Do Not Copy What is Wrong We should not imitate the denominations around us 3 John 11 3 John 11 - Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. December 19 - AM

Introduction  Religious world is:  Confusing  Conflicting  Contradictory  We MUST send a clear voice in the midst of this confusion

Introduction  Some things denominations do are good ideas – Use them to do right  Sunday School  Internet  Radio, TV  Bus Ministry  Door knocking

Introduction  Just because others knock doors does not make it wrong  BUT  BUT – Sometimes we seem to try to imitate the denominations in things that are wrong.

1 - Soft on Doctrine  It is popular to be politically correct (PC)  Denominations don’t want to offend anyone  Don’t preach doctrine  Don’t tell anyone they are lost  Have we fallen into this mode of thinking?

1 - Soft on Doctrine UNIMPORTANT  For many, doctrine has become – UNIMPORTANT  Communion on Thursday  Women in leadership roles  Instruments in worship  Total Depravity  Once Saved Always Saved  Premillennialism

2 - Accept any Baptism  Down at the River to Pray  Jeff Walling – “As long they believe in Jesus. That is what’s important.”  Does it matter?  Form – immersion  Reason – “for the remission of sins”  Subject – believer

3 - Religious Holidays  Jews –  Jews – many holy days  Weekly, monthly  Several annual holy days  Catholics –  Catholics – Every day of the year has some religious significance

3 - Religious Holidays  Denominations –  Scaled down to 2-10 major ones  Easter, Christmas  Pentecost, Whitsuntide, Ash Wednesday, Lent  Baby dedications, Pet blessings

3 - Religious Holidays  What about us?  Galatians 4:9-11  Galatians 4: But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

3 - Religious Holidays  What did Paul fear?  Leaving Christianity  Returning to practices they left  Focusing on “holy” days  Anyone who (forces, imposes, demands) that the church observe these days is wrong.

4 – Change Worship to Entertainment  Singing  Solos, Quartets  Praise teams  Sermons  Skits, Dramas  Movies  Bible Study  Andy Griffith

Reasons for Concern  Contradictory Messages  Do we or don’t we?  Does what we teach match what we practice?  No reason to convert  If we do what they do – Why should they leave where they are?  Doctrine becomes unimportant

Conclusion  We should imitate what is good  We should not imitate what is wrong  Our message must be clear  Our practice must match our claim  In worship  In living our lives