Is there another way to do it?

At the recent Southern Baptist convention the hot topic of discussion concerned women serving as pastors. We could easily get into a word study of "pastor" and then examine the role of women in the church. What we would find is that "pastor" is only a word to describe the work and position of an elder (Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 5:1-4), and that women are to keep silent in the churches, not having authority or teaching over men (1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:12).

But our focus in this article involves something even more important than those studies, and gets us to the root of the problem: Why are people gathering together to decide now about what is right or wrong in the first place? Has God's word changed (Matt. 24:35)? Has our Savior changed (Heb. 13:8)? Do we have a right to determine what is acceptable (Matt. 28:18-20)? Is that what Christianity and the Lord's church have been built on (Matt. 16:18)?

Since the beginning of time man has looked to distort the commandments of God to suit his own purpose. Even looking at church history we can go back to the Council of Nicea (325 AD), and really before that, to see that for centuries "religious" people have met together to determine what is acceptable in the eyes of God (as if men could!). Most of the time decisions at such gatherings are (or were) made not for God's glory but according to political or denominational interests. What's more is that God has not authorized these meetings nor has He commanded them. But people have wandered so far away from God's commandments that any council and any decision is now okay as long as there's a voting majority!

How can any religious group think than they can improve upon what God has already established? How can they believe that there can be a church "head" other than Christ (Eph. 1:22) and that this leader can dish out morality to the people? How can they think that laws and commandments can change year by year when God has taught us that His commandments are perfect and eternal? How can they think that they can speak for God? How can they think that they can be acceptable to Him while worshipping Him the way they feel is best (Matt. 15:9)?

The world needs to know that the Lord's church was established on nothing less than a submissive Savior (Phil. 2:5-8). Christ submitted Himself to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42) and in doing so made it possible that the whole world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). Jesus commanded that His apostles also be humble servants (John 13:14). This included their submission to the truth delivered to them by the Holy Spirit which spoke by the authority of God (John 16:13). This is the truth that was delivered at Pentecost when the church began. This truth exists today in holy Scripture, and now it is our turn to be submissive.

God's truth teaches that nothing will ever be right or wrong because you or I say so or think so. God's way is the only way, and the sooner we figure this out, the sooner we will begin to live as His people. There is no other faith, no other truth, and no other Lord, no other salvation, and no other way to do it!

"Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments…therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it…" - Deut. 6:1-3.