MODIFICATION

I Was Just Thinking About – MODIFICATION.

Modification conveys the idea there has been or will be a partial alteration taking place. Opposite to this is Intransigence where the position and posture is a refusal to agree or compromise with the suggested or pending modifications. The intransigent person is one who is inflexible. Biblical History states the dangers of any modification to that which God has declared, such as His – “Thou shalt not.” In the Garden of Eden, God wanted Adam and Eve to be intransigent, whereas the serpent wanted them to modify what God had stipulated and required.

Historically, within Church history, there have been times when the order of the day trended toward modification. The beginning of the Twentieth Century was such a time. In 1910, it resulted in the statement which indicated: “There are five fundamentals of the faith which are essential for Christianity, and upon which we agree:

(1) The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-9). 

(2)  The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27). 

(3) The Blood Atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14). 

(4) The Bodily Resurrection (Luke 24:36-46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:14-15). 

(5) The inerrancy of the scriptures themselves (Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20). 

And those who disagree with any of the above doctrines are not Christians at all. Rather, they are the true heretics.”

This was more or less accepted until the 1930s when liberalism and conservatism surfaced and was debated. Modifications began to be attached to the five Fundamentals. This was acute within the Presbyterian movement. Eschatological and Christian Liberty issues were viewed as fundamental to how the Church was to proceed.

In the Twenty-First Century Presbyterian Church, the debate (and passion) has expanded to issues such as: Strict Subscription; the Ordination of women to any office; flexibility and accommodation with the LGBT community; racial reparations; etc. Other denominations exist and insist upon modes of Baptism; opposition to Infant Baptism and Covenant Theology; Charismatic Gifts and their use; as well as the prevailing views on Christian Liberty issues. The bottom-line remains in terms of who is or isn’t heretical or Biblically correct or incorrect.

The Apostle Paul addressed these types of things within his ministry. He had to contend with the prevailing views of the Gospel and whether or not it was applicable to both the Jew and Gentile. He also addressed the divisions regarding charismatic gifts. He used statements such as: “If the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air” (First Corinthian 14:8-9).

Regarding Christian Liberty, Paul gives the enjoinder and counsel: “Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him” (Romans 14:3).

Overall, Paul gives a partial listing of how a follower of Jesus Christ should live (Philippians 4:8): ”Whatever is true… honorable… just… pure… lovely…commendable - if there is any excellence…anything worthy of praise, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS."

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.