by Bud Cocherell (written 1983)
Today, Christianity is one of the world's largest religions.
There are literally hundreds of organizations which say they are
Christian and are worshipping the one and only Creator God. Each
professes to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, as expounded
in the pages of the Bible; each feels they have a keen
understanding of the Bible and God's will for mankind.
It seems very strange indeed that the majority of these
various denominations use the same Bible on which to base their
life styles, but they all differ in how they perceive what is
written in this book.
Is the Bible really a book that no one can understand? Has
God purposely confused its meaning? Does it matter how we worship
God, or which church organization we belong to?
Let us examine these and other questions, using what the
Bible really says as the final authority. The answers may
surprise you and give you a new understanding of the real God of
the Bible.
THE CHURCH DISAPPEARS
Shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we
find a dynamic evangelizing church spreading God's truth
throughout the world. Their spiritual zeal literally changed the
course of history. But, dynamic as the church was, it all but
disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70
A.D. From 70 to 120 A.D. there was very little recorded about the
true church of God. When historians again took up their pens to
write about the church, we find that it had changed from the
simple faith once delivered. Or could it be that the true church
was all-but-destroyed, and then replaced by a false Christianity?
(But the NT shows that false ministers were coming within the
true Church of God and twisting and changing and perverting the
original truth once delivered to the saints. History does record
a movement away from 7th day Sabbath keeping to 1st day - Sunday
observance. And history does record the Roman church adopting
Easter in the second century A.D. So there is SOME history of
what was taking place. It is written about it in various studies
on this Website - Keith Hunt)
Today we find churches, calling themselves Christian, that
do not even faintly resemble what the early church was. We find
confusion among the so-called Churches of God, many with
differing teachings and views as to what constitutes the true
Church of God pictured in the Bible.
THE EARLY CHURCH
The Apostle Paul admonished the Church of God at I Corinth
to avoid confusion and division. "Now 1 beseech you, brethren, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same
thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment. For it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren,
that them who are of the house of Chloe, that there are
contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you say,
I am of Paul; and I, of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and, I of
Christ." (1 Cor.1:10-12). Paul asks, "Is Christ divided?" (1 Cor.
1:13). It is absurd to think that Jesus Christ is not quite sure
how He wants His church to function, and really does not care how
we worship and serve Him and His Father.
Our great God is not the author of confusion (I Cor.14:33),
but is an orderly being. Look at the order of all that exists.
From the balance of the galactic systems down to the smallest
atomic structure, all of the physical creation shows great order,
not confusion.
Since God set all the physical creation to function orderly,
doesn't it make sense that He would have us to worship Him in an
orderly structured manner, and not in many different ways?
WHAT IS A CHURCH?
To understand where the true church of God is, we must first
understand what a church is. The English word "church" is
translated from the Greek word "Ekkiesia" (ek-klay-see-ah),
meaning a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, an assembly,
especially a religious congregation. Church simply means a group
of people meeting together. So, you see, attaching the word
church to a group or organization does not necessarily make them
Christian.
Some could contend that any group that meets in the name of
Jesus is Christian. It is true that Jesus said, "For where two or
three are gathered together in My name, there am I am in the
midst of them." (Matt.28:20). It is, however, very obvious when
the entire chapter is read, that Jesus is only talking to His
true followers and not to people in general.
So we see that the church is an assembly of Christians and
not a building or a corporation. The church is a group of
Christians that assemble together. Many think just because they
are a member of an organization called a church and believe in
God, that they are Christians and are worshipping God correctly.
This is a very dangerous assumption to make, especially when our
eternal life depends upon the way we worship and obey God.
ABOUT THE CHURCH
Let us take a look at what the Bible says about the people
who are the church. One of the first things we find about the
members of the church is that they are not very popular. In fact,
they are usually hated by most people. Jesus knew this would be
the case and asked God the Father to protect them. "I have given
them thy word; and the world has haled them, because they are not
of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou
should take them out of the world, but thou should keep them from
evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." (John
17:14-17).
Why are they hated by the world? The answer is really quite
simple when we understand that Satan has deceived the whole world
into following him. (Rev.12:9). Jesus warned of Satan's
deception... "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall
come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and shall deceive
many." (Matt.24:4-5). Jesus knew that the vast majority of people
would find it easier to follow a false Christ than to follow Him,
hence, the warning to the Church.
DENOMINATIONS
If Christ is not divided, then why are there so many
differing churches and denominations professing to be Christian?
The first reason is the same today as it was from the first days
of human existence. That reason is rebellion. Adam and Eve
rebelled against God In the Garden of Eden. The children of
Israel rebelled against God in the wilderness, after he had
delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Mankind has been rebelling
against his Creator from Adam until now. (See: Ezk.20:12-13; Isa.
30:9-10 and 66:3).
For some reason people seem to think they can worship God
any way they want. But, notice what He says through the Prophet
Isaiah. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts." (Isa.55:8-9).
Jesus called the religious leaders of his day hypocrites,
snakes, liars, and deceivers because they were not teaching God's
truth, but were teaching their own philosophy, which was
rebellion. "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you,
saying, This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in
vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men," (Matt.15:7-9).
Even some of the very elect of God fall into rebellion. Paul
warned the young evangelist Timothy, "Preach the word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they.
will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall
they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables." (2 Tim.4:2-4). "Now the Spirit speaks expressly
that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies
in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (I
Tim.4:1-2).
Rebellion can come in many forms and always separates the
rebellious people from God the Father and Jesus Christ, no matter
what organization they belong to.
SATAN'S DECEPTION
The second reason for so many differing churches and
denominations is Satan's deception. In the early days of the
church, Satan started his master deception and tried to destroy
the true church from within. The Apostle Paul warned the church
at Corinth, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no
marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works." (2 Cor.11:13-15).
Yes, Satan has ministers and even churches disguised as true
churches of God. (Rev.2:9 and 3:9). If you were to ask one of
these ministers if he was a false minister of God, he would most
likely become very offended.
The vast majority of people today have been deceived into
thinking they are worshipping God correctly because of Satan's
deception. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he
was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with
him." (Rev.12:9). Jesus knew this would happen and warned, "Take
heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name,
saying, I am the Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matt.24:4-5).
Jesus was not saying that people would say that they
themselves were Christ, but would say that He was indeed the
Christ. When we read Matt.24:11 & 14 with Gal.1:6-9, we can
understand what Christ was saying. He was foretelling the time
when false ministers would preach another gospel in His name, and
many would be deceived into thinking they were following Him.
Jesus' prophecy has come true. The majority of professing
Christians today believe and preach a false gospel, not because
they have predetermined to do so, but because Satan has deceived
them. Satan is indeed the master deceiver.
It is very obvious that the early church was not divided
into many different denominations. It is also obvious that if all
professing Christians submitted to God's rule in their lives,
denominations would disappear.
Contrary to what most believe, Jesus Christ does not
sanction the many divergent churches that exist today. Jesus
said, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it." (Matt.16:18). He did not say He would build
many churches, but that He would build His church, and it would
endure.
After being crucified and resurrected from the dead, Jesus
instructed His disciples how He wanted His church to be
constructed. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end
of the world." (Matt.28:19-20). Notice, Jesus told his disciples
to teach the things He had commanded. Christ was not only
referring to the things He had taught during his earthly
ministry in human form, He also meant for them to teach the
things He had taught to Israel when He was their God before He
became flesh. (Read John 1:1-11 & Eph.3:9).
THE CHURCH PERSECUTED ... SCATTERED ... SMALL
Jesus said, "If they have persecuted me, they will also
persecute you." (John 15:20). Paul said, "All that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Tim.3:12).
Jesus Christ understood mankind's nature and mind as no
other man could. As the Creator God of the Universe and mankind
(John 1:1-3: Eph.3:9), He had observed man's behavior down
through the centuries and knew people would continue to oppose
His truth as long as they were influenced by Satan. God's way of
life is opposite to the way most people want to live. Most people
do not like to be told they are living in sin and usually dislike
people that tell them they are. John the Baptist was beheaded
because he spoke out against Herod's sin of adultery (Mark
6:17-28). It is no different today. The true followers of Christ
will be persecuted for speaking the truth of God. The prophet
Zechariah foretold the church would be scattered after Jesus'
crucifixion (Zech.13:7). Jesus himself repeated the prophecy,
"And Jesus said unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me
this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the
sheep shall be scattered." (Mark 14:27). Also see John 16:32. The
early church suffered much persecution and was scattered as
Christians fled for their lives. "And Saul was consenting unto
his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against
the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered
abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the
apostles." (Acts 8:1). There are many other scriptures that show
God's people will be very unpopular. (Read Dan.11:33-35; Ezk.
34).
Even though the church has been persecuted and scattered
throughout the centuries, it will continue to endure (See Matt.
16:18). Jesus called the church a little flock. "Fear not little
flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom." (Luke 12:32). Though hated, despised, maligned,
persecuted, and scattered by the world, this small
group of people is the Church of God. But does being small and
hated make a group of people the true church? Of course not!
There are many small groups that say they are Christian, but are
so far out of line with what Jesus taught they do not even come
close to or resemble true Christianity.
How about being hated? True, some small groups are hated for
what they teach, but so are some large groups. "...and ye shall
be hated of all nations, for my name's sake." (Matt.24:9). In
these two scriptures (Luke 12:32 & Matt.24:9), Jesus is talking
about a relatively small group of people compared to the world's
population. The vast majority of the people "professing
Christianity" would hate His people, just as the Jews of Jesus'
day professed to believe in God and hated Him for what He taught.
So it is in this age. God's people will be hated for preaching
the truth as Jesus taught it. (John 17:14).
A SIGN OF GOD'S PEOPLE
Is there an identifying mark or sign upon the people of God?
Is there something that one could observe and by it tell that the
people, organization, or group, are true Christians? The answer
is yes! True Christians can be identified and separated from
those who are not.
COMMANDMENT KEEPING
The first mark or sign of a Christian is that he will be
keeping the Ten Commandments of God. Jesus said, "if ye love me,
keep my commandments." (John 14:15). True Christians will have
love and concern for each other. "By this we know that we love
the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and
His commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:2-3). The apostle
has a stinging rebuke for those who say they are Christians and
do not keep the Ten Commandments. "He that says, I know him, and
keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in
him." (I John 2:4). A requirement for maintaining the Christian
status is commandment keeping.
A second mark or sign of God's people is that they will be
observing God's Sabbaths and Holy Days. Notice what God says in
Exodus 31:15-17. "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh
is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever does any work
in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death."
The prophet Ezekiel was inspired to write, "Moreover also I
gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that
they might know that 1 am the Lord that sanctifies them." "And
hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you,
that you may know that 1 am the Lord your God." (Ezk.20:12,20).
Other sabbath observances to be kept by Christians are the
annual Sabbaths or Holy Days spoken of in the twenty-third
chapter of Leviticus. Notice, they are a statute forever and are
a sign of God's people. (Ex.13:9). Also see: Isa. 56:1-6; 58:13;
and 66:22-23).
Many will say the Sabbath and Holy Days were for ancient
Israel and not for Christians today. But, what does the Word of
God say? Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the
law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
(Matt.5:17). The apostle Paul told the Galatian Christians that
if they were Christ's, they were Abraham's seed, that is
"Israelites." "And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal.3:29). Also see:
Acts 7:1-7). Paul also told the Church of God at Colossae, "Let
no man therefore judge you (in meat, or in drink, or in respect
of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which
are a shadow of things to come) but the body of Christ." (Col.
2:16-17).
(See my study - "Colossians 2:16" - on that passage on this
Website - Keith Hunt)
A third sign of God's people is their love and concern for
one another. "By this shall all men know that you are my
disciples, if we have love one to another." (John 13:35). While
this would not seem to be a major sign of God's people, it is
nonetheless, in a world torn with strife, war, divorce, murder,
anger, hatred and violence. Love and hue concern for another
human being is rare indeed, and is truly a sign of the people who
follow the one who loved the world enough to give His life for
it.
THE CHURCH WILL NOT BE PAGANIZED
The true Church of God will not be observing pagan festivals
and holidays, such as: Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Although
many "professing Christians" will say there is nothing wrong with
observing these days, they do admit they are pagan in origin. The
prophet Jeremiah gave this warning from God. "Learn not the way
of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for
the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people
are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the
hands of the workman. with the axe. They deck it with silver and
with gold; they fasten It with nails and with hammers, that it
move not." (Jer.20:2-4). Paul warns the church at Corinth not to
bind themselves with Satan's false worship. "Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship have
righteousness and unrighteousness? And what communion has light
with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what
part has he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has
the temple of God with idols?" (2 Cor.6:14-16).
