. As a cross check I acknowledge that the Word of God says that a matter shall be established by two or three witness. Conservative Bible scholars all agree that one scripture reference is insufficient to develop a doctrine. Yet the pre-trib rapture doctrine has been intricately developed without even one scriptural reference. So with the pre-trib rapture doctrine we run into a roadblock at the very first point. God’s Word does not make this statement. I can’t consider context, author, or collaborators, because there are none. This doctrine’s foundation is built not just on an assumption, but on a series of assumptions that are reliant upon each other.
Let us examine some clear truths from the Word:
- We are to be ready and watching for the return of our Lord.
- If we do then that day will not overtake us as a thief.
- We are to be expecting Him to return in the same manner in which He left. We shall see Him coming in the clouds.
- It will be a day of salvation and a day of judgment.
- The dead in Christ will rise first.
- Then we who are remaining will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
- Then we will be caught up to meet Him in the air.
- The angels will gather us from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another.
- It will be a dreadful day if it overtakes us as a thief.
- It will be a glorious day if we are ready.
I believe that all of these statements can be easily proved by the clear reading of the Scriptures. I will contrast them with statements that cannot be validated by the clear reading of the Scriptures.
- The Church will be raptured before the great tribulation.
- The marriage supper of the lamb will take place in heaven during the great tribulation.
- The great tribulation is the result of the outpouring of God’s wrath.
To believe these statements you have to put your confidence in the ability to deduce logically a conclusion from the Scripture that is not clearly stated. What I have tried to show is that these statements actually conflict with clear reading of Scripture. Logic and reason can help us understand Scripture but they cannot be the basis of belief. God’s Word must be the basis of our belief.
In Isaiah God actually invites us to reason with Him.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” (Isa 1:18 NAS)
But notice God does not leave the reasoning up to our logic and imagination. Instead He guides our thought process down the correct path, revealing to us His truth. Pure logic is truth, but man’s logic is flawed because we do not possess all the facts. Faith and confidence in the Word of God are rewarded and we will gain insight and understanding. But pride and arrogance will be resisted. Man’s logic will lead him to false doctrine, causing confusion and delusion.