|
 Remember
the song, “One In A Row”? Now that’s a big “one,” a
very plural one; but no more so than the individual who
constitutes a church. (Since the church is made up of individual
saints, then one saint is the church; just like one cow is a
herd, and one sheep is a flock. It is really quite simple. once
you get the hang of it.)
And
if God authorizes a saint to do a thing — as a parent, as a
citizen, as a secular laborer (Col. 3:17f) then surely the same
is authorized as a “church” activity, to be supported by the
church treasury. If Christian parents are to give their children
a good secular education, under environment conducive to their
well-being as Christians, then surely the church treasury can be
used to support the college. If the saint, as a citizen, has
obligations to civil government, surely the church treasury can
be used to promote political aims. Since a saint labors “with
his hands” so he may have to give to him that needeth (Eph.
4:2k) surely the church can go into secular business in order to
render benevolent assistance.
I
am fully aware that today many preachers, elders, saints
will accept all of the above facetiously offered arguments (?)
without an objection. (Well, a few might hang up on the cow and
sheep bit.) But I have put these fallacies into print in the
hope that some who accept the conclusions may pause to study
their false base. Is it not possible that God might give
certain instructions to saints for their activities as a “team”
(local church) which He does not enjoin upon them in their many
other capacities?
|
|
When
brethren argue “the church is not the home” does this not
recognize distinctive activities and rules for saints in these
different realms? By what authority then do some band many
churches together to operate and/or support general welfare
institutions? It must he something more than scripture that
instructs a saint in his capacity as parent or citizen.
One
saint is NOT a church — even a plurality of saints are not
always a church. Matt. 18:16-17 proves that a plural its of
saints may do a thing in some capacity other than the church.
And God gives certain responsibilities to individual saints, and
of these responsibilities says, “Let not the church be
charged.” (1 Tim. 5:16). Ignore these clear scriptural
distinctions, and the peculiar and distinctive function of the
church as a functional entity is destroyed. AND, ignore or deny
the functional entity of the local church (as do writers in the
Sentinel of Truth magazine) and such passages are left
meaningless.
The
church IS God’s people, the “called-out” ones. As a whole
they are given no “catholic” (universal) organization or
function. But such as can work and worship together — as a “team”
— are encouraged to do so. (Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 14:23-25) They
are given necessary instructions concerning oversight, servants,
etc., (Titus 1:5-f; 1 Tim. 3:1-13); and by precept and example
are shown their function. (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 1l:22-f; Phil.
4:15; 2 Cor. 11:22-f; 1 Tim. 5:16)
“Anything
a saint may do, a local church may do! “is clearly an error.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
