| (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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| As we entered the new year of 2011 it had to be said that the state of the Church of God is not good. One of the more significant parts of the church, the United Church of God is dividing into two parts with the members being scattered and having to take sides, with no clear reason as to why it is happening. It is a strange phenomenon, but it was prophesied long ago by Jeremiah that the Church of God would continue to splinter into smaller and smaller pieces. This is what God says as He inspired Jeremiah to write “My people have been lost [straying] sheep: their shepherds [ministers] have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away [spiritual danger] on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill [ever smaller scattered flocks], they have forgotten their resting-place.” (Jeremiah 50:6) The ministry is not pointing the brethren to Jesus Christ, their proper resting-place, as they should. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” (Psalm 37:7) These things would not have occurred if everyone was looking to God and loving one another as brethren. This separation, any separation within the overall church, would not happen if members of the body of Christ really were willing to lay down their lives for one another (1 John 3:16). Doctrine that is not put into practice is no doctrine at all. Here’s a red flag warning: Instead of returning to the Lord – and His basic Christian principles – confused members are returning to the same faulty mind-set that does not have looking to God and accepting the unity that results as its prime result. Scattered congregations initially welcome a sense of freedom but in fact are once again vulnerable to faulty leadership. These same confused members are then visited by men going from location to location asking the question: “Would you like to be a part of something larger?” Essentially, they are actually promoting a new corporate organization offering winter weekends and summer camps. Those are enticing words. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something bigger and better? Something nice for the young people, for the teenagers. But members of the church of God should beware. If we would understand the words of Jesus Christ, we are already a part of something much, much greater – and something much better – the Body of Christ – and we cannot imagine what all that entails. “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.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) We need to understand that all the members of the church of God are already intricately woven into something much greater – we need to remember that. We are all fellow citizens with all of the saints; we are of the household of God; we are the temple of the living God, and our citizenship is in heaven. That is what we want to be a part of – not something less (Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20, 2 Corinthians 6:16). We should not consider ourselves a part of corporate organizations that exclude other spirit led brethren – that is not scriptural. We all know that Jesus would never be a part of a group that was not inclusive of all the saints. Think about it. “There is … One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5) We are by definition already a part of something larger. We were called into one Body – that is Christ’s body, the Church of God. (Colossians 3:15). Where is the true Godly concern for all the others? We should not lightly discard this Great Commandment to love our fellow man, that defines what a Christian is to be (Matthew 22:39). These corporate organizations will not let members of God’s church keep Passover together or keep the Feast together – is that God’s will and desire? Certainly not! Does Christ want the brethren to exclude some of God’s people in favour of others? Of course not! It is unthinkable! God is not a respecter of persons – neither can we be! No one who is a member of the Church of God can be! Joining opposing corporate organizations, competitive structures, giving loyalty to one corporate organization over another is division, pure and simple. Why aren’t the brethren, the members of the body of Christ, being made to understand that our citizenship in heaven comes before participation in corporate organizations? Jesus Christ is not divided. Jesus hates division. By definition, Jesus Christ has only one Church, one Body and one Spirit. “… The Body of Christ … is the Church.” (Colossians 1:24) Therefore, there is only one True Church. “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.” (Ephesians 4:4-6) (Ephesians 5:30) (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13, 20) The fundamental cause of break-ups is this: God is not first. If God were first, the brethren would be taught to love one another – and all that necessitates – forgiveness, reconciliation, and humbly serving one another by laying down their lives (John 15:13). Paul asked the question, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:13) We should know what the answer is to that rhetorical question. “No, Christ is not divided.” But if we would honestly look at the divided condition of the church of God today, we would be forced to come to one of two conclusions: Either, Christ’s Body is divided, or, not all of us are of Christ. Now, that is a scary scenario, no matter which one you choose. And Paul would agree. He wrote that if we are not properly discerning the Lord’s body, we are eating and drinking damnation to ourselves (Corinthians 11:29). Brethren, members of the church of God, this is a time for prayer, fasting and reflection. ——————————————————————————— Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ——————————————————————————— |
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