This letter was to point out some errors in the Amish Mennonite circles that have slipped back in after leaving the Catholic Church.................Dear friend and seeker of the truth Greetings to you in the name of Jesus, The christ, Our Lord and our Savior, The Son of God, The Christ that had been prophesied for 4000 years to Adam and Eve and all the Prophets, The Messiah,the one who fullfilled these prophsies 2000 years ago, who lives even now, sitting at the right hand of God. Revealing Himself to all of us, by His power, The Holy Spirit, Who will Himself return (when no one knows) to judge the Quick and the dead. Simon Lee recieved a letter with many scripture verses to prove there is to be church order. I so totally agree there is to be church order. But do the Scriptures support the chuch order that has become the order of the day here in 2010? By or while reading this, please keep in mind that I think that we are not strict enough, I believe the law of God is much stricter than any of our modern churches call for, It calls for a 100% everything to Christ. I have come to love this truth and total trust to Christ. With Church order as Christ set it there are no fakers in the Church. Now congregations will have fakers, ackually Jesus called them hypocrits . They are in good standing with church standards. These are people who wear the meekest clothes, Just as a true member of the church of Christ. They will spend $1000s to make a machine run on a differant power or make something a differant color, or a differant style that is not any more or less modest. We make these rules to follow, but if we are not born again doing good is sin. We have become like the Jews in ......... Ro 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Ro 10:3 For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. If we want rules , let us use the ones Jesus gave us like ................ Lu 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. This is the kind of church we see in Acts. We want to claim to be the same church, but we teach other things. We make rules to see we are right, instead of letting Gods Spirit ,witness to our spirit, that we are childern of God. We make rules that are Opinions of our leaders, or those who have the rule over us, When Jesus said, it is not to be so among us. We need to look at Gal. 5. When we make manmade rules we end up with the mess he described in verse 15. Ga 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Ga 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. But we make rules anyway, and justify ourselves and say they are bible based. ARE THEY? Let us look at the scriptures that have been brought forth to prove there is to be church structure, as we have. Mt 16:19 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. In the verse before he says on this Rock. Is he talking of Peter? Why was this said to Peter? If this rock is Peter, could he pass this on to the next rock that he choose, or by lot? Is this rock the church leaders? What are the keys? Do church leaders get them when they are ordained? Can anyone else have the keys to the Door of heaven? Where are they got from? If we look at a ccouple verses before as in............. Mt 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Mt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Mt 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Mt 16:18 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. Mt 16:19 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. By reading this scripture I do not see anything of our churches of 2010 with our levels of authority. I see, When God from heaven reveals to us, we accept and believe as Peter did we are blessed and we become a member of the Church of Christ. Peter said You are the Christ . This means the long awaited Messiah, the Savior , that had been promised all the way back to Adam and Eve. The Christ that all the prophets of the Old Teastament fortold of, The Christ to take away the sin of the world. The only one that was good enough to pay for a world of sin......This knowledege is the KEY to HEAVEN. Now we can accept this and it will be bound in heaven OR we can loose this and it will be loosed . But I am talking about KNOW! not the same way that we know who the world says santa is. You know the fat man that comes down the chimney, or who the easter bunny is, that hides eggs. If this is how we know Jesus as the son of God he will do us about as much good as the easter bunny. But if we KNOW Jesus as Peter did, He will save us to the uttermost. This is what will make us look to Him as the childern of Isreal looked to the brass serpent. This is how Jesus told Nicodemus we must be born again. Read JOHN 3 very slowly , prayerfully and carefully. The next scripture I see on the list is. Mathew 18,18 let us look. Mt 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. This is very clear but is it the Order of our Churches? We will have to go back up to verse 15, to see what led to 18. Mt 18:15 ¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. This is if someone ackually trespasses against us. This is a fault against me. Not my nieghbor, not my dad,not the church, not the law, not the ministers, not anyone but us! And we are to go ALONE. If we believe in his order, we will live by it and it will be bound in heaven: if we want to be loosed from this burden of obideance than that will be recorded in heaven as well. Many run and tell a grieviance to others or the ministry first. It should never have to be known by all the church members, because if we become agreed in any one thing, that is the will of God, IT SHALL BE DONE! We know his will of forgiveness, and if we agree to forgive it is fogiven. as in verse 19 Mt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. The desiples understood this meant concerning forgiveness. This troubed Peter, he than asked the fatal question. in verse 21 Mt 18:21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Now here is Peter, the