What Jesus Said about the Bible

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Answering a Professing Faith Healer with Just One Word

Guest article by Steve Higginbotham

While flying home from Denver, Colo., last week, I sat next to a man who was reading his Bible. We struck up a conversation and I soon realized he believed he had the spiritual gift of healing.

After giving me a couple examples of how he used his powers, he asked me if I believed what he was saying. I told him that my beliefs aren’t based on experiences, which can sometimes be deceptive, but upon what the Bible teaches. I then proceeded to explain 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 4 as he followed along in his Bible.

When I finished he said, “I see what you’re saying, and have never really studied this before, so I don’t have an answer, but what I do have are my experiences, and I know that God has given me the power to heal.”

So for the remainder of the flight (nearly three hours), this man recounted story after story of his alleged healings. I had already made my point that my beliefs aren’t based on experiences but upon what the Bible teaches, so as he shared these stories, I simply let him talk. There was no need to argue point by point with all the stories he told, but as I sat and listened, I wondered what I could say that would expose his error.

When we eventually touched down and regained phone signal, this man’s phone dinged.  He had a text message from his son. It was a picture of his son’s finger that had been cut while he was using a weed-eater. When this man saw the picture of his son’s finger, he said, “Oh no, my son has cut his finger and from the looks of the picture, he will probably need a few stitches. I need to get off this plane and take him to the hospital.”

It was then that I broke my silence and simply asked, “Why?”

The man swung his head around and stared at me with a look that resembled that of a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. For a moment, he just froze. It looked like he was searching for words, but they escaped him.

The force of that one word was convicting. This man had just spent nearly three hours trying to prove he had the power to heal people, but his first thought when he saw that his son was injured was to take him to the hospital.

The take-away from this story is that one word that has the backing of Scripture is more convicting than thousands of words lacking Scriptural backing.

This article was first published on Steve’s site Preaching Help.

History of the Beginning of Some Modern Denominations

"The Church of the Rock," in Helsinki, Finland

Jesus prayed that all His followers might be one, just as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-21). In the beginning He established one church, which He called "My church" (Matt 16:18), to which all the apostles and other first-century disciples belonged. 

However, starting in the second century, changes were made to the leadership and organization of the church. Thus began a process which resulted over time in many departures from the original pattern, and in the formation of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant groups which were unknown in the New Testament.

It is impossible to list all the religious groups that exist today. Many of those noted below, such as “Baptist,” actually consist of multiple groups (American Baptist, Independent Baptist, Freewill Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Reformed Baptist, Southern Baptist, etc.). The same can be said of Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and so on.

Of course, in addition to these, the so-called non-denominational “Community” churches represent a fast-growing trend as well. These groups may take names like “Fellowship,” “Keystone,” “Met,” “Grace,” “Cornerstone,” "Northwood," and many others. They are often associated with the founding “pastor” or a key “pastor,” as the Lakewood Church in Houston is connected with Joel Osteen.

The more one considers these divisions, the more one can appreciate the plea to abandon all departures and restore the teaching given to the first-century church.

330 EASTERN ORTHODOX – These churches, organized in many eastern European nations, began at various times. The movement, however, was launched when Constantine moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium.

606 ROMAN CATHOLIC – An exact beginning date cannot be determined because Catholicism gradually evolved out of changes in New Testament doctrines and practices. The year 606 marks the time when the bishopric of Rome became more dominant than others.

1517  LUTHERAN – In this year Martin Luther registered his ninety–five theses against Catholicism, not intending to start a new church. However, the Lutheran Church became reality following the Longer and Shorter Catechism (1529), the Augsburg Confession (1530), the Smalcald Articles of Faith (1537) and the Formula of Concord (1577).

1525  MENNONITE – The Mennonite movement began in Zurich, Switzerland.

1560  PRESBYTERIAN – The Presbyterian church grew out of the teachings of John Calvin, which were further refined by John Knox.

1608  BAPTIST – The Baptist movement began in Holland under the leadership of John Smyth. Roger Williams led the development in Colonial America, with a Baptist church being organized in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1639. The largest Baptist organization, the Southern Baptist Convention, began in May, 1845.

1614 REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA – This group, better known as Quakers, were organized by George Fox.

