Yesu Mulungi - African Christian Perspectives

Kato Mivule | June 2, 2009

I have had debates with Pastors on the internet and also in Uganda, Africa over the issue of Sound Bible Doctrine. Many Pastors in the debates and discourses I have had with them claim that Sound Bible Doctrine is not important, that what is important is “Unity” among believers and Sound Bible Doctrine only “Divides and does not Unite”. 

Such thinking of course is pushed by some preachers and pastors who go at length to promote a pseudo unity based not on the Faith we have in Christ Jesus but based on man’s desire not to offend and a watered down Christianity that is man centered and man pleasing.

Yet according to the New Testament Unity in True Christianity is supposed to be based on our Faith in Christ – Our Belief – Our Belief in the Teachings of Jesus Christ. There is no Unity in a Vacuum…Unity is always based on substance – something that people choose to agree or at least agree to disagree…

(11)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

(12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

(13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

(14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

From the Scripture above in Ephesians 4:11-14, we see that unity is something we are supposed to grow into and the unity spoken of here is based on Our New Testament Christian Faith – Belief System – Sound Teachings and Sayings of Jesus Christ. We also see that the Greek word for Faith has to do with our whole belief system or credence in Jesus Christ, not just the trivialized “faith” by prosperity gospel preachers, who see faith as a means of material gain.

When I talk about the Christian Faith, I am not talking about the “Name It, Claim It” Faith but I am speaking about our Belief and Trust in Jesus Christ, His words, and sayings as given to us in the New Testament. 

Therefore, Sound Bible Doctrine is paramount in any form and kind of Christian Unity. You cannot claim Unity in Christian Faith yet deny the tenets and teachings of Jesus Christ. Our Unity has to be based on the New Testament Teachings and Sayings of Jesus Christ. 

Are we there yet in the place of spiritual Christian Unity? No, in fact we are supposed to grow to that place of Unity in Faith as Paul the Apostle clearly stated in Ephesians 4:11-14. However, this is no excuse for false unity and apathy concerning Sound Bible Doctrine…

Sound Bible Doctrine simply means the Teachings, Instructions, and way of Life concerning the Christian Faith that Jesus Christ laid out for us…and as we have these Teachings and Instructions given to us by Jesus Christ and His Apostles in the New Testament. 

(15)  And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

(16)  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

(17)  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

(18)  He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

We see from the scripture above in John 7:15-18 that Doctrine was an important and vital part of the Ministry of Jesus Christ that Jesus Christ stated categorically that His Doctrine – Teachings – Instructions where not His but of The Father… 

We also see that the Greek word for Doctrine in John 7:16 is “Didache”, meaning “Instruction”, or “Teaching”… Sound Bible Doctrine simply means the Instructions of Jesus Christ and we have laid out for us in The New Testament by the Apostles of Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, Sound Bible Doctrine is not something mystical or that only Theologians with PhDs from elite Bible Schools and Seminaries can understand. Jesus Christ taught His Doctrine to everyday people. The Apostles taught Sound Bible Doctrine to everyday believers as it was part and parcel of the Christian Faith. 

However, when the Church begun falling away in around 300 AD with the advent of Constantine,  Sound Bible Doctrine was taken away from believers and only relegated  to Elite Priests and Preachers who had to go to Monasteries away from the Laity to study the Teachings of Jesus Christ. There was a separation of the Clergy from the Laity in as far as Sound Bible Doctrine was concerned. 

The Clergy who claimed to be stewards of the Teachings of Jesus Christ distorted the Teachings of Jesus Christ and formed their own religions. Bibles and Teachings of Jesus Christ were kept away from the Laity…thus the Dark Ages… 

Despite the age of Knowledge and advent of the Printing Press, Media, and Electronic Communication, and now the Internet, many Christian Believers with their own Bibles are still in darkness concerning the Teachings and Instructions of Jesus Christ in the Bible Concerning our Faith. 

Many of those who claim to be the Modern Day Clergy still continue to mystify, water-down, hide, make difficult, and obstruct the Believers from actually knowing what The Bible Teaches about our Christian Faith. 

