Orthodox doctrine for an unorthodox world.
What do I mean? Well, stay tuned to find out on
this week's episode of Liberty at Home.
Hello and welcome to the final episode of Liberty at Home for
2025 here on Easton Community Access Television.
I'm Madame Rivera, the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church and your
host for this weekly 5 minute devotional.
Today we're broadcasting from ECAT Studios where we're
preparing to watch college bowl games on the big stream come
January 1st. But we won't be watching UMass
or BC, seeing as they had a combined two wins between them
for the past season 2. Well, anyway, today I like to
talk about the need for doctrine.
Or do we need it? Well, let's go to the Word and
find out. We'll be reading today Second
Timothy chapter 3 verses one through 5 where it says this.
Know also that in the last days perilous times shall come, for
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous boasters, proud
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, traitors,
heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof
from such turn away. In case you haven't noticed, our
world seems to be spinning out of control.
Of course, depending on your worldview, you could lay the
blame for our current tailspin at the feet of any different
number of people or organizations or special
interest groups. Who's right, who's wrong, what's
right, what's wrong? Is there any way to make heads
or tails of it all? Well, mankind seems to descend
deeper and deeper into the abyss as we just read.
Many churches have responded by, oddly enough, either minimizing
or completely changing their doctrine to match the culture.
Some churches have reduced their statement of faith so
dramatically that it could literally fit on a post it note,
And I wish I was exaggerating. These doctrinal statements are
so pithy that they may not offend anyone, but that's simply
because they don't really say much of anything at all.
Other churches, however, have taken a radically different
approach. Instead of reducing their
statement of faith, they completely change their doctrine
to be more palatable to society. Their reasoning?
Without changing their doctrine to match an ever changing world,
they believe the church will become inconsequential, a relic
of the past with no real relevance today.
In summary, they believe the church must adapt to the culture
or die. As for myself, I reject both
approaches as non starters. Instead, I humbly believe that
churches should look at the situation much differently.
There is no doubt in my mind that the world is descending
deeper into chaos. In fact, Paul talks about this
in the second Epistle of Timothy when he gave us that list we
just read of how the world will become more and more sinful.
Paul's description of the world could be ripped right from
today's headlines. One might wonder what Paul's
prescription would be for such a time of madness.
Curtail biblical teaching and preaching, change doctrine to
make people happy, ignore the preservation of the Bible, and
conclude that Scriptures are a good book but hopelessly riddled
with errors? Well, although these are many of
the options that churches opt for today, Paul didn't agree
with any of them. Rather, he told young Pastor
Timothy that as evil men and seducers wax worse and worse,
that Timothy should continue thou in the things which thou
has learned and been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned
them. Paul knew the solution was not
minimizing or changing doctrine. Rather the answer was to
compassionately yet candidly proclaim all the counsel of God,
as he said in Acts 20 verse 27. He concluded Second Timothy
chapter 3 by reminding Timothy that from a child thou has 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, is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction and righteousness, that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Paul also gave a similar exhortation to another young
preacher named Titus who was charged to speak thou the things
which become sound doctrine in Titus chapter 2 verse one.
The implication from Paul's epistles, and I believe from the
entire volume of Scripture is clear.
In an increasingly unorthodox world, churches should embrace
sound doctrine from the Word of God more than ever.
The Bible reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,
today, and forever. Hebrews chapter 13, verse 8.
Our Lord has not changed, nor have His teachings.
Let us with great boldness and with great love, as it says in
First Corinthians 13, to proclaim the Scriptures to the
whole world, and let us not dare change his message in an effort
to cater to societal whims and wickedness.
Well, it's time to close both this episode and the entire year
of 2025 here on Liberty at Home. I'd encourage you to start your
New Years off right by getting back to church.
And we'd sure be honored to have you at Liberty Baptist Church
where the Word is preached, the people are friendly, and Jesus
is glorified. Visit any Sunday or Wednesday
and you can learn more about us at my libertybaptist.org.
Well, this is Adam Rivera signing off for the last time
this year on Liberty at Home by reminding you that where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there's Liberty.
See you next week in 2026 on Liberty at Home.