Is Correction Acceptable Today?

Is correction acceptable today? There are others, like myself, that are trying to make people aware of some of the error taught in the Church today, and we seem to be getting more criticism than those teaching the error. Speaking of false prophets, teachers and damnable heresies, Peter says,

"And many shall follow their pernicious (destructive and deadly) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."

And Peter goes on to say that with feigned words these false teachers will make merchandise of you (sell you a bill of goods for your money). The dictionary says, "feign" means false appearance; pretend or sham. Strongs Concordance says the Greek word for "feign" means artificial or fictitious. I believe many refuse correction today because they prefer the flesh pleasing gospel more than the truth of God's Word. Most will not even go to God or His Word to see if they are being deceived. There is so much to know about God and His ways and we know so little and time is so short. Saints of God should want correction to keep them from being deceived. Correction is very healthy.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets, and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Eph. 4:11- 15).

The five-fold ministry is placed in the Church to teach, correct, instruct, rebuke and encourage those who are the disciples of Jesus Christ and help them grow to spiritual maturity. We are all commanded to come into the unity of the faith of the truth of God's Word. We are "not" told to unite with those of different beliefs. In truth, the Bible asks us, "Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?"(Amos 3:3). God asked Israel, "How can we walk together with your sins between us"? God is still asking today, "How can you walk with Me and join or unite with others who believe different from what I say in My Word?"

The Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. God does not want His children to unite with those in spiritual counterfeit religions. What do people of God (Saints) have to do with people of sin (sinners)? How can you walk with or unite with those who have an entirely different doctrine than that of our Savior? How can light fellowship with darkness? How can there be harmony (unity) between Christ and the devil? I know this is a hard saying, but I am only quoting Jesus. How can God's children join with the children of the devil? God commands us to separate ourselves from the world, counterfeit or false religions and from those that teach or follow false doctrine. Many accuse those who are trying to expose false teaching of dividing the Church. They must not know that Jesus came to do that very thing.

"Suppose ye that I (Jesus) am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division" (Luke 12:51-53).

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." (Matt. 10:34-36).

When you believe the true gospel of Jesus Christ, that belief will sever you from those that are worldly or those following false doctrine, even if they are your family and friends. We are also told to unite in the true knowledge of the Son of God until we become full grown. The Lord does not want us to continue to be children, never knowing what we believe, thus being followers of anything that sounds good. To be true sons and daughters of God, correction, chastening and scourging must be applied. (Heb.12:6-8).

It is so easy to be led by family and friends. But from what Jesus said, the truth may sever us from family and friends. Most of us grow up as a member of the same church our parents attend. I did the same thing until one day I discovered the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I had heard of people having this experience and speaking in tongues, but I, like so many today, thought people who did that were fanatics and a little crazy. At the very least they were "holier than thou" people thatwore their hair long or in a bun, wore no make up, no jewelry and were very critical of anyone who did. Some of you know what I am talking about. There are still some of them around and they are in error about some things, and many of them will not accept correction.

Now, it seems some of the tongue talkers known as the "Charismatic Movement" or "Charismatic Renewal" have gone too far in error the other way. It would also seem they need correction. There is no need to take offense, we all need correction many times in our life. See what happens when the devil gets in with error? Things get out of balance and perverted one way or the other, either "holier than thou" or "worldly". When the pendulum swings, it can swing too far in either direction. Friends and family can be a great influence on us, but if one wants to follow God, it has to be His way or not at all, even at the expense of friends and family.

I am reminded of a story I heard once of a young man who received salvation and things were not going to his liking and He said God spoke to him and said, "Someone is going to have to change, and it isn't going to be Me". You see, that's the way it is, you change and do things God's way or you do not walk with God. It takes correction to get children of God to learn this simple fact.

One can easily be carried along by false prophets, teachers or one's pastor when they are telling us what sounds good, especially when they can show us a Scripture or two. Sometimes we are comfortable supporting televangelists, after all, look what big ministries they have and how much money they take in, surely God is blessing them. Did you ever think it might not be the God of the Bible blessing their ministry. Are you using big crowds, big money and big ministries as your gauge for "godly" men and women preachers or teachers? If that is the gauge we are going to use to measure blessings from God, then Iwould say God is blessing the Guru's of the world real good. They, too, have lots of money, big ministries, and huge followings. I believe the Guru that once lived in Oregon had 30 or 35 Rolls Royce cars. That is more than one for every day of the month. Are we to believe the God of the Bible was blessing him? I think not.

I even attended one service at a church that sanctions magic performances in their pulpits. The pastor made it perfectly clear before the magic show that people were not to write or address the issue that the Bible says magic is an abomination to God. This pastor wants no correction. During this show the pastor was levitated about four feet in the air. The people in this church are allowing this because they are yet carnal and the pastor keeps telling them it is okay. OKAY? Honey, read your Bible and then get out of churches that sanction such abominations.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (II Cor. 6:14-18).

Some are being deceived or blinded to truth because of selfish desires. There is always the possibility they do not want to be corrected or understand truth because their ways would have to be changed or they would have to admit they are wrong.

Rejecting truth and/or following false teaching is very dangerous. Again, I want to say that correction is healthy. When God shows anyone truth and it is declined, for whatever reason, God, Himself, will cause that one to continue believing lies and be damned. Why?

"......because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thess. 2:10b- 12).

I don't even want you to just accept what I write as the truth without checking it out in the Scriptures; without rightly dividing it by God's truth. That is why I use so much Scripture in everything I write or teach.

Is correction acceptable today? Many times when we read something or hear something that goes against what we believe, the very first thing that happens is, our old carnal nature flares up, our pride gets wounded and right away we get defensive and angry. So many Christians cannot sit down together and study the Scriptures and then agree on what is true. It shouldn't matter who is right or who is wrong. The important thing is, you have learned truth from the Word of God and hopefully agree on what God said. Pride should never be a factor when our spiritual destination hangs in the balance. That is why the old nature must die, so we can be led of the Holy Spirit and be conformed to the image of God's Son. Then we will all be led into the same truth of God's foundational doctrine.

Sure, some are going to disagree on a few things in Scripture, but they will be, or should only be things that are not vital to our salvation or our walk with God. Don't let tiny disagreements over things that are of lesser importance, destroy friendships with brothers and sisters in the Lord. Some years ago and yet today, people have disagreements about dresses or pants for women, about jewelry, haircuts or hair styles, makeup, etc. Disputes like these are what caused so many denominations and different beliefs within denominations causing yet other branches of the same denomination.

For example, within the Baptist denomination, there are Northern, Southern, Freewill and Fundamental, etc., in Pentecostalism there are Assembly of God, Church of God, Pentecostal, United Pentecostal, and Full Gospel, etc. See, more correction needed. The entire corporate body of Christ, the Church, should agree on the doctrines of Jesus Christ, which governs our repentance, redemption, baptism, our Christian conduct, our obedience to God and our eternal destination, and will, if each of us ask God for the truth and are led of His Spirit, regardless of our past teachings.

I do know that we do not get anywhere with God until we admit to Him that we know nothing. Even God cannot teach those that already know everything or refuse to acknowledge they could be wrong. Remember, Heb. 12:5-6 says the Lord rebukes, chastens, scourges and gives correction to those He loves.

The Lord said,

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled". (Matt. 5:6).

Only if we are hungry and thirsty for Him, His righteousness and His truth will He feed us. He will not force feed anyone.

"Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." (Psalms 25:4-5).

"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” (Psalms 25:9).

"What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose." (Psalms 5:12).

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