1708 CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN – This group started in Schwarzenau, Germany, with eight members. Under the leadership of Peter Becker, the American movement began in 1719 near Philadelphia.

1740 METHODIST – Methodist societies began at Oxford University under the direction of John and Charles Wesley.

1783 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL – This American version of the Church of England began in Annapolis, Maryland.

1796 UNITARIAN – The Unitarian group tarted in Boston.

1830 LATTER–DAY SAINTS – Better known as Mormons, this group was founded by Joseph Smith.

1844 SEVENTH–DAY ADVENTIST – This church was founded by William Miller, who predicted the end of the world would come between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844.

1866 CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST – Also known as Christian Science, this movement was started by Mary Baker Eddy in Lynn, Massachusetts.

1878 SALVATION ARMY – This group was started in London by William Booth.

1881 CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE – Started in New York by A.B. Simpson.

1844 JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES – Founded by Charles Taze Russell, this religious body was known as the Millenial Dawnist until 1931.

1903 CHURCH OF GOD – Many religious bodies have used this name. The movement now counts some 200 branches.

1907 CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE – The Nazarenes began in Chicago when groups centered in New York and New England merged with a California group.

1914 ASSEMBLIES OF GOD – Founded in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

1931 CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN – Formed by a merger of the Congregational church and a branch of the Christian church.

1934 EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED – Organized in Cleveland, Ohio, with a merger of the Evangelical Synod of North America and the Reformed church in the United States.

1946 EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN – Began in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, with a union between the United Brethren in Christ and the Evangelical church.

What About the Met Church?

Photo from the Met Church's website. 
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56b268caab48de758e6c50a3/t/56e99dcd4d088ec97ee94b06/1458367050074/music.jpg

Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Recently several people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have asked about the teachings and practices of the “Met Church.” Such questions are important, and they deserve accurate answers. As Christians we must examine current religious teachings in the light of Scripture. By doing so we reaffirm God’s authority, learn and correct our own beliefs where needed, and speak the truth in love regarding error. We are accountable to God to stay in the Word and to challenge the church, our youth, and the religious community to do the same. 2 Tim 4:1-5

The best way to know for sure what other people think, believe, and teach is to have them speak for themselves. Without judging or questioning anyone’s heart or sincerity, we must look objectively at specific teachings and compare them to those of the Bible.

Thanks to the Internet these materials are often publicly accessible. Churches of various types publish doctrinal statements for the express purpose of making others aware of them. They want everyone to know where they stand, so that others can assess their teachings. It is important that we reference the primary sources, as we have done below, for the sake of accuracy. We must never prejudge anyone or treat anyone unfairly.

We must also remember that not every person who attends services at a particular church necessarily agrees with that group’s published beliefs. Many who attend may not even be aware of all the group’s beliefs. Be careful not to assume. Let each person speak for himself or herself.

If any leaders of the Met Church should find any inaccuracy in this post, please comment below so that this material can be corrected or clarified.

Read about the Met Church by following these links to the church’s doctrines and practices.

http://www.metchurch.com/

http://www.metchurch.com/the-met-story/

http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

http://www.metchurch.com/worship-services/

http://www.metchurch.com/staff-page/

Now let’s note various statements that are made on these web pages and then offer comments and Scriptures in italics.

OUR STORY
http://www.metchurch.com/the-met-story/

Bill Ramsey: “The Met began in my heart in 1987 when I felt God was calling me to minister to people who, in the past, would have never entered a church. I wanted to reach people through an energetic service with contemporary music and practical messages that people could apply to their every day lives. At that time I was the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, and I knew God was calling me to a new vision and adventure. So, on August 11, 1996, I launched Metroport Cities Fellowship (The Met) in the auditorium of Carroll High School in Southlake. Our vision was to reach people living in the Alliance corridor, which developers were calling the Metroport area.” 

“The Met ministers to over 3000 people each week and over 6000 people call The Met their church home.”

The Met was begun by founding pastor and now Senior Pastor Bill Ramsey, who was formerly the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Fort Worth. He felt God calling him (in an undefined way) to minister to the unchurched. He currently leads the executive team at the Met Church.

STAFF
http://www.metchurch.com/staff-page/

There is no overall description of the church’s leadership on this page, but there are references to various teams, executives, and staff members. These include “pastors” – both male and female – over various areas. One woman is the Executive Adult Pastor. Another woman leads as the children’s pastor. A third woman is the Worship Director. I could not find any references to elders, deacons, or evangelists, at least not using those biblical terms.