The Church of God will be doing the work of God in preaching
the soon-coming Kingdom of God. This is the same gospel (good
news) that Jesus Christ taught. "Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. And saying, The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and
believe the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15). This gospel is a far cry
from the teachings of main-line Christianity today. It is a
gospel so dynamic, so powerful, so diametrically opposite to what
is taught in most churches around the world today, that most
reject it. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine, for
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Tim. 4:2-4).
BE YE SEPARATE
In a letter to the church at Corinth the Apostle Paul
exhorted them to avoid mixing paganism with Christianity. (2 Cor.
6:14-16). He also told them to separate themselves from that
day's religions. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I
will receive you." (2 Cor. 6:17).
The Church of God is not to participate in, or be a part of
the world's religions or politics. This would constitute
spiritual adultery, since the Church is to be the Bride of
Christ, and is to act as His ambassador to this world. (2 Cor.
5:20).
Surprising as it is, Jesus Christ did not form His Church to
become a large powerful organization which would try to make this
world, under its present leadership, a better place in which to
live. Instead, He said, "I have given them thy word; and the
world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as
I am not of this world. I pray not that thou should take them out
of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil. They
are not of the world, even as 1 am not of the world." (John
17:14-16)
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
If Jesus did not intend for His Church to become a powerful
force and challenge Satan for world rule, then what did he form
it for?
The purpose of the Church is fourfold.
Its first purpose is to prepare a people to help Jesus
Christ rule this world at his second coming. "And has made us
(them) unto our God kings and priests; and we (they) shall reign
on the earth." (Rev.5:10). (Also see: 1 Thes.3-13; Rev.3:21 and
20:4-6).
The second purpose is to preach the Good News of the soon
coming government of God. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall
be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and
then shag the end come." (Matt.24:14).
(Often this is misunderstood per se. Jesus at another time said,
we will not have gone over all the cities if Israel before the
Son of man comes. The gospel will be preaches - shouted - to the
word by the ANGEL that does so shortly before Jesus comes again.
See Revelation 14:6 and mt comments on that part of Revelation in
my "New Testament Bible story" - Keith Hunt)
The third purpose is to preach the message of repentance.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you." (Matt.28:19-20).
The fourth purpose is to provide a place for those called of
God (John 6:44), to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18),
and to learn and perfect the ways of God in their lives so they
will be able to fulfil the great calling of the Saints. (Rev.
5:10).
ONE CHURCH
Does it really matter which church a person belongs to? If
there is no God, and the Bible is not His Word put to print, then
it does not matter which church a person goes to. In fact, why go
at all? But, there is abundant proof that God the Father and
Jesus Christ do exist and that the Bible is their Word and
instruction manual to the human race. If one is truly seeking to
obey God, then he should want to be with the group of people who
are His. Jesus said, "I will build my Church." (Matt.16:18). And,
to this church, His Father would call and place those who should
be saved in this age. (Acts 2:38,39 & 47).
There is only one Church of God, so says the Apostle Paul.
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one
hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you
all." (Eph.4:4-6). Jesus Christ has only one church He rules
over. (Eph.1:22-23; 1 Cor.12:12-13). He has no other. The true
Church of God has existed from the day Jesus organized it. It has
endured the test of persecution and martyrdom throughout the
centuries, and still exists today wherever true Christians gather
to worship the Creator God and serve Him. (Matt.18:20)
..................
NOTE:
The one true Church of God, is its scattered members around the
world. It is NOT just "one organization" of men. The body of
Christ, are the SALT of the earth, sprinkled here and there. They
are indeed the "very little flock" as Jesus said it, for that is
how the Greek reads. The Greek is a double diminutive - LITTLE
LITTLE flock.
If you are willing to learn, to hunger and thirst after
righteousness, willing to be corrected, willing and wanting to
grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, willing to
live by every Word from God, as Jesus said we should do
(Mat.4:4); THEN with humility in your heart, loving God with all
your body, mind, and life, YOU can be a member of the ONE TRUE
CHURCH OF GOD! Keith Hunt
Doctrinal Unity?
Is it Really that Important?
IS IT REALLY IMPORTANT OR DO WE JUST NEED LOVE?
by Keith Hunt
"All of God's children will never be under one banner until
Jesus returns" shouts many a Sabbath keeping church. And while I
must agree with this statement as far as the banner of
ORGANIZATION is concerned, there is another aspect of this often
spoken phrase that I must - to some degree - disagree with. And
that aspect is this. Far too many people I have met with in my
ministerial travels across north AMERICA (Canada and U.S.A.) use
the understanding and fact that history shows us that God's
children have never been under one banner since the true church
expanded further than the city of Jerusalem, to say we shall
never all come to agreement and unity as to the teachings and
doctrines of God.
I have found a too casual - oh hum - shrug of the shoulder
attitude - bordering on a "couldn't care less " a "well it
doesn't matter" attitude, concerning unity in the teachings of
the Lord. Some go as far as saying, "As long as we all agree in
keeping the 7th day Sabbath and the other nine commandments,
we'll all be in the Kingdom." But is this really so?
We often ask the 1st day keeper to be willing to look at
some plain verses of God's word to come to see the truth about
the 7th day Sabbath - do we not - sure we do! Well, are we
willing to look at some plain verses ourselves concerning the
subject of doctrinal unity? We really do need to do so, for our
attitude towards that subject could effect our being in the first
resurrection or not. You think that is too strong a statement?
Well please read on and be willing to go face to face with the
questions I will pose and the verses I will quote.
We often tell the 1st day keeper and/or those searching for
the truth about which day is the weekly Sabbath, to be willing to
be strong. Can we be strong as we face God's word about doctrinal
unity ?
God says to us, "Come let us reason together." Does it really
make logical sense to believe that all 7th day Sabbath keepers
will be in the first resurrection and the Kingdom at Jesus'
return, when some only agree on the observance of the Sabbath and
disagree on about everything else? Is God going to just "flip
the switch" when He comes, so we all will have our wrong ideas
and doctrines erased from our minds? Do we think it does not
matter to God if during this life we make no attempt to search
for the truth on all doctrines of His word? Does claiming to be
a part of the true church that Christ founded, automating make it
so? Because we come from a heritage that claims decent from the
apostles - does that ensure us a place in the first resurrection,
even if we are sincere in our beliefs? Saying, "Well we all
teach obeying the 10 commandments including the 4th " - will that
attitude be enough? Many will proclaim, "We keep the weekly
Sabbath and the 7 annual Sabbaths" as if that guarantees them
the Kingdom.
Have we so soon forgotten that the scribes and Pharisees and
Sadducees kept the Sabbath and feasts of God? Have we forgotten
that these religious groups obeyed other points of God's word
(yet they differed in doctrine)? Have we forgotten they claimed
decent from Abraham and an historical ancestry of great worth?
HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WHAT JESUS SAID TO THEM AND ABOUT THEM?
Perhaps we need to again read Mat.23, or remember He told them
that the harlots, publicans and sinners (in their eyes ) would
enter the Kingdom before them. Their attitude and practices in
regards some of God's word was wrong and if repentance was not
forthcoming, and changes made, they would not enter God's
Kingdom.
Is it possible that many 7th day commandment keepers TODAY
are in the same boat with the scribes and Pharisees?
Stop and LOOK!! We find today literally dozens upon dozens of
groups that teach keeping the 4th commandment. It is true that
many basically only differ in organization (being locally
autonomous) and very little difference doctrinally. But on the
other hand many groups have LARGE and BASIC doctrinal
differences. For me to illustrate I am going to have to name
names. Many of the Seventh Day Baptist churches teach as doctrine
- going to heaven at death, the immortality of the soul, the Holy
Spirit as a person, while other 7th day churches do not teach
these doctrines, but say they are false. The Worldwide Church of
God teaches a "pyramid church government" doctrine, other groups
teach this is not Biblical. Many congregations teach that tithing
is commanded of God for His people, while others teach it is not.
The Seventh Day Adventists (main stream body) teach that Ellen
White was God's prophet for the end time, but other 7th day
keeping churches teach she was not. Some groups teach as doctrine
that God has a sacred name and it alone should be used, while
other churches say that is not so. Many Sabbath observing
churches also teach the keeping of the Feasts found in Lev.23,
while other churches teach those Feasts were "done away" with
at the cross.
We could go on and on with MAJOR differences between various
7th day observing churches. I think the point has dearly been
made.
SOME PLAIN VERSES
If there is only ONE true God - if there is only one Jesus
Christ, can we assume correctly that they agree with the
teachings of all Sabbath keeping churches? Did Jesus, when
walking this earth among the Sabbath observing groups of the
society of nearly two thousand years ago, say that they were all
just heading for the same sheep fold, but through different doors
and along different paths?
Did He agree with all the teachings of the scribes? No! Did
He agree with all the teachings of the Pharisees? No! He could
not be divided up into a hundred pieces.
The church at Corinth thought Jesus could be divided for
less reason than doctrinal - Paul asked them, "Is Christ
divided?" He infers an answer of "no way" (1 Cor.1:12,13 ). Then
he tells the Ephesian church, "There is ONE body (not one
organized people under one banner), and ONE Spirit .... ONE hope
of your calling, ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and
Father of all..." (Eph.4:4-6).
Can there be more than one Holy Spirit - speaking many major
conflicting doctrines? Can there be more than one Jesus who died
on the stake? Maybe there is and that's why we have different
major doctrines - but I speak with foolishness. Maybe there is
many "God the Fathers" and that is why some will be "raptured"
away to Him before the tribulation, or will go to heaven at
death, or will spend the thousand years in heaven, or some other
time - again I speak with tongue in cheek.
Paul says there is "one baptism" - surely God's word tells
us what the truth is about that one baptism - by complete
immersion or a few drops of water. Surely God wants us to know if
we go to heaven at death or do not. I think HE wants us to know
if we go to heaven during the one thousand years or stay on this
earth. In other words, there must be a one and only truth to the
main doctrines that are contained in the word of God. Oh yes, we
may have to diligently search the Scriptures to find all the
verses God gives us on a particular subject or doctrine, but the
Father does want us to know.
Will we be willing to believe the sure promise Jesus left us
when speaking about the Holy Spirit that was to came, He said,
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you
into ALL TRUTH" (Jn.16:13). Has the HOLY Spirit came ? Is there
anyone claiming to be a Christian that does not believe that the
Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and has been with Christians
ever since? I have never met any. And we might ask - what is
truth? Jesus said, "...your(the Father's) word is truth"
(Jn.17:17). God's word will show us the things He wants us to
know is truth. And the first part of verse one tells us we are to
be sanctified by that truth. I can see no way around these plain
verses and the absolute promise given to us that the HOLY Spirit
will guide us into all truth. Either this is true as Jesus said,
or Jesus is a liar - God's word is not inspired and the Father
does not have the power through the Spirit to direct His children
into all truth. I do not believe any of the aforementioned things
are correct, and if you do not, then you have to believe what
Jesus said as recorded in John 16:13!
THE TIME FOR REVEALING TRUTH
I have never met a single person who claimed to have all the
knowledge of God's truths at the time of conversion and baptism.
I doubt if there has ever been a mortal man or woman at any time
who had all truth at conversion. Even the great learned Rabbi
from Tarsus - Paul - upon conversion to Christ and baptism had to
spend some time in Arabia being taught the truths of the gospel
by the REVELATION of Jesus (Gal.1:11-17).
Most of us do not even have the deep religious background
and upbringing that someone like Paul had - most of us are truly
babes in the knowledge of God's word at our conversion. Or we
have been brought up on such false religious teachings that we
must still reckon ourselves babes in the Lord when He first
starts to reveal the truth of His word to us.
It would seem God purposely never gives all His truth to any
individual upon their conversion. He has a great reason for not
doing so - it is a test to prove if a person really does love God
with all his heart, life and mind. It is a life long test, to see
if we will walk in His way whenever that way is revealed to us. I
have known people who were true Christians for many years but did
not keep the 7th day Sabbath - they did not know they should or
they did not know that Sunday was not the 7th day. Then at some
point God revealed this truth to them and they accepted that
revelation and walked in it - they had met that test and were
victorious. With others it is some other truth that is shown to
them months or years after their conversion and baptism - then
the test is for them to see if they will love the truth above all
else.
This is the way and working of the Lord. It is no wonder
then that the apostle Peter was inspired to write, "As newborn
babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow
thereby" (1 Pet.2:2). And some of God's children even after
conversion and baptism - even after some years, are still more
carnal than spiritual. You do not think this is possible, well
you had better read Paul's first letter (first of the two left
recorded for us) to the church at Corinth, and especially note
chapter 3:1-4. With all the doctrinal fractions among those who
claim to be God's children today, maybe we are still more carnal
than spiritual.
Possibly God is trying to reveal more of His truths to YOU,
or revealing again truths you put aside and cast away. What are you
doing about proving them and holding fast to that which is good
and true (1 Thes.5:21)?