one that was given the KEYS to theKingdom of heaven wanting a rule to go by. Ok tell us how often . Seven times ? Jesus gave him an answer that still stands for all of us that have the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Mt 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. This is from the heart forgiveness! What are we binding? This is the only way we can feel the peace which passeth understanding. I see another verse to prove church order John 20;23 Joh 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. Do we try to say the ministry should now forgive or not forgive as they see fit, from a passage like this? I believe Jesus was summing up what he came to teach. What did it mean? lets start in verse 19 Peace be onto you verse 20 He proves who he is verse 21 Peace be onto you, as I forgive you forgive verse 22 he breathed the Holy Spirit on them, ( so they could forgive) verse 23 If they forgive so it is in heaven, If not, than it was not This is what Jesus was teaching them, he revealed who he was, The Son of the Living God, Crucified and risen. He breathed the Holy Spirit on them. No other way can we KNOW Jesus, or may be I should say it the other way around. He made it clear again that they needed to forgive, For there is a record in Heaven, the loosed and the unloosed. He was not telling them they could decide if we wear suspenders or not and it would be bound in heaven, or black shoes or a whole list of other things that , congregations say. so they can tell whether people are righteous or not. There are some very clear scriptures to back up the truth on this matter. Ac 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; Ac 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. But we make rules anyway, We spend extra money to do things in an inconvenient way, we have done it for so long we think there is a form of Holiness in it. WHY? could it be........ If a congregation or church calls for this they are not a congregation that is part of the bride of Christ. They are really no more than a country club that agree on a certain mode of conduct for the sake of RECONGNITION. One of the sins in the building in the tower of Bable. The Bible teaches to be a peculiar people. It also tells us how. Such as when someone slaps us on the cheek turn the other also. Sell your goods and give to the poor.Work with the hands so we have to give. Go the extra mile. If someone steals ask it not again.. Dont speak evil of dignitaries, Love your neighbor as yourself. A born again person needs no other laws of man to be peculiar in the year 2010. The bible has plenty. This is what happens if we do it any way Ro 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Ro 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, I see another verse.. Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. This word could also be interpreted Guilds The same Greek word was used in Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. These Guilds will be talking and teaching what God taught. We are to consider the end of their conversation. Why are they guiding the way they are? Are they teaching liberty from sin in Christ, which is also a cross? A Slave to righteousness, born again, Saved by faith, new life, Verse 8 explains that we shall check these things. Jesus taught 2 people is the amount needed. Jesus is the same even now 2010 years later! Verse 8 makes it very clear. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. I think this is telling us they only taught what Jesus taught.If someone is doing this we can see, when we check what Jesus taught in thier lives and in thier teaching, But ANYTHING added is strange doctrine. I dont think this is a very good picture of our churches,,, And the strange thing is we use these verses to Justify what we do instead of what Jesus taught. We use these verses not seeing the condemnation they have for our churches of 2010, and the man made preferences that prevail. How can we do this , not retaining God in our Knowledge? God is one , Jesus and God are one. , we harp and harp about oneness, we than make a code or standard to live by and pretend we are one. Even pretend to not know the law of God. When we are faced with a situation we are programmed to think what will the ministry say or what will the brethren think. This is the first thing that comes to mind instead of retaining God in our knowledge. His law, is to be written in our heart. And that must be the only determining factor in our conduct that should rule us.Some times we dont do what we should for the fear of man. Or we do it and are than asked to confess before men that we have done wrong. When actually we have done what the Holy Spirit prompted us to do. Could this grieve the Holy Spirit? If we are one as Jesus and God , Jehovah even Jesus are one, we will never never never be found in the above mentioned situation ,,at least not twice. We cant find in the New Testament where Jesus softened the truth that he taught when people got offended. NOT EVEN FOR PEACE IN THE TEMPLE! If we confess before men that we have sinned on a matter that is not sin. And ask that the Precious Blood of Christ be used to cover this transgression we are taking the most Holy and beautiful thing (Grace) and making a mockery out of it. We are to SUBMIT to each other, But not to this point. We all know it is not sin to wash hands. But Jesus refused because it was commanded as a form of righteous ness. see...... Mr 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elder Mr 7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Mr 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? Mr 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Mr 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mr 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. The modern teaching in our churches is OH, just do what is asked youll never regret it!. .....................be care ful and consider.................... Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. {disobedience: or, unbelief} Col 2:16 ¶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 2Th 2:3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 1Jo 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. I see another reference of Titus 1-5-13 Let us look at verse 11 Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. Let us consider how this was being done. They were the religious people of the day, those of the circumcision; They had rules to measure their righteousness that were the commandments of men. Why would we or anyone else add to the law of God? I believe the reason than is the same as now. We are still human, we still like to look good, we want a good reputation and the Law of God is though. When we add we are subtracting. The Law of God is perfect. NOTHING can be added to make it better. This is how the perfect law reads................................. Mt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Lu 6:27 ¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Lu 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Mt 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Mt 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. John taught in Luke 3 Lu 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. The people wanted to know how the answer in verse 11 was clear. This answer was for the religious people of the day. They did things right. they followed the law or ordinances of the day, even the man made ones, The ones that made them look good and feel good. They gave tithe and offerings, they kept the Sabbath. They were Gods chosen people. They had Abraham for their Father. We can claim the same attributes to a certain extent. .................. We are of the plain people, we are keeping what our for fathers left back, We are a peculiar people. We dont follow the fashions of the world. We have rules that govern every or most parts of our lives, Yes even the color of shoes. How to cross the suspenders, What cut of dress coat, style of pants. rules on mode of travel. styles of our horse and buggy, or cars bumpers, or chrome or sunroofs or a whole long line and lists of dos and donts. But the same thing that was in the days of John the Baptist should still be the question for the religious people of the day. the answer is still the same also... Lu 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Lu 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Let us remember the bible is literally true. Yes the Whole thing. Not only the easy parts. Let us notice he didnt mention two Sabbath day coats! No, the number it two coats. And he didnt say extra meat , it says meat! We have become so fashionable that we dont think the law of God as taught by John the Baptist, The greatest born among woman or the teachings of Jesus apply to us now. We go into the writers like this letter from Paul to Titus and justify our way of life. Than we stop at verse 13 ,,,,,,,,,,,,Tit 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; If we dont finish it we are not teaching what Paul taught till we finish verse 14- 15 -16, Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. They were rebuked sharply. for adding Jewish Fables, For this type of teaching. They Thought the Law of God too hard. The leaders did not want to teach it any more. They made easy laws.(Ordinances) Maybe how far to shave the beard and all manner of commandments of men. They did not want to teach............................................... Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. I see the same thing happening in our Amish and conservative churches. We have rules by the bushel., We say they are bible based, but when I read where Jesus said if we love him we will obey him. But than we make rules to justify ourselves when we live in Luxury. While there are so many that have no coat and no meat. I think if we could receive a letter from Paul as Titus did he would say,,,,,,,,, Most people have followed after Amish and Mennonite fables, and the commandments of men, that turn from the truth and weaken the truth. For they love their comfort more than Christ. This reference was given to prove there is to be church order of some sort. I do so much agree. I believe this Order, The oversight that we see in Puals writings is the oversight the Four Gospels get preached. By the Bishop and the Elders, not this ruling over others to make sure everyone is a good light as we consider a good light. We worry so much about getting contaminated by a couple bad guys in the Congregation. That may not even be bad according to scripture. Do we believe the word of God is sharper than a two edged sword? Do we believe it can cut apart that which is spiritual from the carnal? So if we take oversight and make sure the word is preached, either we will get cut off from the carnal church or a carnal member will get converted or move on. I have heard say. yes but he dont move on. If that is the case, I believe the church is not as Holy as it claims or should be. They all have enough carnality so the carnal one does not move on, and the Power of God and the Word of God cant do what a Holy God says it will, and it is not because God is wrong, We truly are the only ones to blame. I see the next reference of 1Peter 5:2 1Pe 5:2 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; 1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over Gods heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. Lets look at the 1st. verse and lets see who was supposed to do this. The Greek word is (pres-bu-ter-os) and has 4. meanings. (1.) is comparative with a Greek word (pres-bus) meaning elderly, Older ,a senior. (2.)Used specifically for an Israilli sanhedrenist , the ones who condemned Jesus. (3.) Also it can mean , figureatively a member of the celestial concil (4.) A Christian presbyter wich means elder , oldest, or old Meaning (1.) and meaning (4.) would fit. He was not writing to the Sanhedianist, or to angles. (3.) could fit if we call