It would seem that, in the minds of some Christians, few things are as bad as being labeled narrow where religion is concerned. Just over a year ago, a friend of mine left the Lord's church to join himself to the Christian Church denomination because he felt that the Lord's church was just too narrow. Perhaps it's just me, but I think that truth is always narrow. A thing is either true, or it is not true. Truth is neither liberal nor generous; it boils down to simple fact. In no other part of life do we operate under the premise that truth is flexible. For example, you can't get any more narrow or inflexible than stating the pure hard fact that two plus two equals four. That's it; right? If you add those two numbers together, the result is four and not any other number. It always has been, and will always be, that very inflexible way, and we all understand it.

I am intrigued by individuals who have no difficulty whatsoever understanding that a mathematical, scientific, or geographical problem can have only one correct answer, but at the very same time, they cheerfully assure all who are willing to listen that there can be a hundred different answers--and all of them right--to religious questions! And even more than that, they do not contradict one another. "Consistency, thou art a jewel."

If this is the case, then truth does not matter. Why keep a Bible? Why attend Bible class or prepare for a sermon? If all men are perfectly right in believing and following any number of different and contradictory doctrines, why waste time examining the New Testament to teach anyone?

The fact is, when religious division occurs, one can be absolutely certain that someone is teaching something contrary to God's Word. If all Christians were content to confine themselves to teaching only those things for which they can furnish a "thus saith the Lord," religious division would soon disappear.

Like brother Litmer, I have had this discussion with brethren who became disenchanted with the Lord's church. Why? "Preacher, you make the Bible sound as if everyone must see it God's way or be lost! God is too loving to be that narrow-minded!" Others have suggested that preaching the narrow gospel drives people away. Such thinking is correct. Truth will always drive away error. Could there be a more serious problem underlying this discussion? It appears that some have lost their spiritual appetites for truth without compromise. Sadly, brethren look and listen too much to men's religions instead of Christ's pure gospel. We must remember that, in men's eyes, God's people have always been in the minority. Please read the following passages: 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-5; 1 John 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Matthew 7:13,14; Matthew 19:16-24. God's truth has always been narrow-He has not changed-have you? (KMG)