Commitment and Cost

When lawyers took over the religious aspects of the nation of Israel, the two major parties were the Sadducees and the Pharisees. They argued about orthodoxy (“right opinion”), and made laws about what could be believed. Since they disagreed about what should be believed, the strongest party always shifted the “truth” toward their opinion.

In Germany, under the leadership of Hitler, many Germans, both military and civilian, gave as their defense argument when the war was over that they were just “following orders.” The Roman Church declared that Martin Luther’s teachings were “unorthodox,” and threw him out of their church and tried to kill him. The Church of England declared that the teachings of John and Charles Wesley about holiness were unorthodox, and refused to let them teach in their buildings. They therefore launched a movement that gave birth to Methodism, the Salvation Army, the Nazarenes, Wesleyans, the Church of God (Anderson), Pentecostal Holiness, Assemblies of God, and many more. Their influence produced leaders in the English government that abolished slavery in that empire.

Jesus was killed by the writers of orthodoxy as a heretic. Your adherence to the opinions of those who declare the statements that are orthodox in the denomination where you serve is not as important as your adherence to the instructions that the Holy Spirit delivers to you. Do not fear making mistakes if you feel that there is more to the life we are called to than the leaders of your denomination think there is. Find the Truth. Surrender to it. Walk in it. Spread it.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;

his tongue speaks what is just.

The instruction of his God is in his heart;

his steps do not falter.

(Psalm 37:30-31 Holman Christian Standard Bible®©)