<\/p>\n
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine<\/em>. \u2013Titus 2:1<\/p>\n We hear them all the time. Something about these oft-repeated claims just does not seem right, we think. Here are a few that have occurred to me. You\u2019ll know others\u2026.<\/p>\n Sounds right, but it\u2019s wrong. Ask yourself one question: As a follower of Jesus \u2013 by which I mean in a relationship with Him \u2013 would it be all right if I joined a religion and became a Buddhist or Taoist or a Jew or a Muslim? After all, as a Christian, I\u2019m not in a religion as such (according to this thinking) and there would be no reason not to. Of course, those religions are incompatible with the way of Jesus Christ and that\u2019s why we counsel believers to avoid them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way of Jesus Christ\u201d? We call that The Christian Religion.<\/em><\/p>\n Friend, if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, well\u2026.<\/p>\n A religion may be defined as a systemized practice of worship involving a God, a place or places of worship, a system of beliefs, and in most cases exclusivity (that is, it claims to hold The Truth).<\/p>\n Sure sounds like the Christian faith to me.<\/p>\n This is not only wrong, it is unreasonable to the human mind, contrary to Holy Scripture, an insult to the Living God, and mind-boggling to those who know their Bibles.<\/p>\n Where did this originate? Perhaps from texts such as I Samuel 15:23, \u201cRebellion is as the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.\u201d Or, perhaps when our Lord said, \u201cHe who lusts after a woman hath already committed adultery with her in his heart\u201d (Matthew 5:28). Each statement was to prevent people from minimizing their rebellion\/arrogance or lustful thoughts by saying, \u201cWell, at least I didn\u2019t act on that.\u201d God says we should know the severity of such wrong thoughts and harsh attitudes.<\/p>\n The heart matters. Thoughts count. Everything we do originates in the heart (that is, the mind) (see Matthew 15:19).<\/p>\n But let no one think that to covet or lust is the same in the sight of God as acting on that. Hatred is bad and is indeed the root of murder, but the murderer is not on the same footing before Almighty God as one harboring ill will toward his brother.<\/p>\n On this subject, Billy Graham said, \u201cIt seems obvious that some sins are worse than others, both in motivation and effects, and should be judged accordingly. Stealing a loaf of bread is vastly different (from) exterminating a million people. Sins may also differ at the root.\u201d<\/p>\n Stealing is stealing, some would say. Not necessarily. In Scripture times, the poor of the land would come behind reapers taking what fell off the wagon, would gather around the edges of the fields, and would be granted the right for a second harvest (after the owners gathered the first one). When I was growing up on the farm, I can tell you that anyone doing such a thing would have been accused of outright thievery. Yet, it was acceptable in Israel.<\/p>\n Scripture teaches degrees of punishment at Judgment. Some people will have it easier than others. Sodom\u2019s punishment will be lighter than Capernaum\u2019s since Sodom\u2019s opportunities were so few and Capernaum rejected the greatest Teacher ever (Matthew 11:23-24). Jesus said some who deserved punishment would receive \u201cmany blows\u201d and others \u201cfew blows\u201d (Luke 12:47-48), depending on what they did with the opportunities they were given. He pronounced a more severe condemnation on religious leaders for their pride and unbelief than on those in darkness who were sexually immoral (Matthew 23:13).<\/p>\n Make no mistake, sin is unbelief and an affront to the Living God. But all sin is not equal.<\/p>\n We do need love. It\u2019s the mark of a believer (John 13:34-35). Loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves are the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-39).<\/p>\n \u201cAll we need is love\u201d is a loophole in search of a lazy pilgrim. It appears to be the credo of those wishing to bypass Scripture\u2019s instructions to forsake not the assembling of ourselves to worship, our responsibilities toward one another and the lost of the world, as well as our obligations to give, to pray, to serve, to teach, evangelize, and forgive.<\/p>\n Again, it\u2019s a half-truth since great works without love render them useless (see 1 Corinthians 13:1). The church at Ephesus was in danger of losing their franchise because they had \u201cleft their first love\u201d (Revelation 2:1). So, while love is the very heart of our relationship to Christ, and love is the motivating factor behind all we do for Christ and His church, we must not opt for oversimplification and say, \u201clove is enough.\u201d Loving obedience is the correct way.<\/p>\n Matthew 7:1 says, \u201cJudge not, that you be not judged.\u201d The passage continues, \u201cFor with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.\u201d The point seems clear enough on the surface, but unthinking people have cited this to rebuke anyone trying his\/her best to use discernment in decision-making.<\/p>\n \u2013 A guy is arrested for child abuse and goes to prison. Upon his release, someone suggests that he should not be allowed to work in the church preschool. The shallow believer replies, \u201cScripture says we\u2019re not to judge. After all, they paid for their crime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013 A church secretary is arrested for embezzling. She goes to prison for ten years. When she comes out, someone suggests that she should be church treasurer. \u201cAfter all, she knows what to watch for now. She was always a whiz about finances.\u201d But no, the leadership says. \u201cThat would not be wise.\u201d The shallow believer rebukes them and says, \u201cWe are not to judge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013 A pastor I know had a man arrested for abusing his (the pastor\u2019s) child. A church member resisted the pastor and paid the man\u2019s bail, insisting the pastor was judging the man too harshly. The molester promptly bought a gun and killed the pastor\u2019s son and his wife, then took his own life.<\/p>\n Now, don\u2019t blame it on Jesus.<\/p>\n Matthew 7:20 says, \u201cTherefore, by their fruits you shall know them.\u201d The Lord is warning against false teachers who appear in sheep\u2019s clothing (v. 15). Inside, \u201cthey are ravenous wolves.\u201d So, He says, His people are to pay attention to the product of such teachers and make knowledgeable decisions based on \u201ctheir fruits.\u201d<\/p>\n The point of Matthew 7:1 is not to condemn<\/em>. However, nowhere does Scripture encourage God\u2019s people to be blind toward false teachers and wicked con men who would deceive them. We are to be \u201cwise as serpents and as harmless as doves\u201d (Matthew 10:16).<\/p>\n As a prospective employer, I will try to make sound judgments concerning your suitability for employment in my firm. You may feel I am judging you harshly. That is your prerogative. But my job is to make the soundest decisions for this business I possibly can.<\/p>\n Those are four shallow oversimplifications we hear God\u2019s people spouting from time to time. These are not all, of course. The enemy is creating new half-truths even as we speak. Whether to hold the one speaking accountable for what they have said is a question best put to the Holy Spirit. In all things, we should use discernment, act in love, and not sin.<\/p>\n Photo Credit: \u00a9GettyImages\/Deagreez\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Joe McKeever<\/strong> has been a disciple of Jesus Christ more than 65 years, been preaching the gospel more than 55 years, and has been writing and cartooning for Christian publications more than 45 years. He blogs at www.joemckeever.com.<\/p>\n Originally published March 18, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine. \u2013Titus 2:1 We hear them all the time. Something about these oft-repeated claims just does not seem right, we think. Here are a few that have occurred to me. You\u2019ll know others\u2026. 1. \u201cChristianity is not a religion; it\u2019s a relationship.\u201d Sounds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[119,7682],"class_list":["post-23127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-christian-living","tag-christians","tag-halftruths"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23127\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. \u201cChristianity is not a religion; it\u2019s a relationship.\u201d<\/h2>\n
2. \u201cAll sin is equal in the sight of God.\u201d<\/h2>\n
3. \u201cAll we need is love.\u201d<\/h2>\n
4. \u201cScripture says judge not.\u201d<\/h2>\n