Emile - it is obvious from your post that you have fallen into
that age old pit that boasts in the idea that you belong to
the only truly ordained and authorized church of Christ.
Verses used to support the idea are:
Ac 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
The idea is that while the flock is large - yet it is but one church
that Christ died for not "churches" plural.
While that indeed sounds very logical and good - taking it to mean
that only the churches that prove apostolic succession are in fact
the true church is nothing more than pride - as Santiago has pointed
out abundant in churches such as the RCC and many others.
I can name another - the PRCE in Canada boldly professes that they
alone are the only duly constituted and lawful Church of Christ in America.
I am in China - I doubt you have a branch of your exclusively
preserved church here.
I would like to point out to you that some of what you profess to
be required by a true church is expressedly extra-biblical and nothing
more than traditions of men - which by itself suggests that
the biblical mandates are insufficient of themselves - a lie and not
God's given truth.
Also - the bible clearly teaches that the Apostles alone had
the power to confer the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Phillip did not.
Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ,
they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was
baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding
the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them
Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they
might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the
Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles?
hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Philip was doing miracles and preaching - people were believing
and being baptized and saved but upon none of them
had the Holy Ghost been given but Philip alone who had been
among the Apostles and upon whom the apostles had laid hands
- it was only when the Apostles showed
up and laid "their hands" upon them that this power was conferred
as Paul desired to visit Rome "physically" to do the same for them:
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you
some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
If your theory that the "laying on of hands" is a continuing process
then why is it that Philip did not simply do so or those who
had converted the Romans do so and save Paul the trouble and trip?
The Romans were "coming behind" other churches.
While I agree that Jesus did die for One church spiritual, when you
speak of the visible church rather than the invisible there are
many churches. I could consider the church in my home a "true church"
Where do you also get the presumption that the Lord's Supper"
need be practiced daily or weekly to be accepted of Christ.
In 1 Cor the words of Paul are "as oft as you will" do this in
remembrance of me. There are arguments on both sides as to
frequency of practice.
I do not want to bore you with much speaking except to say that
I doubt you can actually prove succession back to the original
Apostles and even if you could that did not stop Philip from
starting a church without the Apostles being there first.
God blessed them with salvation and baptism prior to the Apostles
coming there and granting them the temporal Apostolic gifts.
None of you are raising the dead, healing the blind, or drinking poison
so do not "circumsize" the world with your egotistical nonsense
about being Apostolic in nature.
The gifts were given for a purpose and a limited period that suited
that God given purpose - namely the delivery of the New Covenant.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies,
they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Heb 2: 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders,
and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
“those that heard Him” and "bearing them witness"
– does not refer to “your” church.
In the book of Revelation Christ wrote to 7 different visible churches.
They are seen as 7 different candle holders all on the same lamp stand.
The lamp stand is the unity of all churches while the different
Candles represent the different churches in it.
Christ did threaten to remove some of them from the lamp stand
so that they would be no longer a part of the church but become
false churches. Your church is but a candle - and your associated
churches a group of candles but you are not the lamp stand.
Each church that Christ wrote to was completely different.
Of them only one received no praise and of them only one
received
no rebuke - but of one church it was said that although they
had no outward point of rebuke yet they were scorned because
they had left their first love.
The love of Christ and His word of truth found in scripture is
above the love men should hold for their church no matter
how pure or upright you may think it is.
Their are both many churches and yet still only one. The many
are all parts of the body and none of them need be approved by
your church to get right with Christ and enjoy fellowship with
Him in His truth.
I agree that as much as is possible, James should attempt to join with
other Christians but not through compromising what he knows to be
scripturally true nor to enter into another “exclusive” mentality
ready to charge him with heresy, condemn and mistreat him.
I am happy you are happy with your church – that is a great blessing.
The truth is evidenced in the wonderful understanding of God’s
Word that has been and is seen within many. Prayers are answered
and people live faithful to Christ – all of that apart from your ‘sanctioned
little (or large) group.
Get right with Christ - join my church????
The Emile that wrote that message is not the Emile I remember!
Stop worshipping your church and return to your first love!
|
