IRRELIGION

     Do not be fooled, organized religion--when the religion is irreligion--is dangerous. Today, some churches are condoning homosexual practice. Relatively, the tolerance of remarriage after divorce is not so blatantly immoral; it is in the guise of "natural" lust! Even Billy Graham, a famous evangelist whom I once revered, advised a pernicious lie, "God never meant for people to be divorced, but if you are already divorced, ask God to forgive you, to cleanse you, to straighten you out and make you a good wife or a good husband to your present spouse, if you have one."1  What undermining, wicked advice! That is like saying, "If you are already living in sin, give God some lip service, and ask Him to help you continue in your sin."

     In regard to this subtle deviation, the Bible clearly states, "The wife is bound by the law for the length of time her husband lives ... " (1 Cor. 7.39), and "So then, if she be married to another man while her husband lives, she shall be called an adulteress" (Romans 7.3). Such immoral activity is condemned: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [adultery], fornication ... that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5.19-21).

     A divorced woman has two, and only two, alternatives: (1) she may remain divorced without ever marrying again, or (2) she may be reconciled to the husband (1 Cor. 7.10, 11). Except for the death of a spouse, it is either first or none. God forbid anyone to direct otherwise, amen. A man is permitted to marry once (monogamy), but not to remarry (1 Cor. 7.27).

     Many other preachers and teachers have promoted irreligion. Television, radio, and the postal service are broad channels for influence. Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart were involved in scandals at the same time they were ministering to the public (by the way, I do not hold any grudges against any of these men whom I have mentioned). The point I want to make is that people should be on guard against listening to leaders or advocates of an organized religion and contributing money to them without knowing whether what they teach is true or not and not knowing how such people live.

     In God's sight, there is only one body of believers, and its sole source of authority concerning truth and morality is the Holy Bible. All of the members of the body are different individuals with various gifts. We need to become well acquainted with the written word of God and pray that the Lord will work in our hearts so that we will be more useful for Him. If you know the Bible well enough, He will do just that!

Br. Ken

1  Billy Graham, "Marriage, Your Home and You," Decision, June 1986: 2.

(This is not a personal letter. This brief sermon has been revised; "What undermining, wicked advice!" is a replacement. I had been impressed by Kenneth Copeland, a fascinating speaker, and probably picked up one of his expressions at the time of this writing, as you may see in the original, although I don't really know what his ideas concerning the rebuke of remarriage are. I came a long way since then, especially through biblical language studies, and made it a point to become more learned and personally genuine. May God bless his people that they recognize their growth in Him as they prosper. Amen.)