Understanding Independent Fundamental Baptist Beliefs Week 5

And what we've been talking about for the last few weeks is is is we are uh an independent Baptist church. And in our in our church, I would say probably half or less of the church is from a Baptist background. And I would say that probably only a third or less are are from an independent Baptist background. And so this is kind of new to some of you. And so I want you to understand, well, what do we mean when we talk about being independent Baptist churches? And uh by independent we're we're not that we can't get along with anybody. We just believe that each church answers to God directly without a formal hierarchy over the church.

And then we're uh what is commonly called was at least was commonly called a fundamental Baptist church which we don't use that term fundamental as much today because it's become a bad word. Uh a fundamentalist is a terrorist in today's world. And so uh we call it we use more of the word a biblicist. Uh but the fun the reason we were called fundamentalist is because we believed in the fundamentals of the faith. Back in the mid uh 1900s there was a number of churches that began to move away from the word of God and from the basic beliefs of the Bible began to move away from creation and from uh the the literal interpretation of the Bible and from a lot of things.

And so there was a group of Christians that got together and they put together a a statement that we believe in the fundamentals of the faith and this was a doctrinal statement and said these are the things that we believe are absolutely necessary to believe in. And so they became known as fundamentalists and and so there was a movement that said we're not going to move away from the word of God. We're going to stay faithful to that. Some of them stayed within the the mainline denominations that were moving away and tried to change it, but a lot of them said, "We're going to have to move out of those groups and start our own."

And um and so and and many of them were Baptists and so they became known as fundamental Baptists. Um in later years, probably in about the 70s and 80s, it kind of changed. And if you were a fundamental Baptist, you didn't smoke, drink, or chew, or go with girls who do who did. you you just became it became identifying somebody that was um really strict in their standards rather than strict in their beliefs. And uh and we'll talk about that and and the importance of having standards. Uh but truly a true fundamental Baptist is one that believes in the fundamentals of the faith. And so we talked about that last week and we're trying to define for you the difference between a fundamentalist, a liberal, and a new evangelical.

Now you need to understand a liberal is not talking about political liberals in today's world. We have the the uh MAGA group and we have the leftist liberal group and polit politics you know both extremes and and um we're not talking about that now. You'll find that as a rule, many of the people that believe in the fundamentals of the faith tend to be more in the conservative side politically. And many of those that believe that are liberal in their spiritual beliefs are are more in the liberal side politically. But that's not what we're talking about. And so you have the liberals. What happened again is that 1900 period a lot of theologians started criticizing the Bible and saying well this is wrong and that's not right and this isn't true and began to break it down in that way and um they became known as liberals theologically and a liberal does not necessarily believe in salvation by grace.

They usually believe in a social gospel or a works gospel of some kind. Uh and they tend to deny the supernatural elements of the Bible. They don't believe in the creation. They don't believe in Noah's arc and flood. They don't believe in a lot of the things that you know the resurrection even many times. And so, uh that's a liberal theologian. And so, they're on this opposite extreme from us. And then what happened is is in the 70s and 80s in that time period there's a group of Christians that begin to try to bridge the gap between the two groups and they became known as new evangelicals and that's what we were looking at last week and a new evangelical remember the term evangelical is

somebody who believes in evangelism they believe in salvation by grace through faith and so if they don't believe in that they're not evangelical even though they might call themselves at they are not and because an evangelical believes in evangelism, salvation by grace and so they believe in that which we believe in also but what they were trying to do is bridge that gap. So they said well let's not let's not worry about some of those other fundamentals and and so they so the new evangelicals begin to say we're going to try to accept both sides and come together on our lowest common denominator.

What's the thing we all believe in? And and that can be pretty wide. It's called ecumenicalism. And uh it could be pretty wide. Some groups will come together. Well, we all believe in God. It might be Allah. It might be Buddha. We believe in a higher power or God. That's one way they come together. Others will come together say, "Well, we all believe in Jesus. Not necessarily salvation by grace, but we believe in Jesus." And then there's another group who come together. We all believe in salvation by faith. And and so they look for that lowest common denominator. And as fundamentalists, as biblicists, we say, "Well, wait a minute.

There's some other things that are important as well. And we cannot compromise those things in order to cooperate together." And and that's what happens. So, we we're talking about the new evangelical. And um you can go back and fill in the other blanks there, but go to number four under that Roman uh Roman number two, letter A, letter small letter C, and then number four. uh we're talking about seven characteristics of a new evangelical and one of them is they they begin to look at you know we got to look at the word of God a little differently there and a fresh understanding reinterpretation of biblical infallibility and the inheresy and emphasis on um sanctification rather than a lessic code.

