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LifeLink Devotional

Thursday, June 10, 2021

From early childhood we learn how to negotiate. Unless we put a bridle on it and reign it in, negotiation will soon gallop into manipulation. I have watched this far too often in children who are given permission at an early age to debate the decisions of a parent. By the time they are teenagers they are experts at getting their way.

When it comes to the truth of the Gospel, the Apostle Paul leaves no room for negotiation. When anyone brings false teaching into the local church they are to be immediately disciplined by removing them. There is to be no leaven in the pure bread of life.

Galatians 1:8  “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Unfortunately, the church today seems to be embracing the reconstruction of the Gospel. I am currently reading a book written by a former member of the contemporary Christian band ZOEgirl, Alisa Childers. She describes her involvement in the movement called Progressive Christianity, and how by grace she was rescued from it. The book is entitled Another Gospel?. I recommend it to you.

The progressive movement’s agenda is not new. It starts with the deconstruction of all Gospel truth under the guise of removing any bias we have. Then the Gospel is reconstructed under the false pretense that it must fit into the parameters of our individual experiences and preferences. It is a deadly game of conforming the Gospel to man rather than conforming man to the Gospel.

Just as Alisa Childers was drawn into this movement by the persuasive words of a talented pastor, we too can be tempted to deconstruct our faith by the engaging eloquence of false teachers. They promise prosperity. They promise personal gratification. They promise a savior who separates spiritual life from the pursuit of pleasure. It is a modern revision of the ancient Gnostic philosophy which was so prevalent in the days of Christ and the Apostles.

Recently I was asked how we can learn more about these threats to the truth of the Gospel. My answer was simple. Study the truth so thoroughly that any deviation from it is immediately obvious. With our eyes fixed on Jesus with His unchangeable nature, and our minds transformed by the unchangeable truth of the Gospel,  we will not be conformed to the pattern of thinking so prevalent in the world today.

And when any…let me shout it…WHEN ANY TEACHING OR TEACHER PRESENTS ANYTHING THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, DO NOT NEGOTIATE. CUT IT OFF AND REMOVE IT. We must stay faithful to the truth of Jesus Christ.

Pastor John