“It has been an ongoing search of mine to find other followers who also believe in the connection of [Word and Spirit] doctrines… [My] search has often come up empty.”
The Word of Truth & The Spirit of Truth
Since December 3, 2023, our family has been church homeless. If you’re reading this sometime in the future, this may no longer be the case, but as of the middle of February 2024, we’re still in the church search.
The church we had been attending for almost nine years closed. It was not our decision, and we were sad it happened.
Now we find ourselves in the uncomfortable task of trying to find a church we agree with in our area. And it is not easy. The denominational divide spoken of in my books is painfully real.
Many of the biblical ministries we trust and follow say the number one question they receive on a regular basis is how to find a good, Bible-believing church in their area. Sound Bible doctrine and practice are being neglected for program- or entertainment-centered gatherings.
Either this, or else the church seems so steeped in their denominational traditions and quite content to never dream of questioning those traditions in light of the sole standard authority of the Bible.
Scripturally speaking, there are certain traditions that are good and God-glorifying.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” (2 Thess. 2:15-17)
Here, Paul encourages the church at Thessalonica to remain in the traditions taught to them by the apostles’ word or letter. In other words, to keep only those traditions which accord with and strengthen the believers in the written Scriptures.
By keeping the Apostle’s counsel regarding traditions, and by keeping, “… our Lord Jesus Christ himself…” as the head of the church who has all preeminence (see Col. 1:18), the Thessalonian church would be established, “…in every good word and work.” This refers to sound doctrine (word), and sound practice (work).
However, traditions that are not in keeping with the Scriptures only serve to confuse and compete with the Bible’s sole authority. These may take the form of styles of music, orders of service, or even in the terminology used for church particulars.
Our Lord Jesus contended fiercely with the Pharisaical traditions of his day. “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” (Matt. 15:1-3).
Here Jesus makes it clear that man-made traditions and hierarchies vie for our obedience and cause us to transgress the simple commandment of God. This is a temptation in every generation and the only remedy is to continually return every practice and tradition to the anvil of God’s perfect and unchanging Word. That which, when hammered, conforms to the anvil, can be kept; that which does not must be adjusted or thrown out,
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt. 15:8-9).
Vain traditions are not just business as usual. They are enemies that keep people in ignorance and distract from the worship God is seeking: worship in spirit and in truth.
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24).
We must continually reexamine our church practices as each of us engages in, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
I will keep you posted on how our church search goes.