by Jefferson David Tant

Wow! Some may think, “That’s a dumb question,” and they would be right, but we deal with this daily. Some students choose to ignore school rules. Many people ignore highway speed limits. And we could go on for many pages concerning rules and regulations that some choose to ignore and disobey. We know there are consequences for ignoring rules, such as traffic fines, being fired from jobs, and jail terms.

Obviously, robbing a bank is unlawful, and robbers are caught and jailed. And we agree that murder is wrong, and on occasion those who are convicted of this crime are put to death. But the possibility of these penalties for violating laws and rules does not keep everyone in line. People do rob banks, and murders are often in the headlines, as well as other illegal acts. But for others, the penalty for breaking various laws keeps them living as good and lawful citizens. Others also respect God’s directions for living in this world.

Now, let’s turn to a higher standard of commands and guidelines: God’s Word, as recorded in our Bibles. Obviously, God has given us directions for our lives in this world, and by following these guidelines, God will give us the gift of eternal life in heaven and help us avoid the fires of eternal hell.

Attending Church Services

The failure to attend church services is quite common today. In my neighborhood, I don’t know many who regularly attend church, or even go at all. But this isn't just in my neighborhood; it's common across our nation. And what are they ignoring?

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

God says we must assemble together.

Making a Contribution to Help Spread the Gospel

“On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (I Corinthians 16:2). God has instructed us to make a contribution, which then will be used for two things—support those whose lives are dedicated to preaching the gospel, and provide material needs for those who are poor and without the ability to provide for themselves. Non-attenders thus don’t give.

Sharing the Good News with Those Who Are Lost

The Great Commission, which was given to the apostles by Christ, is familiar to many. They were to spread the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ. But the Great Commission was not only given to the apostles, but to all believers as well.

Note Christ’s words in Matthew 28:19-20, where He addresses the apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Consider that the Great Commission is given to every Christian, just as the command for baptism was. So…what are you and I doing about it?

Keeping Oneself Morally Pure

Immoral sexual activity is pretty common today, with fornication and adultery being abundant. One piece of evidence of this is that the unwed birth rate is about 40% in the United States.

What could be plainer than Christ’s words in Matthew 5:27-28: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

And what leads to adultery? Lust! “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). God has given instructions to fight against this sin in I Timothy 2:9: “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly,…”

The pornography that is seen in magazines and on screens certainly increases the tendency for immoral behavior. This means we must use caution and discernment about what we look at. "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell” (Mark 9:47).

Attending the Church of God’s Choice

There are thousands upon thousands of “Christian” churches to choose from if we want to attend. By some estimates, there are 42,000 denominations. Is this what God wants?

Is this what Christ meant when he told Peter, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18)? What was the “rock”? It was the fact that Christ was truly the Son of God. And what did Christ build? “My church”—singular. He did not say, “I will build thousands and thousands of denominations, all teaching doctrines that contradict one another, as well as contradict the Bible.”

Denominations in the religious world are nothing new. The Jews had them in Old Testament times. We have Christ condemning the denominations in Matthew 15:7-9: "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. 'But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'"

Whom was Christ speaking of in these verses? Matthew 15:1 mentions two Jewish denominations of that day: the Scribes and Pharisees. And there were others.

What did God want His people to be? Just Israelites, as was the apostle Paul before he became a Christian. Note Paul’s words in Romans 11:1: “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” Christ used this word in John 1:47: “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!'"

God just wanted His people to be Israelites, not Pharisee Israelites, nor Sadducee Israelites, nor Scribe Israelites. And today he wants His followers to be just Christians, not Mormon Christians, nor Methodist Christians, nor Catholic Christiane, etc., etc.

Why not use the names God gave the church Christ established in the 1st Century? “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16). Paul wrote to “To the church of God which is at Corinth” (I Corinthians 1:2).

The Methodist Church began in 1784. The Baptist Church--1609. The Mormon Church--1830, and we could go on for many pages concerning the beginning dates of the multiplied thousands of denominations. But the church we read about in the Bible began in the year 33 A.D. on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, following the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.

