kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth

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!

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

The Atheist and the Bear

I came across this joke recently. It’s one I’ve heard numerous times before. And every time I hear it, it makes me laugh. You may or may not have heard it yourself, but either way, enjoy: