Some Semi-unconnected Thoughts about Organized Religion.
Question: What is Disorganized Religion? Selfish, individualistic religion, self-centered and isolated, thinking only of personal experience?
It
is rebellion to Christ not to accept the true authority of those whom
He appointed and still does appoint from heaven by His Spirit.
Ephesians 4.
The
church is the pillar and ground of the truth, and the church that Paul
is referencing to Timothy is one with elders and deacons, with powers to
receive and to excommunicate; to examine those who claim to be teachers
and prophets and hold the power of the keys. The only ones who don't
like it are the rebels who want to be led by their own ideas and not
subject to anyone.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule
over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow,
considering the end of their conversation. {have the rule: or, are the
guides}
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give
account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you. {have…: or, guide}
Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Read all verses with context.
It is also true that the churches have responsibility to
each other; the leaders of the church met in Jerusalem in Acts 15 to
discuss doctrinal matters and sent their decisions to all the churches.
You can hang too much on this meeting, but you can also dismiss it too
lightly. That's why I am Presbyterian in government--contraction of the
apostolic office, expansion of the pastoral office.
From Acts 15:
- vs 6: The Apostles and elders came together [had a meeting] to consider this matter.
- vs. 19 Wherefore my sentence is....
- vs 20 We write to them....
- vs. 22,3 It pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send....
- vs. 23 The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto....
- vs. 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send....
- vs. 28 To lay no greater burden upon you.... [four things....]
It was more than a friendly chat that they had, and their letters was a bit more than exhortation "lay burden..."
How did they know it "pleased the whole church and the apostles and
elders"? How did they know they had "one accord" after all the disputes
in verse 7, etc. How did they know it was the truth revealed by the
Holy Ghost? Who decided that? Some never did accept it and troubled
Paul until he died. Who was in one accord?
Paul and Barnabas had a dispute over personnel, not the doctrine of the church or its organization.
Acts 16:4 "They went through the cities, they delivered them the
decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which
were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith,
and increased in number daily." Sounds like more than suggestions, for
Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the apostles, elders, and
brethren to take this letter to the churches [15:25 etc.]
"decree" greek is dogma. Used of the laws of the Roman Senate, also of the Law of Moses.
"keep" guard, take care of, take care not to violate.
Hence: Heb 13:17 "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give
account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you."
Eph. 5:21: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
God gathers His people into flocks and sets shepherds over them; their rule and authority is real.
There
is peace with no divisions and strife in independent churches? Are you
saying that the scripture is irrelevant and there are no real churches
today; or that there were no problems in the churches of Ephesus,
Colosse, Philippi, Rome, or Thyatira? The Spirit doesn't "legislate" in
the Scripture? or does everyone just follow his own "leading." That
idea has produced wonderful unity, hasn't it? Or maybe Christ is head
only over those who let Him be head.
The
choice is not between organized or disorganized. The choice is
obedience to scripture or not. Unless God has abandoned His people and
left us in the wilderness, there is a church near you that is biblical.
He does not leave his sheep in the wilderness. We are accountable to
one another and ministers are accountable to other ministers and elders.
We know that knowledge puffs up; but does that mean that ignorance is humble?
We
are accountable to Christ when we are accountable to those whom He has
placed over His church. Christ is in heaven and has commissioned His
officers to lead His church. Eph. 4.
1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach
otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes
of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
The order of Aaron has ceased
[Hebrews 7:11,12 with context], for Christ is our priest after the order
of Melchizedek, and His sacrifice was not offered in Moses' camp, but
outside the camp. Heb. 13:9ff. The new order is described in Ephesians 4
and Hebrews 10:19-25 with context. Christ's sacrifice was offered once
for all, but we signify our participation in His sacrifice through the
sacraments, which is the New Testament in His blood, through the bread
and the wine of the Lord's Supper--which is not a physical sacrifice of
Christ's blood and body, for Christ is in heaven, not on the earth. The
Lord's Supper is neither simply a memorial feast, nor is it a physical
sacrifice, but it is a true spiritual participation by faith in the
Gospel that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again,
according to the Scriptures. His words are spirit and life, the true
bread from heaven.
The church is more
than a group of adults sharing their "experience." It is the pillar and
ground of the truth, a holy temple where spiritual sacrifices are
offered to God through the blood of Christ and the ministry of the Holy
Spirit. It is more than consenting adults, but a people, a holy nation,
organized, ordered, disciplined, called, a holy temple whose head is in
heaven. The Lord Jesus administers His people and His nation through the
gifts of ministry described in Ephesians 4. Without them, we remain
children, tossed about with every wind of doctrine, turned aside after
folly by the sleight of men who with cunning craftiness lie in wait to
turn the children out of the way by deception and false doctrine.
This has already happened to the church in America, splintered into a
thousand pieces of people who fancy they are led by the "spirit' who
follow their own desires and emotions and shallow opinions [it is
dangerous to read the Bible only once], who despise dominion and speak
evil of dignities [Jude 7 and context].
How can you say you
love God whom you have not seen, when you despise men whom you have
seen. I John 4:20,21. In like manner, how can you say you obey Christ,
whom you haven't seen, when you despise His lawful ministers whom you
have seen? Hebrews 13: "Remember them which have the rule over you, who
have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering
the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever."
