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I recently received an e-mail, via an Internet list, from a man I’ll call Benny, who used to be a member of the church of Christ but now preaches for the Disciples of Christ. In view of the teachings of God’s word regarding change (adding to or subtracting from His commandments), some of the things he said, in his efforts to change the church of Christ, are astounding. Below is the part of the letter that disturbs me:
“God is a God of change...change for humanity, change for empowerment, change for new life, change for new relationships. God has always been and will always be about "doing a new thing" among His people. The motto of keeping the "old paths" is antithetical to what God has always done. Anyone…who opposes the change that God has in store for His people is not a disciple of Christ.”
Benny was responding to an article on change that I posted to a discussion list that pointed out the tactics of change agents and what God’s people, who seek to follow the “old paths” (God’s ways) must endure. (The following is a link to the article by John Waddey: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fortify_your_faith/message/225.) The author of the e-mail is a product of our liberal “church” schools. He has a PhD and has received instruction from several of our liberal colleges. In the course of this article I’ll quote various parts of Benny’s letter and make some comments.
Dr. Benny wrote:
“God is a God of change...change for humanity, change for empowerment, change for new life, change for new relationships.”
First, God Himself does not change (Heb 13:8; Mal 3:6), so to argue that “God is a God of change” is imprudent to say the least. But our concern here is WHAT type of changes He wants man to make and what He thinks about those who set out to change what He has commanded and established.
God Changed Some Things
God changed the priesthood and the Law.
“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law” (Heb 7:12). See also Jeremiah 31:31-32.
God sometimes changed the names of Bible characters. He changed Abram's to Abraham. He changed Sarai to Sarah and Jacob's name to Israel.
God Demands That Some Things NOT Be Changed
To His people of old He said:
(Deu 4:2) “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
To assure that men got the message God reiterated:
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deu 12:32).
Commenting on the above passage Gil, highly respected commentator, wrote:
“In the manner it is commanded and directed to; the laws of God, both as to matter and manner, were to be obeyed just as they were delivered: thou shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it; neither add any customs and rites of the Heathens to them, nor neglect anything enjoined on them.”
The New Testament contains similar teachings to that found in Deuteronomy and includes explicit warnings as to what God will do to those who disobey:
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Re 22:18).
The wise man, Solomon, by inspiration, wrote:
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Pr 30:6).
Comments from respected commentators on the above passage:
Barnes: “Men are not to mingle revealed truth with their own imaginations and traditions. In speculating on the unseen, the risk of error is indefinitely great, and that error God reproves by manifesting its falsehoods.”
Gil: “Add thou not unto his words,.... To the words of God; as the Jews did, by joining their oral law, or the traditions of the elders, to the written word, and preferring them before it; and as the Papists, by making their unwritten traditions, and the sense and determinations of their church, equal to the Scriptures; and as all enthusiasts do, who set up their pretended dreams, visions, revelations, and prophecies, upon a foot with the word of God, or as superior to it; whereas that is, and that only, the rule and standard of faith and practice, and is a sufficient and perfect one.”
God Requires Some Changes
A change of life is demanded of all who want eternal life. We must change from a life of sin to a life “dead to sin.” The new life begins when, after being buried with Christ in baptism, we “rise to walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:1-18). Jesus said, “…Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). All, whether Jew or Gentile (Acts 26:20) “…should repent and turn to God.” Repentance means, “Change of heart followed by a change of life or direction.” Thus, the most important thing a man can do is change his life from serving the god of this world (2 Co. 4:4) to serve the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. To do that one must look to the commandments of Christ for Jesus said,
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (Matt 7:21).
His commandments are found in the New Testament that were written by men who were inspired of God. Paul wrote,
“The things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Co 14:37).
One must “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7), which involves following the “commandments of the Lord,” before he can obtain true confidence that he is in God’s graces.
This type of change is what soldiers of Christ are commissioned to seek among people in the world.
“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 Co 10:5).
The whole battle that we're facing in the world is a battle for the minds of people to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is needed change. But….
Change Can Be Bad
Paul warned of the possibility of people’s minds being “corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Co 11:3).
To the Romans Paul wrote of people who changed:
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator….” (Ro 1:22-32).
The wise man, Solomon, wrote:
“My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:” (Pr 24:21).
Comments from respected commentators on the above passage:
Gil: “Or who are given to change in religious things; make innovations in doctrine and practice, always love to hear or say some new thing; turn with every wind, and shift as that does; are tossed about with every wind of doctrine, fickle and inconstant…with ‘divers and strange doctrines’; such as disagree with the perfections of God, the doctrines of Christ and his apostles, the Scriptures of truth, the analogy of faith;… innovations in doctrine and worship ought not to be admitted of; and such who are for introducing them should not be meddled or mixed with; they should not be countenanced and encouraged; they should not be attended upon or given heed unto; have no fellowship, and join not in communion with them.”
