THINGS THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCHES NEVER DID Introduction: 1. Text: Mat 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age). 1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 2. Since we live in the same dispensation as the first century churches, they become a pattern for the 21st century church. 3. The gospel preached in the first century was the first link in a chain that will reach from Pentecost in Acts 2 till the end of time and the final judgment. 2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Eph 3:21 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Phil 4:9 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 4. We are commanded to make all things according the pattern (Heb. 8:5). a. Severe penalties are promised to those who fail to follow the pattern (Rev. 22:18,19). 5. The liberal churches of Christ are engaged in many things that the first century churches never did. 6. This lesson will look at some of these things and show that they are not according to the pattern. Discussion: I. NO FIRST CENTURY CHURCH EVER SOUGHT TO ACCOMPLISH ITS WORK THROUGH A HUMAN ORGANIZATION: A. The church is the fullness of Christ: Eph 1:22 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 1. This means that the church doesn’t need another organization to help it be the church. B. Christ is the fullness of God: Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 1. This means that Christ doesn’t need any help to be our savior (Heb. 7:25). C. Christians are the fullness of God. Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 1. This means that Christians don’t need any help other than Christ to be Christians. D. This means that the church as God designed it is capable of doing everything that God assigned it to do without the help of human organizations. 1. Evangelism—preaching the gospel (1 Tim. 3:15). 2. Edification—strengthening its members (Eph. 4:16). 3. Benevolence—caring for its needy (1Tim 5:16). 4. Any organization larger than, smaller than, or other than the local church to do church work is unscriptural and sinful. a. Ladies aid society. b. Sunday school society. (1) Sunday school classes that have their own treasury and do works in their own name. c. Missionary societies. d. Benevolent societies. e. Other churches (sponsoring churches). f. Sponsoring churches are churches that undertake (sponsor) a work they cannot adequately support, then beg other churches to financially support the work through them. II. NO FIRST CENTURY CHURCH EVER DEPENDED UPON A HUMAN ORGANIZATION TO TRAIN ITS PREACHERS: A. Christians have the right to be in the education business, and to teach the Bible in their business. B. Individual Christians have the right to attend such educational institutions. C. Brethren who plan to preach have the right to study the Bible in such insti-tutions. D. Churches have the right to employ those who have studied at such institutions. E. But the church does not have the right to depend upon such institutions to train its preachers, and thus make no effort to train men to preach the gospel. 1. Churches should not measure preachers by whether they attended such institutions. 2. Some of the best preachers never attended such an institution. 3. God’s plan for training preachers: 2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 4. An older preacher said to me, “you don’t have to go to Freed-Hardeman to be a preacher, but it will help you to become a better preacher faster than if you don’t go.” III. NO FIRST CENTURY CHURCH EVER FORMED AN ORGANIZATION LARGER, SMALLER, OR OTHER THAN THE LOCAL CHURCH. A. The church is the fullness of Christ. Eph 1:22 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. B. If the church needs any organization other than the local church to do His work, then the church is not the fullness of Christ. C. Since the local church is the largest and the smallest organization on earth to do God’s work, then it is sufficient to do everything God assigned to do. IV. NO FIRST CENTURY CHURCH EVER PLANNED A WORK LARGER THAN IT COULD SUPPORT FINANCIALLY, THEN BEG OTHER CHURCHES TO SUPPORT IT THROUGH THEM: A. The Herald of Truth radio and T.V program is under the oversight of the elders of the Highland St. church in Abilene, Tx. but it is supported by over a thousand churches sending funds to and through the Highland elders. 1. This creates a brotherhood eldership overseeing a brotherhood work and creates a brotherhood treasury overseen by a brotherhood eldership. (This destroys the autonomy of the contributing churches). B. Orphan and old folks homes West of the Mississippi River are overseen by the elders of a local church but supported by many churches through the elders of the sponsoring church. 1. This also creates a brotherhood treasury overseen by a brotherhood eldership. 2. It also has local elders overseeing something beside the local church. 3. It violates the autonomy and independence of the local churches; they surrender control of the money they send to be spent at the discretion of the receiving elders. 4. Orphan and senior citizens homes East of the Mississippi River, are under boards of directors, and are supported by numerous churches sending funds to the board of directors. 5. Note the New Testament pattern: 1 Pet 5:1 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a par-taker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by con-straint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind… Acts 20:28 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. V. NO CHURCH EVER SENT FUNDS TO ANOTHER CHURCH FOR EVANGELISM: A. Money for evangelism was always sent to the evangelist: 2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. Phil 4:15 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. Phil 4:16 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. B. The reasons why this was not done and should not be done: 1. Each church is individually charged, and equally related to the work of evangelism, thus should do its own work to the best of it ability. 2. If it sends money to another church to be spent on evangelism, it loses its autonomy and control over its own affairs. C. . Each church is over: 1. Its treasury. 2. Its fellowship. 