Training Children

Recent events have highlighted some serious problems in American society.  A protest is when people who feel strongly about a particular issue work together to get the policies changed.  It is focused on accomplishing a particular goal, and is what the constitution referred to when it said the right of the people to assemble shall not be abridged.  A riot, on the other hand, has no specific goal other than expressing people’s anger.  The protest is like a child asking his mother to buy him a toy, while the riot is like the child throwing a temper tantrum to try to get his way.  The protest respects the rights of others, while the riot ignores everything but their own anger.  A temper tantrum by a 2 year old probably will not do much harm other than upsetting everyone around, and people just blow it off with the thought that his parents need to teach him how to behave properly. 

A riot by teenagers or adults does serious harm, frequently resulting in destruction of businesses, homes or cars, physical injuries and even deaths. They are a clear indicator that the parents did not teach them to behave properly when they were children so they are still throwing tantrums.  They are too immature to address their problems in effectively.  That so many recent protests have turned into riots clearly demonstrates a serious lack of maturity among American adults.  In many cases they are incapable of even explaining why they want what they are demanding coherently. They are just like the little child who thought the toy looked pretty with no concern for what it did or whether he would like playing with it later.  Because the parents did not deal with the children’s temper tantrums when they were small, and so they continued to throw them.  Years of practice at throwing the tantrums makes them much harder to deal with.  Vandalism, school shootings, gang violence, and murders are other common ways of throwing tantrums.

We have been dealing with these kinds of things since the protest/riots of the 1960’s, and is clear that the popular and politically mandated solutions have not stopped the problem, any more effectively than they have solved poverty or the drug problems.  Clearly, we need to take a different approach. 

Experience has taught that when the obvious solutions don’t fix it, it is useful to go back in time to see what precipitated or triggered the problem.  Frequently, it shows some things that have changed which allowed the problem to occur.  When we look back in history to see when the problem began to appear we find that the acceptance of psychology as a science resulted in new philosophies as to how children should be raised.  Dr. Spock and other writers popularized those philosophies and people became concerned that they would damage the child’s ego by teaching them to respect others and not to throw tantrums.  The first generation of children raised with that philosophy began coming of age in the early 1960’s, leading to many legitimate protests turning into riots.  They have taught their children and grandchildren the same philosophies, and today we are seeing the results, with many so-called “protests” having no other goal than to cause disruptions. 

To fix the problems, it will be necessary to go back and correct the things that have caused it, and this means changing our philosophy of child rearing   Fortunately the original philosophy had been around for hundreds of years and had proven effective so we do not have to develop something completely from scratch, and Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  If we properly train our children, they will not fall for the newer philosophies, even though they are surrounded by people who hold them. 

It is important to understand that the verse does not say teach the child what he should do.  Instead, it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”   Training for a sport implies not only teaching the basic principles of right and wrong, but of actually practicing them until they become the natural response.  The necessary muscles repeat the actions until they automatically do things the right way, and in the process become strong enough to do the job.  When they have trained properly, a person will still remember how to perform the action years after they have last played.    

When we work with our children so consistently and steadily, not only teaching them what is right, but demonstrating it in our daily lives consistently and insisting on their correcting their mistakes and doing it right in their lives, we can so thoroughly ingrain the right thing into their minds that they naturally do those things.  Unfortunately, most parent and teachers are not willing to put in the practice and consistency effective training requires.  They give verbal instructions and hope the kids do not notice how often they do not follow the principles they have shared.  Since kids learn more from what they see demonstrated than what they hear, they follow the example rather than the lesson, and unless they actively practice it, they soon forget even what they have seen demonstrated.  As a result, even most Christian kids don’t really know how to do what is right, and a large percentage of them turn away. 

If we do not want our children to just go along with the world’s philosophies, we Christians ae going to have to make a commitment to train our children properly.  The first step will be to learn what is right ourselves, and then to begin to practice it consistently.  If we are not willing to make the commitment ourselves, we should not be surprised if our children adopt the world’s standards.    After all, they are only doing what we taught them.  

Don’t Forget Your Calling

Our American schools are failing badly.  Even those with advanced college degrees find it hard to find employment, because as numerous employers have stated, graduates lack even the most basic skills needed for employment.  Many cannot read or write intelligibly or lack even basic math and arithmetic skills.  Most have only a superficial understanding of basic scientific principles, hardly any have basic critical thinking skills, and many have little or no sense of personal responsibility.  While many complain about immigrants taking away the jobs, many employers have found that those immigrants usually make more satisfactory employees because they have the necessary skills to do the job even though they have far less education.