DOCTRINAL UNITY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH
As we read the first number of chapters of the book of Acts
it is evident that for many years the New Testament church was in
unity as to doctrine. It is very unlikely that Luke (the author
of Acts) would not have told us about a lack of doctrinal unity
if it had existed. This is given credence by the fact that he did
record a large doctrinal difference in the matter of circumcision
(Acts 15).
What is important to note here is not that a doctrinal
difference arose, but what God's people did about it when it had
arisen. I go into this in some detail in my book THE NT CHURCH
AND ITS ORGANIZATION (also now on this Website). Here I need only
say that the truth was desired and was gained. The readers can
study for themselves Acts 15 and see how the truth was arrived at
in this particular case.
My large (8x11 150 page and more) book on Church Government
shows very clearly that God used many men to do His work and
raise up churches in various parts of the Roman Empire, who did
not know each other on a personal basis (i.e. Paul was used by
God for many years before he met James, Peter and John) but were
teaching the same truths of God's word. The apostles at Jerusalem
could "add nothing" to what Paul had for years been teaching and
preaching (Gal.2:1-10).
Sure, false brethren and false apostles arose within and
among the people of God (Gal.2:4) together with false letters
claiming to come from Paul, Silvanus or Timothy (2 Thes.l:l;
2:2), but the true ministers and people of God remained in unity
to the basic doctrines and truths of God's word.
It is also true that corruptions and perversions of the
truth of God's word, and the gifts of His Spirit did arise among
the churches of God. But perversion of truth does not mean
doctrinal differences were prevalent. Paul certainly had to
correct the church at Corinth because of perversion of truth and
a lax attitude towards open sin within the church. Yes, we can
find from the book of Revelation some churches of God allowing
idolatry and false teachings within their midst, but God always
warned them about these sins and told them to repent.
He showed them the truth and gave them time to acknowledge
those sins and to put them away. Again all this does not prove
disunity of doctrine but a merciful God correcting and leading
with His Spirit His people into all truth.
JESUS' REQUEST - IS IT BEING ANSWERED?
Notice what Jesus requested of the Father in His prayer the
night before His crucifixion "... Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.
That they all may be one; as you, Father are in me, and I in you,
that they also may be one in us ... that they may be one, even as
we are one. I in them, and you in me, that they may be made
perfect in one...." (John 17:20-23).
What Jesus is requesting here can not be organizational
unity, for mass communication via Telephone, Radio, T.V. and
Satellite is of this space age society. Before all this God's
people went forth into all the earth with the gospel - raising up
churches in all nations, many of whom never had contact with
others in different areas and often did not know of the existence
of other true Christians outside their own land, or if they did,
were not able to meet them. Therefore Jesus must have been asking
the Father to keep believers as ONE in unity of doctrine -
doctrine not organization.
It is clear from other words of Christ in the four Gospels
that He spoke only the words of the Father - both He and the
Father were in complete unity as to teaching and doctrine. Now as
Jesus was a completely obedient Son of the Father - as He was
willing to put aside the glory He shared with the Father - as He
was willing to come to earth as God in the flesh and sacrifice
Himself for the sins of the whole world - because of all this and
more, is it logical to believe this prayer request of Jesus' went
unanswered or contrary to the request? Many would want to believe
so, but I for one can not believe that the Father would deny this
request. With what I have expounded so far and the Scripture
verses we have seen, it cannot be any other way than that the
Father would grant Jesus His request.
Is Jesus and the Father divided up a hundred different and
often contradictory ways as to doctrine? Are they in disagreement
and confusion? NO WAY! Not at all, for God says He is not the
author of confusion (1 Cor.14:33)
If He is not - then who is?
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ATTITUDE?
One of the golden rules that Christ laid down was, "Blessed
are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they
shall be filled" (Mat.5:6).
I am sorry to say, but in all my travels I have not found
this zealous attitude of mind among very many people. There is
little deep down searching for the right as opposed to the wrong.
It would seem not very many are crying out with Jeremiah, "O
Lord, CORRECT ME, but with judgment" (Jer.10:24). We live in an
age when the words of Rev.3:15-19 really do apply to the churches
of God. A lukewarmness permeates the Sabbath keeping churches,
while an attitude of spiritual smugness is proclaimed in mind and
action. Too many people and too many 7th day observing
organizations boldly claim they SEE, but in reality they are
BLIND. And that is not me saying this BUT GOD!! (Rev.3:18).
Fortunately for us the Lord is still leading, rebuking and
correcting us into all truth IF we will be in a repentant
attitude and ZEALOUS in thirsting for His righteousness
(Rev.3:19).
We are living in a time when people who knew God's truths
have cast them off as a dirty garment - when many are only
willing to live some of the truths they know - when many no
longer have the love of the truth - when people will no longer
diligently search the Scriptures to see if those things are so,
as the noble Bereans did (Acts 17:10-12). But then all this was
foretold was it not?
Yes indeed - in 2 Thes.2:1-12.
Jesus said that before His return - in the last days -
deception would be so great that if it was possible even the
elect would be led astray (Mat.24:24). And what is the way for
the child of God to make sure he or she is not deceived? The
answer is found in the three passages of Scripture already given
- Mat.5:6; Acts 17:10-12 and 2 Thes.2:10.
If YOU will love the truth, if you will search the
Scriptures, if you will thirst for righteousness, then God will
fill you with His Spirit which will "guide you into all truth"
and YOU will be in the first resurrection to meet the Lord Jesus
upon His return.
THE REASONS FOR A LUKEWARM ATTITUDE
There are many reasons people do not love the truth, and
what I mean by this phrase is "acting upon truth". Acting upon
truth means a change in thought and practice. Many will not be
corrected, will not diligently seek for the right, because they
know that if they find it then they must make a choice - go the
way of truth and right or the way of falsehood. If the way of
right is followed then it could mean loosing a job, putting a
strain on their marriage, getting their children upset,
developing problems with parents, or just being thought of as
"odd."
Yet I would say from my experiences with the ministers and
people of the Sabbath observing churches, that the most prevalent
proclivity to lukewarmness and a lack of the love of the truth is
a "comfortable pew" attitude. Too many look to an organization -
be it just local or national or worldwide. They just do not want
to rock the boat they are in or jump ship if they must. I know of
ministers who know the church they belong to, is preaching false
unbiblical doctrines - but they will not speak out the truth.
Other ministers know about corruption in MORALITY or FINANCES
within the leaders of their church, but say and do nothing. Too
many congregational members follow a personality regardless as to
whether he corrupts himself or starts preaching untruths. Far too
many make their church a social club and stay because of the
"party events" it conducts on a regular basis. Some close their
eye to truth because their church offers them a fine school to
educate their children. Others have long lasting friendships they
have built with people in the church they attend and do not want
to jeopardize that friendship should they speak up for or stand
up for truth. There are those with other family members(wife,
husband, mother, father, brother, sister, aunt etc.) within the
same church, and they feel they cannot possibly cause disunity
among the physical family, because of God's truth.
There are those who have been raised in a church and are now
choir director, Sabbath school teacher, deacon or deaconess,
youth leader, or hold some other "important" office that is more
important to hold than proclaiming and standing for truth.
I have known individuals who held the church building or choir or
church organ more important and in higher esteem than doctrinal
truth.
Putting all these things before the love of the truth is all
summed up in one word - IDOLATRY!! And that sin has been one of
the deadliest sins that God's children have had to face from the
time of Moses to the present. Jesus plainly told us that those
who would be His disciples had to be willing to give up ALL, even
their own lives if need be to be worthy to enter the Kingdom. HE
taught His followers to thirst after righteousness - to build
their house upon a rock that the winds could not blow over.
One day He was asked if only a few would be saved (I understand
this question to be in reference to the first resurrection) and
His reply is very chilling, "Strive to enter in at the straight
gate, for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in and SHALL
NOT BE ABLE" (Luke 13:24).
God is not playing games with our salvation - but ARE WE?
The Father wants to give us the greatest GIFT in the whole
universe - we need to take His offer of eternal life in glory very
seriously!
IS DOCTRINAL TRUTH THAT IMPORTANT?
"Come on Keith," some are going to say, "the study of
doctrine has its place but really now, it's not as important as
you've been trying to make us believe. The main thing is that we
all love one another and try to get along - we should overlook
our doctrinal differences even if some of them are large ones."
Many have probably been saying or thinking this way before
getting to this section of this article. Some will have already
put this article to one side because they feel doctrinal unity is
not that important. But for you who have read to this point and
do feel I may have validity in what I have so far presented - then
this section should drive the nail home in showing that doctrinal
unity IS IMPORTANT!
We are admonished in Eph.4:14,15 to not be like children
pushed around with every wind of doctrine by those who are just
ready to pounce on you and lead you off into deception. But we
are to have the truth and GROW UP into Christ in all things. Now
growing up takes time and knowing the truth does not happen
overnight - it takes study and study and more study. Paul told
the minister Timothy to be zealous to show himself to God a
workman that handled rightly the word of truth. He was telling
Timothy to be on guard against false doctrines that destroy.
Timothy was to purge himself from error and those who teach it
and will not repent. Please read this in 2 Tim.2:15-21.
There were THREE basis divisions Paul wanted Timothy to use in
the "house of God" - the church. He was to give attendance to
reading - to exhortation - to DOCTRINE (1 Tim.3:14,15; 4:13).
Notice what Paul told Timothy in verse 16 of the above chapter,
"Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine - continue in
them (the singular word "doctrine" used for all God's truths) -
for in doing this you shall both save yourself and them that hear
you."
Paul wrote that all Scripture was inspired of God, and
besides Scripture being profitable for instruction in the right
and for reproof, it was also profitable for DOCTRINE
(2 Tim.3:16).
Timothy was, as part of his ministry to, "Preach the word:
be instant in season, out of season - reprove - rebuke - EXHORT
with all longsufferinq and doctrine:" (2 Tim.4:2).
Titus was to use sound doctrine to shut the mouths of vain
talkers and deceivers (Titus 1:9-11).
It is very evident from the above that Paul thought
"doctrine" was very important and that it could even be a matter
of life or death!
The apostle John did not beat around the bush - he pulled no
punches when talking about doctrine. You will find what he said
in his second letter verses 8-11. I will render for you verse 8
as some Greet manuscripts read, "Look to yourselves, that you
loose not those things which you have gained, but that you
receive a full reward." The things his readers had gained were
the teachings (doctrines) of the Lord. Now verse 9. "Whosoever
transgresses and abides not in the doctrine (singular heading but
plural content) of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the
doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son."
Jesus is the living truths of the Father - He came as God in
the flesh and lived truth. Jesus is also the written word of
truth (all the Bible) - it was He as God of the Old Testament,
and the risen Lord of the New Testament, that inspired men to
write the books that are contained in what we call the Holy
Bible. So the "doctrine of Christ" is the various topical truths
found throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. God
is able, as we have seen, to guide His children through the
Spirit into all truth. This must be so in order for the child of
God to obey and fulfil the command of verse 10, "if there come
any to you, and bring not this doctrine (note Isa.8:20) - receive
him not into your house, neither bid him God speed."
I have had to obey this directive from time to time when
certain pairs of individuals from well know religious
organizations have come to my door. The Eternal is very jealous
over His doctrine - we should be as well, and be on our guard
against falsehoods and those who would perpetrate them. We are
not to take this "lack of the love of the truth" attitude that is
exhibited by far too many, lightly! Look at what John goes on to
say in verse 11, "For he that bids him God speed is partaker of
his evil deeds." His deeds are evil because he causes many to
believe and practice untruths. When people have been presented
with the truth - when all their arguments to the contrary have
been answered and they still set their mind as stone, and will
not repent and change to follow the truth now revealed to them,
then God's children must make a stand.
In closing this article let me again say, there is only one
truth about baptism, only one truth about where the millennium
will be spent, only one truth about when and if we get to heaven,
only one truth about the festivals of God etc.
It is YOUR responsibility to find that truth - you can find
it - search the Scriptures. Jesus has promised that His Spirit
will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH !!
POSTSCRIPT
The first question that many have asked after reading this
article is WHAT are the MOST important doctrines that God's
children will be unified on? That is a very good question in
response to a study such as I have presented here. The Lord knew
such a study as this one would be needed as people read His word.
I'm sure I am not the first to present such a study. And so in
His wisdom, He has given us a number of BASIC doctrines that His
children are to be led into all truth concerning. We need not
even be in disunity about the doctrines that are the first and
basic doctrines. All of God's children - those led by His Spirit
- will, in this physical life agree or come to agree upon the
Biblical truth of these doctrines. Again let me reiterate - that
must be so or what Jesus said and promised in John 16:13 is a
lie.
So what are these basic doctrines?
They are given to us in HEBREWS 6:1-2. They are the basic
FOUNDATION of all the truths God gives us through His word.
REPENTANCE.
