Seek Ye the Old Paths

Rev. Larry Thomas

Isn't it interesting how you can read the Word of God regularly and thoroughly and yet certain verses don't really speak to you in a memorable way until you hear someone else use it or preach it? I said that because such was the case with me and Jeremiah 6:16.

One of my dearest friends, Dr. Charles Greenaway, who went to be with Christ recently, quoted this verse to me several years ago. Although I had read it often, the impact of the verse never really hit me until I saw how it affected my friend. Brother Greenaway was a powerful preacher --- a veteran of more than 50 years missionary service with the Assemblies of God. We were discussing the present condition of the church and what could and must be done about the falling away from the truth and simplicity of the Word.

"It's the old paths," he said, choking back a tear. "We've got to find the old paths."

When he saw that I hadn't comprehended the biblical sense in which he had made the reference, he quoted the verse to me:

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall Find rest for your souls. But the said, We will not walk therein" (Jeremiah 6:16).

That has become the cry of our ministry in recent years. God's people must get back to the old paths --- the paths of righteousness and holiness. The ancient paths that lead to eternal life. What we need is a big dose of old-time religion!

Unfortunately, many people equate "old-time religion" with the legalism of the past. I'm not for legalism, unless, of course, legalism is defined as obedience to the Word of God. I abhor the outward, legalistic trappings of twice dead religious systems. Such man-made standards have hurt the church as much as liberalism.

But we must walk the old paths if we will see revival in these final days of time. Walking in the ways of the world, promoting worldly activities, compromising doctrinal soundness for political expediency will never bring revival. It might draw a crowd, but it will never draw the purifying presence of God's Holy Spirit.

THE "NEW THING" THEOLOGY

Everywhere we turn today, Christians are being told that "God is doing a new thing." Such foolishness pervades the airwaves and the shelves of religious bookstores. Is there any truth or proof that God is doing a "new thing?" No!

What is new is man's latest attempts to validate his experiences and his lukewarmness with misinterpreted, misapplied and misunderstood passages from the Bible. Actually, it's not really new, either. Man has been doing this since Adam blamed Eve and God for the mess he found himself in:

“… the woman that thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree…” (Genesis 3:12).

Men today are trying to develop a Christianity that will fit with the lifestyle of the 21^st Century. Through "new revelation" and "new thing" theology, they are watering down the Word and making it of no effect --- in their lives and in their evangelism.

Youth pastors try the latest snacks and activities to attract kids to church or to Jesus. They learn this, obviously, from senior pastors who try to attract baby boomers like Wal-Mart lures its customers --- with slick promotions and bargain prices. Our consumer-driven approach to church growth has us trying every new thing out there to fill the church. (You see filling the church is a higher priority than filling the people with the presence, the power and purity of Christ.) To get the "seeker" to try our brand of Christianity, it has to be attractive, fulfilling and not cost too much. If you ask me, a Christianity that doesn't cost much is deceitful and disgraceful. In the language of business, it is false advertising and fraud.

EASY CHRISTIANITY?

From the time of Jeroboam, Satan's "ministers of light" have been offering as easier way to serve God, an easier, less costly way of slaking their thirst for spiritual fulfillment. (See I Kings 12:25). But these new and easier ways will never satisfy.

Only the living water that Christ gives will satisfy. Remember what He told the woman at the well:

"Whosoever drinketh this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:13-14).

The wells of living water are found along the old paths of

righteousness, and not on the superhighways of compromise.

ISAAC WALKED THE OLD PATHS

In the twenty-sixth chapter of Genesis, we find Isaac walking the old paths that his father Abraharn had trod before him In this particular passage, Isaac had become a great man. he settled in the valley of Gerar with his family and his great herds. Man and animal alike needed water. Read with me:

"And Isaac digged again the wells of water which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham ... and Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water" (Genesis 26:18-19).

I'm confident that among Isaac's servants was at least one "new thing" theologian who suggested to Isaac that new wells be dug. This "'new thinger" probably thought that digging out the old wells was a hard and dirty job. It would be easier to just dig new wells.

Thank God that Isaac was not persuaded by such temptation. He knew that the cleaning out of the old wells would be worth the effort. He knew that at the bottom of the old wells was what he and his people and his livestock desperately needed --- a well of springing water, living water.

BROKEN CISTERNS

The church, for the most part, has abandoned the old paths, and, in turn, has abandoned that precious fountain of life that is Christ. Jeremiah, speaking God's Words to a generation that was all too like this one, penned these words of the Holy Spirit:

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jererniah 2:13).

Many in the church today, including many preachers, have abandoned the fountain of living waters and created their own brand of Christianity --- a form of Christianity that is perverse, pernicious and powerless, but profitable.

Let's take a look at some of these broken cisterns that men in their infinite wisdom, have created to replace the fountain of living water. As the prophet said these man-made and man-supplied cisterns just don't hold water.

