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 Dear
bro. Turner:
Some
churches are having a “Youth Church” — that is while they
have regular worship the children have a separate worship of
their own. Is such a thing scriptural? Mrs. F. L.
Reply:
Young
people mature enough to need and obey the gospel are as much
members of the congregation as anyone, and should assemble with
the rest of the saints for worship. When “fellowship” is
made more narrow (youth) or more wide (non-saints) than those
who walk with Him in light (1 Jn. 1:6-f) someone is claiming to
know more than God about what is a “good thing.”
(2) Is there any way a Children’s Home
can be run by the church and be scriptural?
The
church does not “run” Homes. Home management and care, is a
function of parents (Eph. 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 5:8, 11-14 Titus 2:4-5).
A man must “rule well his own house” (1 Tim. 3:4) before his
appointment; as a part of his domestic function and not in his
capacity as bishop in a church.
When
a home unit becomes dependent (unable to supply its own needs)
the church may, under certain circumstances, give alms (1 Tim.
5:5, 16 Acts 4:34-f; 6:1-4). But there is nothing in the
scriptures to justify setting up a general welfare institution,
calling it a “Home,” then asking many churches to “fund”
it for seeking and caring for general welfare needs. Such is no
more a “home” than a city restaurant with a “Home Cooking”
sign. Don’t be deceived by terminology.
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General
welfare is the responsibility of the individual — before
he becomes a saint, and afterwards. It is a humanitarian
obligation, ours by virtue of our relation to our
fellow-creatures (Lu. 10:29-37 Rom. 1:28-31; i.e., even the
Gentiles, without the codified law, were to be merciful).
Becoming a Christian intensifies such obligations (Col.
3:17-25), but does not make them the work of the local church.
There is little use to write more, as this is enough for those
who wish to study the matter; and others closed their eyes two
paragraphs back.
(3) What are the “works” of James 2:
24? Are these men‘s works?
It
seems you are confusing this context with that of Rom. 4:2-f.
James is speaking of works or “fruits” of faith -- the
inevitable result of our absolute trust in God; while Paul is
speaking of the result of man’s ill-placed trust in himself.
(Hope you read carefully last month’s article on Rom. 9.)
There is no contradiction in Paul and James. The context is far
from the same, hence the words must not be given an
interchangeable use.
We
are saved by faith in Christ — a faith which submits
our will to His in humble obedience. In fact, the promises of
the gospel are “at the point” so to speak, of this
faith-produced obedience (Acts 2:38-42 Heb. 5:9; Acts 22:16). In
our refusal to obey we evidence a lack of the kind of faith that
saves. (See Gal. 5:6).
Rom.
4: refers to a system of works or law, where justification is
possible only through sinless perfection.
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