Churches of Today in the Light of Scripture

by L. G. Tomlinson

A book that helps guides the lost and confused to the true church you can read about in the Scriptures. This book gives a good overall description of denominational churches and their doctrines and appeals to the only true unity that can be pleasing to God which is found in the Scriptures. An excellent work.

183 pages. Paperback

From the author in the foreword:

FOREWORD There is always a reason for the writing of every book. Indeed, if there is no good, impelling reason for writing a book it had better be left unpenned since the world is already full of good books and we find time to read so few of them. The impelling reasons for writing this book, briefly stated, are:

  I. To help those who are confused and lost in the way to find the light. So much confusion exists today because of division that the honest seeker after truth finds himself in the maze of uncertainty. This church says, "This is the way to believe and practice;". that church says, "Our way is the right one to follow in matters of faith and discipline;" still another says, "Neither of these ways is apostolic, come with us." To further add to his difficulty, the earnest seeker hears others say, "Oh, it doesn't make any difference; one is just as good as another; all roads lead to the same place." This book is an honest effort to assist such persons to diligently compare the different churches with the Bible and thereby find which one follows the straight and narrow way that leads home, even though there be only a few that find it. 

II. To offer to those who are seeking after truth a handbook containing the cardinal teachings of the various denominations and to show what the Bible has to say concerning these principles. These doctrines, held sacred by the various denominations, have been enumerated with a studied effort to be fair, impartial and truthful in their presentation. Personality has been pushed aside and the light of the Scriptures has been sought. The least possible comment has been made, barely enough being given to focus more clearly the light of Scriptural truth upon the teaching in hand. Perhaps now and then a principle is stated which some member of a denomination may not believe, or which his particular church has ceased to uphold; but the principle has been stated here because, while one branch of a denomination may deny teaching it, another branch does uphold it. The truth of this becomes immediately appar ent when it is remembered that there are two different kinds of Catholic Churches, at least four different kinds of Episcopal Churches, several kinds of Lutheran Churches, nine or ten kinds of Baptist Churches, some eighteen kinds of Methodist Churches, over a dozen kinds of Presbyterian Churches, several kinds of Seven Day Adventist Churches, to say nothing of the numerous divisions of the smaller bodies. Again, since human creeds and books of discipline are fallible, they are undergoing a constant chaRge and for that reason a careful effort has been made to state the broad principles generally accepted. The very fact that .these creeds have been changed so often only serves to show they are human and this fact ought to encourage the honest seeker after truth to flee to the Bible and that llione. Then, too, it may be found by such a seeker that his denomination does teach these principles, but he has grown beyond his denomination in his search for truth. Wherever it has been deemed necessary to sustain principles stated reference has been made to the creed, book of discipline or writings of the denomination considered, a list of which has been given in the Bibliography of this book. Occasionally, however, a principle held sacred by some particular denominational body has been stated without giving a citation from their creed or book of discipline. hut the reason for so doing is that the principle is so well sustained by the practice of that body that it is familiar to all and needs no further substantiation.

III. To restore the authority of the Scriptures. There was a day when one heard it often said, "Oh, it is all a matter of interpretation." That day is gone, if it ever had a right to exist. Peter said, "No prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation" (II Peter 1: 20). The curse of Christendom has been interpretation. We are not to interpret the Scriptures, but to accept them as they have been left to us by God Himself. Christ said, "All authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth" (Matt. 28: 18), and that authority is expressed in Christ's words. for He said, "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12: 48). If a man, then, is to be judged by Christ's word in the last day, it behooves him to make it his rule of faith and practice in this life. 

IV. To restore the unity of the one church of apostolic pattern. Only by the restoration of the authority of the Scriptures will God's people be united. Amos said, "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" (Amos 3: 3). And no two can be agreed by taking different authorities. The origin of sin carne from a rebellion against the authority of God and the sin of division today has come about by accepting human authority as manifested in human creeds in the place of the supreme authority of the Scriptures. The law and the testimony form the only basis for unity. As human creeds, confessions of faith and books of discipline have brought about apostasy and division, nothing less than a rejection of human creeds and decrees of church councils and the accepting of a "thus saith the Lord" for every tenet of belief and reason for practice will ever restore the one church Christ established. As the church is not a democracy where the members may legislate their own laws, but an autocracy where Christ and His Word are supreme authority, this book is written to help the earnest follower of Christ "to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent." .;

V. To thoroughly furnish the workman in Christ's vineyard unto all good works. Paul's admonition to Timothy needs to be earnestly heeded today. "From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3: 15-17). Again, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." This book is writ ten that every follower of Christ may be able to "sanctify the Lord God in his heart and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh him a reason for the hope that is in him with meekness and fear." 

VI. Finally, if this book shall be of any assistance in winning one soul to Christ or of teaching one person the way of the Lord more perfectly, that in itself will be reason enough for offering. it. to the world. THE AUTHOR.

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