Pioneer Christian Monthly - August, 1996

Back To Basics
Jim Moerman

The story is told that legendary football coach Vince Lombardi was once so disgusted with the play of his team that following a lopsided loss, he called his players together for a snap practice. "We're going back to basics today," he said. 'Gentlemen," he intoned, "this is a football."

From time to time, events in and around the Body of Christ require us to go back to the basics of our Faith. This is good because when we build on the fundamentals, then and only then will our life, our church, and our soul be well.

"Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, this a Bible." It is our only rule of faith and practice. It is authorative, breathed of God, infallible. You can trust its every word. is the wellspring of Truth graciously revealed by God Himself It needs no other authority, no other witness, no other confirmation from external sources. The Bible alone possesses God's Truth about the way of salvation. Is this a narrow, egalitarian, exclusivist position? Absolutely. And it is nothing more than what the Bible states about itself.

"Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, this is a cross." It is the symbol of the unique saving work of Jesus Christ to atone for sin and thereby redeem condemned sinners from eternal destruction. There is no other plan or path of salvation revealed by God. How do we know?

God has said so in His Word repeatedly. "If we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than (this), let him be eternally condemned.' (Galatians 1:8). Is this too a narrow, egalitarian, exclusivist position? Absolutely. And it is nothing more than what the Bible unapologetically states. If God has "special rules" for those who live and die never hearing this Gospel of the Cross, that's entirely His business to carry out, not ours to speculate on.

"Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, the basis of our unity is this revealed Word of God and its message of the cross of Christ.' We can have fellowship that is oh-so-sweet with anyone who lives a life of submission under the Word of God and the Lordship of Jesus Christ the Saviour. We can have evangelistic encounters with those who don't. Because to be a Christian is to know Christ and obey Hi.s commands. Is this another narrow, egalitarian, exclusivist position? Absolutely. And it is nothing more than what the Bible states.

Going back to the basics works well on the football field. It will do equally well for The Church, too.