Clark: “Meddle not with them that are given to change – “And with the changelings mingle not thyself.” The innovators; those who are always for making experiments on modes of government, forms of religion, etc. The most dangerous spirit that can infect the human mind.
The wise man wrote:
“For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” (Pro 24:22)
Gil: “…And innovate in matters of religion; and especially that bring in damnable heresies, and, while they cry Peace, peace, and are pleasing themselves with their new schemes and prosperous success, swift and sudden destruction comes upon them,”
Dr. Benny wrote:
“God has always been and will always be about ‘doing a new thing’ among His people.”
First, the phrase “new thing” is found only four times in the entire Bible and in no instance does it add credence to the idea that God wants His people to do new things in religion, which is the issue I have with Dr. Benny and others who share his beliefs. In Acts 17:21, we have mention of the Athenians who, “…Spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” It seems the inspired writer was critical of these people because they could not be satisfied with anything. These people were not highly spoken of because they weren’t searching for the truth; they were just interested in what is new. Robertson states, “The new soon became stale with these itching and frivolous Athenians.” The Bereans, on the other hand, were searching for the truth.
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Dr. Benny wrote:
“The motto of keeping the ‘old paths’ is antithetical to what God has always done.”
It is mind-boggling that a man who claims to follow the Bible would make such a statement as quoted above because it is so obviously contrary to the teaching of the Bible.
The prophet Jeremiah was given the job of trying to restore lost Israel because they had strayed from the Old Paths. But he was met with the same attitude that Dr. Benny exhibits.
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein” (Jer 6:16-17).
Some assert that we cannot apply the lesson in the above text today because it was written to Israel. Along with Dr. Benny, they scoff at the idea that we must look to the teachings of God in the Bible for direction in religious practice. We are not under law, they say; yet Paul commanded that Christians fulfill His law.
“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Ga 6:2).
They say the only pattern we are to follow is Jesus. They say the only commandments that are important are “love God and neighbor.” It was the New Covenant, spoken of by Jeremiah (31:31-32), that Isaiah was speaking of when he said:
“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa 2:3).
The word of the Lord, the New Testament, Christ’s Law, went forth from Jerusalem as the apostles preached by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Thus, there can be no doubt that when God’s word urges people to follow or to return to the Old Paths (“His ways”) that such is applicable to us.
Again, I remind you what Paul said,
“The things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Co 14:37).
To get around the teaching of this clear text, which devastates their teachings, some have asserted that because Paul said,
“Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment” (1 Co 7:25),
that he may have just been speaking his opinion when he said his teachings were the commandments of the Lord. But that is absurd! Paul’s comment applied only to the situation or the context of which he spoke.
The Psalmist said:
“All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies” (Ps 25:10).
Asking the Israelites to return to and walk in the “Old Paths” was tantamount to asking them to look to God for their guidance and direction, which they were NOT doing. This lesson is definitely applicable to us today. Those who refuse to look to the teachings of the apostles, (“the commandments of the Lord” 1 Co 14:37) for guidance are in a state of rebellion just as was the case with Israel. Thus, the problem with those who refuse to walk in the Old Paths (God’s ways) is that they are rebellious. They are determined to ignore God, fight those who preach His word and to do as they please. They are unteachable because they will not hear what God says. If you use scripture that proves a point, they often will charge you with “proof-texting.”
Dr. Benny wrote:
“Anyone…who opposes the change that God has in store for His people is not a disciple of Christ.”
It is difficult to ascertain with certainty what Dr. Benny meant. But it evidently was an attack on those who endeavor to return to or maintain the Old Paths. I sent Benny an e-mail requesting information regarding “the change that God has in store for His people”. Here is the reply I got from him:
“As far as proving from Scripture the change God has in store for His people, the evidence is all throughout the Scripture. If you can’t see that then you’re blinded by something. Besides, Scripture isn’t the law-code you theorize it to be; it isn’t a law-book whereby one turns and cites paragraph and subsection for legal proof. Your total ignorance and/or disregard for the nature of Scripture is part and parcel of the legalistic system within which you’re immersed. Until you have an accurate and biblical understanding of the nature of scripture you’ll never understand the nature and incarnation of god among His people.”
