Changing the Way of God

By: Randy Kea

God’s Way is Different Than Man’s

God through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah makes the following declaration to his people: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” (Isa 55:7-8) Man does not think like God thinks. The only way man can know what God thinks about a matter is if God reveals His will. God has revealed His will in the pages of the Bible. Therefore, man can know the Divine will on all essential matters. (Deut 29:29; 1 Cor 2:9-13; Amos 3:7; Eph 3:3-5)

Things That Will Not Change

The Nature of God – “The prophet said, For I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal 3:6). The Psalmist says, “but thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” (102:27) There is no “shadow of turning” with God (Jas 1:17).
The Desire of Jesus to Save – Jesus “tasted death for every man” (Heb 2:9) and “gave himself a ransom for all” (I Tim 2:6). He invites all to be saved (Matt 11:28-30).
Our Needs will Never Change – Man needs salvation from sin – Rom 3:23; guidance-Jer 10:23; purpose-Eccl 12:13-14; hope-Rom 8:24.
God’s Word does not change – God’s word was given by direct revelation and inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Bible writers and has been providentially preserved in the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21; 1 Pet 1:24-25). This holy and divine production does not allow for additions, subtractions, or alterations of any kind. (Deut 4:2; 12:32; Prov 30:5-6; Rev 22:18-19). One day we will be judged by the standard of God’s word, and those who tamper with it will perish under the curse. (John 12:48; Gal 1:6-9)
Man’s accountability has not changed. (Ezek 18:20; Rom 14:12; 2:6)

God’s Way Today is the New Testament

Today we live and serve under the authority of the New Testament. Jesus is the author and mediator of this new covenant (Heb 1:1-3; 9:15-17; 13:20). The details of the Old Testament are no longer binding (Col 2:14-16; Eph 2:14-16; Gal 3:19-28). People need to see this distinction and “rightly divide” God’s word (2 Tim 2:15).

Man Has Changed God’s Way Throughout Time

Cain changed the sacrifice that he was to offer God (Gen 4:1-7; Heb 11:4).
Nadab and Abihu changed the kind of fire they were to use (Lev 10:1-3).
Moses changed God’s instructions from “speak ye unto the rock” to “he smote the rock” (Num 20:1-12).
Saul changed God’s revealed plan for offering sacrifices (1 Sam 13:1-14).
Saul again changed God’s instructions to suit himself (1 Sam 15).
Jeroboam changed the system of worship and service that God had revealed to His people through Moses (1 Kings 12:26-33).
The Pharisees and scribes were told by Jesus that they had changed God’s law by “making the word of God of none effect through your tradition” (Mk 7:13).

Note: In each of these examples God rejected those who rejected His revealed way. Severe consequences came upon those who changed God’s way.

Catholicism has changed and keeps changing God’s way in the New Testament. (auricular confession, the Pope, purgatory, etc)
Denominationalism has changed God’s way. Every essential feature of the New Testament church has been altered and changed in some way. Worship: instrumental music, choirs, women preachers, etc. Organization: one pastor, conferences, synods, etc. New Testament worship, name, and organization have been changed to please the desires of men. Man-made names are substituted for divine designations. Even the simple gospel plan of salvation has been perverted (Phil 1:1; John 4:24; Rom 16:16; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38).

Now, even those within the Lord’s church are (and have been for a good while) pushing to change God’s revealed way for the church. Drama groups, handclapping, females taking authoritative and leading roles over men, choirs, solos, children’s church, dedicating babies, open fellowship with denominations and even God’s law on marriage-divorce-and remarriage are just some of the ways many are changing the Lord’s church into something unknown in the Scriptures.

The Authority Issue and Change

Proper respect for the authority of God’s word (the Bible) would stop the unscriptural changes taking place today in the Lord’s church. The ones causing “trouble” today in the body of Christ are those introducing practices that have no New Testament authority whatsoever (Gal 1:6-9). Have you ever heard a false teacher ask the basic question, “Where is the Bible authority for doing this?” If they were asking this question, there would be no basis for the changes they are advocating! We must have Bible authority for what we believe, preach, and practice in order to please God (John 12:48; Col 3:17; Matt 15:9; 2 John 9-11).

Things That Should Be Changed

We have considered the fact that God has always had a revealed way for man. We have noted that man has always attempted to change that way. However, there are some things that need to be changed today as always.

A closed mind on our part needs to be changed. “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matt. 13:15) We should always have an honest and good heart. Luke 8:15

Secondly, a heart of unbelief needs to be changed to obedient faith (Rom 1:5; Heb 5:9) by examining all the evidence that God has provided us for His existence, the deity of Christ, and the inspiration of the Bible. This evidence is cumulative, compelling, and conclusive, and man is without excuse. (Rom 1:20)

Next, our stubborn will should be changed. Jesus said, “and you will not come to me that ye might have life.” (John 5:40)

And finally, we should continue in on-going spiritual growth and development (2 Peter 1:5-11; 3:18).