This must cover and include the subject of sin. What is sin? It
must cover the topic of law and grace. It must include the truth
about the SABBATH QUESTION, which in turn will include the truth
about the 7 annual Sabbaths. It must also cover the ramifications
about other commandments. Is ABORTION murder? What about killing
in a nations war machine or armed forces? Is the observance of
pagan FESTIVALS such as Easter and Xmas idolatry? This first
foundational doctrine in the line of basic progression in the
principles of the doctrine of Christ covers a large area.
FAITH.
The most important aspect here would be saving faith in
relationship to Jesus as the Messiah and sacrificial Savior of
the world.
BAPTISMS.
This would cover the truths about water baptism and baptism of
the Spirit.
LAYING ON OF HANDS.
As used in baptism, ordination, special assignments, sickness and
healing.
RESURRECTION.
Covering the questions of why, how many, raised to what likeness,
when. I believe this would include the doctrine of what is death
and the second coming of Christ, and where the 1,000 year reign
will be spent for the redeemed, and the White Throne Judgment
resurrection of Revelation 20.
ETERNAL JUDGMENT
The truths about heaven, hell, second death and rewards.
I understand EPHESIANS 4:4-6 to also be basic foundational
doctrines. We see again Paul mentions baptism.
ONE BODY.
I think this would include the Biblical truth about Church
Government.
ONE SPIRIT.
The truth about whether the Holy Spirit is a third person of the
Godhead must be included here.
ONE HOPE.
This would include such truths as why did God create mankind? And
where do we spend Eternity.
ONE LORD.
The truth about Jesus - who is He, what was He before His human
birth, why did He come, and what is He doing now today?
ONE FAITH.
One basic foundational set of truths that are unchangeable. Those
truths I think we are now covering.
ONE God the FATHER.
The truth about the Godhead (single, dual, triple) and is it
expandable? Does God have a form and shape? Does He have a sacred
name which only must be used?
I believe the above are the "foundational" doctrines. Jude exhorted
those of his day to "earnestly contend for THE FAITH which was
once delivered unto the saints." The doctrines above would make
up the foundation of THE FAITH given through Jesus and His word
the Bible, for His true church since the Holy Spirit came to
guide His followers into all truth. The truth concerning these
doctrines can be found!
God's children will find them!
....................
Written 1987
1. Church Government
What the New Testament teaches on how churches should be governed
Ancient Israel, before the New Testament Church of God began, was
called the "church in the wilderness"(Acts 7:38). It was
organized from the TOP down. There was God, then Moses, under
Moses there were Elders, captains over thousands, and hundreds
and so on down the pyramid of the chain of authority. Israel's
church - state government - was THEOCRATICAL, from God down to a
specific human leader who had total authority and leadership over
every other person in the nation. Was Israel's type of government
to be carried over into the Church of the New Covenant? If so
then we should be able to find ample evidence to support this
teaching from the writings of the New Testament. Let us humbly
search to find the truth of the matter.
by
Keith Hunt
Using a "Harmony of the Gospels" book, we find that the
first recorded person we would classify as one of Jesus'
disciples was Andrew, who spent part of a day with Him(John
1:35-40). Andrew soon introduced Simon his brother to Jesus. When
Jesus saw Simon He instantly diagnosed his basic personality and
said: "So you are Simon the son of John. You shall be called
cephas(which means 'stone')." Harmony of the Gospels by Ralph
Heim.
Now did Jesus by giving Simon a new name establish him as
HEAD apostle? The next day Jesus found Philip and he brought
Nathaniel to Jesus. Again Christ discerned the character of
Nathaniel, "Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile"
(v.47).
Because you were the first to be called as one of Jesus'
disciples, or given another name, or have Christ state your
personality in a miraculous way - does that mean you are head
disciple?
If so, Andrew could claim it as first named or recorded
disciple in the ministry of Jesus. Peter could claim it as being
given a new name. Philip could possibly claim such an office as
he was the first recorded person that Jesus said the words
"follow me" to.The truth is, in none of these passages did Jesus
name anyone as HEAD disciple.
Actually the official calling of Peter and Andrew was some
time later, see a "Harmony of the Gospels" book. And James and
John were also called at the same time. If you study the Harmony
of the Gospels you will see that between these two incidents
in John chapter one and Luke chapter five(also recorded in
Matthew 4 and Mark 1) Jesus had disciples already following Him.
Jesus chose 12 to be His close inner circle (Mark 3:13-19).
In the list of these twelve as given by Mark and Luke, Simon
Peter is put first. Now does this automatically of itself prove
that Peter was the CHIEF apostle? Let's not assume anything but
prove all things from God's own word.
WHO WAS THE CHIEF APOSTLE?
For three and one half years Jesus was in close fellowship
with His chosen twelve disciples. He knew their strengths,
weaknesses, and their personalities. He had ample time to
determine WHO if anyone should be head apostle, who should be
second in command, who third, and so on down the line.
We have recorded for us in the four Gospels three separate
incidents where Jesus could have made it very plain to them who
He had chosen to be chief among them and head of all the
ministers in the Church, the one with final authority and the
power of veto.
The first incident is found in Mark 9:33-35 (the same
account is also given in Mat.18 and Luke 9) where we read: "And
they came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house He asked
them, ' What were you discussing on the way?' but they were
silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who
was the GREATEST. And He sat down and called the twelve."
Here was Jesus' golden opportunity to tell them the
governmental structure He wanted among themselves, here was His
chance to declare to them, the one, two, three, in the authority
line. But what DID He say? "And He said to them, if anyone would
be first(desired to be, wanted to be) HE MUST BE LAST OF ALL AND
SERVANT OF ALL" (RSV, emphasis mine).
Jesus did not even hint that there was to be a pyramid type
of Church structure. He told them that if anyone in their own
mind desired such a position as being "top dog" that person had
better put himself last and be servant to all the others.
To be the greatest in God's sight is to be humble and put
such a desire of exaltation out of your mind and go about
serving!
Months went by and the disciples, or at least two of them,
forgot what Jesus had taught them. It is human nature to think
that in a group of twelve surely someone must be the greatest,
and maybe that someone is ME!
On a certain day James and John came to Jesus and asked Him
if THEY could be the ones to sit on His right and left hand in
the Kingdom. Jesus said only the Father had the authority to
decide who would be given those positions, it was not for Him or
for them to decide (Mark 10:35-40).
The account in Mark continues to say: "And when the ten
heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John, and Jesus
called them to Him and said to them, 'You know that those who are
supposed to rule over the Gentiles LORD it over them, and their
great men exercise authority over them. BUT IT SHALL NOT BE SO
AMONG YOU."
They were not to exercise rulership over each other, they
were not to be like the governments of this world, having a
system of dictatorial pyramid authority. Continuing:
"But whoever would be great among you must be your SERVANT, and
whoever would be first among you must be SLAVE of all" (verses
43-44).
How this incident must have come to the apostle Peter's mind
when he exhorted the elders: "Likewise you younger(in age and/or
length of service) submit(honor, respect, look to with
appreciation) unto the elder(in age and/or ones who have served
longer in the ministry). Yes, ALL of you be SUBJECT one to
another and be clothed with HUMILITY. For God resists the
PROUD(the self-important ones, those who would rule over others
and put themselves in some great office of authority) and gives
grace to the HUMBLE" (1 Peter 5:5, emphasis and amplified
myself).
What words from a mighty man of God. Mighty in the way the
Lord used him. Think about Acts chapter two, then chapter 10, and
15. Think about the great miracles Peter did even to the point
that when his shadow passed over people they were healed!
Peter was a pillar in the Jerusalem Church of God (Gal.2). Yet he
also made his errors and went away from the path of truth at
times, so that the relative new comer to the apostle function,
the apostle Paul had to correct and rebuke him openly (Gal.2).
But he took it as a true child of God, he did not allow his pride
to get in the way, or allow his "ego" to be hurt and a root of
bitterness to spring up. He was exercised to bring forth the
fruits of righteousness from all the corrections he received from
the Lord. And so could pen those great words above. Peter was a
humble man, he was willing to be subject "one to another."
Oh, how all the ministers of the Church of God need to
exhibit the character of Peter in this matter. I have personally
seen the exact opposite manifested many times by some who call
themselves the ministers of God. I wonder how many times the Lord
has seen this wrong attitude practiced down through the
centuries?
Even after these two separate incidents, there still arose a
third time when: "A dispute also arose among them, which of them
would be regarded as the greatest" (Luke 22:24, RSV).
Jesus again told them they were not to be like the
governments of this world. He gave them HIS EXAMPLE! Be a
servant, do not have the "I'm the greatest" attitude.
He did specifically promise those twelve(Matthias replacing
Judas, Acts 2) a throne each - ruling one tribe of Israel in the
Kingdom(Mat.19:28). But He never said any of those thrones would
be above the others. Just as He never said any one of them would
be above the rest in authority in this physical life within the
function of the Church.
What Jesus taught them over and over again was to have love
and service among themselves. What He inspired Peter to tell all
Elders was that they should be humble and be willing to be
subject to each other.
DID JESUS MAKE PETER HEAD OF THE CHURCH?
Some teach that Christ made Peter chief apostle over the New
Testament(NT) Church. Others teach that the true Church today is
headed by ONE man!
Those who teach this idea often give Matthew 16:18-19 as
proof to the supremacy of one authoritarian man as head of the
Church. The Roman Catholic church claim the Pope is the direct
descendant of Peter who they say was made chief apostle by
Christ. But what is the real truth? Let's examine these verses in
Matthew very carefully.
Jesus said: "And I say unto you, that you are Peter(Greek is
Petros - meaning a 'stone') and upon this rock(Greek is Petra -
meaning a 'ledge' or 'shelf of rock' or 'crag of rock') I will
build my church" (Mat.16:18).
Notice the true meaning as originally written in the Greek
language. The English word "stone" is translated from the Greek
word "Petros" meaning a single stone or loose stone. The Greek
word "Kephas" means such a stone. But when Jesus said, "upon this
rock I will build my church" the Greek word used was not Kephas
or Petros but PETRA, a large massive rock.
Speaking of the Israelites under Moses in the wilderness,
Paul wrote: "For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed
them; and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST"(1 Cor.10:4).
The CHURCH is described in Ephesians 2:20 as, " being built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST
Himself being the CHIEF CORNERSTONE."
Here Christ is said to be the HEAD or chief, the final
authority of the Church of God, not some individual mortal man!
The real foundation of the Church is Jesus. "For other
foundations can no man lay than that is laid, which IS Jesus
Christ" (1 Cor.3:11).
He is shown in Revelation 1:13-18 to be the living head, in
the midst of the Church. Read also these passages - Ephesians
5:23; 4:15; 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18,19; 2:19.
THE DISCIPLES GO FORTH
Mark tells us that Jesus chose 12 special disciples (chapter
3:13,14). Luke says He called them apostles(chapter 6:13). It is
written He sent them "out to preach and have authority to cast
out demons" (Mark 3:14,15).
Notice it! They were sent out to do WHAT? Have dictatorial
power and authority over the members of the Church? Have
authority of each other, over other ministers of Christ? NO! They
were given authority over DEMONS not other ministers. Jesus never
said they were to rule God's children with an iron hand, lording
it over them, acting like some little Hitler cracking the whip.
Later again Christ sent out the twelve. He gave them POWER
and AUTHORITY yes, but over what? Not over each other - no! He
gave them authority over demons and power to heal every disease
and infirmity (see Mat.10:1-4; Mark 6:7; Luke 9:2).
He sent them out TO PREACH! Preach what? Personal authority
over one another, a pecking order of Church organization? God's
word says, "......to PREACH the KINGDOM OF GOD."
Jesus later appointed 70 others. He sent them out "two by
two" to do His work. He did not say that one of the two was chief
of the other. They were obviously a TEAM - two by two - two
standing alongside each other, neither having binding authority
over the other, but both being subject to each other and the
younger respecting the older as we have seen in 1 Peter 5.
Please read carefully this account as given in Luke 10. The
only authority they had was to heal, cast out demons, and preach
the good news of the Kingdom.
Jesus had ample time and opportunities to explain in some
detail to His first disciples how the Church should be structured
along a pyramid authority line if that was what He wanted it to
be like. But we find no such teaching from the lips of Christ in
the gospels. On the contrary, we find the exact opposite
teaching.
His people and ministers were to be organized on two basic
pillars - LOVE to each other and a SERVING SERVANT attitude. Only
those who have some personal gain to follow for the wrong reasons
can fail to see these two pillars taught over and over again in
the four Gospels.
The rest of the NT shows this does not mean ministers and
members are to be "door mats" to each other. Everyone walking
over each other, ignoring one another. It does not mean there is
to be no "correction" within the Church. It does not mean there
is to be no logical organization, for Paul was inspired to say
that things should be done "decently and in order" and that God
was "not the author of confusion" (1 Cor.14).
What it simply means is that everything the Church does, its
ministers (elders/overseers) and members, is to be done with
respect of each other, humility and submissiveness to each other,
and with love and service for one another in all things.
