And They Shall Know We Are Christians By Our Doctrine, By Our Doctrine

Bert: “If you were to die today and stand before God, and if he asked you, ‘Why should I let you into Heaven,’ then what would you say?”

Ernie: “I always tried to go to church and was a good guy.”

Bert: “Well… that is wrong, and you obviously aren’t going to Heaven. Sorry.”

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These are words I have thought and perhaps have even spoken (in a more kindly manner) myself. Are they true? Who was right and wrong, Bert or Ernie?

For the sake of thoroughness, they were BOTH right AND wrong.

Bert was correct that Ernie would not gain entrance into heaven BECAUSE of his good deeds. But he was wrong because neither would Ernie go to heaven if he correctly UNDERSTOOD WHY he was going to heaven.

“Hold the phone!” you may say, “There are people all across the country who have the wrong idea that if they are good people they will go to Heaven.”

And right you are. Ernie was “correct” in that perhaps that was his honest answer into why he suspected he MIGHT get into Heaven; but he was wrong if he believed that to be the reason he WOULD get into Heaven.

But, a correct understanding of salvation is not the same as being saved. In a similar fashion, you can “know” God but still be baffled by the doctrine of the Trinity.

Now the doctrine of the Trinity is admittedly more complex while the doctrine of Salvation is much more explicit in the Bible, but the position still holds that acting upon a truth is not dependent upon a complete understanding of that truth.

And truly, who can boast in a complete understanding? And who should boast in anything they claim to understand!

To paraphrase a passage in Romans 3 (lyrics from a song that may make their way on here soon): Where is our boast? It can’t be made! No, not by following the law, for we are justified by faith.

So, how do we handle a situation like Bert’s at the beginning of this post, when he comes upon a misguided soul? We teach them. This is Christ’s great commission, to make disciples, both baptizing and teaching them, as we go through the world.

We are not called to be the sword, dividing the right from the wrong, the justified from the unjustified. Christ alone is judge, the Word of God sharper than any two-edged sword.

As humans we naturally tend to an “us” vs. “them” view of the world. And we elevate our traditions and doctrines to the exclusion of others.

True, some do not want any part of Christ, and we lack the power (or the right?) to force them into communion with God.

True, there are those who would corrupt and malign the gospel and make a mockery of Christ’s sacrifice, and they should not be suffered to teach as if they believed.

But to those who do believe, or, as we may say in our hearts, to those who believe they believe, why not encourage them with the word. Teach them the truths of God. And out of their obedience to Christ (not a level of “complete understanding” set forth by our tradition) baptize them into Christ.

Does not the word have the power to illuminate the hearts of men, to shine light into the dark places of their soul, to rebuke for the sin men may cling to. So even those who have a wrong understanding must be encouraged (not belittled or dismissed) with the truth, if they are ever to have a right understanding.

Again, I distinguish from the opponents of the church and the false teachers, and speak more directly of the young and misguided in the faith. The church’s mission is not to check up on everyone and make sure they are on “the right side of eternity.” It is to teach and to baptize men of every nation; including the nation of “because I am a good person.”