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FOR OR AGAINST? (II)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Mark 9:38-41

Jude 3

 

“He that is not with me

is against me…”

 

FOR OR AGAINST? (II)
 
Nobody likes controversy especially in religion. It is already hard to fight against Satan, his world and all its temptations, without having to deal with differences within the church or among brethren. Nevertheless, as Bishop Ryle had rightly observed, “[T]here is one thing which is even worse than controversy, and that is false doctrine tolerated, allowed, and permitted without protest or molestation. It was controversy that won the battle of Protestant Reformation…. There are times when controversy is not only a duty but a benefit. Give me the mighty thunderstorm rather than the pestilential malaria. The one walks in darkness and poisons us in silence, and we are never safe. The other frightens and alarms for a little season. But it is soon over, and it clears the air. It is a plain Scriptural duty  to ‘contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.’ (Jude 3)
 
“I am quite aware that the things I have said are exceedingly distasteful to many minds. I believe many are content with teaching which is not the whole truth, and fancy it will be ‘all the same’ in the end. I am sorry for them. I am convinced that nothing but the whole truth is likely, as a general rule, to do good to souls. I am satisfied that those who willfully put up with anything short of the whole truth, will find at last that their souls have received much damage. Three things there are which men never ought to trifle with, – a little poison, a little false doctrine, and a little sin.
 
“Does anyone ask me, What is the best safeguard against false doctrine? – I answer in one word, ‘The Bible: the Bible regularly read, regularly prayed over, regularly studied.’ We must go back to the old prescription of our Master: ‘Search the Scriptures.’ (John 5:39) If we want a weapon to wield against the devices of Satan, there is nothing like ‘the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.’ But to wield it successfully, we must read it habitually, diligently, intelligently, and prayerfully.”
 
THOUGHT: “A Bible-reading laity is the strength of a Church.” (Ryle)
PRAYER: “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.” (Luther)

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