In an effort to correct the problems, federal and state governments, and numerous educational organizations have developed various programs, including the No Child Left Behind program, Common Core, standardized testing programs and annual teacher and school evaluations.    Schools regularly switch curriculums, in an effort to find a more satisfactory program, and introduce special reading, math or special education programs to help those who are behind catch up.  Kids begin preschool at younger ages and more have college degrees than at any time in history, yet things continue to get worse.  Why?

Over the last few years, our society has changed dramatically, from a society where most people had strong connections to farms and agriculture to a society where a majority live in towns and cities and make their living in other occupations.  We can travel around the world in a matter of hours, and can see what is happening anywhere in the world thanks to satellite communications.  We can talk to people thousands of miles away on cellphones and can make purchases or do research in libraries around the world from our homes thanks to the internet.  Doctors do brain surgery, and open heart surgery on a regular basis, and we are able to locate and extract oil from far below the earth’s surface.  Political systems, moral codes and fashions have all changed.

As a result, our society has largely forgotten the old scientific laws principles in their rush to keep up with the new technologies, fashions and standards.  So called scientific writers state that we have overcome the law of gravity for example, and their statement is accepted without question.  While it is true that we can send a spaceship to other planets, it is because we have a better understanding of the laws of science and can use the principles of gravity in conjunction with other laws to make it happen, not because we have overcome the law of gravity.  Al Gore could predict, incorrectly as it turned out, that the glaciers would all be melted by 2020, because people forgot that as the sea warmed, evaporation would increase,, and increased evaporation would result in cooling the water, and ultimately the atmosphere.  Periods of global warming have been followed by periods of cooling throughout the earth’s existence, as geological and archaeological evidence proves.  Unfortunately people fall for such false claims because they have not learned the basic principles of science. 

Similarly, because we have ignored the basic principles of genetics, we are told that homosexuality is a genetic trait and cannot be helped, and that a transgender man can be a woman even though they are genetically male.  A major newssource recently reported that a man is pregnant.   Checking out the story, it was discovered that in fact, a woman who claims she is a man was having a baby.  Her claims did not change the fact that she is a woman, whether she believes them or not.   The changes in our world are superficial, and have not affected the underlying scientific principles. 

Unfortunately, many in the church have adopted the world’s attitude, and assume the old rules no longer apply.  We need to remember what God said in Malachi 3:5-6.  “And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”  If God changed, he would have destroyed al  mankind for their sin, but because he loves us he does not. 

God has not and will not change.  His plans and principles are the same as they were when the world was created.  In Matthew 5:18, Jesus said, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”  Because Jesus Christ does not change we need to make sure we do not follow different teachings according to Hebrews 13:8-9.  “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines…”

We need to recognize the job we have been given, of telling the world about God’s unchangeable plan, as Paul describes in Ephesians 3:8-11.  “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Finding Rest

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus told his disciples, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”   This is in direct contradiction with the experience of many, who tell us how hard it is to be a Christian.  They struggle with various sins, and trying to live up to the standard their particular church or group has set, and many live in constant doubt of their salvation.  Some give vast amounts of money to the charitable causes, or devote their life to some ministry, constantly struggling to do more for the Lord.  As a result, many give up after a few years, convinced they will never be able to satisfy God.  They live their Christian life like someone who has a parent or a mate who is very demanding and constantly angry at them. 

There are two things which cause this sense.  The first is that they don’t know the Lord very well, and thus do not understand his love.  The problem is compounded because, as Galatians 5:17 tells us, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”  The result is an ongoing conflict and frustration.   Sadly, many church leaders are caught up in the same struggle and are unable to help their people. 

I Corinthians 13:6 tells us charity, or love “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”  Real love is based on accepting the person as they really are, rather than some idealistic picture of them.  Unfortunately some churches present a one or two dimensional God, focusing on one aspect while neglecting other things about him.  Some Focus strictly on his love and Grace, while others focus on his judgment and hatred of sin.  This results in some people having a superficial view of God and his love, leaving them fearful that they cannot measure up to what he expects.  Others are left with the view that nothing really matters, but when they do wrong, their conscience convicts them, leaving them feeling guilty and unlovable.   

Real strong love comes from getting to know a person intimately in a variety of different situations and accepting their actions.  We get to know God by studying the scriptures and seeing how he reacted and what he demanded in different situations throughout the scriptures.  Only as we study all the scriptures can we get a complete and accurate view of what God is really like.  When we neglect any part, our hearers get a superficial and distorted view of God. 

II Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  Our spiritual life is directly related to how well we know the Lord.  The more completely we get to know him through the scriptures, the more like him we will become, and the less we will struggle with being what we should be as Christians.  As Galatians 5:16 says, “…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

It is the Holy Spirit that changes us, making us more like Christ.  It is not the result of our own efforts to love people more, to live a sinless life or to do more for God.  As we get to know him and our love grows, the Holy Spirit causes our attitudes to change, transforming us by giving us a new mind as Romans 12:1-2 describes.  We simply present ourselves as a living sacrifice and allow the Holy Spirit to do what he wants in us.  When we do, the Holy Spirit will produce his fruit in us. As described in Galatians 5:22-24  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” 

Sadly, many Christians are trying to develop these things in their life by their own efforts, resulting in frustration and fear they will not measure up to what God wants.  If, instead, we present our bodies a living sacrifice, obeying what he teaches us, the Holy Spirit will produce them in us, making us like Christ.  When we accepted Christ, we were made alive by the Spirit.  Since that is true, as Galatians 5:25-26 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”  Instead of comparing ourselves to others or competing with them, we need to just let the Holy Spirit have control.  When we do, we will finally learn what Christ meant when he said, “… my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Why God’s Plan Matters

As we have already seen, we are only laborers in building the church.  God is both the architect and general contractor.  Our responsibility is to do our job in accordance with his plans, so that the finished construction will be suitable for what it was intended.  When properly done, every part should fit seamlessly together with each part complimenting and blending smoothly, much like a properly designed house.   For example, if the electrician has done his job properly, one should be able to find the light switch when he steps through the door, without having to feel around for several feet or reach around the door.  Such problems arise because the electrician or other laborers did not take time to work with other craftsmen or the builder.

Sadly, in the modern church, there are many who have decided how they want things to be and begun to do their own thing without concern for God wants or has planned.  As a result, we find conflicts between the various aspects of the church.  For example, they may talk about having their sins taken away, while ignoring overt things God has expressly condemned, such as homosexuality or promiscuity, or condemning things he said nothing against, such as using a particular version of scripture. 

In Isaiah 55:9-11, God said, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”   God planned the moisture cycle so that water from the ocean would evaporate and be carried overe the dry land where it would condense and fall as rain or snow to water the seeds and plants enabling them to grow and produce fruit.  In a similar fashion, he planned that even seemingly unrelated teachings and actions in the church would work together to make the church grow and productive in a particular manner. 

By cutting down the rainforest, reshaping the surface of the land, or damming the rivers, man can affect where the rain falls, how the water is absorbed, and change the amount of water available to different areas, causing flooding or erosion.  While God knows exactly what the effects of his actions will be, people seldom understand all the consequences until after the action is taken and end up spending a lot of time and energy trying to fix the problems they have caused. 

Through his apostles and prophets, God has given specific instructions as to how things are to be done, as I Corinthians 2:6-16 tells us.  “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 

We can only begin to understand what God is doing through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and trust that obeying him will produce the proper results.   When we begin to think we know a better way we only demonstrate our own lack of understanding.  I Corinthians 8:2-3 tells us, “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”  Only those who are obedient to God truly understand him and what he is trying to accomplish as John 14:21 tells us.  “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”  

When we don’t obey God’s plan, we cause serious problems in the church.  We condone sin, and cause people to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.  We hinder the Holy Spirit by distracting people from what he is teaching them, even turning people away from God’s plan to follow their own ideas, as Jesus described the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:13.  “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”  He describes how they were doing these things in Matthew 23, 14-33. 

Why Is There so Much Difference Between Churches?

People trying to find a church are often amazed at the amount of difference between different churches.   Some insist that if the church is not named “The Church of God,” or The Church of Christ,” the church could not be a valid church and should be avoided.  Others insist that only members of their group can go to heaven while others do not believe God would allow anyone to go to hell.   Some enforce strict moral codes while others believe God will forgive all sin.  Some reject any Bible version except the King James as Satanic while others consider the Bible irrelevant to today’s church.   One can find a “church” which believes almost anything he might choose to believe. 

The diversity of beliefs causes a great deal of confusion, and as I Corinthians 14:33 tells us, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”    Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye 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.”  Clearly, the conflicts, and much of what is passed off as Christian today is no from God.  Where has it all come from?

