How Do You Measure Up?
The question which heads our article can be asked relative to many areas in life. The idea of “measuring up” is: to meet certain standards, be as good as expected, or to meet necessary qualifications. This requires a set standard. One can never measure up if the standards continue to change over time or if the qualifications are altered periodically. Can one ever “be as good as expected” if the level they are striving to attain keeps changing? Could a football team ever make a touchdown if the goalposts are constantly moved further away? Could any army ever expect to be victorious if the “rules of engagement” deviate during the course of battle? This type of question can apply to many different situations, and the answer is always the same. It becomes impossible for one to be successful in any endeavor if there is not a set objective and without the means to accomplish it.
This is why present-day religion is so confusing. On one hand, there are folks who hold to a doctrine that originated in Germany and was brought to America by German and Scandinavian immigrants. On the other hand, there are people who follow a different creed with its roots in Scotland and England. There are also other denominations which originated in England, Spain, French, and other parts of Europe. There are also denominations that had their beginnings in America, some of these, offshoots of those which originated overseas. Each of these have differing tenets, setting their own standards, many of which are nowhere taught in the New Testament. Let me ask, how can each of these, with different origins, varying doctrines and standards, claim to be part of the ONE church for which Christ died?
Did not Christ, in Matt. 16:18 say, “I will build my church”? Will any argue that ‘my church’ is singular? Yet many denominations claim to be part of the body of Christ. And what will the denominations do with 1Cor. 12:25 in which the brethren there were admonished “That there should be no schism in the body”? Are not the different standards in the various religions divisive? Do these not cause folks to separate themselves from those who don’t believe as they do? With different standards there are different expectations.
In Eph. 4:4-6, there are seven “ones” listed. The first of these is “one body”. Following this is one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and the list is complete by pointing out there is one God. If there is but one body, how could any in these denominations, which is defined as “a religious group holding to its own distinct beliefs, traditions, and leadership, be one? Can one be of the same ‘spirit’ or mind with different standards? Not if the question of Hosea 3:3 is applied. Of course, most of the various religions claim to have the same hope of making it to heaven, albeit with different plans for reaching heaven. Many of them also claim to believe in the one Lord. Does the “one Lord” have multiple plans? According to Col. 3:24-25, all will receive just judgment. Those who “serve the Lord Christ” will receive “the reward of inheritance”, but “he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” No respect of persons means all will be judged by the same standard. Did not Christ Himself, in John 12:48 say, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”? How can one measure up to God and His plan while following man’s creeds when the standards (according to man) are so fluid?
Every single one of these groups ascribe to a “faith” or system of belief differing from the others. Can anyone measure up to God’s standard by following what originated with man? Many of the religions of the world have annual conferences that they might choose which beliefs are to be retained, which are to be altered slightly, and which are to be abandoned or added, dependent on the present social climate. You won’t find this with the church for which the Lord died on Calvary’s cross. This is why in 2Cor. 13:5, the Christians in Corinth are told to “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;”. This shows that even “Christians” can be in error and not be fully aware of it. If Christians can be in error, are not those who follow man-made creeds and doctrines steeped in error? “The faith” is singular, and none can measure up to multiple faiths and be pleasing to God.
The sixth “one” is baptism. This controversial topic has also become as varied as the many groups which endorse and include baptism. These man-made religious groups baptize for many reasons and are even divided on the amount of water required. How does anyone’s baptism measure up when some have been sprinkled, some have water poured on their heads as infants (even while they couldn’t consent to this, had no sin or knowledge of sin, and were not able to confess Christ as the Son of God)? Did not Philip and the eunuch both “go down into, and come up out of the water” in Acts 8:38-39? Others have been immersed in water, but for numerous reasons. There is not a single New Testament record of anyone being baptized to “join the church”. Is there not only ONE REASON for Bible baptism stated in the N. T.? Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16 and 1Pet. 3:21 clearly show this to be so.
The final “one” is one God. Interestingly, man has for a very long time been guilty of “bowing” before various ‘gods’. Secular history and Acts 17:23 both attest to this. However, the final phrase the Holy Spirit gave Paul to state needs to be emphasized and followed – Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. This declaration (preaching) started on the day of Pentecost, A.D. 33, and continues to this day when God’s Word is faithfully proclaimed – 1Pet. 4:11. Will you not consult God’s Word to see if you measure up to His standards before it is everlastingly too late? God’s mercy is extended now, while we live; His judgment at the end of time.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
