Educated Doubters

There is, it may seem, in the current degraded and rapidly declining state of churches

throughout the country, an army of educated doubters. Handpicked and chosen by the devil

himself, this army has gone to war with the saints of Christ. The battle, it appears, has been a

quiet battle not unlike the deathless sleep of the soldiers of Sennacherib in that fearsome night

in which the death angel silently slew the multitudes who mocked the glory of the Lord.

Yea, silently this army has come in among us and has dealt a deadly blow to the church of the

living God.

Few remain who have actively warred against this enemy of the church, “For”, says the enemy,

“Are not your old traditions vain and useless? Are not we the educated, the men who know the

Greek of the early Bible, and do you really understand what you teach? Are not we the ones

who can interpret all mysteries? Do we not have all knowledge? The old traditions are useless,

new interpretations can be found for the modern Christian to live by. Did Jesus really mean what

he said in his teachings? Did not Christ teach us for our future in heaven?”

And in this deathly way, the army of doubt swept in like a flood into the church. The young men

were the first to be overcome. Did the elder’s really understand the Bible? Yes, they still loved

God. They really appreciated a good sermon speaking about end time prophecies and what

they really enjoyed was a good sermon on hypocrisy. How they all abhorred that demon

hypocrisy! Let him show his face, and the whole congregation was up in arms in an instant. Any

sermon speaking about Christ’s atonement and love was applauded and great was their

appreciation for it. Especially when there was a comparison given with how the Old Testament

was in bondage to their sacrifices and how they as modern Christians had freedom through the

blood of Christ.

The army of doubters still trode on in their silent plundering of the Church of God. Through the

city gates they came raising question wherever they went. Because, you will note, these

doubters appeared to be men of learning and understanding. Much wisdom was found among

them in the practical matters of life. Was it not right and good that a man with worldly wisdom on

his lips and in all prosperous business dealings the most practical be speaking into the Christian

life? The questions rose, “Did God really call us to a life of holiness and perfection? Who really

could attain to this standard? Surely, the elders were mistaken. With the new sources of

information and learning, we could now make much better decisions.

The holy church was even now beginning to be stained by the blood of sin, and the early signs

of death were on its brow. This battle could not last much longer. To dull the ears, the army of

doubters brought much music with its soldiers to conceal the sounds of death along its path.

The desperate dying screams of the dear older elder were not heard, but by a few who stood

near his side. The church was busy having a brothers meeting, wrangling fiercely over some

hard questions of the following sort: Was there not some value in sensual music with gospel like

lyrics? Was there not much good to be found in allowing freedom of Internet usage among the

people? Accountability was stressed for those who were dying from it, and many questioned if

maybe it was not really just a minor weakness and other external issues among those who

succumbed and perished in the bonds of lusts fed by online access. A few wept bitterly that this

sin was in the church, but, the educated whispered that it really was an old fashioned set of

folks that argued for purity in the youth. After all, God created desires in men, wasn’t it good and

right? Other questions being raised were those down the line of confession for sin. Should men

really make confessions and admit to their weaknesses when over all, they were really good

men all around? And excommunication, wasn’t that an old fashioned practice? Why of all things!

In these modern days we have found that love and kindness works much better than shunning

to restore someone to Christ.

The battle was nearly over. Silent death, as a cancer, had overcome the people. The army of

questioners was dancing a victory tune that made the church feel like they were conquerors.

Anything and everything was now up for question. Doctrines that were previously held near and

dear were questioned, then removed. The Holy Bible itself was up for question. Many doubted

the truth and the accuracy in it and many were the souls misled into believing that the

fundamental teachings of Christ were only errors in translation.

Death was complete. The holy church that once walked pure in the site of the Lord was now

dead and a part of the world. Even though they still met on Sunday mornings, many were the

confused and befuddled souls that felt that there was no victory over sin through Christ. They

understood that they were only called to try to live right. After all, who are we as people to judge

others for their sin? Don’t we all sin, and who are you to tell me that my sin is greater than

yours? Eloquent speakers and brilliant thinkers were called in to debate the question of just war.

Surely there was a time that God himself would ask us to defend the helpless and innocent. Did

not God bless them for helping others? The simpler folks among the crowd felt in the back of

their mind that this was inherently wrong, but others much better thinkers than them were much

more convincing. The Bible had errors in translation, or it was meant for the millennial reign.

How unbearably sad. Brethren, can we not see the error in this? God calls us to faith and

obedience to this word. God would have us to freely, wholly and completely pledge our lives to

him even if it inconveniences us. God calls us to live for him, not doubting or questioning his

Word. While the above analogy may seem strong and harsh to you, we must remember that

God is unchanging, and what he has called us to does not change His words are eternal, and

everlasting. Scholarly brilliant thinkers can be credited to much damage in the church.

Persuasive speakers, speaking without the Holy Spirit, have wrought much confusion and

destruction