The Old Way

Some years ago, a dear brother in faith told me about encounters he had with a highly respected elder in the church.^[1]

Encouraged by the elder to stray from sound doctrine^[2], the brother reminded him of Scriptural passages that contradicted the elder’s counsel. The elder responded, “Nobody believes the Bible anymore, that’s the old way^[3] of being saved!” Asked if decisions in the church should be made according to Scriptural authority, the elder responded, “I’ll decide, I’ll make the decisions!”^[4]

Shocking, isn’t it?

Yet, the elder continues to be highly respected in the church, is unrepentant of his heretical positions, and is highly influential in matters of church policy, doctrine, and the selection of ministers, apparently fulfilling Apostle Paul’s warning to young Timothy:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

(2 Timothy 4:3-4)

How does one combat errors that so deeply permeate the church? Please reply with your thoughts or observations.

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[1] Finnish Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church (I.A.L.C.)
[2] See: (Titus 1:9), (Titus 2:1), (1 Timothy 6:1-5), (1 Timothy 1:10)
[3] “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace…” (Hebrews 13:7-9a)
[4] “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15) “But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40) See also: (Psalm 25:12), (Proverbs 18:13), (Isaiah 30:21), (James 3:17), (Psalm 32:8), (Proverbs 15:22)