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David wrote of God, “Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psa. 16:10). God needs more men, women, boys, and girls who have such faith in God that they will not be moved. These are times in which many, even some who have been strong in the past, are found moving with the ever-changing doctrinal winds and currents. We will do well to consider some of the many areas concerning which each Christian should say with determination, “I shall not be moved”:
Ephesians 5:19. speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Some brethren have reached the point where they are willing to count instrumental music as a matter of opinion or something to be determined only by “conscience,” rather than as an issue of New Testament authority. In their hyper-zeal for unity some are trying to ignore the instrument as an issue of fellowship. Simple singing is Scripturally secure, and the instrument is unauthorized in Christian worship. I shall not be moved from this Biblical view of the matter.
Acts 2:38. And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Some have been swayed by the view that one does not need to understand the purpose of baptism as long as he is baptized “to obey God.” The question immediately arises, “Has anyone ever been baptized except ‘to obey God’?” Surely the twelve men in Ephesus were originally baptized “to obey God,” yet Paul baptized them again after teaching them correctly (Acts 19:1–7). Baptism is the act which brings men from guilt to forgiveness, from being lost to being saved, and without this understanding baptism is not Scripturally administered. I shall not be moved from this.
Ephesians 5:11. …and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;
This passage forbids our having any fellowship with works of evil and error. We live in times wherein brethren are more and more ignoring the bounds of fellowship established by the Lord and are urging others to ignore them. They would have us exchange pulpits, cooperate in mission work, have joint worship periods, and such like with denominational groups. The ploy is, “We can have a ‘limited’ fellowship with such in those areas on which we agree.” Not so! Paul ordered no fellowship. I shall not be moved to do more.
2 Timothy 4:1–4. I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
The pressure upon elders and preachers today is to provide a wholly “positive” message that coddles all who hear. Reproof and rebuke are out; “make-us-feel-goodism” is in. The number of ears that itch for something besides the “whole counsel of God” and the “sound doctrine” are myriad among the saints. The number of preachers and elders who are willing to “dance” to whatever tune is “piped” are likewise many. Shall we pick and choose only the things that please us in the Gospel? Let us all say as one, “I shall not be moved” from the whole Truth!
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, March 13, 1986, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