Yet Believers today are without excuse because of the modern day electronic communication capabilities, and that everyone can at least get a Bible in the Western world. 

Yet still many Christian Believer do not study their Bibles and neither do they question Modern Day preachers to see if what they teach is in line with New Testament Christian Faith. 

(24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

(25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.

(26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

(27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

(28)  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

(29)  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus Christ is very clear in the scriptures above that those who listen to His Words and do them will be like the man who built his house on the Rock and when the storms blew against that house, it stood. 

Brethren, what will protect and keep the Church standing through the coming antichrist storms is the Teachings and Sayings of Jesus Christ – His Doctrine and Instructions. Those who reject the teachings and instructions of Jesus Christ are like the man who built his house on sand. When the storms came and blew against that house it fell and fall of that house was great. 

This is a warning that we should take the teachings and doctrine of Jesus Christ seriously. The Storms are raging against the Church in these last days and only those who keep to the teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ will stay standing. 

(6)  Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

(7)  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

(8)  Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

(9)  Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

(10)  Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

(11)  How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

(12)  Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

The Pharisees taught legalism, they taught teachings that not cared about the people but about themselves… They always loved popularity and money… Today we have many Pharisees in Evangelical Churches only concerned about their Religious Structures, popularity, fame, and money… You can read more about the Jesus Christ’s Rebuke to the Pharisees in Matthew Chapter 23…

(5)  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

(6)  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

(7)  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

(8)  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

(9)  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

(10)  For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

(11)  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

(12)  And ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother;

(13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

It is clear that the Pharisees came up with their own instructions and commands as to how believers were supposed to relate to The Lord. 

The Pharisees did not even rely on the Mosaic Laws but created their own set of rules that protected them financially and turned the people of God into worshiping The Lord hypocritically… 

So, Jesus Christ is concerned about Sound Bible Teachings, otherwise, false worship and pseudo Christianity is created… Remember Jesus Christ in John Chapter 4 stated that The Father seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. 

You cannot separate True worship from Truth – Word of God. You cannot separate True Worship from Sound Bible Doctrine. Those who do so only create a false worship and hypocrisy. 

(1)  In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Jesus Christ used very strong language here to warn His Disciples that the Teachings of the Pharisees is Hypocrisy… In other words, what the Pharisees taught was nothing but Hypocrisy… If you sat down under a Pharisee Teacher and listened to them, you ended up becoming just like them – a Hypocrite…

(23)  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

(24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Jesus Christ places emphasis on the importance of His Words – Instructions – Doctrine… That if we love Him then we shall keep the Instructions and sayings of Jesus Christ… If one deliberately keeps to false teachings, then you wonder if they really Love Jesus Christ…

(10)  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Jesus Christ greatly emphasized the importance of keeping His Commandments – Teachings – Sayings – Doctrine – Instructions…that we cannot abide in His love if we do not keep His Commandments…

(16)  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

(17)  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

(18)  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

(19)  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

We cannot be sanctified without the Truth of Jesus Christ, rather we are sanctified by His Truth and Jesus Christ categorically stated that His Word is Truth. Therefore the Instructions of Jesus Christ, His Teachings, His Sayings, His Doctrine is what Sanctifies us if we keep in it. 

It is important to note that we do not become perfect then keep Sound Bible Doctrine; rather we keep to Sound Bible Doctrine and in the Process get sanctified. 

I recall one Pastor from Africa who told me that keeping to Sound Bible Doctrine was not important because we are not all perfect. This was a lame excuse and indefensible. We do not hold to sound bible doctrine because we are perfected. Rather we hold to Sound Bible Doctrine because it is then that we get sanctified and perfected in our daily walk with Jesus Christ. 

It is the Sayings, Teachings, Instructions, and Doctrine of Jesus Christ that sanctifies us and in the process we walk on the journey of perfection until the day Jesus Christ returns. 

(15)  And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

(16)  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

(17)  And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

(18)  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

(19)  When I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

(20)  And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

(21)  And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

It is interesting that Jesus Christ warns us here about the Teachings – Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod… The Pharisees represented Hypocritical Religion and Herod represented the Manipulative Politician. The Pharisees were the Religious top dogs of their day and Herod was the ruler and top Politician in their day. 