a Born again believer a member of the Kingdom of heaven. This would than include all born again believers, not only the ones in the faith for a long time. I do believe Paul was not worried about the age as that it was someone that was Grounded in the faith as Jesus taught. Someone that will not weaken or make rules to soften the Gosple Jesus taught. Now this command was given to the Elders, More than one, and by these there is to be oversight, Over Sight of What? The flock of God? Or the feeding ? look close.... feed the flock of God, take oversight of getting it done, The next line tells us how, The next line how not. How could preaching be done for filthy lucre? I believe he is saying , dont soften the truth, so you can live in luxury and have praise of man. Dont do it as Lords or bosses, setting in rules or letting loose of the truth to serve your own cause, Do not decide what is Ok or not Ok as a Lord of the place. But teach as examples as what Christ taught. If we look at the chapter before this he was summing up what Christ taught. 1Pe 4:7 ¶ But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Notice verse 10 ( As every man) received so minister. verse 9 Give without grudging. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. Are we willing to give that way? To the bad? Or do we give grudgingly and than only to those that are in good standing with our fellowship or those willing to bow to our lordship. Do we want people to come to our order before we give. It is better to suffer because we shared our last food, than to suffer as an evil doer even though our good is evil spoken of. 1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: In the light of what we looked at what oversight should there be? Does the oversight and teaching of our congregations match with this oversight in 1Pe 5:2 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; The pastor that will feed us with knowledge as in Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: This is the Kingdom of heaven we can only see when we are born again. Are we in the last limes. than there are less and less left. Only a few that Love the truth. Only a few that take the cross daily and follow Jesus, the Christ, And where two or three of these gather, have the promise of Christ in their midst! Only a few that will share the last groceries, Only a few that are watching the sky with Glad expectation , because their treasure is in Heaven! What about all that fit the category of plain , Mennonite, Amish, Fellowship, Beachy, the list is endless, Living in more luxury than 95% of the world population. They are in the Church rule and standards , but are we fulfilling the law of LOVE. The Law of God. The next reference is Acts 16: 4-5 Ac 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. Ac 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. We can see what these decrees were..............Ac 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; Ac 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. Ac 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication God had them teaching , NO Idolatry, No Blood or meat with blood, no fornication. How does this compare with our standards now, is there any comparison? The next reference that was given . 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. Once again it is to FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD. Making sure no added doctrines come in, these false righteous nesses that look good to men but is disobedient to the prince able law of God. One that gets overridden so easy is , If we know to do good and do it not: it is sin. This as well as other sin has the penalty of death, even the sin of omission. he tells us what to be teaching in 2Ti 2:22 ¶ Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Does this look like our standard, Is that what we are teaching.????????/ New referance Php 1:1 ¶ Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: What is this office? lets look what these offices are...... 1Ti 3:1 ¶ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.................Something to be desired If we look at this verse , I see a man that loves the Truth with all his heart. He takes upon himself to point out when dangerous teachings show up , willing even at the cost of his reputation, The add ons that look so good , but lead and distract away from the truth. Let us notice the person fit for a Bishop rick, These are things that need to be , his children need to be in subjection. This may be because he believed while his childern were still young, But it does show that he was sincere in what he believed and his children trust him and he has the blessing of God , because of this honesty. 1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Let us notice the office of a Bishop and caring for the church is a different word than (RULEING) his own house, However many teach it to be the same see Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. They pervert the truth so cleverly useing scripture, even claiming they have the power to bind or loose things for others and the church, however they see fit! HOW AWFUL! The keys to heaven is the knowledge of who the Door is, and our need of Him. These Bishops that teach otherwise are wolves and teach all manner of things that keep peoples mind full of the laws of men. When we get faced with a situation our 1st. response, the question that flashes into our mind, the subconscious thought should be , What would Jesus do, Or what did Jesus say about this, Or what is the Princeable Law of God. Instead we are faced with, what will people think or what will the bishop say, or the ministry. A Bishop that is teaching with his mouth, his actions and his life. that to the pure all things are pure, see Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 1Co 10:23 ¶ All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. This Bishop is setting the judgment of God on each individual. each individual will have to seek the face of God and ask for guidance, thier first response in any situation will be to a Holy, Almighty, Living God who can and will guild each one of us in ALL TRUTH. the reference had been given to prove there should be bishops. I agree! The next reference I see is...Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. I believe this is any solid or older Christian person, (born again). This is a great verse and should be taught and practiced. but it has fell by the way side as uneffective because verses like the first one in the chapter are scipped and unpopular. Jas 5:1 ¶ Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Futher more it niether one of them prove chuch order of our modern churches is right , fact it shows the inconsitancies. Of these latterday teaching. The whole chapter 4 is what needs to be taught often like verse 7-8 Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. This is what the true church of God will be harping on, Not who has the authority over who, who has the Keys, or in what order does the word of God come, who s obedient to who and who is to submit to who. But who should teach these things? Jas 3:13 ¶ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 1Jo 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the I see it is to be every man and we need to teach all these things, So in other words get everyone connected to Jesus to follow his teachings. Nothing more nothing less. Masters and servants are brethern , 1 Tim 6 1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; We all submit one to another, Only if the action is wrong, according to Jesus, should we be dissatisfied with some ones actions, Our personal preference means NOTHING! Instead we teach things ,dos and dont and it causes divisions...... 1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. Most of these extra comandments perferances,and ordinances is a distraction so we can follow after the Love of money. If we love the Truth the Way and the Life, we will also love what he taught. We will take the four Gospels and LIVE them. If our faith is real and our Love is of God. We will have works , we will not find any pleasure in sin . Faith with out works are dead, But than again works done that are not of faith are dead also. ( If we do right because of a standard instead of the love (fear), of God it is not of faith ;therefore dead.) We can make rules to live by and produce a whole church full of workers. This will not produce faith and a love of the truth. But if there is and who has faith, there will be works out of a pure heart. WITHOUT RULES, BESIDES THOSE IN THE New Testament. And each one of us can have this faith as a free gift by hating or loathing our life, Seeing what we are in the Eyes of a Holy ,Living, Eternal God and how little or nothing we have to offer to God. @ Feel our lost condition. We must hate our dirty rags of man made righteousness. All the things we have gathered, our Goodly pearls. Such as all those thing we do to BECOME righteous, Such as being in same church every Sunday, Our plain way of dressing to be peculiar or to become righteous, Our duties in Church function, Obedience to parents, ( even if they teach against scripture), Obedience to church standards MAN MADE ones, Great reverence to the ministry to the point of blind following, wearing a Jacket or mutza suit coat,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, But when we see the Kingdom Of God (Jesus) and recognize it as the Pearl of great Price, We will sell out all our other goodly pearls ( doing to become righteous) this is the cost or the Pearl of Great Price. We will than do because we are righteous, and not to become righteuos. When we have this pearl that has more value t5han our good orderly life. We will follow Jesus , We will go where the Spirit leads when we are born again AND committed. That is not very good church material for these man made churches, that should only be call congregations. Lets look what the Authority of the whole world and heaven has to say about it. Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit. Someone that is born of the Spirit has no set of doing what is right before God. ( it will never contradict the scriptures?) That is one of the reasons Jesus got in to so much trouble with the religious leaders of the day, He refused to come under their rules of doing things. The Spirit of God was upon him. He could see what made ordinances did and he made it clear what he thought of it, What God really sees. Those that are one with him will also and will be hated for it just as he was. I have heard people say that this type of people can never have a church. Too many people have tried . We must make rules to live by. This is hard to understand or believe in the face of what Jesus taught. But people keep teaching they have experience, they say they have seen it dont work. (could it be they do not know what the CHURCH looks like?) Thats why they keep teaching it dont work, man wisdom! Paul warns us about these smart people, the wisdom of men. Let us look at some of the scriptures.. 1Co 2:14 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. Carnal men say we must have rules or standards beyond scriptures to keep people in line. See what Paul says of this wisdom of these men with experience that over ride, add to or take away the Lords laws. 1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, 1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: With this powerful GODs, Holy Spirit to guild us, we will have a standard of conduct: that is far superior than any wise mans standard that can be derived. Regardless of experience. We must have the Holy Spirit to guild us. 2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. Not a righteousness we formulated by trial and error: of what works and dont work. This type of teaching hides the gosple according to Jesus. And where they follow other teaching it is because they are LOST! Read 2 Corintians 3 and 4 It looks very scary to do what