Articles
When God Talks Do We Listen?
Does God speak our language? Do we speak His?
Why would that be important. God has, by His own Word, "once for all" delivered His Gospel to us. Maybe you have heard someone say, "God said it, I believe it, that's the end of it!"
That doesn't leave much room for us to put in our two cents does it? We like to put in our two cents. We like to make sure that whatever we do, it makes us feel good, that it feels right for us, it meets our expectations, our schedule and is politically correct. But where in scripture does God give us that free reign; where is our verse supporting our permission to alter His Word?
We could argue about just almost any topic where man has altered things to suit himself. Usually, there is some heartfelt logic like "it makes me feel better" or "I can worship better" or "surely God......" or "God didn't say not to". But arguing is not what is necessary to be right, obedience is.
For me, I could look forward to the communion service more each Sunday, if that dry cracker had some peanut butter and jelly. I also prefer Dr. Pepper over grape juice. And, Saturday night would be much more preferable for me to worship, because I'd rather be fishing Sunday mornings. Surely God won't care, because it makes me appreciate the body and blood more. I can better appreciate the communion because it has my favorite PB&J spread over it. Since it works better for me, surely God is OK with it? I'm sure God is OK with me NOT worshiping on the day He told me to, because it cuts into my schedule, and besides, I'm not sitting there Saturday night wishing I were fishing. I can listen to the sermon better and not daydream. Since it suits me better, surely God won't mind.
Now, while there might be some that would say the peanut butter and jelly were OK to add to the communion, I think you would have to look long and hard to find them. I don't think many would suggest Dr. Pepper was OK, although I've heard people say water is OK to substitute if there is no fruit of the vine. If it's not unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, then it's not what God said to use. If we don't use what He said to use, how can we commune like He said to commune? Think about that! Now apply that to all God has said.
God does not give us permission to alter what He commands to suit our desires, nor to substitute other things because they might be more expedient. Yet we see things added all the time that God never gave permission for, and many that even make common what He did authorize. What if Noah had used mesquite wood to build the ark? Fortunately, he didn't, and his boat floated. Read about Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10. They used something they chose instead, and died for it. Why did God reject their efforts? God didn't say not to, so it must be OK right? These dead men would tells us otherwise!
