Doctrinal disputes reveal a profound division among those who claim to represent God, as seen in the wide disagreements among clergymen during significant events. These disagreements, particularly on vital issues like the Sabbath, portray God as unconcerned with doctrine, which contradicts the biblical assertion that God is not the author of confusion. Such confusion raises questions about which, if any, of these clergymen God acknowledges, especially when core commandments are disregarded. Fellowshipping with groups that defy clear commandments, such as keeping Sunday instead of the Sabbath, risks exposure to doctrines not commanded by the Lord. This defiance mirrors historical patterns of disobedience, where people worshipped a false lord, akin to calling God by a name that does not align with His true teachings. Despite appearances of good works, many of these groups exhibit lawlessness by breaking commandments, deceiving believers who rely on outward impressions rather than God's word. The Church of God stands as the pillar and ground of truth, distinct from other spiritual organizations that reject clear signs given by God. Fellowshipping with such groups is unacceptable in God's eyes and represents a failure to remain faithful to the covenant with Jesus Christ. Those who join these groups risk losing their distinctive identity, becoming absorbed into false teachings, and failing to provide a true witness for God. God's pattern, as seen in both the Old and New Covenants, emphasizes unity within one organized body, not scattered among many. The church, likened to a human body, is highly organized under Christ, with no permission given to seek spiritual fulfillment elsewhere. Those who do so demonstrate carnality and risk becoming lost, just as ancient Israel did when scattered among pagan nations. False doctrines deceive and destroy godly maturity and unity, scattering believers like leaves in the wind. In contrast, the Church of God holds the true doctrines necessary for salvation and preparation for God's purpose. These doctrines, given as a package, lead to the correct conclusions for life, unlike the perverted teachings of other groups that focus on worldly concerns rather than the Kingdom of God. The fruit of these competing organizations reveals a world filled with filth rather than the good promised by God, highlighting their failure to uphold truth. Those who fellowship with them, influenced by false teachings, follow a path to a different destination, unprepared for the first fruits due to disobedience. Doctrine indeed makes a difference, and straying from the true path within the Church of God risks spiritual loss and deception.

Doctrinal disputes have significantly impacted the Church of God, as seen in the devastation of the Worldwide Church of God. When God removed His wall of protection, the church quickly fragmented into numerous factions due to disagreements over doctrine. Such disputes often stem from a careless and foolish deterioration of faith, where individuals feel free to pick and choose doctrines, disregarding God's warnings against adding to or taking away from His Word. Specific doctrines like the immortality of the soul and eternal security have been pivotal in these disputes. These teachings weaken resolve and endurance, hindering spiritual growth by suggesting that overcoming sin is unnecessary once one accepts the blood of Jesus Christ. This contradicts the numerous biblical warnings that God's way is difficult, narrow, and requires self-denial, emphasizing the need for right teaching to develop right character. The influence of external groups, such as Evangelicals, played a major role in breaking up the Worldwide Church of God by convincing its leadership that core doctrines were wrong, mirroring how the serpent deceived Adam and Eve. This pattern of disbelief and deviation from God's Word is not new; it affected the first-century church and continues to challenge the Church of God, with many ignoring or deliberately disbelieving clear biblical instructions on matters like Passover and Pentecost. Paul's warnings in his final letters to Timothy and Titus underscore the importance of guarding the true teachings received from Jesus Christ. He urged these young leaders to resist charlatans promoting false doctrines, emphasizing that even small deviations are significant. The simplicity and directness of God's Word are often undermined by convoluted explanations and hair-splitting interpretations that contradict plain biblical statements, a tactic used since the serpent's deception of Eve. These doctrinal disputes reveal a deeper issue of unbelief, paralleling the ancient Israelites' lack of trust in God. Just as they succumbed to fear and rebellion, modern believers risk falling into presumptuousness and disbelief by not fully trusting God's Word. The root of such attitudes, as seen in the Laodicean church, lies in unbelief, a problem evident from the beginning of Genesis with Adam and Eve's sin of submitting to a different teaching. True faith requires adherence to God's direct instructions without deviation, ensuring that the path to His Kingdom remains clear and unaltered by personal beliefs or fears.

The apostle Paul expresses deep concern in II Corinthians 11:3, fearing that just as the serpent deceived Eve with craftiness, the minds of believers might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. He worries that people, long immersed in the complex philosophies of the world, could be swayed from the plain truth taught by Jesus during His ministry. God's people have faced a barrage of human reasoning and convoluted arguments aimed at disproving the clear, pure doctrines once held by the church. These cunning explanations, marked by their complexity, have led many to accept doctrinal changes without question, while others followed out of intellectual pride or frustration at understanding the intricate reasoning. Yet, some recognized that these complicated, philosophic arguments did not reflect the voice of their Shepherd. The teachings of Jesus Christ remain elegantly simple, easily understood even by children, covering profound topics with clarity for those seeking truth. The apostles, including Paul, Peter, John, and Jude, repeatedly warned against such distortions, urging adherence to straightforward truth over twisted interpretations. Doctrines need not be complex to be true; simple commands like remembering the Sabbath day or loving the Lord your God with all your heart exemplify this purity. The challenge arises when worldly wisdom and fallible human ideas are mixed with God's truth, creating discord. Paul emphasizes that the wisdom of God is revealed through His Spirit, not through man's teachings, and believers must hold to this spiritual understanding when confronted with deceptive arguments.