God’s Way

By Kevin V. Rutherford

    God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1). We are a part of His creation (John 1:1-4). It is inherently right for the creation to worship and serve the Creator (Romans 1:18-23). There are many who call themselves Christians who would agree with the facts just stated above, and yet who live, and worship in such a way that would indicate they are not truly convicted of these important facts. There are many self-professed Christians who believe and teach what they want to regarding their faith, despite the fact that so much of what they identify as Christian practice and doctrine contradicts plain teaching in the Scriptures. It’s as though they choose what they want to believe and practice, then expect God to accept their preferences. When this happens, the creation is not properly serving and worshipping the Creator. Rather, the creation is expecting the Creator to bow to their own desires and preferences.
    The Creator has revealed His existence to us in the natural creation that is all around us (Psalm 19:1-6). The Creator has revealed His will for mankind through the Bible (Psalm 19:714). The Bible is from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible is the standard of authority from the Creator to the creation. The only way for us to absolutely know what God wants from us as we serve and worship Him is for us to go to the Scriptures. When people rely on what feels good to them, what they like, what the culture wants, or what the majority says is right they are making a terrible mistake. It is a terrible mistake that destroys cultures, and it is a terrible mistake that causes people to be lost eternally. Those who call themselves Christians, but who define and embody Christianity the way they feel is right, rather than the way God says is right, are in sin. The created have no right to oppose what the Creator commands, and then demand the Creator accept what they want. The arrogance of this approach is extreme. The consequences are disastrous. 
    Every man did that which was right in his own eyes before the days of the Jewish kings (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The consequences were grotesque and perverted fornication, extreme violence, and deadly chaos (Judges 19:21). People refused to obey God’s word in the days of Jeremiah, but instead chose to follow the dictates, or imaginations of their own evil hearts (Jeremiah 7:23-28). God rejected them and punished them because of this. When people live by what feels good in their hearts, rather than what God has told them to do, they are rejected by God. They may claim to be followers of God all they like, but unless they humbly submit themselves in obedience to the will of God they are actually the enemies of God (James 4:4).
    When it comes to worship, we must worship God as God demands, and not as we feel (John 4:23-24). When it comes to Christian doctrine, we must teach as God has instructed, and not as we feel (1 Corinthians 14:37; Colossians 3:17). When it comes to practical, every day Christian living, we must live as God’s Word instructs us to live and not the way we feel we should live (Matthew 7:21-27).
    In His inspired Scriptures, God tells us over and over again that we must obey Him. Peter said, “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Paul told us those who do not obey God will receive indignation and wrath (Romans 2:8). Those who do not obey God will experience the fiery vengeance of God on the last day (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Jesus Christ will save those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). We are told that we must live as “obedient children” (1 Peter 1:14).
    We have no right to establish our own religion and call it “Christianity” or anything else. We have no right to establish our own church and expect God to be happy. We have no right to teach that which conflicts with God’s Word. We have no right to create God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, or Christianity in accordance with our latest, subjective, fleeting, feelings. We are the Creator’s creation. We must do everything God’s way!

- Kevin Rutherford preaches for the Warners Chapel church of Christ in Clemmons, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://warnerschapelchurchofchrist.org/