“ISMs”verses

the Word of God

“ISMs” verses The Word of GodDefinition: “ism” is a suffix on the end of a word;

it indicates a system of belief, a doctrine, a theory

ATHEISM = the belief that there is no God; godless-ness, or no-God-ism (from “a”= no, and “theos” = God)

SKEPTICISM = the doctrine that all knowledge is un-certain; doubt, uncertainty, unbelief as to the truthfulness of Christianity

NATURALISM = the theory that all things are natural; no spiritual realm; all is here by evolution; natural, physical matter has always existed and always will exist

MODERNISM = popular name for infidelity; disbelief in the deity of Jesus, inspiration of the Bible, resurrection, miracles, fiat creation by God, judgment day, heaven, hell, etc.

RATIONALISM = the theory that human reason is the superior source of knowledge; rejection of divine revelation and all that cannot be explained to the satisfaction of (some) human thinking

CALVINISM = the doctrines originating with John Calvin, including total depravity, unconditional election and predestination, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints

UNIVERSALISM = the teaching that all men will eventually be saved; universal salvation; all will be eventually in heaven, no hell

DENOMINATIONALISM = the doctrine that Christ’s church consists of many, or all of the sects and par-ties professing Christianity; sectarianism; “Church of Christ” is made up of all churches

CATHOLICISM = the beliefs and practices of those who hold to the infallibility of the Pope of Rome and look to him as their spiritual “father”

SPIRITISM = the theory that the living can com-municate with the dead; a kind of witchcraft or occult

PHARISAISM = the practice of binding human tra-ditions and leaving undone the commandments of God; having the self-righteous spirit of the Pharisees in general

MORMONISM = the religious system based on the Book of Mormon and the supposed revelations of Joseph Smith

ECCLESIASTICISM = (Gr. ekklesia = church); an authoritative governing body or hierarchy in a church; a central governing body in religious affairs; also, the practice of regarding preachers as “autho-rities”

SOCIALISM = the movement among denominations that stresses the “whole man” concept (Lk. 2:52) rather than the need of salvation from sin; the preaching of the “social gospel,” or the practice of that which is for man’s betterment here and now, rather than in the hereafter

INSTITUTIONALISM = the establishing and main-taining of human institutions (organizations) to do the work the God has assigned to the church; church-support of missionary societies, benevolent institutions, colleges, etc.

LIBERALISM = an attitude of loose and broad appli-cation of the Scriptures; opposition to a Bible pat-tern; “free” to practice without a thus-saith-the Lord

HUMANISM = the belief that man is the measure of all things; no God; man is all and controls all

SUBJECTIVISM = the belief that all morals (right and wrong) originate from within man

MATERIALISM = the approach to life that places a priority on gaining and keeping material possessions; material things are the most import things in life

PREMILLENIALISM = the theory that Christ will re-turn to earth, rapture his people, fight the battle of Armagedon, leave and return again to reign in person in Jerusalem over an earthly kingdom for one thousand years, before the judgment day

JUDAISM = (Gal. 1:14, “the Jews’ religion”), conformity to Jewish rites, ceremonies, beliefs; binding the Law of Moses as a condition of salvation

GNOSTICISM = (Gr. Gnosis = knowledge), the belief that all matter is evil, Jesus is a created angel, and the way to salvation is through special knowledge

“ISMs” Are Human WisdomGod’s Word is Divine Wisdom

Jas. 3:15-17, This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

1. Listen to Jesus!Mat. 15:8,9,12-14, This people honoreth

me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, …

Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men …Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.

2. “ISMs” are beyond the doctrine of Christ!2 Jn. 9-11, Whosoever goeth onward and abideth

not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.

3. “ISMs” are promoted by false teachers2 Pet. 3:1, among you also there shall be

false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies…

4. “ISMs,” when tested by the Word of God, are al-ways proven to be false

Rev. 2:2, I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false.

5. The test: Do they speak according to doctrine of the apostles?

1 Jn. 4:1-6, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world ….

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already. Ye are of God, [my] little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they [as] of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Acts 2:42, And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching (or, doctrine) ….

6. The “ISMs” of men are something different from the gospel delivered by the apostle Paul

Gal. 1:6-10, I marvel that ye are so quickly remov-ing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; 7 which is not another [gospel] only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. 9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye receiv-ed, let him be anathema. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

7. “ISMs” are philosophies and traditions of men. Let us beware!

Col. 2:8, 20-22, Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ ... If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, 21 Handle not, nor taste, nor touch 22 (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?

8. “ISMs” can arise among the brethren!Acts. 20:30, and from among your own

selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

9. Some “ISMs” result from apostasies1 Tim. 4:1-3, But the Spirit saith

expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, brand-ed in their own conscience as with a hot iron; for-bidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.

2 Thess. 2:3, …will not be, except the falling away (Gr., apostasy) come first

What Are We To Do?1. Hold the pattern of sound words2 Tim. 1:13, Hold the pattern of sound

words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2. Hold to apostolic doctrine1 Thess. 2:13, And for this cause we also

thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.

1 Cor. 11:2, Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.

3. Preach the word, and only the word!2 Tim. 4:2-4, preach the word; be urgent

in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.

4. Never deny the faith of which Jesus is the Author!

Rev. 2:13, thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith (objective faith).

5. When human wisdom conflicts with divine, God is true and man is a liar!

Rom. 3:4, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

5. Never elevate your own human wisdom above God’s divine wisdom found in the Bible

Isa. 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Cor. 3:18-21, Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness: and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain. Wherefore let no one glory in men…