The Books of Doctrine

Which guide shall we follow in serving God? The multitude of denominations each has its own creed books and doctrines. If you read through the Baptist Manual, the Methodist Discipline, and the Catholic Catechism, you will discover that they contradict one another and, more importantly, they all contradict the Bible, God’s Word.

This idea was cited earlier when Christ condemned the denominations of His day: “'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. 'But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" (Matthew 15:9)

Consider How the Doctrines of Men Contradict God’s Word.

The Methodist Church

“We have therefore expected that the Discipline would be administered, not merely as a legal document, but as a revelation of the Holy Spirit, working in and through our people.” (Discipline of the Methodist Church, 1940 edition)

This statement seems to indicate that the Methodist Discipline takes precedence over the Bible, claiming the Discipline is a “new revelation.” That’s hard to believe, but that is the claim that is made. Thus, on page 1580, we read: “Let every adult Person, and the Parents of every Child to be baptized, have the choice of sprinkling, pouring or immersion.”

Obviously, this is a “new revelation,” as God’s Word plainly states that baptism is an immersion in water. The New Testament was written in Greek, and the Greek word “baptidzo” means “to immerse,” “submerge,” or “bury.” That’s what happened in Acts 8, when Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch: they both “went down into the water” and then “came up out of the water.” This is but one example of Methodist doctrine contradicting the Bible.

The Baptist Church

“It is most likely that in the apostolic age, when there was but one Lord, one faith and one baptism, the baptism of a convert, by that very act, constituted him a member of the church…Now it is different. The churches therefore have their candidates come before them, make their statement, give their ‘experience,’ and then their reception is decided by a vote of the members" (Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, p. 16).

Question: Who said it was “different” now? My Bible reads the same, with the same message it has had for 2,000 years. Nowhere in God’s Word do we read about “voting” people into membership.

Then on pages 48 and 48 is a section on “Justification.” We believe the Scriptures teach that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification,…that justification is bestowed…solely through faith.” (pp. 48-49) Other denominations also teach that we are saved by “faith only.”

But consider that the Word of God says something about the doctrine of “salvation by faith only.” “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:24).

The Roman Catholic Church

Among well-known Catholic practices are the prohibition on leaders marrying and the title “Father” given to the Pope and priests.

The Word of God addresses this plainly. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9). This does not refer to the family relationship of father and son, for the term is used concerning this in Matthew 19:19, etc., but God is prohibiting the use of this term in a spiritual sense.

I don’t understand how the Pope and priests can ignore this plain Bible teaching. And as mentioned about the Methodist method of baptism, the Catholic method of pouring water on the head does not agree with the plain Bible teaching that baptism is an immersion in water.

The Mormon Church

The Book of Mormon identifies Jesus in three places as both “the Father and the Son” (Mosiah 15:1–5; Mormon 9:12; Ether 3:14), and in many other places identifies Jesus as the Father. The Bible, on the other hand, clearly and consistently teaches that Jesus Christ is “the Son of the Father” (II John 3) and never refers to Jesus as “the Father.”

Jesus going down to the earth after his ascension: The Book of Mormon narrates Jesus Christ descending to the Nephites shortly after his resurrection to start a church there, paralleling the one that he started in Israel (the main subject of 3 Nephi). However, Peter stated about Jesus, “whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3:20–21). After Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the Bible makes no mention of his return to earth until the end comes.

In considering these and many other Mormon doctrines that disagree with the Bible, I’ll choose God’s Word, as I believe He is all-powerful and able to preserve His revelation to us.
We could go on for page after page showing how the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Salvation Army, and the thousands of other denominational creeds and doctrinal books disagree with the Word of God. Consider the fact that at the Day of Judgment, we will not be judged by the Baptist Manual of the Catholic Catechism. Rather, we will be judged by the Word of God.
Note Christ’s statement, which is easy to understand: But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4).

God has given us the freedom of choice. Joshua told Israel: "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).

Dear Readers, on the Judgment Day, we will not be judged by the Catholic Catechism, the Book of Mormon, or the Baptist Manual, etc. We will be judged by God’s Word, the Holy Bible. So let us read and meditate on it, and follow its teachings, rather than the doctrines of men, which Christ condemned. God has given us the freedom to choose. We can choose to follow the doctrines of men and ignore God’s Word, or we can follow the Word of God.