I did not see any reference to the Bible’s teachings on male spiritual leadership in 1 Tim 3:2 or Tit 1:5-6. Nor did I see any mention of the Bible’s teachings on women’s roles given in 1 Tim 2:11-15 or 1 Cor 14:33-35.

SALVATION
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe salvation is a sovereign gift of God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe man is justified by grace through faith apart from works (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:4-5 & 2:8-10). We believe all true believers elect of God, once saved, are kept secure in Christ forever (Romans 8:1, 29-30; John 10:27-30).”

The Met’s statement does not mention repentance or baptism as necessary expressions of faith for the forgiveness of sins. See Acts 2:38; Rom 6:1-4.

The words “sovereign gift of God … elect of God … once saved … kept secure in Christ forever” identify the belief that one who has come to Christ cannot choose at any future point to leave the faith, fall away, and be lost. He or she does not have the free will to do so. This belief has its roots in Calvinism. See Heb 6:4-6.

THE ORDINANCES OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe Christ instituted the ordinances of baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper, both of which are to be observed by believers until He returns (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26). We believe by water baptism a believer is publicly identified with his Savior and that infants of believing parents may be dedicated to the Lord but should not be baptized until they can personally articulate their faith and the purpose of baptism. We believe the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death, the elements being symbols of His body and blood. We believe every Christian has a right to partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper but that participation must always be preceded by solemn self-examination.”

The Met’s statement declares the purpose of baptism by immersion to be one’s public identification with one’s Savior. No specific Scripture is noted in support of this idea. In the Scripture that is noted – Matt 28:19-20 – Jesus Himself says that baptism is a necessary step for one to be made a disciple. The New Testament also teaches that baptism is “into Christ” and “into His death” (Rom 6:1-4) and that by it one is “clothed with Christ” (Gal 3:26-27). Saul of Tarsus was told to “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

On the matter of baptism also note this:

THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe God the Holy Spirit is a person who restrains evil in the world and convicts men of sin. He also regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizes them into the Church, the Body of Christ, indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of redemption, bestows spiritual gifts on each one, and fills those yielded to Him (John 16:7-11; John 3:8; I Corinthians 12:4-11,13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18).”

Here the Met Church’s website notes that the Holy Spirit “regenerates those who receive Christ as Savior, baptizes them into the Church …” The idea seems to be that there is first a “Spirit baptism” that is separate from water. At this point one comes into the church; one is saved and sealed and cannot ever be lost. Later on there is to be a “water baptism,” to take place on the first Wednesday of the month, to identify oneself publicly with Christ (see below, under “1st Wednesday”).

The New Testament teaches that there is only one baptism (Eph 4:5) and that the one new birth (“regeneration”) involves both water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5; Tit 3:5).

THE ETERNAL STATE
http://www.metchurch.com/what-we-believe/

“We believe the souls of believers in Jesus Christ do, at death, immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming for the Church, when soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory. We believe the souls of unbelievers remain after death in constant misery in Hades until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the millennium when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord (Luke 16:19-26; 23:43; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).”

The Met’s mention of “the millennium” refers to a belief in a one-thousand-year physical reign of Christ on earth in Jerusalem.

1ST WEDNESDAY
http://www.metchurch.com/worship-services/

“First Wednesday is designed to bring our church together for corporate worship and have a special time to rejoice together through the celebration of Baptism. This is also when we come together as a church and take the Lord’s Supper and spend time in corporate and personal prayer. Every service at The Met is designed to connect you with God but at 1st Wednesday we focus less on teaching and extend the time of worship to provide an environment for you to worship God and spend more time with Him.”

The Met’s statement indicates that baptisms take place on the first Wednesday of each month. It also notes that the Lord’s Supper is observed monthly on the first Wednesday.

According to New Testament teaching, those pricked in the heart and convicted of their sins are to repent and be baptized immediately for the forgiveness of those sins. Never in Scripture was a baptism delayed, because it was considered essential and urgent. See Acts 2:36-38; 8:26-40; 10:47-48; 10:47-48; 16:30-34.

According to New Testament teaching, the church was (and is) to observe the Lord’s Supper – the breaking of bread – on the first day of the week. See Acts 20:7.