3. Its personnel. a. It should not surrender control of these to another church or organization. b. If a church sends money to another church specifying how it is to be spent, it violates the autonomy of both the sending and the receiving church. c. If a church sends money for evangelism to another church without telling it how to spend it, then it violates its own autonomy because it surrenders its control of its own funds. d. Each church raises funds by members laying by in store on the first day of the week, not by receiving money for evangelism from another church or churches (1Cor. 16:2). e. The only time funds were sent from one church to another church(s) was when a church(s) had more needy than it could help; then other churches sent funds to the elders of the needy church(s), not to a board of directors of a human organization (1Cor 16:1,2; Rom 15:25.26; 2Cor 8,9;Acts 11:27-30). f. Unlike evangelism where all churches are equally relation to it, only the elders of the needy church are related to the needs of their members. Other churches can then scripturally help them meet their responsibility. g. Funds were never sent from one church to another church to do a work beyond its membership. h. Funds for benevolence can be sent TO a needy church but never THROUGH it to do a work beyond its membership. D. NO ELDERS EVER OVERSAW ANYTHING AS ELDERS BUT THE FLOCK THAT WAS AMONG THEM: Acts 20:28 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the HolyGhost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 1 Pet 5:1 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind… E. Orphan and old folks homes West of the Mississippi River are overseen by elders of the local church but su-ported by many other churches. F. The Herald of Truth radio and television program is an organization larger than the Highland church in Abilene Texas and is supported by hundreds of other churches through the Highland eldership. (They, then, are brotherhood elders overseeing a brotherhood treasury which is un-scriptural). VI. NO FIRST CENTURY CHURCH EVER PLANNED ANY KIND OF SOCIAL OR RECREATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ITS MEMBERS: A. Such was actually condemned: 1 Cor 11:22 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 1 Cor 11:34 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. VII. NO FIRST CENTURY CHURCH EVER TRIED TO ACTIVATE THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL: A. The church universal is made up of individual Christians, not congregations. We are branches in a vine (Jn. 15). We are members of a body (1Cor 12:27). We are children in a family (Eph 2:19 Eph 3:15). B. The liberals think the universal church is made up of all congregations. C. The universal church has no organization and no work to do on earth. 1. In the 1950’s Yater Tant and E. R. Harper had two debates on the Herald of Truth radio program.(Lufkin and Abilene Texas). a. The Herald of Truth radio program is under the oversight of the Highland St. church in Abilene Texas and is supported by over a thousand churches sending their money to the Highland church elders. b. One of Harper’s arguments was this: “The Catholics have the Catholic hour, The Lutherans have the Lutheran hour, so why can’t we have the church of Christ hour.” (1) This is an erroneous effort to activate the church universal erroneously thought to be made up of all congregations. (2) Such a program violates the autonomy and independence of each local church, and makes the universal church made up of all congregations, and destroys the independence and autonomy of the local churches and would make the Herald of Truth the official voice of the church of Christ universal.l (3) This would activate the church universal, and make the Herald of Truth a work of the universal church. Whatever errors were preached would be interpreted as the official position of the churches of Christ. (4) This actually happened. The Highland church has women leading singing, waiting on the Lord’s table, and taking the Lord’s supper on days other than the first day of the week, making it a common meal at $5 a plate. (5) This demonstrates the necessity of the autonomy and independence of the churches of Christ. VIII. NO CHURCH EVER ENGAGED IN GENERAL BENEVOLENCE (THE SOCIAL GOSPEL): A. There will always be poor people in the world that deserve benevolent help. Mar 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good…\ B. There will always be widows and orphans that need to be helped. C. But the benevolent work of the church is limited to destitute members of the church. 1 Tim 5:16 16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. D. Passages that are misused to try to justify the church engaging in general benevolence. 1. Jam 1:27 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself un-spotted from the world. a. Note the context: vs. 26: Jam 1:26 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. b. Now note that the masculine gender and the subject of religion are carried over to vs. 27 (“pure religion” and “himself”). James 1:27 KJV 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (Where is the church ever referred to as “himself,” The church is the bride of Christ, not his husband!! c. Am I saying that the church cannot practice “pure and undefiled religion”? d. No! The church can practice pure and undefiled religion that is authorized by the scriptures; destitute widows and orphans who are its responsibility, members of the church. What one keeps is in his own power can be used as he/she sees fit (Acts 5:4). e. The funds collected on the first day of the week are for the execution of the church’s mission which is limited to Evangelism,Edification, and Benevolence. Individuals can practice general benevolence, but not the church. f. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. g. Look at the context: 2. Gal 6:1-10 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 3. 2 Cor 9:13 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men. (men is supplied by the translators and is not necessary and misleading). a. Observe the context. b. It would be impossible for the Corinthian church to have distributed to “all men.” The addition of the word “men” by the translators is responsible for the confusion. c. Unbelievers would hardly glorify God because the Macedonian Christians were subject to the gospel of Christ. d. Vs. 14 says 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. e. This would have unbelievers praying and thanking God for the grace of God that was bestowed upon the Macedonian Christians. f. The passage means that the contributing churches had helped not only the Jerusalem brethren but all others like them. (1) A rule of Greek grammar confirms this. 2 Cor 9:13 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all. (a) In such a grammatical construction, all has the same nature as the nearest noun or pronoun. The nearest pronoun to all is “them” which has the same characteristics as the ”them” which is needy saints. CONCLUSION: 1. Satan is always looking for a way to lead the churches astray. He attacks where men would think it makes no difference. Or where they would think the end justifies the means. 2. Some brethren’s desire to be like the denominations makes them easy prey for Satan’s temptations in the areas studied in this lesson. 3. The price of safety is eternal vigilance and adhering to the pattern. James P. Needham 1600 Oneco Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 05:25:10 +0000
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