{"id":12437,"date":"2026-10-13T23:24:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T04:24:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/?p=12437"},"modified":"2026-10-15T22:56:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T03:56:24","slug":"trip-report-9-seeking-the-old-paths-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/2026\/10\/13\/trip-report-9-seeking-the-old-paths-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Trip Report #9\u2014\u201cSeeking the old paths\u2026\u201d (3)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The constant emphasis in this series is that God\u2019s design for the Church cannot be \u201cdestroyed.\u201d That design remains viable because God has given mankind His inspired Word. As long as man follows God\u2019s Word, without<\/em><\/strong> addition or subtraction, the Church of the New Testament will exist. Whenever man decides that God\u2019s way is not sufficient and begins to change and add beliefs and practices to the worship and life of the Church, then the Church\u2019s lampstand is removed\u2014a \u201creligious\u201d group remains, but it is NOT the Church of the New Testament!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One verse summarizes this critical fact\u2014Jeremiah 6:16-17. Jeremiah called for apostate Judah to return and restore devotion to the old paths. Tragically, Judah\u2019s religious devotion had been so degraded by change that her response was a flat rejection\u2014\u201cWe will NOT!\u201d That stubborn refusal to follow only God\u2019s directions is not limited to the 7th<\/sup> and 6th<\/sup> centuries B.C. This attitude repeats even today, when man\u2019s \u201cintelligence\u201d thinks his \u201cnew\u201d way is better than God\u2019s \u201cold\u201d way! The same self-willed blindness that governed Judah\u2019s blasphemy is evident throughout every generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the principles underlying our series assure us that God\u2019s Word is alive and is able to restore the commanded patterns in the Scriptures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Utilizing Jeremiah\u2019s plea to erring Judah, there are two points of exhortation for those today who seek to return and restore New Testament Christianity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, why rely solely upon the Bible (specifically the New Testament) in our religious beliefs and practices?<\/p>\n\n\n\n