I Timothy 4:1-3 warns, “Now the Spirit speaketh 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; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”  Literally, most of the different doctrines are the result of people who have turned away from God’s truth, following false spirits and Satanic doctrines.  Many of them knowingly lie about what their teachings, pretending to be proclaiming the truth. They establish their own moral and ethical codes, and doctrinal beliefs.    

In Matthew 15:7-9, Jesus accused the Jewish leaders of fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy by doing the same thing.  “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth 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.”  Like many churches today. They made a big show of their love for God while substituting their own human teachings for what God commanded.   In reality they were wasting their efforts because they had replaced God’s commands with their own.   As John 14:23-24 tells us, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.”

The problem is very widespread, affecting every group.  II Peter 2:1-3 warns, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”  Every group has teachers and leaders who try to use their religion for their own benefit, leading people away from God.   Even the early church at Jerusalem had false teachers who tried to change their beliefs, according to Galatians 2:4.  “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:.”  The best way to avoid being caught up in these false teachers is to find a church with a pastor who teaches the Word of God just as it was given.

 Titus 1:7-11 describes the importance of the pastor’s moral and doctrinal position.  “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.” 

If the pastor does not have the necessary moral and doctrinal standards, he will be unable to stand against the false teachings or sinful practices that false teachers bring into the church, and especially those traditional beliefs that have been widely accepted.  

Is The Bible Dependable?

II Peter 1:19-21 tells us, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.   For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 

Clearly we can trust what God has said.  Unfortunately, we do not have the original manuscripts of any of the scriptures.  How can we be sure what we know as the scriptures teach the same things as the original manuscripts say?  Other ancient manuscripts emerge occasionally, so how are we to know they are not also part of scripture.  To answer these questions, we will start with some historical information about when and where it was given.  While Bishop Ussher dated the Exodus in 1491 BC, the Biblical record and Archaeological evidence indicate it was nearly two hundred years earlier.  The evidence indicates that all of Genesis, and part of Exodus was written before that time. 

The Old Testament was written over a long period of time.  Contrary to tradition, there is evidence the most of the first five books were not written by Moses, although they may have been compiled in his day.  Several different writing styles are found in in these books, indicating They were written by several writers at various times in history.  The last part of Deuteronomy could not have been written by Moses, as it took place after his death. 

Historical records from Babylon indicate that the book of Daniel was written between about 565 and 495 BC.  Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi were all written after Daniel’s day, with Malachi probably being written about 175 BC, or about the time of the Maccabees.  During the same period, the Old Testament was translated into the Greek language, and the Greek version became known as the Septuagint.  Later versions of the Septuagint contain 14 Apocryphal books not found in the earliest Greek or Hebrew manuscripts.  They appear to have been adopted by various Rabbinical counsels and were not accepted by all Jewish scholars or included in many of the later Hebrew manuscripts.

Traditionally we have been taught that the New Testament was written in Greek.  Papias, writing about 90 Ad quoted John as saying Matthew and John were originally written in Hebrew, as was James, by the authors they are named after, before 37 AD.  Mark and Luke were written later, around  45-53 AD, and were probably in Greek to make them readily available to the Gentile Christians as the church spread.  One fragment of the book of mark dates back to that time period, but cannot be proven to be part fo the original document.  Around 70-75 AD, Matthew, John and James were also translated into Greek.  John wrote the Revelation in Greek about 95 AD. 

The scriptures were translate into various local languages, with a complete Latin version appearing around 200 BC, and the Latin Vulgate appearing about 350 AD. The Greek Codex Sinaiaticus and Codex Vaticanus copies of the complete New Testament date from about the same time.  Today about 5800 Greek manuscripts or portions of Greek manuscripts exist along with over 10,000 Latin ones.  In addition, there are about 25,000 manuscripts in almost five hundred other languages.    While some manuscripts contain only a few words, scholars claim the average is nearly 450 hand written pages.  In addition, almost the entire New Testament Text can be found in writings of the early church fathers. 

The differences between those ancient manuscripts and the King James Version are very small.  The codex Sinaiaticus, is the most complete manuscript of the New Testament ever found.  There are only eight places where it differs materially from the King James Bible, The most important, in Matthew 16 leaves out 8 verses.  It appears the eight verses were simply overlooked.  The other differences involve only a verse or a single phrase from a verse.  With the exception of the Apocrypha, studies indicate that the differences between all the manuscripts amount to less than one percent of the whole, and that most of those are considered unviable because they only appear in one or two manuscripts.  Most of the other differences are the result of differences between languages or spelling mistakes. 