Okay. And then number four a marked aversion to dispensationalism and detailed esqueological speculation. Okay. How many of you here know what the word dispensationalist is? Know what that term means? All right, we've covered it before in other groups, but let me give it to you just a kind of a nutshell here. Dispensationalist. When we look at the Bible, we see there's distinct periods where God dealt with saved man differently. Now, how is how we how's everybody been saved from the from Genesis to Revelation? How do you get saved? by faith through grace. Everybody's saved that way. Now, in the Old Testament, if we were say this side of the tables, the Old Testament, okay, the Old Testament saint, he was saved by faith in the promise of a coming Messiah.

He believed in a savior, a Messiah who was to come. He was looking forward to the cross. He didn't understand all the details of it, but he believed the promise of the Messiah by faith. He wasn't saved by bringing sacrifices. He was not saved by keeping the law. He was saved by faith in the coming Messiah. In the New Testament, you and I, we're saved by faith in that same Messiah, but we're looking at him from the other side of the cross. We're looking at the Savior on the cross and we're saved by faith in him. Okay? So, understand man has always been saved the same way from Genesis to Revelation.

But a dispensational says, "But God dealt with saved man differently." For example, how many of you have walked with God in the garden? Raise your hand. Now, we sing the song, I come to him in the, you know, the garden and all, but we've not physically walk with God. Adam and Eve did. And they were under a dispensation. Uh, and and in that dispensation, they had certain responsibilities. One of them was to tend the garden. The other one was not to eat of the fruit of good and evil. There was certain responsibilities to to be fruitful and multiply and and and God gave them these responsibilities and what did they do?

They failed. And so the end of that dispensation happened when they were kicked out of the garden. And then you have um the other dispensations that you go through the uh dispensations of the um patriarchals. I can't think of the name off the top of my head. And then you got the disposition of the law and so on. We tend to identify seven different periods. Like in the disposition of law, they were not saved by keeping the law, but they as saved Jewish believers, they were supposed to keep the law, bring the acrifices, and be a godly testimony to the nations around them, which they failed at. And so each dispensation had a different responsibility, which they eventually failed at.

and uh and and that that they had different relationship with the Lord. You kind of think of it like growing up. As mankind has grown, God has dealt with them differently. You know, when my children were little, I dealt with them one way. When they got bigger, there was different responsibilities. And now that they're adults is different. They're still my children, but they have different responsibilities and different relationship in that way. And God has done that with mankind, too. Part of the dismissations is is you ever had somebody when you were witness to them that they said to you, "Well, you know, if if this were just a perfect world, then I'd believe in God."

Well, was there ever a perfect world? Adam and Eve. And what happened? They failed. Well, you know, well, why doesn't God just tell me what he wants me to do? Did he ever do that in the law? Boy, in the law, he just said, "Here's what you do. Don't eat this. Eat that. Do this. Don't do that." very detailed. And what did man do? He failed. And you can just keep on going through that. Well, if God would just come down, he did that with Adam and Eve. He's right there with him in the garden in the in the dispensation of of um the the end times. And again, I should have brought my notes with me because my mind's going blank on these, but in that last dispensation, when we have that thousand-y year reign of Christ, it's going to be a perfect world.

What's going to happen? People are going to still rebel against God. So if God, you know what it says in Philippians, when we stand before God, every mouth shall be shut. Nobody will say, "Well, if you'd only done this," because God said, "I did that and it didn't work." So the dispensation is God dealt with. We Why don't we follow the dietary laws? Why don't we bring sacrifices? Now, I've had a couple of pets. I would have been glad to sacrifice to the Lord, but why don't we do that? Why don't we ha have Saturday as our Sabbath day? Because those were under the dispensation of the law. Those were commands to a specific group of people at a specific time.

And when the age of grace came, those were no longer necessary. And so each dispensation you can see, but see with the new evangelical, when you get in church, a lot of times they don't want to see that. And that's why you get, for example, infant baptism because people do infant baptism say, "Well, it's just like the Jewish circumcision." No, it's not a lot more painful. Uh, for one, I was baptized as an infant in the Catholic church and they threw water in my face. I'm sure I cried, but that's a lot different to being circumcised, you know. Um, it but they don't they don't separate that out. And so one of the things you always want to kind of look at and if you want to study on this dispensationalism I give you some information on that.

