IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST TOO DOGMATIC(POSITIVE?) II Timothy 4:2; I Peter 4:11 I. Introduction. A. World has ever been critical of Christians as being too "dogmatic." 1. The word means: "Positive in manner or utterance." a. Present usage implies that when one is dogmatic, he contends that the proposition he is upholding is true and all others cannot be true. b. It means: "It just can't be any other way." 2. Many say: "I wouldn't be so narrow minded in religion as to indict all others as erroneous." II. Body. A. GOD IS DOGMATIC! 1. God is, and will ever be dogmatic in every statement or fact, every precept, and every promise. a. How could he be otherwise and be the infinite and true God? b. To deny such is to limit the power of God. (Would be infidelity) c. God says what he means and means what he says. 2. Let us notice some examples: a. The creation of the earth, of man, and of woman. b. When Moses built the Tabernacle, God was dogmatic in telling him how to build: Exodus 25:40. c. Dogmatic about offering of Cain and Abel: Genesis 4; Hebrews 11:4. d. Positive about Moses speaking to the rock. 3. Jehovah means for belief, actions, and results to do just as he commands. B. How about the positive nature of Jesus Christ? 1. Since Jesus was none less than God in the flesh, he would be no different from Jehovah. 2. Many statements of Jesus would shock the present religion community and cause them to react with "pious" indignity.(Note Matthew 23) 3. Some of the "milder" statements of Christ: a. What about divorce and remarriage? Matthew 5:32; 19:9. b. On entering the kingdom? Matthew 7:21-23. c. He demanded faith: John 8:24. d. Men were expected to REPENT! Luke 13:3. e. Jesus even commanded immersion in water: Mark 16:16. f. Did Jesus mean what he said? Was he positive? Was he dogmatic? C. Even the apostles were DOGMATIC(positive). 1. Were they too aggressive when taught salvation was in Jesus Christ? a. Could afford to be: that is the will of God: Ephesians 1:7; II Timothy 2:10. b. Even today, most religionists would agree. 2. But religious leaders do not want to be so emphatic about getting into Christ. a. Like Jesus, the apostles taught immersion into Christ: Romans 6:3-4. b. There are no other ways to get into Christ!(Dogmatic?) 3. The apostles taught there was only one church. a. The one body: Ephesians 4:4. b. Body is the church! Ephesians 1:22-23. c. Reconciliation takes place in that one body: Ephesians 2:16. d. Is one being too dogmatic(positive) to teach what the apostles of Christ taught?(Apply to all commands.) 4. The apostles taught others to be positive about the message. a. Charge to Timothy: II Timothy 4:2. b. Peter's statement: I Peter 4:11. c. John's testimony: II John 9. d. How about Galatians 1:10? e. Being positive is not the same as being rude. III. Conclusion. A. It is surely right to be dogmatic in standing for what is taught in the New Testament. B. Thus, speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent. C. Every Christian is to be positive about the word of God--must or be lost.