Jesus said. The fact is the devil trys to scare us from doing right it looks too dangerous! Jesus taught about this making sure we are saving our life. What did he mean? Who ever wants everything intact, every thing in order. making rules to make sure, we are right; so we can SEE we are right! However if we want to be a follower of Jesus , (The Christ) we must deny ourselves this cut and dried life, we must deny the comforts of safe homemade righteousness. We must be willing to lose everything, These include, respect, a good reputation If we try to keep this all we will , according to Jesus lose our life. But if we are willing to lose our orderly life, and do so for the Love of Jesus and the Gosple he taught, Then and only than shall we save our eturnal life. We must be willing to lose our material possesions. Give to the one that has none , Without grudging! This is the cost of a safe soul, how much will we give in exchange for our soul? It is ours to barter, What will we retain? Our life of luxery, Our good name by the smart people of the world, retain the sins against us. The one we have a right to holding as the guy never asked forgiveness. These earthly thing Or our eturnal soul. Mr 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Mr 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels, the same shall save it. Mr 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? This is HARD good news! Yes this is a hard hard gosple. Most will not be able ! Lu 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Mt 7:21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. The Churches are about as wide as it gets from Pentecostal, Baptist, Catholic, Amish, Mennonite it dont matter where we look , each one claims to have THE TRUTH. Check the New Teastament. Check what Jesus taught. The Churches have a false Gosple that is being taught. They ask for submission to the church, The ministry, the standard or ordinances, This is all good and right as far as submission goes , Submission to Jesus is the Key. This submission is to be to Chtrist and the message He brought.... Yes this is a hard message a very undesireable message to us rich Americans and on top of that ; self righteous plain people. Oh how have we fallen so far since the days of the Anabaptist times. These rules in our churches tend to make us spend extra money. The devil has tricked us into thinking this is a form of piety. Someone starved to death while we spent extra money to do something that our chuch standard asked for, That is a man made prefeance in the first place. AND WE BELIEVE IT IS BOUND IN HEAVEN!!! All because we believe some wolf in sheeps clothes that is destroyng the law of God. Jesus dint like these an made laws either, even the one that might not have been any damage to do. It was the wicked system he was against. Mr 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mr 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Mr 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. The next verses is one of the miss taught verses to keep people in these doctrines of men. We must always honor mother and father. That is exactly what it means. The greek work means revere ,, We shall not in any way make our parents upset unless they are asking us to disobey the law of God. But these wolves say obey parents even if it is against Gods law. This is where they get it. Mr 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: The church now teaches,,, Father and mother must be obeyed and if they are wrong than they shall be held accountable. They will be held accountable but we will also be held accountable. But they teach only a part condoning the worshiping parents rather than God. (following what they say rather than the NT) Mr 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Jesus says everyone is accountable to the law of God. Mr 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: Jesus clearly taught if we love anything better than him we are not worthy of him, He makes sure we know what all this includes.............. Lu 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. How could he have made it any more clear? Back to will we lose our life for the sake of Jesus. What will we give in exchange for our soul. What are we binding what are we loosed from. are the sins remitted or are we retaining? Back to the reason for this letter. Should there be church order? Should there be Bishops and deacons? should there be elders and overseers. Is there to be a church? The and answer is YES! But according to the New testament will it look what has become known as church? Will it look like our churches of 2010? churches of ease and luxury? No I dont think so. How can we have a congregation as taught in the scriptures? Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we SEE the Church. Only by the power of God, the same power that sent Jesus to die and raised on the third day. The CHURCH is made up of those that are Filled with the Holy Spirit. And there by, willing to Obey the Law of God. And this Same Spirit will guild us in ALL truth. Are we past Hope? Not if we are still breathing, lets all repent and live for Jesus. Only by the Power of God poured out in our lives can we say. God take my life, Im done with it. Ill go where you say, Yes Ill go alone ,Yes I am willing to lose my family for your sake, Yes Ill go with no Money, Yes I trust you completely Lord , And I know you have ALL power in heaven and earth. Yes Lord I dont know how but I trust you to show when and how, I know people say it is not safe and cant be done , But Ill do it for you Lord because I trust you only, Yes Lord even the hard part , Ill leave father and mother, yes Lord brothers and sisters. Yes Lord just give me the grace to be evil spoken of those I love most,, for your sake Jesus. Just cleanse me and strengthen be For your Glory and Honor . Amen!
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:09:48 +0000
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