But basically a new evangelical the liberals don't even see that at all. They just kind of they don't really think the Bible's relevant in most ways. But the new evangelicals doesn't want to separate those things out. Okay. Number five. Fresh interest in a social gospel as opposed to biblical evangelism. Remember the liberals. It's all about social. we can change mankind and and and bring in the the kingdom of God by men being better. And they forget that man is a sinner with nature and he's not going to get better without Jesus Christ at all. And and that's the liberal. We as independent fundamental Baptists, we we believe in the fundamentals of faith that salvation is by grace through faith.

And we believe very importantly in the gospel of salvation. Now the new evangelical what you'll find a lot of new these churches in this middle group they will preach about Jesus but they will rarely invite you to come to Jesus. And you'll find a lot of people are like, "Well, I, you know, I talked to a lot of people say,"Well, I was in this church and I trusted, you know, I heard about Jesus and that's when I got saved." And and there was no really understanding of the gospel and understanding and nobody ever talked to them and showed them they need to put their faith and trust in Christ. There there's kind of this watering down of the gospel.

They'll still preach Jesus, but they won't really evangelize and and bring people to Christ as directly. and and that that varies in where they're at in the scale of that. Number six is freer religious dialogue and cooperation with evangelicals, Catholics, and even non-Christians. So again, a new evangelical will say, "Listen, let's let's work together." And it doesn't matter what we all believe as long as we're believe in Jesus. And and so you'll have a revival meeting. And uh my wife got saved under Billy Graham who was a a well-known evangelist back in the 1900s and in around 70s 60s7s and 80s.

And he had we'd have big revivals in stadiums and it would be broadcast on TV every year. Uh you'd have at least twice a year there'd be Billy Graham revival and on regular broadcast TV. And um and she got saved watching him. At least that's where her journey with the Lord started. and he he preached the gospel, but when he'd have his revival, if you came to receive Jesus, whatever church was next in line would talk to you. So, he'd work with Catholics and all kinds of groups. And so, if somebody came forward, they'd talk to a Catholic priest who's not necessarily going to tell them about salvation through faith by grace.

And and so, there's a there compromise with that where they cooperate. And people ask me all the time,"Well, you know, they're having this big thing down in Blazedale or they're having this big thing over at the stadium. Are we going to go to that?" Well, not unless they believe what we believe. You say, "Well, you're just a you you just can't get along with anybody, can you, pastor?" No, it's just that we believe that we should cooperate with those who believe what we believe. and and and we've done we we did years ago we did a a tent revival down here at Cah Lagoon and we cooperated about I think it was about 10 of the churches and we had a big group of people came and got many got saved and it was a good thing but I find you get better results from the local church and that's God's plan.

You don't see many big revivals back in Bible days and and big cooperative things and said get to your church, get to your community, reach them for Christ. But the the new evangelical will say, "Let's let's work together." And again, that's a good thing. I'd like to see our politicians work together more uh but uh uh not in spiritual things, not wanting to compromise our basic foundational beliefs. And then number seven, increasing friendliness to modern science and mounting acceptance of theistic evolution in some form. So again this group of people will say you know we believe God created the world but we we we think it was this day age theory.

Now I am a creationist. I believe in creation seven days of creation. In the beginning God and he in six days he created the the world around us and the seventh day he rested. That I believe in that literally. That's part of the fundamentals of faith. a a theistic evolutionist would say, "Well, a thousand years with God is a day and a day is a thousand years." And so, you know, the earth is millions and millions of years old because that's what we've been told for so long. Where scientific fact doesn't actually necessarily back that up. What you believe based on the fact, you know, is based on the facts, but it's also based based on what you believe.

If you don't believe in God, you're going to have to believe in evolution. If you believe in God, you can also see the facts very much fit creation. And um there's a great organization called Answers in Genesis um that's in Kentucky, Ohio area. And um and they've got some good material on if you want to get some material for you or your or your children uh on creation. Uh we one of our former members, some of you heard of the Noah's Arc that they built and everything. One of our former members was the person in charge of that. he was uh retired from the army and went to work for them and uh did a great job with that.

