Other Denominations: A Christian Attitude – Part 2
Bibleway Christian Life Centre

Fellowship

A. Many today believe that all Christians should lay aside their doctrinal differences and unite. However to lay aside Truth is to pick up heresy.

B. The Bible commands us:

* Not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but to reprove (expose) them. (Eph. 5:11)
* Not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. (2 Cor. 6:14-18)
* Not to bid carriers of false doctrine God’s speed. (2 Jn. 9-11)
* To mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine and avoid them. (Rom. 16:17)
* Not to receive carriers of false doctrine into your house, i.e., fellowship. (2 Jn. 9-11)

C. Apollos was an eloquent man, fervent in spirit and mighty in the scriptures, yet he needed the way of God expounded to him more perfectly (Acts 18:24-26) Aquila and Priscilla did not approach Apollos with a judgmental spirit of condemnation but with a loving desire to share Truth. There are many Apollos’ out there, who will remain ignorant of relevant Bible Truth unless they meet some Aquila’s and Priscilla’s.

D. One of the jobs that the Old Testaments priests had was to teach God’s people the difference between the holy and profane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. The reason for this is obvious. If no distinction is made, then people will partake of the unclean, believing it to be clean. If we mix all Christendom with its various heretical teachings into one big pot called unity, we may become guilty of deceiving the world. (Ez. 44:23)

The Apostolic Christian’s Response

A. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it (Jn. 3:17). Our business is not condemning but saving. It will take love and wisdom on our part “To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith, that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)

B. Below, is the biblical strategy for helping captives to the false system see the light:

* Live the Truth you know and allow the world to see Christ in you. (Phil. 2:15, Matt. 5:14-16)
* Study to show yourself approved unto God that you will have no need to be ashamed as you explain the truths of scripture. (2 Tim. 2:15)
* Be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you. (1 Pet. 3:15)
* Do not preach self, preach Jesus and His Word. (2 Cor. 4:5)
* Do not approach the lost with a judgmental spirit of condemnation, but be wise and gentle in your presentation of Truth. (Jn. 3:16-17, Prov. 11:30, 2 Tim. 2:24-26, Matt. 10:16)
* Bind the strongman with prayer first. (Lk. 11:21-23)
* Use the Apollos principle when dealing with those who fit into the Apollos bracket.

Conclusion

Many today argue that it does not matter what you believe, so long as you are sincere. However, sincerity in and of itself possesses no virtue. Virtue can only be in the thing you sincerely believe. Therefore, if I sincerely believe a lie, I am sincerely deceived. But if I sincerely believe the truth, then I am genuinely saved. To focus upon a man’s sincerity is misleading. We must focus upon his belief. If he does not believe the Truth as revealed in scripture and is sincerely devoted to a lie, it is our mission to help that person see the Truth and become sincerely devoted to it.

Other Denominations
A Christian’s Attitude – Part 2

1. It is alright to have fellowship with heretics True/false

2. Sincerity is all that really matters True/false

3. The Apollos principle means that we should judge and condemn all heretics True/false

4. We should pray for the success of all Christian operations True/false

5. Our mission is condemning not saving True/false

6. All Christians of other denominations fit into the Apollos bracket True/false

7. We must show the others that our church is better than theirs True/false

8. You must study the Word so that you know how to present the
Truth in wisdom True/false

9. God will forgive me for sincerely believing a lie True/false

10. Sincere belief of a lie is real deception True/false

This article ‘Other Denominations: A Christian Attitude – Part 2’ was excerpted from: Milk of the Word: Discipleship Manual by Bibleway Christian Life Centre. 1993. It may be used for study & research purposes only.