THE CISTERN OF PROSPERITY

No other cistern (philosophy of man) has done more harm to the Gospel of Christ than the hyper-faith message of limitless prosperity for the believer. Although it has received considerable attention in this generation, the love of wealth has been a thorn in the side of the church for centuries.

The present-day form of the wealth gospel goes something like this: As a believer in Christ you have a divine right to be wealthy, to have all you have ever wanted or ever will want. Because you area child of the King, you should dress, drive, live, spend and act like a King's Kid. These men-pleasers tell us that to live so is to follow the example of Christ and the Apostles who were very wealthy men. In fact, some of these modern cistern builders tell us that Jesus had a mansion in Jerusalem and wore designed clothes. To want for anything in this world, they believe is 1) to lack faith; 2) to be in poverty; and 3) to be in sin and rebellion against God. If this were true (and it most certainly is not), this ministry and my family would be beyond redemption!

I'm being a little facetious. Yet, I have not exaggerated the message of the modern preachers who live the "lifestyle of the rich and famous.”

GOD MEETS NEEDS, NOT GREEDS

My Bible tells me that God will meet all my needs (not my greeds) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. With our needs met and our hearts seeking God and not the things He can provide, we should be the most content of all people.

What does the Bible have to say about this broken cistern of prosperity? Jesus said:

" ... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24).

Let me ask you this. If the chances of making heaven are reduced by the accumulation of riches, why would anyone want to be rich? Does it make any sense to you? It doesn't to me Why would God send His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world so we could enjoy eternal life with Him and then give us an abundance of riches that would probably keep us out of the kingdom?

When I hear this prosperity message preached I wonder if any of its proponents have any knowledge of the Word of God, or, for that matter, any common sense.

Concerning their knowledge of the Word, it is evident to anyone who listens to them and to anyone who has read the Word that they're not familiar with much of what the Bible says about wealth. I've been tempted on many occasions to make photocopies of I Timothy 6 and mail to these hot shot TV preachers because that chapter is apparently not in their new version of the Bible.

That chapter makes some very pointed comments about money, covetousness and greed, and it contrasts those fleshly desires to the desire for godly contentment.

WHAT KIND OF MEN LUST FOR RICHES?

Verse five tells us that men who teach that gain is godliness have "corrupt minds," are "destitute of the truth" and are "proud, knowing nothing." Paul further warns Timothy --- and all of us --- to "withdraw" from such teachers.

In case there is still any doubt in Timothy's mind (or ours) about such prosperity preaching, Paul continues,

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let there let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (I Timothy 6:6- 10).

Let's look at some other scriptures before we move from this broken cistern to the next.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells his disciples that no man can serve two masters. It is interesting to me that when Jesus contrasted the worship of God with the worship of another god, He chose Mammon, or riches. There were many other false gods that Jesus could have chosen. Why mammon? I believe it was because Jesus knew it was the most powerful "god" in the battle for men's hearts.

Even prosperity preachers like part of this chapter, despite the negative comments of Christ about riches. These fund-raising pros like verse 33.

It says,

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

The rich kids in the kingdom like to interpret the passage to mean that if you seek God Oust ask anything in His name and it shall be given unto you) He will give you all you ask for. That's not quite what that passage says or means.

Jesus had just told his followers that they need not worry about food, clothing or shelter. God knows their needs. They should seek God and these things (food, clothing and shelter) will be provided by their Master. In the context of the entire chapter, it is clear that Jesus never promised us all we wanted. He promised we would have all we needed.

Someone has said there are two ways to be rich: have all you want or be content with all you have. God shows us in His Word the proper attitude toward wealth:

"Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain" (Proverbs 30:8-9).

This improper and unbiblical emphasis on riches is Just another sign of the times in which we live. James has a stinging rebuke for the wealthy of the last days.

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasures together for the last days" (James 5:1-3).

While this broken cisterns of riches may have captivated many in the church, other philosophies hold more appeal for other believers.

THE CISTERN OF POLITICS

In recent years the pulpit has become a soap box and the American flag has replaced the cross of Calvary as the standard in the church. Right-wing conservative politics have overrun many churches in recent years. Our political causes have superseded our evangelical mission.

Please understand me. I believe Christians should take an active part in the political process. And I am a conservative, both politically and theologically. In fact, some people have said I'm so conservative I make Rush Lirnbaugh look like a New Deal Democrat. But let's leave that for now.

The mission of the church is not the reformation of society. Our mission is to reclaim souls for the kingdom of God. That objective will never be accomplished through the ballot box. Even if we could elect godly leaders, that will not ensure that people will follow them and become law abiding, God honoring citizens. Even if Roe vs. Wade was overturned, women will still have abortions. If it were possible to ban sin by legislation, it wouldn't reduce the number of sinners; it would merely increase the number of lawbreakers. You see, we aren't sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.

