James...
I have been among those who gave up on the impurities of the existing churches and started one of our own. Thinking that we would not go off the rails... we ( or they ) did and I had to leave. Just having a small group in a home does not insure anything.
Jesus speaks in Revelations to 7 churches. Many have made these churches to be figurative or both. I know you believe they are literal. So do I !
They were in various levels of purity. Only one church was excused of being rebuked and yet only one church failed to receive any praise at all.
My point is this James... Jesus , although He threatened to remove them from the candlestick unless.. , still called them Churches. Some very pure some almost ready to be no church at all.
The question becomes.. do we start a new church in our home because we can not find the church of Philadelphia? Not.
If however there is a more pure church within your attendance should you then continue in a less pure?
Sometimes I believe that depends... Is that less pure church in a state of repentance and growth? If it is becoming more pure then perhaps you should be a part of helping them overcome the doctrines of the flesh and reform. If however you can see that they are hardening their hearts to what you know is true then you should not continue to support that particular body but rather help the more pure in any way you can and by your attendance bare witness that it is more faithful to the revealed will of God.
I do not believe that Jesus died for a divided church. Division is of the flesh. It is the result of heresy and inability to let go of what is plainly not true.
There is no 100% pure Church nor should we expect one while on earth in the flesh:
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
However ( this may be where we differ ) I do expect to see a day when the earth will be covered with Righteousness before Jesus returns at the LAST DAY. This is promised and ties into what I was saying about Israel as a nation:
Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
The waters cover the sea pretty much... Paul asked very painfully:
1Cor 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Jesus died for His bride ( singular ) It is sin that causes denominations. We however must suffer these things and strive for unity.
How is unity to be had?
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Unity will be had through agreement in Doctrine and practice. As long as people believe unbiblical doctrines they will wander off and separate. A cult is an extreme of an unbiblically separated group.
Remember that when mankind spoke all the same language and had one purpose they could build the tower.. God confounded that language and then came division and varied purpose. Pentecoste was a sign that Jesus was at the Right hand of the Father and the men for a brief moment lost the barrier that God has put upon them at the tower of babel. It did not continue in the languages of the flesh but it should continue among the brethren in spiritual hearing.
Do you honestly think that I have merely memorized scripture? Is my understanding of it fleshy and carnal to your ears. Are we so divided that you do not see that what I am saying is true?
We must strive for unity as that is what God loves and said was a sign that we were indeed of Him:
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
And again:
Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Christ does not call us to disunity.. we are called parts of the body or pieces of the whole. We are not to say that we will be fine without one another.
1 Corinthians 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
There are very pure churches - however in our age there are few ( America is Apostate )
There are not so pure churches.
There some churches that are so impure they are no longer churches ( Roman Church etc. )
I see it as there being $100 bills $20 bills $1 bills different denominations and then there are "counterfeit bills" that no longer even understand the gospel.
We must never attend a counterfeit ( apostate church ) but we dare not add to the disunity of an already split up visible church if we can help it.
The "invisible" church consists of those who are truly saved in all the churches and the "visible" church is composed of all those who teach the gospel and hold pure the sacraments of the lord. I do not believe that many churches reject the baptisms of other denominations because they disagree with the mode. ( Some do I know ) Nor would I dare to say that because some group has used grape juice and leavened bread instead of wine and unleavened bread that they have not the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is spiritual and though they are not pure in their obedience yet they obey with the light that they have. I do not say Rome takes the Lord's Supper at all! It is an abomination and not at all a representation of the sacrament delivered by Jesus and the apostles.
I do not think that making more and smaller churches is the answer. I do not however judge you if you cannot in good conscience attend any churches within you area. That has happened to many. I do not condone however leaving a church over "any difference" in belief. I think many people leave churches over things which should have been tolerated and held up in prayer rather than cause yet more division in the visible church. I think I'm starting to repeat myself so I must be done. |
