I’M SATISFIED
by Dan Goddard
Zealous Bible students are eager to persuade people to study the Bible with them, but more often than not, they are met with the reply, “I’m satisfied with my religion.” These people seem to think that since they are pleased with their present religion there is no need for Bible study. However, just because one is satisfied with his religion does not necessarily mean that God is satisfied.
There are satisfied people in all churches, but all churches cannot be right because they contradict one another. When several churches are teaching conflicting doctrines, some of them are in error. Truth is absolute and always consistent with itself. If one church teaches we can baptize infants and another says we can’t, if one claims baptism is for remission of sins and another teaches it is not, or if one declares we are saved before baptism and another at the point of baptism, they all can’t be right.
The Bible says, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of
Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). It is a Bible
fact that Jesus Christ has only one church (Ephesians 4:3-6;
People often make the reply “I’m
satisfied” as though that’s all that matters.
They think that since they are happy and content with the church they
are in, all is well with their soul. However,
one’s primary concern should be “Is God satisfied?” The Pharisees were very much satisfied with
their religion, but Jesus said, “But in
vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”
(Matthew 15:9). Jeroboam was well satisfied with his new
religion and so were the thousands in
The “I’m satisfied” attitude is not
a good attitude to have. Instead, the
child of God has an open mind realizing there is always room for correction and
improvement. Furthermore, he realizes
that those who differ with him will point out his error, but those who embrace
that same error will not. To overcome
the danger of embracing falsehood, he is always willing to study both sides of
the question with a good and honest heart.
With this humble attitude the Christian will study and examine what
others present; without it, he will be closed minded and will cut off all
possible avenues of truth. The Bible
says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren,
give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall” (2
Peter