Once again, the purpose of this post is to help answer people’s questions about the Met Church by referencing that church’s own materials and responding with biblical texts and teachings. Only God’s Word is perfect. Our only goal is to understand it better and follow it more closely.

May God bless each reader as we all seek to serve the King of kings.

But It's (Not) My Job!

Acts 8:4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching (lit., “evangelizing;” telling the good news about) the word.

Is it the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to tell others about Jesus? Is personal evangelism everyone’s job, or is it reserved for those with special talent, passion, and ability? Does it spring from joy (“I can’t wait to share this news!”) or duty (“I don’t feel equipped to, but I must force myself to do something because God requires it.”)?

Some say that every Christian must evangelize. They might even say, “You can’t go to heaven unless you take someone with you! The fruit of a Christian is another Christian!” That sounds like it's a required condition of salvation rather than the joyful result of being saved by grace (Eph 2:8-10). That is, it’s everybody’s job. Do it or else.

More recently and more often I now hear people saying that evangelism is a special gift. Not everyone is a teacher. If one is not talented or comfortable with telling others about Jesus, that person should not take too personally the command to evangelize. It applies to those who are qualified in some special way, with talents and training that others lack. Instead others may (or even should) focus on other important matters, such as prayer, hospitality, encouragement, meals, visitation, etc. Some may think that (or act as if) evangelism is primarily the work of the preacher, elders, deacons, etc.

We may begin to resolve these matters by defining the word “evangelize” in two ways, one more broad and the other more narrow. Let’s start with Scriptures that direct every Christian in a broad sense to find a way to tell others about Jesus. Let’s realize that those with no special talent, skill, or training, still have the privilege and call to spread the news with joy.

Take the woman at the well (John 4). Or the man with the “Legion” of demons (Mark 5:18-20). Or the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12), the man at the pool (John 5), or the man born blind (John 9). There was even the leper, who against Jesus’ instructions spread the news so widely that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town (Mark 1:40-45). Then there are the women who discovered the empty tomb (Luke 24:8-10). Did any of these possess a special "talent" for telling what they had seen and heard? No. They were just too excited and grateful to remain silent. If you told any of them to leave sharing the good news to others with special talent, you might well offend them.

Is there a command for all of us? There is. Jesus said in Luke 12:8-9, “And I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” To whom was Jesus referring? Only those who want Jesus to confess them in the future - that's all of us! - should take these words to heart and apply them personally.

Jesus told the apostles to evangelize the world, and then He told them to teach the new disciples “to observe all that I commanded you.” Does that not imply that the commission applies to all Christians of every generation? Are you and I not Christians because someone took these words seriously and told us about Jesus?

Then in Acts we find everyday people – not just the trained apostles – spreading the Word wherever they went. In Acts 8:4, when the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, it was the other believers who left and preached (literally, “evangelized”) the Word. The text simply means, “They told good news.” “Preached” may be misleading to many, because it implies a public, group proclamation by one specially prepared, perhaps at a pulpit! This was not the case.

Now read carefully Acts 11:19-21.

Ac 11:19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

Some people today hear “evangelize” and they think primarily of door-knocking, conducting a one-to-one Bible study, or something similar. They think that they lack the knowledge, the personality, the talent, and/or the people skills to share the good news in this or that specific way. The Lord did not limit us to any one method. He simply told us to confess Him before men. As an example, not every father is a gifted speaker, but every father is to tell the good news to his children, to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). Instead of saying, “That’s not my talent!” every Christian man must say, “I will use my talents – even if they are few and poor – to tell my children about the Lord!”

So we affirm that every follower of Christ is to find some way to confess Jesus before men, no more and no less. The way that one does that will depend on his or her gifts and talents. There are countless ways that one may choose. One may leave a gospel card with a generous tip at a restaurant. One may post a Scripture on social media. One may mail a letter to neighbors, friends, and relatives, telling the story of Jesus. Where there is a will, there is a way. One man I know who shares his faith continually has cerebral palsy and speaks slowly and with great difficulty – yet he speaks. I know a married couple that prepared a kind letter and placed it in the doors (and on some windshields) in an entire neighborhood. In doing so they enjoyed a nice summer walk, each other’s company along the way, and a sense of satisfaction that they had evangelized.