Many people who think like Benny reject the hermeneutics that were generally accepted in the past and were the basis for unity. They contend for what they call “the new hermeneutic.” They reject the scriptural idea of looking to patterns for what God teaches on a subject (Tit 2:7; Heb 8:5); they reject the idea of using commands, approved apostolic examples and necessary inferences to establish authority and insist that those who follow the old “hermeneutic” are not followers of God. These brethren, who evidently think they are the only true disciples, assert that we can do ANYTHING in religion, as long as it is not contrary to a direct command or does not violate some moral principle. Yet they do not even practice the above. For example, they have no problem with practices that are contrary to a direct command, like the command to sing (Col. 3:16; Eph 5:19); they are comfortable in adding to the command by also playing instruments in worship. They understand the “law of specificity” as it applies in Old Testament examples. For example, God specified that only those of the tribe of Levi could do sacrificial offerings (1 Sa 2:28; Ezek 44:11). They understand that when God specified the tribe that would do the offerings, He meant (by exclusion or “silence”) that anyone NOT of the tribe of Levi would be punished if they did the sacrifices. That is because of the very clear teachings in the passage noted below:
1 Sam 13:12-14: “Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
There was no command saying specifically that one of another tribe COULD NOT do the offering, yet even our changelings understand what happened to Saul and why. But they are not willing to apply it to instruments or to other issues among us.
Some go even further and argue that we can do “anything in religion that is not specifically forbidden.” In other words, if God did not say, “Thou shall not” then we can do it. Therefore, it is apparent that they see no requirement for authorization of church practices. Yet they plead for unity and charge that those who preach the Old Paths are responsible for all the division that has occurred. We who insist on a return to the Old Paths are called “legalistic patternistic partyists” and placed on the same level as the Pharisees who sought to change God’s Law (resulting in what is know as the Taliban). “Patternism” and “CENI” (command example and necessary inference), which is nothing more than a common sense method or tool to establish authority have been dogmatized and demonized. They talk about CENI as if it is an evil person. Amos asked, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed” (Am 3:3)? We need to be in agreement and walk in unity (John 17:21), but if we agree to walk in paths of men and to follow men’s ways, rather than God’s ways, unity would be of no profit. The old “hermeneutic” will work if people will use good judgment, while understanding and appreciating the mercy of God, and seek truth rather than seek to justify denominationalism with all its man-made creeds and dogmas (Mt 15:9).
The chief priests and the scribes of Jesus’ day understood the need for authority. They asked Jesus,
“…Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?” (Luke 20:2b)
We too must look to authority for what we do in religion.
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.…” (Col 3:17a).
[Back to the Old Paths discussion…]
Jeremiah asked,
“Why do you go about so much to change your way? You also shall be ashamed of Egypt, as you were ashamed of Assyria” (Jer. 2:36a LITV).
Regarding this determination to change, that Jeremiah talked about, Gil comments: “The Vulgate Latin version is, ‘how exceeding vile art thou become, changing thy ways’; and so Jarchi says, the word ???? signifies ‘contempt’, or ‘vileness’…to be ‘vile’ or ‘contemptible’….”
Indeed, those who boldly argue for change FROM God’s Old Paths TO the ways of man are “vile” and “contemptible” and true disciples must have no fellowship with them. If these men ever knew God they have forgotten Him.
“Yet my people have forgotten me; they burn incense to idols. They have stumbled in the way they should go; they no longer follow the old ways; they walk on unmarked paths.” (Jer 18:15 GNB)
Changelings of our day have no problem taking the Lord’s Supper any day other than the day we are taught by example (The “first day of the week,” Acts 20:7). It could be said that in this text Paul taught by his own example. It seems apparent that in giving the example, God settles the question of what day to take the Lord’s memorial supper. We can hear Him, or we can follow the opinion of man or our own selves.
Changelings are to be feared
Job understood the problem of those who would not follow God:
“They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof” (Job 24:13). “The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish” (Job 6:18).
In addition, the wise man Solomon wrote:
“Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;” (Pr 2:13).
On the other hand, those who are of the mind to follow the Old Paths can be assured that God will reward:
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake” (Ps 23:3).
Rather than reject the very idea of following God our attitude should be:
“Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths” (Ps 25:4).
Conclusion:
Men who are preaching change but who make no effort to give book, chapter and verse for justification for the changes they propose are to be feared. Paul commands the faithful to mark them:
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom 16:17).
Regarding the above passage Clark comments: “let them have no kiss of charity nor peace, because they strive to make divisions, and thus set the flock of Christ at variance among themselves; and from these divisions, offenses (s?a?da?a, scandals) are produced; and this is contrary to that doctrine of peace, unity, and brotherly love which you have learned. Look sharply after such that they do you no evil, and avoid them - give them no countenance, and have no religious fellowship with them.”
Instead of hearing and following the changelings of our day, those who say “we will not walk in the Old Paths,” we should hear God who says:
“My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path” (Pr 1:15).
To the changelings of our day and those who have been following their teaching, God commands and promises:
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jer 6:16-17).
Rather than remain obstinate and respond as Israel did to God, when Isaiah spoke for God, and say, “We will not walk therein,” we should have the attitude of the Psalmist who said:
(Ps 119:35) “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”
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