Some of the last words Christ said to His disciples was not
that they should try to dominate and establish authority over
each other in a hierarchy Church structure, but that collectively
they should with team work effort, "Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them.. ....teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you...." (Mat.28: 19-20).
Here Jesus gives a THREE PART commission to His ministers
and followers: 1) make disciples 2) baptize 3) teach what Jesus
commanded.
This is NEW Testament instruction for the NEW Covenant
Church of God and there is not one word here or anywhere from the
lips of Christ about establishing a "pecking orde" of authority
for His ministers and members of His spiritual body.
Take a good look at Jesus' words found in Mark 16:15-18.
Again we have instruction to go and teach and baptize. The sheep
of the fold are to be fed and taught. Disciples are to be made
from all nations - preaching of the gospel. The Bride is to be
prepared for the Bridegroom.
Certain signs (as the Lord gives and directs, see 1 Cor.12)
would follow within the Church. These signs were very evident in
the apostolic Church of the first century. In somewhat of a
lesser degree they are evident today among God's people, but will
be more powerful and more abundant near the return of Christ.
Again you will notice in all this, in all these signs, there
is not one word about some GREAT order of hier-archal Church
structure to prove to the world the Church of God is the true and
only body of Christ.
The largest "Christian'' church in the world today(with over
one billion members) claims that its church structure from one
head man down, is part of the proof that they are the true Church
founded upon the apostle Peter.
As we can see from the four Gospels, NOTHING COULD BE
FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER!
Famous King Arthur of British history who fought with his
noble Knights against the invading Anglo-Saxons, is famous in
part because of his establishing the "round table." He and his
top Knights, we would call them today by the name of "generals" -
all gathered round to discuss their plans of attack and defense,
seated at a ROUND table. King Arthur said he wanted it so, so
that there would be no head or no tail. All would feel as
important and as necessary as the next, including himself. In the
center of the table going in a full circle were the words: BY
SERVING EACH OTHER WE ARE FREE.
Christianity had been well established for centuries in the
British Isles before Arthur came on the scene. It had been
brought there by many of the original disciples of Jesus. It was
a much purer Christianity than came later to Britain via the
Roman Catholic church. King Arthur was a God fearing man and his
realm was founded upon the "good book." I'm sure he knew and had
read the words of Christ as found in the gospels, part of those
words being "the Truth shall make you free."
Arthur did not choose those words for his round table, but
took the teachings of Jesus that we have been looking at, and put
the heart of them into a phrase for his famous table -
"By Serving Each Other We Are Free."
If only the Church of God, its branches and its ministers,
down through the centuries, had always taken King Arthur's
attitude of heart, many problems springing from self-important
vanity and ego would have been eliminated, and much hurt and
damage and falsehood would have given way to humble teachableness
and growth.
There are MANY truths in the word of God, one of them is
what King Arthur had come to so clearly see. No organization, no
government, no body of people can survive for long if it is not
founded on some basic godly principles. Arthur knew service was
one of those true foundations to keep a people out of the chains
of bondage and sin, and so he had engraved in the round table: By
Serving Each Other We Are Free.
About 1500 years after King Arthur led his people with those
words, another leader over another part of the same peoples in a
different land, led his people with similar words that history
will etch into stone.
His words were: "Do not say what can my country can do for
me, but say, what can I do for my country."
Those words of President John F. Kennedy are the essence of
what Jesus taught His ministers and disciples.
Please allow me to paraphrase what Christ taught His
followers:
"If any one of you would desire to be the chief minister
with all and final authority. If any one among you would get
close to adopting the attitude of 'How can the other ministers
and people of God, the Church of God, serve me' then that
individual had better humble himself and go about serving
everyone that belongs to me, and for whom I gave my life. For I
did not come to put my feet up and be served by you all, but I
came to serve you. So you go and do likewise to each other. Do
not say,' what can I get from the Church' but ' what can I do
for the Church.' "
It is time for some in the Church of God to REPENT! To
repent of the rotten stinking, filthy, arrogant, conceited, vain,
attitude of mind and actions of words and deeds, that manifests
itself too often and by too many ministers towards other
ministers and members in the Church, an attitude of being a
self-righteous authoritarian dictator over others perceived to be
of lower in "rank" than themselves in the chain of Church
ministry and structure.
It is time for those who have been guilty of such errors to
humble themselves under the mighty hand of the Lord, and to
prayerfully re-study this whole subject of the MINISTRY and
CHURCH GOVERNMENT to see more clearly from the teachings and
examples of the New Testament what the plain truth really is!
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IS STARTED
After Jesus had ascended to heaven(Acts 1:6-11) the
disciples were together in Jerusalem(v.5). Peter stood up and
spoke to them. Did that make Peter the head apostle? The account
does not say it did. Those who claim this proves Peter was chief
minister, must read into the account something that is completely
absent, and they do this to try to uphold a teaching that can not
be established with Biblical fact.
In any group of persons you will have dominant leader type
people who will naturally lead out, Peter was one of those
individuals. Many studies today have been done by Business Firms
looking for leaders to prove this human natural phenomenon.
Peter was a"'born leader" as we say.
He told the others that someone had to be chosen to replace
Judas (v.16-22). Now notice verse 23, " And THEY appointed
two...." It does not say that Peter chose two, or James, or some
other "chief/s" among the apostles, but it says "They" the whole
120 of them (v.15) chose the two.
The account does not tell us HOW they chose the two men. So
that indeed does leave room for some administrative variance
within the workings of the Church.
They could not decide which of these two men should take the
place and office of Judas. The teaching is clear, no apostle
standing up here to tell everyone that he and he alone had final
authority to decide the matter.
What did they do? The account tells us they prayed and cast
forth lots (v.24-26). It is not the purpose of this study to
examine what these lots may have been(the readers can avail
themselves with the Bible Commentaries for such inquiries).
Whether this was a voting ballot or pulling of straws makes no
difference to the point we want to make here.
NO ONE MAN DECIDED THE ISSUE! Not even two, or three, or
four, or some board of persons. The matter and decision to be
made was too LARGE and IMPORTANT to be left to one man or a few
men.
Peter certainly did not have sole authority to decide who
would take Judas' place. Not only that, but once that decision
was made, he did not have authority to ANNUAL it either!
Is this an example that some issues are only for God to
decide and an organization may have to resort to casting some
type of "lot"? Well yes it is and then no it isn't. Let me
explain.
Both men were qualified in the eyes of human beings. They
had met certain necessary criterion. Obviously, for whatever
reasons, the Holy Spirit was not giving the brethren any "clear"
or "obvious" mental answer as to which man should take Judas'
place within the twelve disciples.
This was a once in a life time problem, maybe a once in the
life of the New Testament Church. This was not an every year, or
every 10 year occurrence for the Church of God. It was unique!
God had chosen the twelve disciples - it was only fitting He
should choose the man who would become part of that special
company, after all that man would be given one of the thrones to
rule one of the tribes of Israel(Mat.19).
If an issue or situation should arise within a Church of God
organization that could be seen as just as important to the one
here in Acts, then I say this is an example left for us that
could be followed. But then, I must seriously question any
organization that believes it has a problem as important as
choosing one of the twelve apostles.
PETER'S POWER?
After the Holy Spirit had come on the day of Pentecost, the
apostle Peter was very bold in his preaching of Christ. Thousands
were converted by his sermons. Great miracles were done by Peter.
We can read of all the things that Peter did and said in the
first five chapters of the book of Acts.
Indeed it is true that Peter did take a leading role in the
early days of the Church. But is there any word in these first
chapters that Peter was chief or head in authority over the other
eleven apostles or the whole Jerusalem congregation? No! Not one
single word!
Can we find in these chapters or anywhere(we shall come to
Acts 15 later) in the entire book of Acts, where ANY apostle
claimed he was "boss" of the rest of them and they had to comply
with his demands and "jump to his tune"? No!
Does having the ability to speak with authority - preach
powerfully - do miracles - automatically qualify a person to be
chief or head of the Church? If it does, then the apostle Paul
would have been qualified to have dethroned anyone and taken over
the Church.
Look at his record! When some men wanted to boast of their
deeds and talents, and others were looking at these men with
great admiration, Paul said to the Corinthian church, "Seeing
that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.....are they
ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more, in labors
more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more
frequently, in deaths often" (2 Cor.11:18,23).
Paul continued to list his deeds for the gospel in verses
24-28. He was given visions and revelations of the throne of God,
possibly he was taken up to the throne of the Lord, although he
was unsure if it was reality or in the minds eye vision (chapter
12:1-7). At another time he told the Corinthians he spoke in
tongues more than any of them (1 Cor.14:18). There were times
when Paul did great miracles through the power of God's Spirit
(Acts 19:11-12). God used him to write 14 books of the inspired
New Testament scriptures. The number 14 is the number for
deliverance and salvation as used by God in His word. The number
7 is the number for perfection and completion. The number 2 is
for the Godhead(presently only the Father and the Son). Now 2 x 7
= 14. Paul was used to write not only salvation but DOUBLE
perfection.
With ALL THIS Paul never once wrote that he was the human
head of the Church, nor did he ever state that Peter or any other
man was the head of the Church under Christ. The nearest thing we
can find in Paul's writings is the acknowledgement that some
men were looked upon as leaders and pillars of strength in the
Jerusalem church: "Then fourteen years after I went up again to
Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went
up by revelation....but privately to them which were of
reputation. But of these who seemed to be somewhat...." Notice
what Paul goes on to add to that statement, " whatever they were,
it makes no matter to me: God accepts no man's person, for they
who seemed to be somewhat, in conference added nothing to me, and
when JAMES, CEPHAS(Peter) and JOHN, who seemed to be pillars,
perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave me and
Barnabas the right hand of fellowship (Galatians 2:1,2,6,9).
It is I think more than interesting to note the order of the
names of the individuals Paul stated "seemed to be somewhat" in
the Jerusalem congregation - Peter's name does not appear first
in line. If there is any significance to the order of names(and
that question could be very debatable) and if Peter had been made
head of the Church by Christ, then Paul was doing an injustice to
Peter's authority by placing his name after that of James'.
But the truth is, Paul is not stating in this passage that
any ONE man was head of the Jerusalem church or the Church of God
as a whole. There were leading men in the church at Jerusalem
just as there would be in any other local church where there was
a plurality of ministers. Yet that fact does not prove certain
ministers "lorded it over" other ministers with dictatorial
authority.
While we are on the subject of the order of names as used in
the NT I will take some time to answer the argument put forth by
some concerning Paul and Barnabas. Some have claimed that Paul
was "over" Barnabas - that Paul had authority over Barnabas. They
have given as proof of this, the order of names.
One Church of God organization in a piece of literature on
Church Government admitted that before Acts 13 the name of
Barnabas appeared BEFORE the name of Paul - see Acts 12:25 and
13:1,2. Then they went on to say that AFTER the Holy Spirit
separated Barnabas and Paul(Acts 13:1-3) for a special work, it
was Paul's name that appeared before Barnabas' name. They quoted
certain verses to prove this, thus claiming Paul had authority
over Barnabas. The verses they gave were as,
Acts 13:13,43,44-46,50; 15:2, 35.
Now that looks pretty good IF you believe there is
significance in the order of names, IF you believe the NT teaches
an authority "pecking order" of ministerial structure, and IF YOU
READ THE BIBLE WITH TUNNEL VISION!
It blows my mind that some would try to prove a point of
doctrine by giving you certain verses they claim shows the truth
they preach WHILE WITHIN THE SAME CHAPTERS ARE VERSES PROVING THE
OPPOSITE, if you believe the order of names has meaning in
authority.
Read carefully from Acts 13:4 all the way to chapter 15:35.
Ah,ah, did you spot the verses that some glide right over with
blinkers on their eyes?
There's one in chapter 13:7. The name of Barnabas is put
before the name of Paul, and that is AFTER verses 1-3. Another is
in chapter 14:12. Yes Paul was the chief IN WHAT? He was the
chief in speaking! Not authority! Paul like Peter was a fine
speaker. All ministers are to be able to teach(1 Tim.3:2), they
do not have to be great speakers or preachers. When conducting
evangelistic meetings as Barnabas and Paul were doing it is only
natural and wise to let the man with the gift of preaching do the
speaking most of the time.
Notice verse 14 of chapter 14. The name of Barnabas appears
BEFORE that of Paul's. Then after Paul's name was put before that
of Barnabas' in Acts 15:2 Luke(the writer of Acts) turns right
around and places Barnabas' name BEFORE Paul's in verse 12. In
verse 22 Paul's name is placed before Barnabas' by Luke, then in
verse 25 he again reverses it and puts Barnabas' name first.
Such is the folly of men who want to cling to false
teachings and will not be corrected by the word of the Lord. They
just do not have the "love of the truth" (2 Thes.2:10).
