AUTHORITY: Absolutely Essential to the Gospel!

Homosexuality, "Open Theism," Women's rights, Justification by Faith, Global Warming, eco-friendly special interests, as well as the doctrine of toleration are all broadcasting their views in our culture. We can't escape these subjects, so we have to have an opinion--once we know what they're saying. 

What are we to believe and how should we project our faith? One thing is sure, if we don't know what we believe, then we are likely to waffle on most subjects. Many today seem much more adamant about their sports teams than they are about issues like the above topics. I like sports too, but the outcome of my team will most surely NOT affect my eternal destiny! And though the above subjects may not necessarily affect our destiny, our worldview will. We have for too long blurred the distinctions that matter. We have essentially gone soft in our convictions while boasting a hubris that would make the angels blush. G. K. Chesterton, in words from 1908, perceptively put his finger on the problem, which it seems, the passage of time has not in the least mitigated.   

. . . What we suffer from to-day is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert--himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt -- the Divine Reason.

As long as anyone is doubtful of absolute authority, all questions of morality will be up for grabs. If and until we settle it in our minds that there most certainly is One who calls the shots in the universe, we will not be able to declare anything with any degree of certitude. Furthermore, we will descend into a belief that asserts that it is an erroneous, if not arrogant, thing to attempt at all! 

"Thus Saith the Lord"

Is God God? And has He not spoken? "The lion has roared; who will not fear? The LORD God has spoken; who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:8). And if He has spoken, then does his Word not carry the day regardless of what people and governments say? It is to be understood that the world will not want to obey God's Word or his ways. But what a sad commentary it is when the Church is also unsure that absolute truth can be known!? Of course, if one were honest, he must pose the question as to whether a person can legitimately be considered a child of God IF he at the same time does not accept absolute truth. It was Jesus Christ who declared of himself, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The evangelical world has proffered this verse for years with reference to salvation, as well they should. But have we at the same time lost sight of the fact that the verse is categorically absolute in nature? Jesus leaves no "wiggle" room. He did not intend to. "We must be careful not to put a question mark where God has put a period." This is most true. Yes, we must be loving. Truth, however, is not antithetical to love. And love does not deny truth, it affirms it. 

Toleration can either be a virtue or a vice, it all depends upon what one is affirming. Let us not be doubtful about the truth, but in love declare it's virtue. Jesus also said, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). NOTE: Jesus does not say that the truth will set you free. He says, If we abide (i.e., remain willingly) in his word (the truth), then when we will know the truth we will follow it and thus be made free. Let us be careful that our toleration is not really abdication. But let us also be sure to tell the truth in love. That's God's way, and it's life-giving!