Radio Transcript

I overhead an interesting conversation while sitting in a hospital waiting room this past week. Well no, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. But I could not help but overhear the conversation as these people were sitting in the chairs directly next to mine. Apparently, they were waiting as a relative was undergoing surgery. After awhile, the doctor came out and informed the group that all went well and they would soon be able to see the patient. But it was then that I heard an interesting remark. Among the group was a Baptist preacher. As one of the ladies said goodbye to the preacher she remarked, "Well, it was sure nice to meet you and get to talk to you. I know you’re a Baptist and I’m a Methodist, but that’s ok, we’re all going to the same place."

Friends, I wonder if this lady realized the significance of what she was saying. What this woman was essentially saying was that the Baptists and the Methodists, as well as all other denominations for that matter, all have the right to choose what they believe concerning the necessity of baptism, concerning the purpose of baptism, concerning the method of baptism, concerning the observance of the Lord’s Supper, concerning the requirements of church membership, concerning the use of mechanical instruments of music in their worship, concerning the names for their churches, concerning the method of financially supporting their churches, concerning what their Bible class teachers will teach, and, well, the list could go on and on but you get the point. What this woman was essentially saying was: "Everyone has a right to his own belief." Friends, neither your Bible nor mine teach such a thing.

Consider for a moment the evident conclusion of such a false idea. If it makes no difference what a person believes, Jesus would not have warned against false prophets. But listen to Jesus’ words, recorded in Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves." Also notice the inspired words of Peter, recorded in II Peter 2:1: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." Note further the words of John, recorded in I John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

If it makes no difference what a person believes, there would be no such thing as error. But in Ephesians 4:14-15, Paul warned against succumbing to false doctrine. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

If it makes no difference what a person believes, then error, if it did exist, would be as valuable as truth. But notice John 8:31-32: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Friends, did you notice Jesus’ words? The truth, not error, shall set you free! Error cannot set a man free from his sins. Only the truth can set men free! But, wait a minute! The denominational preachers teach we can all believe differently. The denominational preachers teach we can all hold opposing views and still be set free from our sins. But what the denominational preachers teach is directly opposed to what Jesus taught. Jesus taught that only the truth can set man free from his sins. That’s right! Jesus said the truth shall set you free, not Baptist doctrine, not Methodist doctrine, not Lutheran doctrine, not Presbyterian doctrine, not the Assembly of God doctrine, not Pentecostal doctrine, not Catholic doctrine, not Seventh Day Adventist doctrine, not Jehovah’s Witness doctrine, not Mormon doctrine, but the truth! Men are set free from their sins when they obey the truth, not denominational doctrine.

How do we purify our souls of the filth of sin today? The same way those in the early church purified their souls of the filth of sin. Listen to these words, written by Peter: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:" (I Peter 1:22). Friends, did you hear what Peter wrote? "Seeing then ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth." Of course, when a person believes that we can all obey opposing doctrines and still go to the same place, he denies that there is such a thing as absolute truth.

Friends, if it makes no difference what a person believes, there would be no need to teach others. But notice Paul’s words to Timothy, recorded in II Timothy 2:1-2: "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Why would Paul emphasize the need to teach others if in fact it really makes no difference what a person believes?

If it makes no difference what a person believes, the scriptures would not be needed for correction. But notice Paul’s words to Timothy, recorded in II Timothy 3:16-17: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Let’s consider the question: "Does every man have a right to his own belief." When considering this question, let’s do what we ought to do with all questions in matters of religion. Let’s go to the Bible for our answer.

When we examine incidents in the lives of just two individuals, it is readily apparent that every man does not have a right to his own belief. First, Cain did not have a right to his own belief. Notice Genesis 4:3-5: "And it process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and unto his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." Along with this thought, notice the following: "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh" (Hebrews 11:4).

In order for Abel to have offered his sacrifice to God by faith, God must have given him instructions as to what type of sacrifice was to be offered and how, for "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Because God is no respector of persons (Acts 10:34-35), God must have given Cain these same instructions. Yet, Cain offered his sacrifice according to his own idea, his own opinion. Because Cain offered his sacrifice according to his own desires, and not God’s, God rejected Cain’s offering.

Sadly, many people today ignore God’s simple instructions concerning worship and instead worship God according to their own desires, their own ideas or opinions. For example, God has instructed us to worship him by singing. Paul wrote, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). To the church at Colosse Paul wrote, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16). Where in those verses did you hear anything about playing a piano or an organ? Friends, it’s not there! But some people ignore these simple instructions and instead choose to use mechanical instruments of music in their worship to God, thinking they have a right to their own belief. You can be sure that God rejects their worship just as he rejected Cain’s offering. Friends, if God wanted us to worship him with these mechanical instruments, don’t you think he would have told us? But he has told us to sing.

Second, Naaman did not have a right to his own belief. II Kings the fifth chapter reveals that Naaman was captain of the army of the king of Syria. He was a great man and an honourable man. He was a mighty man in valour. But he was a leper. Elisha, a man of God, sent a messenger to Naaman with instructions as to how Naaman could be cleansed of his leprosy. The messenger told Naaman he was to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times. The messenger told Naaman that, when he did so, he would be cleansed of his leprosy.

Naaman became angry. Naaman thought that surely some great thing would be done to cleanse him of his leprosy. But wash in a river? And the Jordan River at that? Why, Naaman knew of better rivers than the Jordan!

But Naaman’s servants came to him, saying, If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? Why then, won’t you do this simple thing? Why won’t you wash in the Jordan River and be clean? Naaman then went and dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times, just as he had been told to do by the prophet. Of course, Naaman was then cleansed of his leprosy.

Friends, do you really think the power to cleanse Naaman was in the water? Not at all! I know of no one who would claim such a thing. Naaman was cleansed by the power of God! But friends, make no mistake about it. Naaman was not cleansed by the power of God until he obeyed God by dipping in the Jordan River seven times! The lesson we should learn from Naaman is too simple to misunderstand. Naaman did not have a right to his own belief concerning how he would be cleansed of his leprosy.

Unfortunately, many people today think they have a right to their own belief when it comes to being cleansed of their sin. Friends, the Bible plainly teaches "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). But sadly, many people respond to this simple command in much the same way as Naaman. What? Have my sins forgiven by being baptized? In water? What power could there possibly be in the water?

Friends, please don’t misunderstand. Our forgiveness is made possible, not by any power in the water, but by the power of the precious blood of Christ. But our sins are not forgiven until we, like Naaman, obey God by going down into the water. No man has a right to his own belief concerning how to be saved from his sin. But the Baptists teach a person can be saved from his sins by praying the sinner’s prayer. The Methodists teach a person can be saved from his sins by faith only. To discount the necessity of baptism is to discount the very words of Jesus Christ, the one who died for your sins.

Those persons who claim that every man has a right to his own belief often do so in an attempt to justify their rejecting the plain teachings of the Bible. They reject the simple teachings of the Bible concerning such matters as conditions of forgiveness, wearing Christ’s name, or being members of the one church Christ purchased with his blood. Paul spoke of such people in writing to Timothy. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables" (II Timothy 4:1-4).

Friends, does everyone have a right to his own belief? The Bible says no.