Defend your Church from all false teaching
Two truths
There are two important truths I want to emphasize in this post. The first is that God loves us. And the second is that the Gospel is good news. These two truths are not only a wonderful support, but are also a wonderful defence against false teaching.
God loves us
Think about the greatest love you have ever experienced, whether it be from a mother, a father, a spouse, a child, or an animal. Keep it in mind, but now think, too, about the greatest love you have ever given, whether it be to a mother, a father, a spouse, a child, or an animal. Keep a hold of those thoughts of love in your mind, and in your heart for a while; really enjoy them; really appreciate them. It’s a good feeling, isn’t it?
Now consider that as good as those feelings of love are, as happy as they can make you feel, that our God loves you, and me, more even than that, much more. God loves us even more than the person who loves us the most.
The Gospel is good news
The literal translation of the word, “gospel”, is “good news”. Every authentic aspect of Christianity is good news. It’s important to remember that, it’s important to share it: Christianity, and the whole Gospel message is Good News!
Good news for men in all the earth,
The gospel of a Saviour’s name:
We sing his glory, tell his worth.
Defence against false teaching
How can this help defend us, and the Church, against false teaching? Those two important truths can be used to test things against. We, and the Church, can use them as a test to discover if we’re understanding a Bible passage, or personal revelation, properly; by judging our interpretation by its fruits.
Since the most important fruit is love, we can ask ourselves, “When someone who loves me is loving me the most, would they act in this way?” And, since every authentic aspect of Christianity is good news, we can ask ourselves, “Is it good news?”
If the answers to these two questions are “Yes”, our understanding is probably right. But if either answer is “No”, then we probably need to look again at our interpretation, because it’s most likely wrong, coming from false teaching.
Lord God,
defend your Church from all false teaching
and give to your people knowledge of your truth,
that we may enjoy eternal life
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Additional Collect for The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council
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Hey, Paul! I like this perspective. I’ll have to give it some thought, but I think it rings true. Our doctrine should be bathed in the Love of God and the Good News His love brings us in Christ Jesus.
Thanks Tom. I think there’s a lot to think through with this, and I’m not sure that I’ve thought through all of the possible implications of it yet. But it’s working for me so far.
Love is the answer. I am sad that in the C of E at the moment, there is so much dispute and some would fail under your application of love. So it begs us to ponder, what is true and what is right? But having the truth is still no good if you have not love, as I think Paul teaches in the NT. So I do not worry about what is supposed to be truth and what may be false. What I centre on is my own love and how I can show it to others. I fail many times but I strive to grow and become stronger in Love and so become more like Jesus. I have a very long way to go mind! Selah.
I think there is quite a lot of dispute in the C of E, as you say Steve, and throughout the Anglican Communion. But the Lambeth Conference proved to be less of a problem than people expected. It’s a shame about the Bishops that chose to stay away though. But those that were there showed us a way forward, by talking to each other. And, even more important, listening to each other.
If we could all centre on sharing our love, in the way that you do; accept that we may not always get it right, and move on by trying again; then I’m sure the world would be a better place for it.