The only solution for the sin problem is salvation through Jesus Christ. And our best political efforts cannot accomplish that. Evangelism, not politics, must be our main concern.

Many imbibers at this cistern believe that with adequate "Christian" representation in Congress and other political bodies we will overcome the forces of evil in this country. That's just not true.

DOMINIONIST THEOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN POLITICS

This interest in political causes has been fostered by the unbiblical theologies and eschatologies of the Kingdom Now and Dominion teachers. Believing the church is to retake dominion that Adam lost in Eden, these misguided men have put social reformation (albeit conservative) above the church's true mission. Not all in the church who are politically active are in the Dominionist camp, but most are. And not all Dominionists are part of the Christian Right, but most are.

Labels count for little in this discussion. What is important

is that many in the church, both conservative and liberal, have abandoned the cause of Christ to take up the cause of their particular political persuasion. It's a little ironic actually to note that many "conservatives" who preached against the "social gospel" of mainline denominations now preach a "social gospel" although it has a conservative spin on it.

The church must quit drinking from this broken cistern, this cesspool of political power and corruption and get back to its true mission: winning the lost. The Bible makes it clear that we are in the last days and that neither this earth nor its political systems will be saved by believers or unbelievers. The world is primed for judgment by Almighty God. That cannot be changed. What can be changed is the hearts of individuals in this world.

THE CISTERN OF PSYCHOLOGY

Since I first became a Christian I have been concerned about the proliferation of humanistic, godless philosophies into the church through the use of psychological counseling. I'm more concerned than ever. While even naive believers are recognizing many heresies in the church, this man-centered, Christ-opposing philosophy is gaining ground. Psychology is being integrated and embraced more than ever before in the church. That's so ironic when we consider that the truth-deprived world is rejecting more and more the psychobabble of these white-jacketed, state-certified witch doctors.

There are many excellent, Bible-based books on the market today that have, at least to the satisfaction of most truth seekers, totally debunked the methods and theories of psychotherapy. It is beyond me how pastors, who say they have thoroughly investigated the matter, cannot see the danger of integrating psychological nonsense with biblical counseling.

Yet, just in recent months a pastor friend told me he couldn't take a stand against psychological integration because of preacher he admired was a psychological counselor. "A man like that would never be involved with something that was biblically wrong" is a pretty accurate paraphrase of what my friend said. Perhaps, the man is a good preacher and very sincere in his efforts, but the fact remains that introducing psychological theories into the counseling or preaching ministry is to deny the sufficiency of God's Word and to risk serious spiritual consequences.

Psychotherapy is one of man's efforts to eliminate God from human affairs. Psychological theories attempt to understand, change and control human behavior without any intervention from a supreme being. It also assumes the inherent "goodness" of mankind. With such foundational beliefs that clash dramatically with biblical teachings, how can Christians become involved with such a system --- be they counselor or counselee?

This broken cistern, maybe more so than any of the others, truly requires a rejecting of God, the Fountain of Living Waters, and denial that God's grace and His Word is sufficient and His Word is all we need "for life and godliness."

Another part of this broken cistern --- the gospel of self-esteem --- has also overrun the church in recent years. This perverted theology requires self-love as a prerequisite for the love of God and others. Does that mean the first commandment has been stricken from the list? It requires that we have no other gods before the God of the Bible. Yet, if we must love ourselves before we have the capacity to love god, as proponents of this nonsense preach, then we have made ourselves a god above the One True God. (This, of course, fits well with the "little gods" concept of the hyper-faith folks.)

It is amazing to me that people can believe this perverted message. Even immature Christians should see that this message will not hold water. The Scripture speaks frequently about the dangers of self-love (pride), about the need to esteem others more highly than ourselves and about denying ourselves. I realize these clever and subtle false prophets of selfism can put a flesh-satisfying spin on the Bible and make it say almost anything they want, but I'm still amazed (and gravely concerned) that Christians will drink such poison.

Drinking from any of these broken cisterns is a dangerous matter. But as our original text said before men began to drink at these polluted fountains, they must first reject the Fountain of Living Waters. If this rejection persists, one day that precious Fountain will reject those who have drank from the polluted and broken cisterns of man's wisdom.

Today the church needs to "dig again the wells" that our spiritual fathers drank from. We need to ignore or abandon the new sources of revelation and wisdom and return again unto the Source of every good and perfect gift. We need to return to the God of our fathers. We need to drink deeply of the water from Christ's well.

We must walk the old paths once again if we are to find the life-giving Oasis that is Jesus Christ. We must abandon twenty-first century Christianity in favor of first century Christianity. As straight and as narrow as they may be, we must walk the old paths.

This article is a reprint from Larry Thomas’ newsletter, The Inkhorn. Rev. Thomas was the President of Amazing Grace Ministries as well as the founding visionary for A.B.P. Br. Larry went to be with the Lord in 1997.

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