Garland M. Robinson
“The March 2022 edition of Seek The Old Paths was one of your most disappointing and spiritually dishonest issues. I used to respect and look forward to your sound scriptural insight. Your issues have become too political and promoting right wing ideology. Please go back to delivering sound biblical doctrine issues. No one uses the term ‘woke’ except right wing racist Trump supporters.”….LA.
EDITOR’S NOTE: There is absolutely nothing political about Seek The Old Paths. There are some who try to make it so. The word ‘woke’ is used by many to support everything that is contrary to the Scriptures. The March issue dealt with the Biblical concept of being “awake;” and, it also dealt with how many have perverted it to denounce everything that is upright and holy. “Woke” has nothing to do with politics. It is all about “right and wrong,” not political “this and that.” What does one’s political persuasion have to do with righteousness and unrighteousness? When one’s concept of rioting in the streets, destroying property and burning cars, stores and buildings is “woke,” then that person has evil intent and a wicked heart and mind. Are we to ask each one their political affiliation before we teach what the Bible says? Once we have that information, are we then to give them a “pass” if they vote one way and condemn them if they vote another? Are you kidding me? God does not have party affiliation. Why would anyone want to bring politics into this discussion, unless it be to silence God’s holy word? “Right” is demanded by God. “Wrong” is condemned by God! It’s that simple. On the other hand, there is nothing in this world that is “off limits” and cannot be spoken about and examined according to the Scriptures. Many “churches” have told preachers they can’t speak on certain topics—subjects such as divorce and remarriage, social drinking, dancing, immodest dress, abortion, rioting and burning, etc. The faithful people of God support and defend godly elders. They are the ordained shepherds of the local flock. That is God’s design (I Tim. 3; Titus 1). However, churches and elderships have no authority to tell preachers they can’t preach on these topics. Any preacher that is silent on these points needs to repent and preach the whole council of God (Acts 20:20, 27)! If they are not going to repent they need to get out of the pulpit and are subject to discipline (I Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3:6)! They have sold their soul to the devil. Elders and congregations that ask/demand preachers to be silent on any Bible subject are to be rebuked and exposed for the evil they uphold. There are realms in which the church has no authority to undertake—their wasting precious time in doing so and have left their God-given responsibility. Politics is such a realm. It makes no difference one way or the other where to build a road or not to build a road, etc. The laws they make about matters outside of Bible teaching is exactly the realm of authority God has put in their care. BUT, when they venture into Biblical matters, they have over-stepped their bounds. They have NO authority to speak in God’s place. They can call abortion a “social issue” all day long but that does not remove it from God’s realm of morality. When law makers circumvent and contradict God’s Word, they are wrong. Acts 5:29 tells us to obey God rather than man. That’s what I intend to do. How about you?
—Seek The Old Paths, Vol. 33, No. 4
April 2022