Doctrine by Anarchy

“People sometimes inquire what form of government is most suitable for an artist to live under. To this question there is only one answer. The form of government that is most suitable to the artist is no government at all,” Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author, from “The Soul of Man Under Socialism,” in Fortnightly Review (London, February, 1891; reproduced, 1895).

“The ordinary man is an anarchist. He wants to do as he likes. He may want his neighbour to be governed, but he himself doesn’t want to be governed. He is mortally afraid of government officials and policemen,” George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Anglo-Irish playwright and critic, Speech, 11 April 1933, New York City.

“Lady Dynamite, let’s dance quickly, Let’s dance and sing and dynamite everything!” French Anarchist Song of the 1880s.

Everyone wants to be a law unto themselves, an anarchist. Alexander Solzhenitsyn said: “The two great psychic diseases of the West are hastiness and superficiality.” Couple that with pride and arrogance, and analysis paralysis sets in and the patient is doomed. Satan is the master anarchist. His method has not changed. It’s all about me! I have the knowledge of good and evil. I will determine right and wrong. I will interpret the scriptures for myself. I will write an expose, a new understanding, I have a better way to follow God. Good luck, Mr. Pharisee! Yes, you who have set your seat in the place of Moses and you in your “independent church,” now you think you’ve escaped all doctrinal pronouncements and can write your own. Well, witness what your multiplicity of doctrines has done: division and strife. Like the song says, “I did it my way.” Confusion is the order of the day. Remember, anarchy is a state of disorder and confusion. That sounds like the master anarchist at work. Doesn’t that French anarchist song fit?

The Bible speaks of anarchy. Deuteronomy 12:8, “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.” These phrases in scripture are always used in a negative sense. At first glance, Judges 21 may appear to be a good thing, but one needs to examine the circumstances.

An anarchist looks at the faults and problems of others and has all the answers himself. Compare that to the righteous (self) revolutionary religionist. He fulminates against past leaders, established sound doctrine, and large church organizations, which, by and large, taught him a lot of truth. All the while he can’t see the destruction he is sowing. Galatians 5:15, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Let us look at some “doctrines” and see their history. Note that I’m not saying these ideas never existed before recent times.

· Hebrew names: This movement didn’t start until about the 1930s. Before that time, it was considered by those who held the names of God sacred, too Holy to pronounce or write. This view is held today by many ‘Hebrew names’ groups. The ‘name’ is often written as G-d.

· Tithing: Generally taught (and occasionally enforced) until recently.

· Calendar issues: Some dispute in the past, but today about a half dozen ideas divide.

· Women in authority: Including ordination, exploded with E.R.A.

· Makeup, Birthdays, Dress: Non-critical issues blown out of proportion and died.

It is significant that “new truth” and revelation is suddenly coming to us in abundance, and the source is usually one obscure prophet or teacher or obscure sect. The doctrine then grows from that single source. As “knowledge” increases, love and unity die.

Note the direction of the “new” doctrines. They move away from a central locus or originate in an isolated area. May I call it a vacuum? And they always bring division and strife versus peace and unity. Sound doctrine revolves around a central authoritative body. Because the law is broken, we don’t throw out the law, and because the authorities may have been bad, we don’t throw out rule and authority. It is true that “He who is governed best is governed least.” But that’s why the law was written in our hearts, so we can be essentially self-governing, in accord with pre-existing laws and regulations.

I think the Scripture is quite clear in this matter. There are people smarter than you (or I) and there are people who have “rule” and “authority.” Wisdom, understanding, and discernment are in critically short supply. The following Scriptures show someone has some authority. Look up all the Scriptures on rulers and authority, and don’t forget to check to see if your name is in there. Deuteronomy 1:17, “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” Matthew 16:19, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” At least two or more to make a decision.

Many have been confused by all the writings, and understandably so. Let me give you a classic example. A book, Where are the Dead, by Karl Sabiers and Rex Humbard, goes to great lengths to refute the teachings of two Jehovah’s Witnesses named Russell and Rutherford. The book is interesting, comprehensive, researched, scholarly, encompassing, large, and I mention it because it contains almost every misconception possible on the Spirit. Besides the problem of preconceived ideas, we are confused by definition, context, and lack of understanding. It’s true that the Western mind (that’s us) knows a great deal, but understands little. Hence our dilemma: A point-by-point analysis of all the “new” ideas would take years of study and many articles (which would further confuse). We’re looking at things through a microscope and totally losing sight of the big picture.

Paul sets a course for us, Acts 17:18. When the Epicureans and Stoics questioned him, he didn’t dispute each false god and false doctrine, but summarized it (“your superstitions”), prepared offense (found an altar to an “Unknown God”), and then preached to them God, repentance, and the resurrection.

Am I angry? You bet I’m angry. But not as angry as Jonah. He was out of his gourd (sorry about that). Seriously, you should be angry too. Refuse to engage in things that gender strife, division, and confusion and avoid (shun) those who do.

Romans 16:17-19, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”

I Timothy 1:2-4, “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

The French revolution produced a phenomena, that of the saboteur. The word, saboteur, comes from sabot, which was a wooden shoe. It literally means to walk quietly, i.e., to sneak up on someone. It is said that the revolutionist would sneak into factories and throw their ‘sabots’ into the machinery and ‘sabotage’ the equipment. If one wants to be a saboteur or anarchist or revolutionist in the church, you might want to heed an old proverb.

Don’t mess in your own bed. When we get the old things right then we can learn new tricks.— written by Steven J. Kieler

— written by Steven J. Kieler W