From reading the first few chapters of the book of Galatians
and the rest of the epistles of Paul, together with the book of
Acts, one thing becomes very clear to those who have an honest
heart and will accept the truth of the word. Paul acknowledged
there was a work of the Lord coming from Jerusalem, an
organization with leading men such as James and Peter, a work
that belonged to God, preaching the same basic truths that he
Paul and Barnabas and others were preaching. But not for one
minute or one second did he ever believe God was not also using
him and others to also do the "work of God."
Paul believed with all his might that he was just as much an
apostle as the twelve were. That he had just as much authority in
Christ as any of the rest. It is clear from the writings of Paul
that he did not believe in any hierarchy pyramid, one man down
authoritarian Church of God government, where men ruled over men
with dictatorial power. Paul respected other ministers who were
truly called and faithful to God. Paul had deep love and respect
for all of God's children, especially for those who went the
extra mile in serving the brethren and doing "the work." Paul was
a humble man, and God made sure he would stay that way by giving
him a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor.12:7-9).
Paul was a submissive man, he was both submissive to God and
to man. Concerning his submissiveness to other men/brethren, we
can find many examples. A few will suffice. The account in Acts
9:23-25 was no doubt at the request of the disciples who did not
want to see Paul killed. Notice the humility Paul exhibited even
after being personally taught by Christ Jesus, in what he wrote
in Galatians chapter 2:1-2 (with chap.1;12). He was willing to
let other ministers examine his beliefs and teachings so nothing
would be done in vain. He recognized they also had the Spirit of
God and were able to ascertain truth from error.
What an attitude! Think about it! Jesus had personally
appeared to him on the road to Damascus and brought him to
repentance and conversion. He had been personally taught by
Christ. The Lord had given him many of the gifts of the Spirit.
He had performed healings and miracles. Yet, this man was willing
to be examined by some of the leading apostles to make sure he
had not run, or should run, in some useless vain manner that
would save no one.
Now that is some beautiful heart and mind. Every minister
who calls himself a minister of the Lord had better cultivate
that attitude of Paul.
He didn't go around acting like some pompous swell-headed
"know it all" from the number one University of the country. He
didn't proclaim to the world that he was the "only" apostle of
God. He never claimed that it was him who had the final authority
in the Church.
Those who can not be like the apostle Paul are destined to
find themselves wallowing in the mire of their own filthy
vainness with whatever religious empire they established being
taken away and given to others of more noble humility and
character.
How many ministers are willing to have their work and
teachings and writings, examined for possible errors by other
ministers filled with the Spirit of the Lord? In my experience I
am ashamed to say, it is very few. Even when done in the right
spirit of mind, most get their "back up" and think they are being
"attacked" if someone questions their teaching as being correct.
We may not all agree on every last little verse in the word
of God, but we should endeavor to disagree without being
"disagreeable."
Paul was willing for other reputable ministers to examine
the way he ran in the work of the Lord. Paul was willing to
submit to other ministers when it was right and correct to do so.
Another example of that can be found in Acts 21 and verses 17
through to 26.
What was Peter's power and authority? Well, it was no more
than Paul's! If Peter got out of line, if he was in complete
error, if he was in the wrong and committing sin, then Paul had
no hesitation in correcting him, and if need be in front of
others at that (Gal.2:11-21).
THE EARLY CHURCH AND COMMUNISM
There are some people who have put themselves into a
communal type of life. They all dress alike, eat together, work
together and share equally their pooled wealth. Often Acts
4:32-37 and 5:1-11 are quoted to justify this way of living.
Are these verses in Acts teaching this type of communistic
life for Christians? In verse 32 the multitude of disciples said
that their possessions they counted not just belonging to
themselves but to others also. That is an attitude of SHARING!
We must understand and remember that the Church was just
starting - people were being converted by the hundreds and
thousands(3, 000 on the day of Pentecost alone - Acts 2:41). They
had found the truth of God, they would be excited, joyous, and
naturally wanted to stay on in Jerusalem to rejoice with and
fellowship with the disciples who had been with Jesus for three
and one half years.
Imagine the monumental task it would have been just to have
fed and housed all those converts. They had come from all parts
of the known world to observe the feast of Pentecost and were now
converted to Christianity. Some were willing to sell their houses
and lands to give help to those in need. They gave AS every man
HAD NEED(v.45).
Yes, those who had some real-estate were willing to sell
some or all of it and give the money to the apostles who in turn
gave that money to those in need as the situation arose.
Even when they did sell a possession, it, the money, was
still THEIRS to do with as led by the Holy Spirit. "As long as it
remained unsold, was it not still your own? And (even) after it
was sold, was not(the money) at your disposal and under your
control?......" (chapter 5:4, Amplified Bible).
Ananias and Sapphira died because they LIED about the price,
not because they were unwilling to practice communism (see
chapter 5:3).
The NT Church never taught a communistic life style. God's
word teaches no such doctrine. But the word of the Lord does
teach a GIVING and a SHARING. A HELPING your brother as he needs
it (1 John 3:17-18).
There was a need at that time in the Church's early
beginning, an unusually LARGE need, and all who could and wanted
to help, feed, clothe and house the brethren, did so readily.
SEVEN ARE APPOINTED
As the Church grew there would(as with any growing
organization) naturally arise problems that would need resolving.
This is the case as we start into the sixth chapter of Acts.
Certain things were being neglected(v.1). This was brought
to the attention of the apostles. They called the other
disciples(many of them) and asked them to choose seven men, whom
the total 12 apostles would agree to appoint over this matter of
physical duties(v.l-4).
These seven men were chosen from among the "multitude of the
disciples." The apostles you will notice did lay down certain
qualifications that were to be found in choosing the seven. But
the initial choosing of these "diakonein" (today we call them
deacons) was done by the multitude of disciples.
No indication here of some head minister calling or
appointing seven of his personal choosing. Even the twelve
apostles did not do it all by themselves. They were quite
confident that the other disciples were qualified to find men in
whom was the Spirit of God, wisdom, and honesty.
Perhaps in this situation the multitude of disciples were
better qualified than the apostles in finding the right men, as
they were more personally and intimately acquainted with these
local men. Maybe they all lived in the same general area and
attended the local synagogues together.
Whatever the case, for this specific circumstance (which may
or may not arise today) the apostles felt the congregation should
get involved.
There had to be some system for choosing these men, but we
are not told what that system was they used. God merely gave us
the principle - we then have the liberty under the same situation
to work out the details. Perhaps all the disciples were asked to
submit a name either orally or in writing. Maybe it was a
"secret" ballot vote. Maybe some men even volunteered for the
responsibility. Whatever the method, one thing is for sure, it
was not some dictatorial man throwing his weight around who chose
them.
After this mutual search for the seven candidates it is
important to notice that the whole group of 12 apostles appointed
them to that duty. Verse three says: " whom WE MAY appoint over
this business."
I am sure that if the Holy Spirit had spoken to the twelve
that one or more of the seven was not suitable, they would not
have been appointed and the multitude would have had to find new
candidates.
What this means is that the bottom line, is that the
ministers have the last word on those chosen for the duties of
deacons.
This was a special situation, a never before situation in
the early life of the NT Church. It can not be used to claim the
NT Church of God is to be run from the bottom up, the members
picking by democratic vote their deacons and ministers.
Many Protestant churches so operate this way, but not one
verse in the NT can be found to support this view or practice. I
have personally witnessed members of a Protestant church hiring
ministers from a "preaching talent" contest, only they did not
call it that as such, but an "invitation" to preach with respect
to being hired. They chose a certain fellow who declined the
offer to go to another church, and then offered the job to the
runner up, who accepted.
God, through the Holy Spirit did things a certain way at the
start of the NT Church within certain circumstances of context,
because it was not already in place, and something needed to be
done to solve the problem. Acts chapter six and verses one to
seven was one of those contexts.
Later God inspired Paul to set down for the minister Timothy
and the Church of God, what specific qualifications were required
for the Eldership and deaconship (1 Timothy 3:1-15).
The word of God is clear that it is the already ordained
Elders in the Church who have the last word on who they will lay
their hands upon in ordination to Eldership or deaconship. The
members may have some input to ascertain or to help the Elders
ascertain that a man has basically reached the qualifications of
2 Timothy 3, but it is the Elders who must give the final
decision, and it is their hands that are laid on the candidate.
Any group of ministers within a local church or area of
churches would know over a period of time, by "their fruits" the
men whom God was calling to the ordained Eldership. The same
principle would apply to those worthy of ordination to
deaconship.
In a less structured situation more help from the
congregation could be needed to make sure 2 Timothy 3 was
followed and met. And in those circumstances the words of
Paul to Timothy(an already ordained Elder) would apply even more:
"Lay hands suddenly on no man...."(1 Tim.5:22).
To be continued
2. Church Government
What the New Testament teaches on how churches should be governed STEPHEN'S WORK
One of the seven chosen men was a man called Stephen. It is
written that he did great wonders and miracles(Acts 6:8). He is
not called an Elder, he was one chosen to serve "tables" and the
brethren in physical matters. Yet he did WONDERS and spoke
very boldly.
Stephen was given some of the gifts of God's Spirit that
Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 12.
In that passage of scripture Paul shows us that God can give
through His Spirit, ANY of the different gifts listed to ANY
member of the body of Christ, whether in the classified "ordained
ministry" or not. Paul in discussing Spiritual gifts is talking
to the whole congregation at Corinth not just the Elders (see
chapters 12:27 and 1:1-10).
We must always be careful not to "hand-cuff" the Lord in
what we think He should or can do through any human being.
At one point in Jesus' ministry the disciples found a man
doing miracles in His name, and because he did not belong to
their Group they asked Christ to give them permission to tell him
to stop! Jesus said: "Do not forbid him to stop, for no one who
does a mighty work in my name, will be able soon after to speak
evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us" (Mark
9:39-40).
How does this square you may ask with Jesus saying that
there would be one shepherd and one fold?
Quite simply this: All that are the children of God, with
the Spirit of God, belong to the ONE spiritual body of Christ.
The one true Church of God, the people of the Lord in whom is the
Spirit of Christ are scattered all over the world, they are
connected together through one spiritual organism called in
scripture "the body of Christ" and this has NOTHING TO DO WITH
MAN MADE CORPORATE ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED in some physical
BUILDING on some physical piece of paper, in a physical CITY in
some COUNTRY on earth!!
Here in the gospel of Mark is the plain truth that God can
and does work with various persons in various parts of the
country or world, AS HE CHOOSES! And these persons may or may not
KNOW THE OTHERS EXIST!
How vain and arrogant of man to think or proclaim to others
that he and his work is the "only" work of God on the earth. I
can think of only one man who could have claimed correctly to
have been the only work of God on earth - that man was NOAH!
Elijah, from an honest heart, believed he and his disciples
were the only work of God on earth at the time, and in voicing
this to God he was answered with a resounding NO! The Lord told
him he was not the only work of God. The Lord had reserved 7,000
others who had not bowed the knee to Baal! Elijah DID NOT KNOW
THEY EXISTED! How foolish is the heart of man at times. How
deceivably pompous can the mind of man become, as to think God is
limited to one man and/or one organization at a time, for His
work to be done in the earth.
God is God! Man is not God, we did not make Him, it was He
who made us! He is the POTTER, we are now merely the clay. God
can at ANY TIME He chooses, raise up as many persons and as many
independent corporate organizations to do His work as He wishes.
It is not we humans who tell God WHEN, WHERE, HOW, and with WHOM,
He will work and do things. It is HE WHO TELLS US!
One large Church of God organization in this 20th century,
thought they were the only ones in the world doing the true work
of God. They eventually adopted the Roman Catholic doctrine of
Church Government and their head leader called himself the "only
apostle of God on earth." Back in the 60's before this
"head-master" became so vain with personal glory, the
organization did believe they were the only ones around with all
"these wonderful truths" of God. Then a few of their ministers
went to South America, into the hills and valleys. There to their
amazement they found peoples who believed and practiced all the
same basic doctrines they practiced and taught. These people even
observed the festivals of God and in some ways had more truth
than the USA organization, for they were observing the feast of
Pentecost on a Sunday which the organization in the USA thought
was error, but later came to see was the truth.
When will we ever learn that it is not God who needs us, it
is us who NEED GOD! Why if need be, the Lord could raise up the
stones on the road to preach His word. That being the case He
certainly is able to use different men and different corporate
organizations in different parts of the world to do His work, all
at the SAME TIME!
Peter was used by God to do a work towards the circumcision,
while Paul was used by the Lord to do a work towards the
UNcircumcision - so it is written, so it was done.