But anyway, the the the new evangelicals say, "Well, you know, science says this, so how are we going to make that fit into the Bible?" And so they come up with a day age theory or what's called a gap theory which says that God created the world then the Satan rebelled and there was a chaos for all these years and then then uh then God kind of recreated it all in the seven days and we don't need to compromise with science and we don't need to compromise with the world and the facts can back us up on that as well but you know ultimately evolution and creation come down faith. You have to believe both by faith because you can't recreate it and you can't prove it in the science lab.

You got to believe it. And evolution is just much believed by faith as we do. And so these are the things. Now, why am I harping on this? Because it's important for you to understand why we don't do certain things. Now, I want to cooperate as much as I can. And I've got some great friends here in the islands and elsewhere that are that are not fundamentalists in the same sense that I am. and they're they're I believe they're saved. I believe they love the Lord. I believe they're trying to reach their community for Christ and and all the rest of that, but at the same time, I have to make that decision of where am I going to stand and what am I am I willing to compromise or not?

There's some quotes I gave you here from different ones. You may recognize names. Again, most of these are from earlier on. Uh but you know it just comes to the quotes that they said is that is is showing how that they begin to compromise like with the Lord's table uh the communion or Eucharist or the mass or Lord supper it's all the same thing. No it's not. You go into a Catholic church and watch them do Lord's supper and what we do. It's very different what the Bible teaches. And and then the other one, next quote talks about um doesn't matter if they're Baptist or Presbyterian assemblies, God, Catholic, and so on, as long as we find common ground.

I'm sorry. I don't have, you know, the common ground I may have with a Catholic to be honest with you is, you know, I I know some Catholic people are great people. I love the Lord. I believe they love God as they see him, but they they most of them don't believe in salvation by faith. They don't believe in the Bible. They believe in traditions and all the rest of it. I don't teach what they teach. I don't believe what they believe and I wouldn't ask them to compromise with me as well. You know, we have a Catholic with this church. They're going to hear the gospel, you know, and uh and and and ask where they're at.

And then um the next quote, you can read these on your own just to kind of understand where I'm coming from, but let's go to 2 Corinthians chapter 6. Why why is this important? Why are we to be then separatists? Uh 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and look at verses 14-1 17. 2 Corinthians chapter 6. Verses 14-1 17. Be not unequally yolked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what common communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with bile? What part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?

For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people. God calls us to be come out and be separate. He calls us to the word accla the Greek word for church is it means a a calledout group and we're to be unique. We're to be separate and and we believe that starts with personal separation. Romans 12:1 and2 I I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove is that good and acceptable and

perfect will of God and then Ephesians 5:11 the Bible tells us and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness for but rather reprove them you're going to find as a rule a church that consider themselves to be a fundamental or biblicist church is probably going to have more standards of separation. They're they're going to be more conservative in their actions because they're going to say, you know, our beliefs should not just be what we believe, but they should affect how we live. And so, I need to be holy as God is holy. I need to be the word holy means be set apart. And so, as a rule, churches like ours are going to be churches that are going to be known for having standards.

Um, and and I'll talk about one of the dangers of that in just a moment, but there's there's a personal separation of standards. And then number two, an ecclesiastal separation in fellowship and cooperation. Uh, 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and well, we looked at verses 14 uh through 17 already. Let's look at verse 18. We didn't add that one in there. So, let's go ahead and get that. Um, let me get back there. Uh, and I will be their father and you shall be my sons and daughters, sayith the Lord Almighty. Okay. But the point is there's a there's a separation ecclesiastically. Um, Romans 16:17, turn over to there.

And by ecclesiastically in in our beliefs and and what we teach and believe and and who we cooperate with. Romans 16:17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you've learned and avoid them. So the Bible says listen, mark them. In other words, it's not you're going to go spray paint an orange lion on or something like that or a big X in their back. It just say when I, for example, when I go on the internet, I want to when I read an article or something on the internet that's Christian, then first thing I do is look at who is this guy and where is he coming from?

because I want to know. I I've gone on in there looking up something and then all of a sudden realize I'm reading an article by a Mormon. Now, it may be a great article, but they do not believe what I believe. And and so I want to see where is the sources coming from that mark them so we understand that this is divisive. There are certain authors that are divisive or are are teaching things that are false to doctrine. And it doesn't mean there might not be good things in there, but I need to read it with a grain of salt especially. And then um also look at Philippians chapter 3 and verses 15-19.

