Organizations infected with “group-think” strive to maintain internal harmony and agreement regardless of the costs. Challengers deviating from the concensus are considered disloyal, spiteful or stupid, and are not tolerated.
When the organization is a church body and conformity is elevated above the Word, the costs are incalculable and imperils the very promise of eternal life.[1] The effects of group-think are like confining shackles to members that recognize the higher authority of the Word.[2] By His grace, rediscovering the truth of His Word frees those enslaved to the dysfunctional organization.
“So Jesus said… ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
(John 8:31-32)
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’…”
(John 14:6)
The gift of faith in His Word[3] frees us from being compelled to twist His Word to fit the false doctrines protected by group-think.[4] This freedom allows us to correct errors[5] in the church and challenge false doctrines[6], just as Apostle Paul rebuked heretics in his letters to the believing congregations.[7]
This freedom allows us to read, study, and ponder His Word as it is written.[8] We are freed from being forced to interpret phrases like “good works”[9] or “fruits of faith”[10] as a single passive act of just “believing” and accept them as multiple busy activities[11] freely done through the Holy Spirit in the service of our vocations[12] in love for our neighbors.[13] We are freed to also read the Old Testament and recognize the prophesies of Christ[14] and lives of faith as written through the prophets.[15] We are freed to let His Word have its way with us[16] without qualification or evasion. We are freed to believe all of His Word (Revelation 10:9) and stop ignoring passages of Scripture that our flesh wants to reject (Romans 7:7-25). We are freed to let His Word judge all (Romans 3:23) with the wrath of His Law and save all (John 3:16) who believe through the sweetness of His Gospel.
This freedom purges the traditions of men[17] (that do not edify) and adopts the sound doctrinal traditions of the saints.[18] It allows us to reject the Enthusiasm[19] that claims the Holy Spirit can overrule His Word to conform to unbounded uncited heretical proclamations, such as:
“If you hear errors in the sermons, then you are listening with your material ears. If you listen with your spiritual ears you won’t hear any errors.”
(I.A.L.C. Minister)[20]
This freedom rejects the dysfunctionality of organizational exclusivity and recognizes a small remnant of His faithful is scattered throughout His creation[21] for His purposes. It does not remain hidden (Matthew 5:14-16) but freely proclaims the Gospel to all nations.[22]
This freedom is truly free[23] yet today, but it’s only available for a limited time.[24] Have you been freed (Galatians 5:1) or do you still labor under the shackles of group-think?
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
Please let me know how your shackles were loosened and you were given the eternal unspeakable joy of this freedom.
[1] 1 John 5:13; 1 John 2:17; John 3:16; 1 Timothy 6:12.
[2] Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 3:22; Psalm 119:160; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16; Acts 17:11; John 1:1.
[3] Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 13:5.
[4] 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Romans 16:17-20; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Revelation 22:18-19; 2 Peter 3:16; Galatians 1:6-7; 2 Corinthians 4:2.
[5] For decades I’ve heard ministers explain that it’s everyone’s duty to correct errors within the church. But in practice, those proposing corrections based on the Word (and contrary to the current group-think) are ignored, disqualified, or outcast. Why does this precept continue when it has been effectively rendered obsolete?
[6] Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Ephesians 5:11; 1 John 4:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
[7] 2 Corinthians 11:3-6; Galatians 2:14; Galatians 6:12-13; Acts 15:1-21; 1 Tim. 1:3-7; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; Galatians 1:6-9.
[8] Psalm 77:12; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 18:15; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 6:17.
[9] Hebrews 10:24-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 2:26.
[10] Matthew 7:16–23; James 2:14-17; Galatians 5:22.
[11] “Oh, it is a living, busy, active, powerful thing that we have in faith, so that it is impossible for it not to do good without ceasing. Nor does it ask whether good works are to be done; but before the question is asked, it has wrought them, and is always engaged in doing them. But he who does not do such works is void of faith…” (Preface to St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Dr. Martin Luther 1522.)
[12] 1 Corinthians 7:17; Ephesians 4:1-13; Romans 12:4-8; See also The Small Catechism: Table of Duties, Dr. Martin Luther, 1529.
[13] Romans 13:8-10; Mark 12:28-31; John 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
[14] Isaiah 53; Genesis 3:15; Deuteronomy 18:15-18.
[15] Jeremiah 31:33-34; Psalm 1:1; Psalm 1:6; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 37:31; Psalm 40:8.
[16] Psalm 139:1; Psalm 139:24; Jeremiah 17:9-10; John 3:16; Hebrews 4:11-13.
[17] Mark 7:6-8; Colossians 2:8; Matthew 15:3-6.
[18] 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Timothy 3:12-14; Revelation 3:3.
[19] “And in those things which concern the spoken, outward Word, we must firmly hold that God grants His Spirit or grace to no one, except through or with the preceding outward Word, in order that we may [thus] be protected against the enthusiasts, i.e., spirits who boast that they have the Spirit without and before the Word, and accordingly judge Scripture or the spoken Word, and explain and stretch it at their pleasure, as Muenzer did, and many still do at the present day, who wish to be acute judges between the Spirit and the letter, and yet know not what they say or declare. For [indeed] the Papacy also is nothing but sheer enthusiasm, by which the Pope boasts that all rights exist in the shrine of his heart, and whatever he decides and commands with [in] his church is spirit and right, even though it is above and contrary to Scripture and the spoken Word…” (The Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article VIII, Dr. Martin Luther, 1537.)
[20] This statement was spoken during a sermon in December 2019 in the Minneapolis Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church (M.I.A.L.C.) at Dayton, Minnesota.
[21] 1 Kings 19:18; Revelation 7:9; Romans 9:26-27; Hebrews 13:2.
[22] Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20.
[23] Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-9.
[24] Matthew 24:44; 2 Peter 3:10.