Well let me get back to the account in the book of Acts
about Stephen. Certain of the religious leaders and their
followers started to dispute with Stephen. Now he did not
say that he had no authority to discuss religious matters with
them. He did not run off to get permission from the chief apostle
or Church board in Jerusalem. He just disputed with them. And he
did it so effectively they could not withstand his wisdom. He was
brought before the council and defended himself so well answering
them with power and inspiration, it actually ended up costing him
his life (Acts 7:54-60). Stephen did ALL OF THIS and there's not
one word about him being ordained to some set "rank" of authority
in the Church. At best he was appointed to serve "tables."
This account alone(we shall see others later) should blow
away the idea that deacons and lay members are to just "pray and
pay" and leave the teaching and preaching and witnessing to the
truths of God to the ordained Eldership. If the Lord chooses to
use a deacon in a POWERFUL MIGHTY WAY for His truth and work, He
will do so. And who is any man to withstand God?
THE CHURCH IS SCATTERED
One famous preacher of the Church of God in this century
wrote a book before he died, and in it he had a section that he
was going to prove to his readers and followers that the lay
members were not to preach the gospel or go out expounding the
word of God to the world in general. He was trying to prove from
the scriptures that it was only the ordained ministers or elders
of the Church that were given that commission. He used for the
proof of his teaching verses from the beginning chapters of the
book of Acts, some before and some after chapter eight.
But like so many before him(and no doubt there will be
others after him) who wandered off into doctrinal error, he took
out the horse blinkers and wore them as he read the chapters he
would get his so called "proof texts" from. He read right over
and failed to show his readers a text that would have drilled
holes in his doctrine to sink it to the bottom of the sea.
That text friends is found in Acts 8. I want you to mark
this in your Bible and never forget it!
Let's begin with verse one: " And at that time(when Stephen
was put to death) there was a great persecution against the
Church which was at Jerusalem; and THEY(the 'ekkleesia' - called
out ones - the church) were ALL scattered abroad except the
apostles."
The CHURCH is made up of all the collective members in whom
is the Spirit of God and Christ. The Church is not the ministry -
the ministry is PART of the Church. The only part of the Church
that was not scattered abroad were the 12 apostles.
Now notice it, verse four: "Therefore they that were
scattered abroad (all the members of the Church, all but the 12
apostles) went everywhere PREACHING THE WORD!"
I did not put it there friend. It has been in your Bible all
these centuries. It was there when this leader I talked about
above wrote his book in which he tried to prove the exact
opposite. There it is in plain black and white, easy to
understand, no College degree needed.
Under certain circumstances and as He wills, when He wills,
God can use the any members of His Church to PREACH THE WORD! So
it is written, so it was done. God will not be limited by the
wishes or false ideas of men.
PHILIP PREACHES
Among the seven of the "diakonate" of Acts 6, was a man
named Philip. He also was given some mighty gifts of God's
Spirit. He was not of the twelve apostles. He was not an ordained
elder. But notice how the Lord used him: ".....then Philip went
down to the city of Samaria and PREACHED Christ unto them" (Acts
8:5). He also did miracles and healings!(v.6-7). God used Philip
to do a MIGHTY work in Samaria(v.8-12).
This deacon did not have to get the "okay" from some head
apostle before he went to do the work of the Lord. He did not
have to ask his local minister/pastor for permission to be used
by the Spirit of the Lord. The apostles in Jerusalem found out
AFTER the fact what work Philip had done in Samaria, and then
they as a collective decision, sent Peter and John to help
out(v.l4).
There is no indication or evidence in this section of
scripture that Philip was performing spiritual works that were
"out of rank" for his deaconship. That were only to be performed
by some man ordained to some rank of ministry.
This example alone should "blow to pieces" the idea that men
are ordained to a rank ministry and have certain duties or
workings they can not perform because those duties are only for
"higher" ranked ministers. Such false teachings are derived from
one Biblical error and one carnal human error.
The Biblical error is found in ONLY looking to the Old
Covenant and how God arranged things under that disposition,
while ignoring the fact that today we are under a New Covenant
and under that covenant certain changes have been made by God
Himself(i.e. physical circumcision is not required, a change in
the priesthood, no central city to worship God in, animal
sacrifices not necessary). The New Covenant clearly shows
by example and by direct teaching/commands, that the basic form
of Old Church/State Government is not to be the order for the New
Covenant Church of God during this present age.
The carnal human error is that of the heart of man venting
and taking pleasure in having dictatorial authority over other
men, which in turn leads organizations to establish a "rank and
file" system among its leaders. As Jesus said to His disciples,
that is how the unconverted nations rule among themselves, but it
was not to be so for His servants and followers.
The Lord is plainly showing here in Acts chapter 8, that if
He wants to take a deacon, or any man of the Church and use him
to perform miracles or healings or preach the word some-where, He
WILL DO SO! And He will do so without having to answer to any
other human man He ordained to the Eldership or not, and
certainly not answering to any man made rank system.
After the work Philip did in Samaria, God gave him another
assignment(v.26). He sent His angel to tell Philip to go to a
certain place and to meet a man of great authority under the
Queen of Ethiopia. Philip was used to expound the word of God
more clearly to this eunuch and baptize(a deacon baptizing? Yes!
And we shall see later that you did not even have to be a deacon
to baptize people. Now that should blow a hole in more false
doctrines of men) him into the very family of God(v.27-38).
I hope you are seeing the truths of God as never before. Too
many have been spoon fed, have had their thinking done for them,
have allowed men to manipulate the scriptures without "proving
all things and holding fast to that which is good." By reading
the Bible with an open and clear mind, by willing to be
corrected, the word of God and the Spirit of God will guild us
into all truth and as Jesus said: "The truth shall make you
FREE."
Again, the lesson to learn, and God gives that lesson to us
over and over again in the book of Acts, is to NEVER LIMIT the
Lord, especially under the New Covenant. He will work whenever He
wishes and with whosoever He chooses for the preaching of His
gospel and the saving of souls.
Another fine lesson here is that Philip did not become all
puffed up and self sufficient. At this juncture in his converted
life he did not know everything. He did not realize he had to lay
hands upon those he had baptized for the receiving of the Holy
Spirit. Peter and John taught him that when they came(v.14-17).
Philip was humble and worked with other men of God. Do you see
the TEAMWORK going on here in the early NT Church of God?
In passing, and while I'm talking about the "laying on of
hands" after baptism for the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Some
may say that this example of Philip shows that it is only the
ordained Elders(Peter and John) that can perform this duty and
function. The very next example God gives us of Philip in the
same chapter shows this thought to be incorrect!
Philip ALONE, without Peter and John, is taken to meet the
Ethiopian eunuch. He only is used to teach him more clearly the
word of God. It is only Philip that the Lord uses to baptize this
man. No ministers(ordained/appointed) or apostles from Jerusalem
came along with Philip to lay hands on this eunuch after he was
baptized.
From the experience in Samaria concerning the laying on of
hands, Philip would have known now that he should do likewise,
after baptizing someone.
Before leaving this chapter and its examples and lessons,
there is one more thing to meditate on. The eunuch went back to
Ethiopia as a converted Christian, filled with the Spirit of God.
He was in a position of great authority(in the world of the
Ethiopian nation). He would have been very excited about his new
found truth. Do you think he would have been totally silent about
it? Do you believe he would never have shared the truth of God
with anyone in his nation, and others of importance in the
government? I believe he would have been used by God to do a
mighty work in Ethiopia for the spreading, teaching, and
preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was very
very active in those days within the Church of God, the world was
being turned upside-down. Paul and others were later accused of
that very thing - turning the world upside-down with their
teaching and preaching.
God must never be hand-cuffed in what He can do, when He can
do it, and by whom He can do it!
PAUL IS CONVERTED TO CHRIST
On the way to Damascus to persecute the people of God,
Saul(later known as Paul) is struck down by a blinding light and
hears Jesus speaking to him. Blinded, Paul is brought to Damascus
where he is three days without food or drink (Acts 9:1-9). God
sent a man called Ananias, a disciple(the usual Greek word for
the word 'disciple') not an apostle or elder, to heal Paul and to
baptize him (v.10-18).
Here is a clear example of a disciple or a follower of
Christ, used by God to heal, to baptize, to lay hands upon a new
convert into the family of God and receive the Holy Spirit.
Saul or Paul was converted to Christ. He had a religious
background in Judaism, but now the clear truth of God's word was
revealed to him. The scriptures he had grown up on began to take
on new meaning. Paul did not now run off to some supposed "head
quarters" Church of God to come under their authority. He tells
us in the book of Galatians that Christ personally had him go to
Arabia and there He taught him. Then after returning to Damascus
for some unspecified time(from his conversion to returning to
Damascus was 3 years) he went to Jerusalem for a very short
period and visited only Peter and James the Lord's brother (Gal.1
:11-20).
This whole account shows a somewhat "no rush" no "big
concern" on Paul's part to get "in line" with those in the
Jerusalem congregation. It reminds me of the people I told you
about earlier in South America that the famous USA Church of God
found observing all the same basic doctrines as themselves. I
told you this happened in the late 60's. Well the USA
organization sent ministers back to them asking them to be a part
of their work and organization, and acknowledge their head leader
as God's end time "man of the moment." It was reported to the USA
Church of God headquarters that they were just
laughed at and told: "God we know, Christ we know, and Paul,
Peter, James, but who is....(the leaders name, which I will not
give here)."
I well remember from the publication of this USA
organization's inner magazine to its members(I was a part of
them) the article about discovering the existence of these
people in South America. Then like hot coals of fire nothing was
ever said about them again. It was many years later, when I was
personally talking to one of the very ministers who was sent to
visit them, I found out why the USA organization forgot about
them and went on as if they never existed. The South American
people of God had not only never heard of the Lord's supposed
human "king pin" leader, but they were not about to believe
he was God's only "apostle" for the end time, either.
The South American Church of God were not only correct about
keeping the feast of Pentecost on a Sunday, but they have also
been proved correct that God does not work through one "minister"
or apostle(if you want to use that word) at a time. For that
minister of the USA organization was never alone in what he
taught and preached(other ministers of his day in the Church of
God believed and taught the same truths, but went their separate
way. I now have the facts to prove that is true), is history.
New light and evidence is coming all the time that proves
God has worked with different ministers, in different parts of
the world, often during the same time frame, who did not always
know the others existed, but were teaching, preaching, and
practicing, the same basic doctrines, which often included the
observance of all the festivals of God as recorded in Leviticus
23.
A great deal of historical Church of God Sabbath-keepers and
related history has been done and is continuing to be done by
Richard Nickels. His books and articles can be obtained by
writing to: Giving and Sharing, PO Box 100, Neck City, MO 64849.
Paul, it is true, was a unique individual, with a unique
calling to conversion and into the ministry of Christ Jesus. His
calling was directly with signs and wonders, and personal
visitations from Jesus. No man was needed to ordain/appoint Paul
as a minister of the Lord. No ceremony of ordination in front of
others wherein men already in the ministry would lay hands on him
and so induct him as an Elder of the Church.
So, yes, God can do it that way IF He so chooses. After all
He is God. He is the potter and we are the clay. But that is not
the way the Lord does it MOST of the time. The book of Acts and
Paul's writings to Timothy and Titus, show that God works through
other ministers to ordain men to the ministry of Jesus
Christ(Acts 14:23), with at times input from the congregation.
As the Church grew spiritually and in literal membership and
appointed ministers/elders, God gave Paul inspired instruction
for the Church about the basic qualifications needed for any one
to be ordained to the pastor/eldership or deaconship (1 Tim.3;
Titus 1).
Such an undertaking is very serious business. So serious in
fact that it is not surprising we have two other very important
scriptures on this matter in the NT. The one is found in - 1
Timothy 5:22. The other in James chapter 3 and verse 1. Please
read this second one in the Amplified Bible translation, and see
some of the Bible Commentaries.
PAUL ARRIVES IN JERUSALEM
"And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he wanted to join
himself to the disciples, but they were afraid of him, and
believed not that he was a disciple" (Acts 9:26).
We have seen from Paul himself in the book of Galatians that
it was three years from the time of his conversion to the FIRST
time he went to Jerusalem. You may like to review this in
Galatians 1:11-20. It was a relatively short visit it would seem,
although we can not be sure of that. Paul says he abode with
Peter for 15 days. He does not tell us the exact length of his
stay in Jerusalem. He stayed with Peter for 15 days but he may
well have stayed with other brethren also, Paul just does not
give us all the details. After that visit to Jerusalem Paul was
in no hurry to return. It was to be 14, yes, fourteen years
later before he went back to that city - Galatians 2:1. And from
the following verse we see that he did not keep in very close
communication with the apostles and/or those in reputation at the
place where it all started, for, he was willing as we have seen
to let them examine his gospel among the Gentiles. That would
strongly indicate a severe lack on his and their part as to what
they and Paul had been doing/teaching and preaching over that
period of 14 years.
Obviously from all this Paul and those who worked with him
such as Barnabas, felt God was working with them just as much as
with those in Jerusalem. They did not feel the necessity or that
it was a doctrine of God, that one human man was in authority
over the Church and that they had to report to him, or get
permission to do this or that in the work of the Lord from some
board of men in a certain city.
