MORALITY versus TRUTH?

Many in the Church today cannot understand the many differences in doctrinal positions which are being taught within various churches and denominations.

Through study and research, I am finding that most people who label themselves as "Christian" have a false belief that “all churches are basically teaching the same things.”

Yet...as clearly shown in God’s Word...there are a MYRIAD of false teachings and false doctrines…all being propagated by throngs of false teachers and false prophets.

For so long, I have wondered WHY so many “Christians” are blind to false teaching…failing to know WHAT is false...failing to know that the Bible specifically mentions the SUBJECT MATTER of false doctrine.

The Bible did not simply deal with false doctrine in some abstract way...and...in most cases...the SPECIFIC false doctrine was mentioned within the context of Scripture.

Here is a passage I have used often…but...once more...examine this passage…noting the FALSE DOCTRINE which Paul was speaking AGAINST.

1 Timothy 6:1-11 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

1. Paul mentions two groups…bondservants and masters.

2. Paul mentions two types of masters…believing and unbelieving (mentioned abstractly in nature).

3. Paul tells servants to serve faithfully…not to “despise” the position of servant.

4. Paul transitions by saying that this situation…this position of faithful, honoring servant…is to be taught and desired, saying it is a “doctrine which accords with godliness”.

5. Paul labels those who preach OTHERWISE…those who despise being a SERVANT...those who believe that they are made to be the MASTER…are “proud, knowing nothing” and they are actually birthing “envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth…”

6. Paul then exposes the erroneous belief of those who teach “otherwise”…as he says they “suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”

7. Paul says “withdraw yourself” from anyone who teaches that “godliness is a means of gain.”

8. Paul states that “godliness” is NOT marked by EARTHLY RICHES…saying “godliness with contentment is great gain.”

9. Paul shows the fleeting nature of EARTHLY RICHES…saying “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

10. Paul says we are to be CONTENT if we have food and clothing…to be CONTENT if we have what we NEED.

11. Paul SPECIFICALLY says “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”

12. Paul exposes why some seek RICHES and the “evil” behind that desire: GREED.

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness…”

13. Paul says this “greediness” is actually like committing spiritual suicide: “…for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

14. Paul says “flee from these things”….RUN AWAY from the false teaching that he has just mentioned!

15. Paul says to pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness” INSTEAD of seeking to be wealthy and falsely believing that “godliness is a means of gain"...which fully renounces ANY belief that being a Christian comes with a "promise of God" by which He makes believers WEALTHY!

So…in this passage of Scripture, Paul SPECIFICALLY and PLAINLY states that it is FALSE TEACHING when someone says “God promises every Christian EARTHLY WEALTH and RICHES if they follow certain principles. We are to seek what God wants for His children…and God wants His children RICH!”

But...what about the more SUBTLE misrepresentations of God’s Word by MANY famous preachers today?

Why does it seem that so many believers cannot see what…at least TO ME…is so plain and evident:

Many doctrines being preached by the most famous ministers of our day...and their faithful minions…men with HUGE churches and HUGE followings…are simply FALSE DOCTRINE!

God HAS revealed that answer.

I often say:

“It isn’t rocket science!”

The answer to the deception is really so simple! The reason so many people cannot see the TRUTH is clear!

As I have often said…if Satan came in screaming “I AM SATAN AND I CAME TO DESTROY YOU! JESUS IS NOT LORD…I AM!” we would all KNOW that it was Satan…now wouldn’t we!?!

You see…Satan comes as an “angel of light”…and his FALSE TEACHERS and FALSE PROPHETS come as "wolves in sheep's clothing."

Satan “introduces destructive heresies” silently…”secretly." Satan PACKAGES his lies in a FACADE of TRUTH.

But…my real purpose today is to expose one MAJOR deception of Satan which is POWERFUL…a method of Satan that is SO DECEPTIVE that I would call this tactic BRILLIANT!

Satan has MASTERFULLY crafted a method that is AMAZINGLY ADEPT at DECEIVING even the elect!

I have to say…Satan has done his homework well…and he has truly found a way to become the MASTER DECEIVER.

So…"What is that method?!” you are asking.

Well…here it is:

Satan has successfully infiltrated the Church with the preaching of MORALITY!!!

Some of you are saying:

“WHAT!?! What could POSSIBLY be wrong with MORALITY!?!”

Listen to me…and pay close attention...discerning this truth prayerfully:

Preaching MORALITY does not equate to preaching TRUTH.

Plato, Socrates, Confucius, Gandhi, The Dali Lama…each of these preached MORALITY!

The writings and teachings of the men just listed are FULL of MORALITY.

These men taught:

Wisdom, love, care, spirituality, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, being “good”, pursuing a higher power, seeking peace…the list can go on and on.

But...what these men did NOT preach is this:

THE WORD OF GOD!

These men did NOT preach TRUTH!

These men did NOT preach JESUS CHRIST!

Can you see it!?!

Preaching MORALITY is not the same as preaching THE UNCOMPROMISING WORD OF GOD!

Today…many have followed this EXACT SAME path of preaching…preaching a “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

Instead of “Thus saith the Lord!”...many ministers are preaching “Thus saith the MORAL CODE!"...or..."Thus saith the MOTIVATIONAL PERSPECTIVE!"

MORALITY is not CHRISTIANITY!

MORALITY will not get you to heaven…SALVATION will!

MORALITY is not JESUS!

MORALITY is a TRAIT…not a CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE!

We are not called to be MORAL…we are called to be HOLY and RIGHTEOUS!

The Bible is CLEAR:

A MORAL man can still die and go to hell if he does not receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior by repenting of his sins and accepting the grace of Jesus by faith.

MENTIONING Jesus in a sermon does NOT equate to preaching the GOSPEL!

In MOST sermons today we hear MORALITY being preached…NOT truth…NOT real Christianity!

The sermons are motivational speeches intent on helping someone live a life of morality and contentment…even HELPING people ACCEPT their spiritual existence “as is”…expressing the mantra “Hey, we all sin and we are imperfect! Accept your faults and do not judge yourself for them."

Yet…The BIBLE says that we NEED to “judge” ourselves…to “search” ourselves…and we are to pray:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

---MORALITY preaching most often steers away from mentioning SIN and the need for OBEDIENCE.

---MORALITY preaching most often tells the listener what they GAIN (in the earthly realm) by serving God.

---MORALITY preaching is most often concerned with "Living in FAVOR!" instead of "Take up your cross..."

---MORALITY preaching most often makes its focus EARTHLY WEALTH instead of ETERNAL GAIN.

---MORALITY preaching most often says "God loves you just as you are!"...while never QUALIFYING that truth by saying "In Christ, we are a new creation...never again to be who we once WERE! If we are SAVED...then we must be CHANGED!"

Simply put…MORALITY preaching gets our focus on MORAL STANDARDS instead of GOD’S STANDARDS…and there IS a difference!

So many of the men I mentioned earlier were MORAL…yet they were men who followed FALSE GODS! They MET the standards of MORALITY…but they FAILED to meet the standards of GOD!

Lives are NOT CHANGED by the preaching of MORALITY...lives are changed by the preaching of the GOSPEL…the Gospel of Jesus Christ...Him crucified and risen from the dead!

Lives are NOT CHANGED by MORALITY…they are changed by TRUTH!

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

J.C. Ryle once said:

“There are three things which men never ought to trifle with: a little poison, a little false doctrine, and a little sin.”

May we search the Scriptures to find TRUTH...not just in a search for MORALITY.