One Hundred Percent

I have a sobering statistic for you: one hundred percent of the people who never hear the Gospel of Christ will not be saved.

Here’s another: not everyone who hears the Gospel will be saved.

And here is the one that troubles me most: even among those who have heard, believed, repented, confessed Christ, and been baptized—some will still fall away.

Scripture makes this clear. Obedience is essential, but so is faithfulness. Hearing and obeying the Gospel is the beginning of the journey—not the end.

There are groups today devoted to helping people “escape” what they call rigid or harmful religious environments. Some describe harsh discipline, control, or abuse.

Recently, I saw a serious accusation circulating online from a well-known influencer, Terrance K. Williams. He shared a claim from a transgender individual accusing the church of Christ of blaspheming God in a deeply disturbing way.

Several people responded, explaining that the accusation did not describe the church of Christ at all. In fact, the claim appears to have come from a completely different religious group. The quoted pastor is associated with multiple denominations—none of which are the church of Christ.

So why was the name “church of Christ” attached to such a claim?

How does the Lord’s church get connected to something so far from who we are?

And here is the real question:
Could you defend her honor?
If someone asked you about this, would you know how to respond?

Jude urges us to “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). Jesus, John, Jude, Peter, and Paul all warn us about false teachers and the damage they can cause—both inside and outside the church.

Weeds Among Wheat

The servants asked the master if they should pull up the weeds. He said no—because in removing the weeds, they might uproot the wheat as well. Both would grow together until the harvest, when the separation would be final and complete.

Jesus’ point is simple: it is not always easy to tell the difference. Sometimes what is false looks true. Sometimes what is harmful appears good.

Knowing the Real Thing

The U.S. Secret Service—the agency responsible for investigating counterfeit currency—does not train its agents by studying every fake bill ever made. That would be impossible.

Instead, they train them to know the real thing so thoroughly that anything false becomes obvious. They learn the texture, the ink, the details, and the feel of genuine currency.

Because they know what is true, they are not fooled by what is false.

So it must be with us and the Word of God.

If we know the Scriptures deeply—if we know the voice of the Shepherd—then false teaching, misrepresentation, and slander will stand out immediately.

The world will continue to sow weeds among the wheat.
False accusations will come.
False teachers will arise.
Confusion will spread.

But those who know the truth—those who know the Gospel, the Scriptures, and the character of Christ—will not be shaken.

Know the real thing.
Hold fast to the real thing.
And you will not be fooled by the counterfeit.