[474 words]
Some time back the writer was getting a bulletin ready to print at the West Concord Church of Christ. He was using John Priola’s name for some announcement. The computer did not recognize the name Priola, and it suggested changing the spelling to one of the following: Preload, Oriole, Pergola, Premolar, Portola, Prolix, Parabola, Prelaw, Areola, or Parole. None of these would have been correct. Priola was right. The fact that the computer spell check did not recognize the correct spelling did not change the truth. All can understand and appreciate this.
The word of God does not change. Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s truth is not to be changed. Moses told Israel, “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” (Deuteronomy 4:2). To do so would be to worship in vain, teaching the doctrines and commandments of man (Matthew 15:7-9). In spite of such clear teaching, Paul, “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11,12), told “the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:1, 2), “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Verses 6, 7). He immediately gave them this warning, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Verse 8). To make sure they did not miss the point just made, the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20,21) had Paul repeat verse 8 (read verse 9). Compare Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:18,19 to Deuteronomy 4:2.
Sadly, things have not changed. Many present day preachers and teachers change the word of God to their personal beliefs. In spite of the clear teaching of Jesus, many (most) tell those whom they teach what they think or what they want to hear, rather than what the “author of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:8,9) said. Several years ago, at Trenton, Georgia, the writer was studying the word of God with a man who believed that salvation was by “faith alone.” He had been taught that one had to be born again (John 3:3), being told that faith only was required to do that. When he was asked to read John 3:5, he did so, and then asked this question, “Why did my preacher not read that verse?” After other studies, this honest man, like the Ephesians of Acts 19:1-7, obeyed God, rather than man. He died in Christ (Galatians 3:26,27).
James Pilgrim
via Chapman church of Christ
Ripley, MS