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(continued,
previous page)
 The
people of God are those who hear, believe, and obey the call of
the gospel of Christ (2 Thes. 2:14, Acts 2:37-41). Generally
speaking, we are either in darkness (in sin, unacceptable
unto God), or we are in the light (in truth, acceptable).
Those who are acceptable unto God are described or designated by
a multitude of figures, each emphasizing some particular
characteristic of the saints. God’s people are LIKE workers in
His vineyard, LIKE soldiers in His army, LIKE sheep in His
flock. These are not different relationships — they are
applied to the same people. When one becomes a branch upon
Christ, the vine, he also becomes a lively stone, built upon
Christ, the foundation. He enters one acceptable relationship,
variously described by these figures.
Each
figure has its own language or terminology. One is built upon
the foundation, when God’s people are LIKENED unto a building;
but he is born, when God’s people are LIKENED unto a family.
It would be a mixing of figures to say one was born into a vine,
or enlisted in a flock, or built into a family. If “born of
God” is a mystical, “better-felt-than-told” process, then
so is that of becoming a worker in the Lord’s vineyard, or a
runner in the Christian race.
In
each of these figures Christ is put in the prominent position.
He is King in the kingdom, Shepherd of the flock, elder brother
in the family, and head of the body. His position is not simply
an honorary one, but its importance is established by its
function. As head of the body He directs its activities;
as King, He rules all
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who will be subject to Him, who therefore make up His
kingdom. He is the vine that gives life to each branch, and
without whom there can be no fruit. He protects the sheep, and
directs and pays the laborers. Christ is the foundation upon
which each building block depends.
It
is also important to note that in every figure the unit is an individual.
“If a man abide not… he is cast forth as a branch.”
Members of the body are saints, not congregations. The family of
God is a “brotherhood” not a “churchhood.” His kingdom
is made up of citizens, not of “communities” (as Campbell
thought). This is a vital point. It establishes the direct
relationship of saints to Christ. Our primary obligation
is to be faithful to Christ, not to the church. The true church
is not the object of our faith, but the result of
faithfulness to Christ. It is the duty of each saint to maintain
that faithfulness, and a faithful church will be the result of
such fidelity.
Most
figures have a central theme, and are given to teach a single
point. When God’s people are likened unto a kingdom, RULE is
the theme — God rules, through Christ, in the hearts of His
people. But we may be told, “The kingdom is like —“ a
treasure — in value; or leaven — the way it is spread; or
mustard seed — which from a small start produce big things. We
should never make more of the figure than is obvious in its
context.
Finally,
no figure teaches a permanent relation. Our position in each is
subject to our remaining faithful.
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