The Pharisees always sought favors from Herod and at one time Herod gave them donations to renovate the Temple which took about 46 years to refurbish and the Pharisees became irate when Jesus Christ prophesied the tearing down of the Temple and building it in Three Days.

The Pharisees were found of making Religious-Political pacts with Herod and Roman Rulers often in their own self interests, protection, and monetary gains.

So, we see that Jesus Christ is warning about the Teachings that drive to a Christian Religious and Political Unholy Unions. We see a lot of that happen today in Westernized Christianity in which the many Christian Leaders often seek Political Favors to promote their own agendas. The Manipulative Politicians also take notice and use and manipulate the Church for their own political gains. 

(14)  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

(15)  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

(16)  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

If there is any scripture that explicitly shows that Jesus Christ is concerned about Doctrine in His Church, it is this… Jesus Christ clearly warns about the Doctrine of Balaam… We know that Balaam prophesied for money and also made the Children of Israel sin by placing stumbling blocks before them.  

There were those in the Church at Pergamos who taught the Doctrines and Instructions of Balaam. They caused Christians to stumble by loving the world. Preachers preached for money and prophets prophesied for profit. Balaam was a Prophet for Profit. 

Today in the Christendom, we have Preachers who preach for money and prophets for profit. The Prosperity Gospel has been one of these. The result has been that Christians are more like the world and they are in love with the world. Christians seek earthly dominance and material possessions…all fruits of the modern day Balaam Doctrine. 

On the other hand the Nicolaitanes’ Doctrine was one of Elitism and Super Stars in the Church. These were special Pastors and Preachers who created their own Elite Club and maintained it that way. 

It was a False Christian Leadership movement, and totally separated from the believers. It is interesting to note that the Doctrine of Balaam goes hand in hand with the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.  Preachers and Prophets for Profit always lock themselves up in a elitist circle only accessible by fellow “anointed men of God”… 

(20)  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

(21)  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

(22)  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

(23)  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

(24)  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

(25)  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

The Church at Thyatira had to deal with the false teachings of a woman who called herself a prophetess but seduced the people of God to commit fornication, and eat things sacrificed to idols. 

We remember Jezebel in the Old Testament was the heathen wife of King Ahab who led the children of Israel to worship foreign gods like ‘Baal’ and also heavily persecuted the true prophets of The Lord. 

Today we have Jezebel teachings that are causing Christians to love the world, worship other gods and commit spiritual adultery and James mentions in the Book of James…

(4)  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

So, why do we have worldliness inside the Church? Is it not because we have fallen in love with the things of the world and desire to be like the world, walk and talk like the world with the encouragement of a ‘Seeker Friendly’ Gospel? Thus some Christians have been turned into spiritual adulterers by a Jezebel Gospel…

Yet Jesus Christ is concerned about what is being taught in the Churches. Doctrine is very important to Jesus Christ and He is so much concerned about it as we have seen in the scriptures above…

It is time that Christians take Sound Bible Doctrine as important. Seek Christians of the same mind who keep to Sound Bible Doctrine. Question everything that is taught by Preachers and Pastors to see if it lines up with The Word of God – The Whole Counsel of God’s Word.

Avoid Preachers and Teachers who simply rely on one piece of Scripture… Always when a scripture is taken out of Context it is used as a Pretext for a false and sinister doctrine. Any preacher’s teachings should not at all contradict the Teachings we have concerning the Christian Faith in the New Testament. Brethren, make it a part of your own life to study the scriptures and keep the faith. Do not ‘out source’ your Personal Bible Study to any preacher or teacher. Make it a point to read the Bible on your own, especially the New Testament. 

Lastly all Bible Doctrine according to the New Testament is IMPORTANT – there is nothing in the New Testament as “Essential Doctrine” and “None Essential – Debatable Doctrine”… All New Testament Doctrine is important and essential. 

Just because a certain group of Christians lacks maturity of understanding in a certain area of Christian Faith does not make that doctrine in which they are immature spiritually as “None Essential”… All the Sayings and Teachings of Jesus Christ are Essential…

In Christ Jesus

Kato Mivule