The Voice of the Church
by
Rev. Larry Thompson, Pastor
In what has come to be known as, The Great Commission (Mat.28:18-20), Jesus commands His disciples to take His message of hope and salvation unto all the nations. This command was issued with undisputed power and everlasting assurance: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth…and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
This same power and assurance underpins and establishes the Church of Jesus Christ as the “voice” and foundation of God’s truth in a dark and turbulent world (1 Tim.3:15). The voice of the Church in not grounded in word only, but in the eternal power and assurance of the Holy Spirit of God (1 Thes.1:5). God’s truth did not come to us, at any time, by the will of mere men, “but holy men of God spake as they were moved (inspired) by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet.1:20,21).”
In order to keep the voice of the Church clear and faithful to its message of hope and salvation in Jesus Christ, we must make sure to guard against those who promote false doctrine; those who deny the truth of God and speak evilly of it (2 Pet.2:1,2).
As individual believers, members of our local churches and/or our respective denominations, we are not to be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor.14). We are not to be affiliated, in any manner whatsoever, with those who deny the truth of God and speak evilly of it. The Bible is very clear on this: righteousness has no common fellowship with unrighteousness, light has no communion with darkness and Christ has no accord with Belial (Satan) [2 Cor.6:15].
As believers in Jesus Christ, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and the sovereign and eternal God lives within us (2 Cor.6:16). As members of our local churches, we are to keep ourselves and our churches pure and clean in message and spirit before God. False doctrine and false teachers are to be offered no accommodation or fellowship whatsoever. The voice of the Church must remain true to the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If false doctrine is imposed upon our local churches and/or denominations, believers have but one choice: “…Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Cor.6:17).” The Church must forever speak with a voice that rests steadfast in the eternal and sovereign truth of the word of God and none other.