Philippians chapter 3 15-19. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded. It doesn't mean we never do anything wrong but uh perfecting or growing. And if anything we be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, where to you have already attained, let's walk by the same rule. Let's mind the same thing, what we believe in common. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example. And then uh for as many as walk uh many walk of whom I have told you often now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose god is their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things.

Well pastor why are you so critical? Well number one I try not to be that way. Um you very rarely hear me call out somebody from the podium and and and all but if you'll ask me you know what do you think of this guy? I'll tell you my honest opinion. This is what they're teaching. This is what's right. this is what's wrong. We have to mark them. We have to understand where they're coming from. And if they're not speaking according to his word, there's no truth in them. And it may be somebody's way off on left field and just, you know, totally off base or maybe somebody just a little bit off. But you know what?

When you're a little bit off the mark, what happens? The further you go, you're further and further away from it. People that started out believing what I believe today are way away from that because they just kept going further and further away. And that's why it's important we stay faithful to those fundamentals. And when somebody's not teaching that, hey, that's a great guy, but that's what he's saying is not right. And that's okay. And then it says to not only mark them, but look at second Thessalonians chapter 3 and verse number six. 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 and verse 6. Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw yourself from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the additions which you've received us.

And all of these verses kind of, you know, 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 and verses 14 and 15, uh, he says, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him to his brother." Separate. See, I can say, "Listen, what you're teaching is wrong, but I I don't h you're not my enemy." And that's one of the big mistakes we've made. That's what's happened politically. If you don't believe what I believe, you're the enemy. But we've also done that in the church. Paul said in Philippians in the beginning of the book, he said he was in remember he was in jail and he said, "There's some people that are preaching the gospel not because they want to reach people for Christ, but they're trying to make my situation worse."

But he says, "I don't care as long as the gospel gets out there." And there are other churches in this island that don't believe and practice what we do, but they're preaching the gospel. Well, Praise God. They're reaching people for Christ. Now, I'd prefer they were staying faithful to fundamentals of faith, but they're not my enemy. We're not in competition with all the other churches on this island. We're in competition with Satan, with the world. And we got to reach people for Christ. And so, I can be separate without being enemies in that way. uh 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verses 24 and 25 the Bible says, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle and all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.

God perventure will give them repentance and acknowledge the truth." We don't have to be angry fundamentalists and there's a reputation for that that's been rightly earned over the years. And there's some people that are supposedly in our circles that are out there that their their whole ministry is saying, "Well, how everybody else in the world is wrong except for them." And and God said, "That's not what God's called us to do." They answer to God, not to me. Now, if somebody asked me or if they're teaching something wrong, I'm going to be straightforward about this is wrong. This is not truth.

This is not what the gospel says. This is not the Bible says. But I don't have to be angry about it and mean about it. I just need to take a stand. Um, look at James chapter 1 verses 19 and 20. James chapter 1 verses 19 and 20. Wherefore my beloved brother brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man workketh not the righteousness of God. Don't be an angry fundamentalist. We we again very good comparison political world today on both sides. There's people just angry all the time. And if you're not where I'm at, if you don't believe what I believe, you're you're a Nazi.

You're a criminal. You're this or that. You're you know, and and we don't have to be angry. I I can just be clear. I I don't believe what you believe. And this is what the word of God says. We're going to stay faithful to that. And we're not going to compromise on that. and then um reprove them. There is a time and a place to reprove them. Ephesians chapter 5:1, we looked at that. Look at second John uh verses 10 and 11. Second John verses 10 and 11 says um wherefore if I come I will remember his deeds which he doeth do doeth part prayed in against us with malicious words and not content therewith neither doth he himself receive the brethren and forbidth them that would and casteth them out of the church.

Behold father follow not that which is evil but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. Paul did call out some people by names at different points. But as a whole, you know, he would reprove them when they're wrong. And there's a time and a place to do that. And when somebody's teaching false doctrine or teaching something's not biblically correct, we need to stand up and say that's not right. and and but we can do it in a not an angry way but in a proper way and more most important let's counter them turn to Titus chapter 1 Titus chapter 1:es 9-11 holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that it may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gains for there are many unruler unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the circumcision whose mouth must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucer sake.

You know the best way to counter the false teaching? Teach what's true. Do the right thing. That's the best way to counter it. And and we don't have to go out there and just be constantly yelling and screaming at the other side. Let's just do right. Again, that's what we need. Look at verse 13. This is witness true. Wherefore, rebuke them sharply. They may be sound of faith. There's a time to rebuke. And then and but we just need to do it the right way. Look at chapter 3:es 10- 11. A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject knowing that he that is such subverted is subverted and sin is being condemned of himself.

