Ask the Pastor

By Pastor Scott Denham of Harvest Fellowship, Shambaugh, IA

Clarinda Herald Journal Publication Date : 02/13/2008

The True Church – Part 2

With so many competing beliefs out there, to what essentials must the church adhere?

Last week’s column presented ‘truth and love’ as indispensable essentials for any church to be a valid expression of Jesus Christ. In this article, I address the core doctrines to which every church must adhere if it is to be part of the Church which Jesus builds (Matt 16:18).

One must first believe in the existence of God—the God revealed in the Bible. The biblical God is one eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere-present Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut 6:4-5; Matt 28:19). He is not the God of Islam, Hinduism, or any other “ism.” The true church cannot accommodate competing deities.

Next, the true church believes the Bible to be the very Word of God (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet 1:19-21, John 10:35). Those who selectively deny the authority of portions of Holy Scripture have effectively reduced this Book to the level of mere human origin. Any church that does not believe in the truth of God as revealed in God’s Bible, has turned away from the essential source of revelation that gives the church’s teaching an enduring legitimacy.

If the Bible is not the Word of God, then there are no essential doctrines. There are no absolutes. Anything, then, we might say about God is only conjecture. But the Bible IS God’s Word of Truth. We can know God’s will. We can be certain of what God requires, what brings His favor, and that we have a realistic hope of eternal life.

Thirdly, the true church believes that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation (John 14:6). One cannot be saved through other religions, good deeds, or stellar moral character. Salvation comes only by faith in Christ (Eph 2:8)—a faith that manifests itself in repentance and obedience (Rev 3:3).

Nonetheless, if we adhere to these essential doctrines, yet are careless about sin, we fall short in our love for God. Any church that excuses sinful behavior with an inadequate definition of God’s grace, is in great danger (Heb 12:14). Every church should promote holiness and love among its members (Rom 6:22, Eph 4:24).

In addition to these essentials, there are many doctrines of less significance, about which sincere Christians disagree. Suffice it to say that only those churches that hold to these essential truths are churches worthy of the name. Any congregation that sacrifices essential truths is something other—something less—than a church. Perhaps, then, they should take down their signs out front, lest they be guilty (among other things) of false advertising!

--Pastor Scott (www.askpastorscott.com)