In 1453 AD, Constantinople fell and the Greek manuscripts held there became available for the first time since it had been conquered by the Muslim forces.  In 1516 AD, Erasmus completed the Textus Receptus based on eight of those Greek manuscripts.  Wycliffe had completed his English New Testament nearly a hundred years before based on different manuscripts.  The Tyndale and Coverdale versions were based on the Textus Receptus but the King James Version of 1611 was based on those earlier texts but drew heavily on Tyndale and Coverdale’s .translations.  Certain verses in the King James are not found in the Textus Receptus but are found in the Wescot- Hort text.  They are also found in many of the earlier texts.  While quality of translation varies among different modern versions, only a few have been deliberately changed

There are no records of other manuscripts as part of scripture in the early writings of the church fathers, and many contain factual errors or other mistakes that indicate they were not written at the time or by the author they claim to have been written by.  They are not considered part of scripture. 

All the evidence indicates the Bible teaches essentially the same thing as the original manuscripts by the various authors and can be trusted as God’s Word.  .    Perhaps the most important thing is that the church all use the same version during services to avoid confusion, because as I Corinthians 14:33 tells us, “…God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints…”

The Local Church

There is a great deal of confusion about just what is involved in the church.  Many believe in a universal church of which all believers are members.   In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  When the Roman Empire split, with the western Empire centered at Rome and the Eastern Empire centered in Constantinople.  Constantine had made the Catholic or “universal church the official Roman religion, interpreting the verses to mean the church was founded on Peter, and that Peter started the Church at Rome.   Religious centers were established in both Rome and Constantinople. 

Later the Roman Empire became so unwieldy it split, with the Western Empire centered in Rome and the Eastern Empire centered in Constantinople,  Conflicts between the two empires led to conflict between the two religious centers and the formation of the Roman Catholic and Eastern or Greek Orthodox churches.  Based on the belief that possession of the Keys gave Peter the authority to decide who would be saved and that he had been the first Bishop of the church in Rome, The Catholic Church claimed they were the only true church and had received Peter’s authority. 

Centuries later, protests against corruption in the Roman Catholic Church led to the Reformation and the formation of various Protestant churches. While they rejected the Idea that the Bishop of rome, otherwise known as the Pope had the authority to decide who could be saved, they retained the universal church concept.  From the very beginning there had been groups who rejected the Idea that the church was founded on Peter, believing it was founded on Christ instead.  These groups were usually called Anabaptists because they did not believe that being baptized by the Catholic church automatically made one a Christian.  After the Reformation some of the Anabaptists etained their particular doctrinal stances, while others joined with various Protestant groups, adopting some of their doctrines and rejecting others, and leading to wide variety of so-called Christian groups we see today. 

The concept of the universal church is one of the most widely held doctrines and forms the basis for trying to reunite all the churches.  Unfortunately, as we saw in the previous post, doctrinal conflicts hinder true worship of God and need to be corrected so that we can worship in true unity.  In fact, in romans 16:17-18, Paul instructs, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”  Our focus is to be on doing what God said, rather than on getting along with other groups. 

The Greek word translated church is έκκλησία, and means a calling out, a popular meeting or assembly.  Literally, there can be no church which does not assemble together as a body.  As a result many speak of it as a universal invisible church, meeting together spiritually.  In reality, that universal church will only meet together when the Lord returns, and does not exist as a church in this present age.  We are commanded to separate ourselves from those who teach things contrary to what the scriptures teach because as Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” 

Since the word Church means an assembly, for practical purposes, there can only be local churches in the present world, even if people travel half way around the world to attend it unless we have some kind of video conference.  Since that was not possible until just a few years ago, I do not think that is what the scriptures are referring to.  It is significant that the scriptures refer to various locan churches in the following references.  “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house,” in I Corinthians 16:19.  Acts 9:31 says, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”   They were not a single church at that time nor will they be until we meet together with the Lord. 

With this understanding, we need to focus more on developing the local Christians to become the best followers of Christ they can be, rather than on trying to cater to those of differing beliefs in an effort to unite various doctrinal positions into a huge regional church.  We can trust God to unite the various local churches at the proper time in the proper manner.  We need to concentrate on doing our Job and allow God to do his. 

 Far too many have construed Paul’s statement about magnifying his office in Romans 11:13 as referring to trying to expand the ministry.   In fact, the word translated magnify means to honor or esteem the ministry we have as being glorious,  If we consider it such we will have no need to expand it to something larger.  Romans 11:13-14 says, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”  Paul was magnifying or respecting his office by trying to develop Christians who would believe and follow Christ like he did, by just doing the job he had been given.