LEARNING FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE
TWENTIETH CENTURY CHURCH
If
there is one lesson the Bible clearly teaches, it is that we make mistakes.
When we begin to think we are standing, we need to be careful or we will fall
(I Cor. 10:12). The Jews failed to learn this lesson and became so busy telling
others about their mistakes that they neglected to address their own failings
(Rom. 2:21). Their oversight had disastrous results (Rom. 2:24). The universal statistic for all accountable
people is the same with regard to mistakes, everyone makes them (Rom. 3:10,
23). Let us have a look at some of our mistakes in the twentieth century—maybe
in looking we will better avoid them in century twenty-one.
WE SOMETIMES FORGOT THAT RESTORATION IS AN ONGOING PROCESS
Philippians 3:12-14; Hebrews 6:1-3
WE SOMETIMES FORGOT THAT SINNERS ARE THE AIM OF THE GOSPEL, AND THAT
EXCEPT FOR GOD’S GRACE WE WOULD ALL ALSO BE LOST
Matthew 9:10-13; Luke 7:36-50; I Timothy
1:12-17
WE SOMETIMES FORGOT THAT WE ARE BRETHREN AND ARE EXPECTED BY GOD TO ACT
THAT WAY
Ephesians 4:1-3, 31-32; Philippians 1:27;
2:1-5
WE SOMETIMES FORGOT THAT BROTHERHOOD CANNOT BE ACHIEVED AT THE EXPENSE
OF TRUTH
John 17:17, 21-23; I John 1:7; II Timothy
2:15; 3:16-17
WE SOMETIMES FORGOT THE REAL FIRST PRINCIPLES
Matthew 12:28-34; Matthew 7:12; 23:23; John
13:34-35; I Corinthians 13:1-3, 13
WE SOMETIMES FORGOT THAT II JOHN 9-11 IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY IN DEALING
WITH PEOPLE AT ODDS WITH THE TRUTH; AND SOMETIMES WE FORGOT THAT II JOHN 9-11 WAS EVEN IN THE BIBLE
II John 9-11; Titus 3:10; II Timothy 2:23-26;
Acts 18:24-28
WE SOMETIMES FORGOT THAT JESUS IS THE TRUE HUB OF THE BIBLE
John 1:1, 14, 18; 14:8-9; Romans 8:29
Mistakes, if we let them, will help educate
us to the truths we ought to have practiced. Otherwise, we will only dig the
hole of missed opportunity ever deeper. Let us renew ourselves to the full
power of Christianity as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ (II Pet. 3:18).
Edwin
4/22/01
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