What would happen if the Word was NOT enough?

In Colossians 2:6-8, the Apostle Paul warns, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through empty and hollow philosophy, which depends upon the traditions of men, in accordance with the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

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What if the time came when the Church begun to function as if the truths, examples and revelations provided for us in the Word of God (the Bible) were not enough or just simply outdated for use in a modern society?

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I intentionally use the word “function” when asking that question, because few would ever be willing to actually admit that they thought the Word of God was outdated or needed a more modern spin on things.

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But many churches (and individuals as a result) do function as if the TRUTHS revealed to us in this inerrant and infallible Word of God, somehow needed help from the “principles of this world” and the “traditions of men.”
In an effort towards being “relevant” to the world, they have become “powerless” in their message as it relates to seeing lives changed and transformed for eternity.

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Should any of this come as a major surprise to any of us though? Is this not exactly what the Apostle Paul warned the Church of and is this not the description of the Last Days “False” Church?

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Most serious students of the Bible agree that the last days will be marked by a rise in attempts to unify all religions under the guise of “cooperation and unity.” This ecumenical movement is a designed to promote a universal unity among religious groups. Yet, Amos the prophet asks, “Can two walk together, if they are not in agreement?”

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Most reading this would certainly confess to a belief and faith in the Lord Jesus and most would say the Bible is their standard of belief. It is easy to think that one would never get mixed up with some obvious cult or false religion. That is the appeal of false religion and error– it does not come across as obvious! If it did then nobody would fall for it.

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Paul again warns the Church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) that there will be those who are false apostles who masquerade as teachers of Christ. He goes on to say,”...no wonder, Satan himself goes around masquerading as an angel of light!”

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If the enemy (Satan) can merely cause the Body of Christ (the Church) to cease in our total dependence and faith upon the Word of God– he has succeeded in drawing us away from our source of faith, hope and power.

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The enemy is not looking for people to join Satanist cults or Wiccan covens. His desire is simply to keep people from the truth. If he can accomplish this through “empty and hollow philosophies” or the “traditions of men in accordance with the principles of this world” then he will.
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It is imperative that we, as believers, dedicate ourselves afresh and anew to the study and the preaching of the Word of God without fear and without compromise. Consider this passage of scripture in light of this topic matter:

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“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35 You may ask yourself, “In what way is this relevant to the topic matter?” The answer is clear. First of all– He (Jesus speaking) reveals the temporal nature and futility of looking to anything created. That holds true whether that thing is from heaven or from earth. God’s Word is not something that was created. It is what creates! Many would claim that their desire is to find more creative ways to reach people with the Gospel. Now I can agree with that to an extent. But, I want to emphasize "to an extent."

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Methods are not sacred, but the message is! It is when we abandon the power of the message for the influence or attractiveness of the method– that we are in error. Methods will never save anyone. In reality, they are mostly our response to fear. Fear? Yes, fear! The fear of having to simply share the truth! The fear of simply asking someone if they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Fear of not drawing a large crowd. Fear of having to believe that it is still the TRUTH that makes men free!

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I have utilized block parties and neighborhood cookouts to draw crowds together. I have set up sound systems and utilized music and rappers to draw a crowd. I have given away bicycles to children and hot dogs by the thousands— but at the end of the day— the message had to be delivered: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

Sad to say, in many churches the words (that Jesus said “would never pass away) have been eliminated from sermons because they are deemed too negative!
Words like repent, sin, and die to yourself have been replaced by things like, “God has an answer for all of your problems.” YES HE DOES! “Repent and believe the Gospel!” Mark 1:15
Back to Matthew 24:35. What is this text so significant for us today? Let’s examine the context for a minute.

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Verse (37) says, “As in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of man be (Jesus’ return!).
He is giving the warning that the hour is upon us that we cannot look to any other source BUT His Word! Good ideas, idealistic techniques, plans borrowed from successful businesses, or books on the New York Times best-sellers list will be of no use in transforming lives in these last days.

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“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15

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Unless the Church returns to a faith in the Word of God to change lives and to transform cites, we will continue to be “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” and will fall victim to any deception that may just “look” like the truth.

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Should we question everything that we hear come from Christian television or radio? Absolutely! I’ll take it even further than that. We should question everything that we hear from the pulpits that we personally sit before each Sunday as well! Acts 17:10-11 tells us, “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

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These “Bereans” listened to what was being said– but they took it upon themselves to search the scriptures to make sure of what was being taught! And Paul the Apostle was one of the teachers!
There are two final things I want to leave you with to ponder.

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2 Tim 4:3-4 says, “...the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (or something not true).”

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(And) 1 Tim 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

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Friends, we are living in THAT DAY and must be more aware than ever before of the enemies attempts to draw us away from a total trust in the Word of God. I exhort you to be “Berean-like” in your search of the scriptures.

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Galatians 1:9 “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”