So when a Christian says, “Evangelism is not my job,” I’d like to define evangelism as described above and say, “Yes it is! It’s everybody’s job! Use your talents and gifts to tell someone about Jesus!”

As an example I’ll use the air conditioning (HVAC) in my home. I know very little about the workings, settings, installation, and maintenance of an HVAC system. However, one of my good friends, an elder in the Keller church, is in HVAC sales. Since we had his company install our new equipment, I have been delighted! I am eager to “tell good news” to others who may benefit from a cooler house in August in north Texas. Regardless of my talent – or lack of it – I could find some way to let others know. I could mail cards to people I know. I could email everyone in my contact list. I could leave his business flyers in people’s doors.

Evangelism is like that, in the broad sense. If you know enough about Jesus to follow Him, you know enough to tell others. As a satisfied “customer,” you can introduce people you know to the “HVAC expert,” who can take it from there. This is what the Samaritan woman at the well did.

John 4:39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Now let’s talk about the other side of the coin, the narrower sense of evangelism. The Bible uses the word “evangelist” in a limited way, to refer to a man who, in a special way, is appointed to proclaim the gospel. In fact the word only appears three times in the New Testament.

Acts 21:8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

2 Tim 4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Here is a person who can lead the Bible study, who can present God’s truth most effectively because of the talents and gifts God has given him. There are many examples: the apostles on Pentecost, Stephen in the synagogue, Philip in Samaria, Philip in the Ethiopian’s chariot. I have preacher friends who bring the Word in power in revivals and gospel meetings. Through them God’s Word draws the lost to repent and be baptized and draws the weak to be restored. I know a man who, outside the pulpit, talks and studies with people every day. By using him God has led scores, perhaps hundreds, to follow the Savior.

I know a man who was extremely effective in teaching one-to-one Bible studies. He even declined the opportunity to become an elder, because he thought he should stay focused on winning the lost. He had a special ability, and he used it well. Not everyone could do what he did, in just the same way. Others can assist such a soul-winner by providing babysitting, preparing meals, visiting the new Christians, coordinating prayer teams, sending cards, etc. In this narrow sense the “evangelist” may be seen as one person on a team, with others participating in support roles that help to nurture and secure new converts.

This “narrow” sense can be seen also in Acts 11. Above we noted From Acts 11:19-21 the broad idea of Christians telling others about Jesus. However, the time came that those with special gifts were needed. Note Acts 11:22-26.

Acts 11:22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Evangelism in the broad sense led to evangelism in a more specialized sense. So it is today. One may plant the seed, another may water, and a third may see the harvest that God brings. Leaders, like Barnabas and Saul, have an important part to play, but so do all who follow Jesus.

Recently I participated in the baptism of a father, his wife, their teenage son, and their teenage daughter. Though I had preached a message that day from Romans 6, entitled, “Up from the Grave WE Arose,” that lesson was not their primary motivation. One of our couples in the church, neighbors to this family, had invited them to worship and had met with them often as friends. This couple gave this family a book to provide the teaching content. Because of their friendship, this family accepted the book, studied it, and discussed it with the Christian couple.

The couple “evangelized” – told their neighbors about the good news – but they did not knock doors or preach a sermon. In the context of trust and friendship, they introduced the Lord to people they cared about. They used a tool (the book) to provide the content of the teaching. As a result four lost people came to Christ.

If every person did what this couple did – according to his or her own talents – think about what could happen! What about you? Are you confessing Christ before men, in a way that fits your personality, your talents, and your faith?

Let me get personal. In my own case, I seek to tell the good news publicly and privately, both via pulpit preaching and one-to-one contact. I wish I could be more effective in every setting! I have not seen the kind of visible results that other preachers may have, and I admire them so much. However, I ask myself, “If I don’t offer the gospel to the people I know, using the talents God has given me, who will? If they are lost in hell forever, can I somehow excuse my silence by saying that it just wasn’t my gift?”

So I try. I pray. I stretch. I work.

Evangelism, in both the broad sense and the narrow sense, is my privilege and responsibility. I want to do better. Lord, help me!

Evangelism, at least in the broad sense, is your privilege and responsibility, too. Find a way – your way – to tell others about Jesus! Introduce them to others who can water and cultivate with additional teaching. To God be the glory.