Have You Noticed All The Changes?

by: Gary L. Hutchens

​   Much of the denominational world is being turned upside down.  Longtime members of various denominations have found themselves somewhat perplexed by the way their churches have been changing before their very eyes.  It’s not just that old church buildings are being replaced by newer, more modern looking structures.  The changes go to the very core of many of the beliefs and teachings of those churches.

   Doctrinal teachings that go back centuries, in some cases, are being changed or discarded altogether.  Practices that members were taught by their ministers and parents while growing up, as being either correct of incorrect, are now being reversed by many who claim to be preachers and teachers of God’s word today.  Basic doctrines have been changed.  Often, what used to be wrong is now being taught to be right, and what used to be seen as being right is now wrong.
   Members are told that they should change their views on lifestyles that virtually everyone recognized as violating the clear teachings of scripture just a relatively few years ago.  What used to be abnormal, they are told, is now normal.  What used to be perversion is now virtuous.  What used to be sin is now righteous. 
   They are now told that it is unloving, even ungodly, to call almost anything sinful if saying so would hurt somebody’s feelings.  So, now it seems that the sin is in openly standing against almost anything that is obviously sinful and calling it sin.
   A pertinent question is in order: What changed?  If something was wrong in years gone by, what suddenly changed that made it right today?  If something was right for centuries, what changed to make it wrong today?  Did the Lord change?  No, not according to scripture: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8).
   Well, maybe the Bible changed.  Maybe somebody found some new pages that reveal that God has changed His mind about a lot of things.  No, the Bible we have today is the same Bible we had twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred, one thousand years ago.  The teachings are exactly the same.
   Well, what happened to make so many denominational churches change their minds about their own teachings?  Why do they no longer stand on what they once believed so sincerely?  Why, in many cases, do many of them even reject the Bible, God’s word, as being reliable?  Many denominational preachers today would tell their members that the creation account in the book of Genesis did not really happen that way.  Many would say the miracles of the Bible were not really miracles at all.  Many would even question whether Jesus Christ really died on the cross and arose from the dead as our Savior.
   Are you confused yet?  These kinds of things, and much, much more are being taught commonly in many denominational churches today where such teachings would have been considered sacrilege not long ago.  One major reason is a lack of in-depth study of the scriptures in those churches.  In many denominational churches not much Bible is being taught.  That naturally opens the door to error.
   If these matters concern you, we would like to help.  Take heart, you can find meaning and fulfillment through the truths communicated to us in scripture.  Please ask us to study God’s word with you.  Jesus said, “the truth shall make you free.” (Jn. 8:32)