I recently received a phone call from a woman who was very distraught over things being taught and practiced where she worships. Taking of the Lord’s Supper any day of the week, instrumental music being advocated and other issues are being promoted as acceptable. In the course of conversation, she mentioned how, when discussing whether these changes were scriptural or not, the response she received was, “We don’t want to limit Christ.”
To say you don’t want to limit Christ sounds noble, but the fact of the matter is quite different when we alter the pattern found in Scripture. Scripture is indeed our pattern. As an inspired apostle, Paul reminded Timothy, “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). He reminded the brethren in Rome, “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6:17). That this pattern was the standard applicable to all congregations is seen in his words to the church at Corinth. “That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17).
Following the pattern revealed in Scripture is not limiting Christ, but following Christ. Jesus told His apostles, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). We know Scripture is Christ’s Word (Romans 10:17), and Jesus said, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48). If all authority belongs to Christ, then it is both valid and essential to ask the question for all our practices as His church, “Where’s the authority?” When we follow the teaching of Scripture, we are not limiting Christ, but Christ is limiting us as to what is acceptable worship and service. Jesus did indeed say, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). This is why Paul wanted the Philippians to hold fast to the Word of life, that in judgment, his efforts on their behalf would not have been in vain (Philippians 2:16).
When Jesus spoke of the Gospel being preached by Peter and the apostles, He said, “Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Neither Peter, nor the rest of the apostles, or anyone else, has the authority to change what the Lord has established in His infinite wisdom. We have neither authority to loose what He has bound, nor the authority to bind what He has loosed. He is Head of the body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), and we are to be slaves of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:1). To receive the rich blessings He has to offer, we must yield ourselves to Him and allow Him through the authority of His Word to guide us in His will, for He alone has the words of eternal life (John 6:68).
I suppose anyone can say anything when it comes to the faith and our practice of it, but our question must always be, “Where is the authority?” Humanity doesn’t have the right or privilege to determine doctrine, but our Lord does. We must always be sure what we believe and what we practice is true to the pattern of Scripture. Our goal isn’t to appease people, but to please God. “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).