Many believe the Jerusalem conference of Acts 15 came after
this second visit of Paul to Jerusalem. We shall look at that
important chapter of the book of Acts later.
So what are some of the lessons we can gain from the
calling, teaching, and preaching of Paul?
First: God is able and free to raise up any man at any time
for the work of the Kingdom and preaching of salvation. God is
able to reveal His truths to any person, at any point in time,
and in any area of the world, regardless of who else God may be
using at the same time. The overwhelming NT examples show that in
this age of the New Covenant, the Lord does not work with just
one dominant leader in His Church, that no one man has
dictatorial authority over the other ministers or members. In
this age God is using various ministers with spiritual gifts and
abilities as the Holy Spirit imparts.
Second: Those that God calls to the work of the ordained
ministry will, as led by the Spirit, work together in small or
large teamwork groups. Peter did not work as a single
self-sufficient minister, neither did the apostle Paul. Their
work was not always in the same area throughout their lives, and
they did not always have exactly the same ministers to work with
in their close immediate circle, but co-operate and work with
other servants of the Lord they most assuredly did do. None of
the apostles or elders believed or taught that any man was an
"island unto themselves." They all knew that "iron
sharpens iron" and the inspired proverb: "In the multitude of
counsellors there is safety" (Prov.11:14).
Third: The Lord directly called and ordained Paul to the
ministry. There is no evidence that he was ordained by other
human men. God is free to so ordain/appoint if He chooses, but
this is clearly by the teaching and examples of the NT, an
exception to the norm. God has established in the New Covenant by
example and direct command that men are appointed to the
Eldership by other Elders and by meeting certain qualifications.
MINISTERS ARE SENT
Acts chapter ten again shows us God directly inspiring and
working with a man, without that man having to give account of
his every move to other men. Peter is sent to the Gentiles to
bring salvation to them. There was within the early Church
freedom to work where the Holy Spirit directed.
God's Spirit should never be hand-cuffed by over
organization. It is written: "Quench not the Spirit........
where the Spirit of the Lord is there is l i b e r t y"
(1 Thes.5:19; 2 Cor.3:17). Then on the other side of the coin
liberty is to be used carefully (James 2:12).
As we have seen, God wants a respectful, loving, servant
attitude within His ministry and Church. He does not want a
minister or group of ministers "bossing about"
with high-handed conceit, another minister/s. Yet, He also does
not want a high-handed "one man show" attitude from any single
minister of His either.
Those that had gone forth from Jerusalem preaching the
word(Acts 8:4) had great fruits to show for it(see Acts 11:21).
So much so that the Church in Jerusalem, "sent forth Barnabas,
that he should go as far as Antioch" (v.22). This shows us that a
Church does have the right to ask a minister to undertake a
special assignment. I say ask, because I do not see where they
can demand - not within the Spirit of the Lord anyway. Notice
verse 25, Barnabas acting within his liberty as a servant of God,
goes to find Paul in Tarsus and brings him back to Antioch, where
they stay for a whole year as teachers of God's word (v.26).
In the 13th chapter of Acts we see the Holy Spirit leading
within a congregation of God's people. A job was to be done - not
a lot of ''red tape'' required - just be guided by the Spirit,
send the men with a special blessing(this was not an ordination
to the ministry - they were already ministers) and get out there
and do the work. For a time they also had John Mark with them
(v.l-13).
The next point we need to note is in chapter 14:23, ''And
when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had
prayed with fasting ." We find that FASTING and PRAYER
accompanied ordination. Fasting and prayer by the minister/s who
were to ordain to the Eldership other men was a serious
undertaking which required serious preparation and meditation.
In keeping with Titus 1:5 and Acts 20:17 we see that a
plurality of Elders were ordained in every church. It would seem
that the Lord is telling us that He wants to safeguard His sheep
by shepherding them with more than one shepherd to each fold.
This would minimize to some extent a wolf in sheep's clothing
coming and devouring the flock. I said minimize, not completely
stop it, as seen by what Paul said in Acts 20:29,30. We must
remember all of these examples can only be applied when there are
many churches, with many converts, and with many qualified men
who could be appointed to the Eldership. Any combination of the
above factors could mean that it may not be possible to have a
plurality of ministers in a single congregation.
Obviously there did not seem to be a large problem for Paul
and Barnabas to ordain elders - plural, in the churches, at that
time.
It will be asked: "Does not this verse contradict what Paul
taught Timothy(1 Tim.3:6; 5:22)?" Remember that in many of these
towns where Paul and Barnabas taught, there were older Jews or
Gentile proselytes who were very well versed in the scriptures
and could not be looked upon as novices by any means. As far as
not being in a hurry to ordain, we need to keep in mind that when
Paul gave that instruction to Timothy, the Christian Church had
to a large extent established itself in growth and structure.
Here they were at the beginning of a new era, different
circumstances do warrant different methods at times within the
liberty of God's law. At the start of the NT Church era it would,
for the sake of stability among the new converts, be very
important to have established leaders. They did not have Radio,
VCR, TV, Conference Call phone lines, or Cassette tapes.
THE JERUSALEM CONFERENCE
This part of Acts - chapter 15 - is of great value to us for
the understanding of how the NT Church of God worked as a team on
difficult issues. There is much in this chapter for our
edification.
1. Important doctrinal issues that effect the individual as
well as the stability of the Church as a whole, will arise from
time to time. Because differences arise which must be "ironed
out" does not mean the Church of God is not the body of Christ.
It is HOW those issues are resolved that proves the true
character and people of God.
2. Ministers from the various parts of the land and earth,
came together in conference at a designated location (verses
1-6).
3. The indications from verses 12,22,23,25, is that the
conference was an open forum with congregational members present.
Certainly the decision reached was approved by the whole
congregation.
4. There was much disputing. Time was given for all to speak
(v.7).
5. It would seem from verse 19 that James played a leading
role - maybe presiding as chairman. It was he that gave the
"judgement" that everyone agreed was the correct one. This by on
means teaches that James was head apostle, like a Pope of the
Church of God. As Paul had written to the Galatians, James was of
reputation and a pillar in the Jerusalem assembly, together with
Peter and John. If James was presiding as chairman, with his
wisdom and leadership abilities, it is only natural he would have
seen the "truth of the matter" and summed it all up as to what
the Holy Spirit was guiding them to do.
6. We notice that there was no voting on doctrinal issues.
It was not a case of the majority wins. God's truths that are
clearly taught by the word are not up for "voting on."
7. The truth was arrived at by two criterion: (a) By what
God had done through the Holy Spirit (b) By what the scriptures
plainly taught (verses 7-12 and 13-18).
PAUL AND BARNABAS SEPARATE
In verses 36-41 of Acts 15 we have recorded the different
opinions of two ministers, differences that could not at that
time be resolved, and which resulted in the two men who had
worked together for some time in the gospel, separating and going
their different ways to do the work of God.
What are the lessons we can learn from this?
1. It was not a difference in doctrine over-which Paul and
Barnabas separated, but what we would call today administration -
who was going with whom to do "the work."
2. Where administration of the work of the Lord is not
defined by or in opposition to the word of the Lord, FREEDOM is
allowed. Yet within that freedom men's ideas and personalities
may on occasion - clash! In most cases it should be able to be
solved, but this was one time it could not.
3. Paul and Barnabas remained servants and apostles of God.
Both continued to do the work of the gospel.
4. Despite the weaknesses and differences of men, God is
able to work with and in them, often turning what may appear to
us as adversity into VICTORY for Him. Truly, the Lord works in
mysterious ways at times His wonders to perform.
5. Neither Paul nor Barnabas took their disagreement to a
higher court of Elders, or some "chief" apostle over them, to try
and get the other "black listed" or kicked out of the ministry or
disfellowshipped.
IN RETROSPECT
What can we see as we look back on our study? I will list 10
points that I see.
1. Jesus calling His ministers and telling them that, no ONE
individual or small "board" of individuals would have total
dictatorial control and authority over the entire Church of God
or other Elders. Jesus taught that he who thought himself more
important and above the rest, had better be the greater humbler
servant to all.
2. A Church and ministry that was filled with the POWER of
the Holy Spirit. A driving zeal to get on with spreading the
gospel of the Kingdom of God.
3. As the Church grew and the physical burden increased, the
establishing of an ordained/appointed " Deacon - servant"
ministry (Acts 6) to help take care of such matters.
4. We see that the gifts of God's Spirit were boundless,
given freely as He saw fit, to the Elders(Acts chapters 2-5), to
the Deacons(Acts chapters 6-8), and to the whole membership of
saints(1 Cor.12 and 14).
5. God directly called others to the apostleship and
ministry(Acts 9). And ministers ordained other men to the
ministry(Acts 14:23).
6. Local churches and elders that had a great deal of
freedom within the law of God(Acts 11:19-26; 13:1-13).
7. Churches raised up with ordained elder S - (plural, Acts
14:23).
8. Brethren, Deacons, and Elders held together with the
common bond of the Holy Spirit, the love of God, and the same
basic fundamental truths of the word.
9. Major doctrinal issues resolved by ministerial
conferences with the members of the host congregation in
attendance, and participating in the decisions(Acts 15).
lO. A Church not handcuffed or weighed down with over
organization.
In closing this section of our study I must, because of
recent abuse within certain parts of the Church of God,
re-emphasize the teaching of Jesus about a humble servant
attitude that all His ministers and followers were to have
towards one another and towards the spiritually blinded of the
world.
Satan has devastated parts of the body of Christ in the last
30 years because this humble servant attitude was not maintained
by some Elders, and the sin of vain, authoritarian power and
dictatorial rulership was exhibited by various ministers over
other ministers and the brethren.
The words of Phillip Keller(a one time keeper of sheep) are
fitting at this point in our study. I will quote from chapter 3
of his book: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. We pick it up as he is
talking about the requirements needed for sheep to lie down.
" The second source of fear from which the sheepman delivers
his sheep is that of tension, rivalry, and cruel competition
within the flock itself. In every animal society there is
established an order of dominance or status within the group. In
a penful of chickens it is referred to as the 'pecking order.'
With cattle it is called the 'horning order.' Among sheep we
speak of the 'butting order.' Generally an arrogant, cunning and
domineering old ewe will be boss of any bunch of sheep. She
maintains her position of prestige by butting and driving other
ewes or lambs away from the best grazing or favorite bedgrounds.
Succeeding her in precise order the other sheep all
establish and maintain their exact position in the flock by using
the same tactics of butting and thrusting at those below and
around them..........Because of this rivalry, tension, and
competition for status and self-assertion, there is friction in a
flock. The sheep can not lie down and rest in contentment. Always
they must stand up and defend their rights and contest the
challenge of the intruder..........
This continuous conflict and jealousy within the flock can
be a most detrimental thing. The sheep become edgy, tense,
discontented and restless. They lose weight and become irritable.
But one point that always interested me very much was that
whenever I came into view and my presence attracted their
attention, the sheep quickly forgot their foolish rivalries and
stopped their fighting. The shepherd's presence made all the
difference in their behavior.......
In any business firm, any office, any family, any community,
any church, any human organization or group, be it large or
small, the struggle for self-assertion and self-recognition goes
on. Most of us fight to be 'top sheep.' We butt and quarrel and
compete to 'get ahead.' And in the process people get
hurt.........
In contrast to this, the picture in the Psalm shows us God's
people lying down in quiet contentment.......The endless unrest
generated in the individual who is always trying to 'get ahead'
of the crowd, who is attempting always to be top man or woman on
the totem pole, is pretty formidable to observe. In His own
unique way, Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd, in His earthly life
pointed out that the last would be first and the first last.
In a sense I am sure He meant first in the area of His own
intimate affection. For any shepherd has great compassion for the
poor, weak sheep that get butted about by the more domineering
ones. More than once I have strongly trounced a belligerent ewe
for abusing a weaker one. Or when they butted lambs not their own
I found it necessary to discipline them severely, and certainly
they were not first in my esteem for their aggressiveness.
Another point that impressed me, too, was that the less
aggressive sheep were often far more contented, quiet and
restful. So that there were definite advantages in being 'bottom
sheep.'
But more important was the fact that it was the Shepherd's
presence that put an end to all rivalry. And in our human
relationships when we become acutely aware of being in the
presence of Christ, our foolish, selfish snobbery and rivalry
will end. It is the humble heart walking quietly and contentedly
in close and intimate companionship of Christ that is at
rest.......When my eyes are on the Master they are not on those
around me. This is the place of peace.
And it is good and proper to remind ourselves that in the
end it is He who will decide and judge what my status really is.
After all, it is His estimation of me that is of consequence. Any
human measurement at best is bound to be pretty unpredictable,
unreliable, and far from final " (A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,
pages 31-33).
To be continued.
First written 1983. Re-written and revised 1996.
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