There is a clear time when this is false teaching. We need to reject that and make it clear this is false and and but there's right time to do that. Right way to do that. And then we believe in spiritual separation unto Christ. Look at Galatians chapter 2 and verse 20. Galatians chapter 2 and verse number 20. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me. In the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God who hath loved me and gave himself for me. I can separate from false doctrine but not separate the true doctrine. I can separate from the world but not to Christ.

But I'll tell you what, if I separate unto Christ, I am automatically separating from the world. If I am true to true doctrine, then I'm going to automatically be against false doctrine. So rather than be a negative, be a positive. I am in Christ. I want to be a positive negative. And and that's important for us to understand as well. Okay. Um these are reasons why we are independent fundamental biblicist Baptists. But there's dangers to that. The dangers are number one there is legalism. Look at Colossians chapter 2. Colossians chapter 2 and verses 20- 23. Colossians 2 20- 23. Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the ruins of the world, why as though living in the world are you subject to ordinances?

Touch not, taste not, handle not, which are able to perish with using are all are to perish with using after the commandments and doctrines of men, which things have indeed a show of wisdom, will worship and humility and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying flesh. What these verses basically saying is when you start thinking that if I do all the dos and don't all the don'ts that makes me right with God then you've gotten into legalism. And that is one of the dangers of independent fun Baptist church. We have become legalists and it's become more important that you do all the dos and don't all the don'ts than you really walk with the Lord.

And I've seen that happen to way too many churches and seen it happen in my own life. And and that's what we want to get away from is being careful of that legalism aspect because that doesn't make you right with God. Uh there's a saying I use a lot of times and that is you can do all the right things and not be the right person. But you cannot be the right person and not do the right things. And when you become a legalist, you think if I do everything right and I do all the dos and don't all the don'ts, then I'm going to be right with God. and you are not. That's a self- worship. But I want to be right with God.

If I want to be what God wants me to be be, then I'm going to do what God wants me to do. And then Phariseism. Uh look at Luke chapter 18. Becoming a Pharisee. Um Luke 18 and verses 9-14. He spake this parable unto certain which trusted themselves that they were righteous and despise others. Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, the other publican. The Pharisees stood and prayed thus with himself. God, I thank thee that I'm not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, and even as this publican. I fast twice a week. I am ti ti give tithe of all that possess. And the publicans standing and far off would not lift those so much as eyes unto heaven.

um on lift those eyes onto heaven but smokeote upon his breast saying God be merciful in me a sinner. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather the other for everyone that exalts himself shall be abased and he that humbles self shall be exalted. We get to this point we think you know I'm I I do all these things. I go to church. I'm there every service. I pray. I teach a class. I do this. I do that. and we become Pharisees because we're we're so hung up on the on on what we are, we've forgotten we're nothing without Christ. And that's one of the big dangers you see has happened among our circles so often.

Now, should we tithe? Should we do these things? Yes. Remember Jesus said you you you know the Pharisees, you tithe the come you can count the leaves on your plant and every tenth leaf you pluck it off and give it to God. But you leave out the weightier matters of law, love and justice and faith and these things you ought to have done. You should tithe. You should do these other things, but not to leave the other undone. And that's one of the dangers we have to be careful of. We become kind of righteous. Well, we're the only ones that really believe. We're the only true believers. We're the only true ones.

And we're not. There are going to be a lot of other people in Baptist in heaven. I guarantee you. And a lot of people are not independent folks going to be in heaven and they're going to get bigger crowns than I'm ever going to get. And we got to stop thinking that way. And then the the other danger is uh having a fighting spirit that you know that James we looked at in James, you know that we think that I've got to fight these battles. No, the Lord fights the battles and we start fighting. We're in the flesh. And and and again this whole idea of being fighting fundamentalists, we need to take a stand.

Back when fundamentalism was stir that they first came out with these fundamentals of faith, it was a big deal because there was a big movement away from the Bible, away from the word of God. And these fundamentals had to stand up say no, we're not going there. And there was some battles and some of these guys would lose their the they were pastors and they would because they took the stand they lost their pension they lost their churches they they had it was a battle they had to take a stand and don't ever forget that but we don't have to keep fighting and it's like again our political world instead of fighting the enemies of America we're fighting each other and that's the danger There.