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CHURCH - The ECCLESIA

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The mystery of godliness is referred to as (Greek: Eusebeia) meaning a holy, reverent and personal relationship with God that leads the believer into growth in holiness.

1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."


1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness


Religion is (Strong's 2356)(Greek: threskeia) meaning religious worship, especially external, that which consists of ceremonies religious discipline, and ritual
Ac 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Ga 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: Ga 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Spoken only in a favorable way in James which indicates an outworking of faith, not ritualistic church service.
Jas 1:26 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. Jas 1:27 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.



PURPOSE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH of BELIEVERS


Too much emphasis in the American Evangelical Churches has been placed on religion and not enough on godliness. Religion emphasizes leadership. Godliness emphasizes servanthood. Religion emphasizes church rituals over worship in Spirit & Truth to Jesus. Religion stresses building funds over the support of our pastors and missionaries. Religion emphasizes unscriptural traditions of men. Godliness emphasizes the exaltation of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and growth in holiness.

The purpose of the Christian Church, (Ecclesia "meaning called out ones" - church consists of believers, not buildings in which they meet, is the following:
a. To build a believer's personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through corporate praise and worship
b. building our personal relationship with Jesus through the anointed teaching and preaching of God's Word
c. through the fellowship of the saints, Jesus Blood is continually cleansing us from all sin - 1 John 1:7

Some things that the true church is not:
1. a social club
2. a "House of God" that burdens Christians with service and rituals that are interfering with the believer's relationship with Jesus
3. entertainment designed to make us "feel holy"
Also, many Christians expect to receive from their Church things that only can be provided to them by Our Lord Jesus Christ.


R. Cody Smith’s site, walk-this-way.com.
Brother Smith & his family are missionaries in Mexico. I would recommend that you read their call for a Second Reformation. The 15 points outlined by Wolfgang Simson is very much needed in the Christian Church today.


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MAIN TOPICS

  • Sunday Sabbath

    Colossians 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:"
    No Sabbath for Christians

    Evangelical Churches may not technically keep Sunday as a "Christian Sabbath" but many command that this day be set aside to the Lord. This is reinforced by the tradition of two Sunday services. The idea of a "Christian Sabbath" comes to us from the Church of Rome which made attendance at their Sunday mass as obligatory under pain of mortal sin. This is a great assurance of Sunday church attendance for Roman Catholics. However, we should be attending Church out of love for Jesus, not out of obligation to ritual. If Christian Churches want to honor the Sabbath (not as a means of salvation but out of a personal respect), they should set aside Saturday, not Sunday. God ordained the Sabbath for the seventh day. He never changed His mind. ( No, I am not a Seventh Day Adventist)

    Having lived my Christian life in Baptist and in Pentecostal churches, I have made these observations:

  • I am able to worship Jesus in spirit & in truth in the Pentecostal environment. I have been in some Pentecostal churches in which the worship did turn into carnal displays, however, when guided by the worship director,such outbursts seldom occur.

    Worship services in Baptist Churches, in comparison, appear to be choirs performing for attendees. Worship is strictly formal, lacking warmth and spontaneity.

  • I commend my Baptist brethren who emphasize the Word of God, first through teaching (Matt 28:20) then through preaching (Mark 16:15). The entire Baptist service has at its center Sunday School first, then preaching. This emphasis can be seen in how much value Baptist Deacons put into their Sunday School rooms rather than in their "sanctuaries".
    I have seen the results in the members who generally are more Bible literate than believers in the average Pentecostal church. Teaching the Word of God should never be superceded with preaching (exhortation) since preaching was intended to spread the Gospel. Peter preached to unbelievers (Acts 2:40) exhorting them in faith in Jesus. Once these believers were saved,"they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine" ("doctrine" means teaching) (Acts 2:42)

  • God's Word from God's mouth will not return unto Him void-ISAIAH 55:11

    Too often ministers will misquote this scripture by stating that "God's Word will not return unto Him void..." The key phrase that is omitted here is "from God's mouth".
    God will anoint his ministers to speak His Word from the power of His Holy Spirit. This is accomplished through the man of God who studies God's Word, prepares Godly messages, delivers the whole counsel of God(Acts 20:27), and prays for God's anointing. This does not happen through the man of God who who is lazy, slack or afraid to deliver the whole counsel of God.


  • A Building referred to as the "House of God" or "The Temple of God"

    Acts 17:24 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is the Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;"
    Our God dwells in believers who have received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
    2 Corinthians 6:16 "...for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
    1Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
    It is wrong and unscriptural to refer to church buildings as the "House of God" or the "temple of God" . This kind of unscriptural rhetoric occurs within the Body of Christ when church buildings and building programs are given prominence over the Gospel and God's people.

  • How Christian Pastors are to treat their flocks:

    Pastors are given to us as gifts from God.
    Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
    Luke 22:25-26 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."
    Therefore, the faithful Pastor will serve Jesus Christ by serving his flock in focusing their devotion upon Jesus and preaching and teaching them the whole counsel of God.

    The concept of the pastor as the untouchable head of the church is ecclesiastical nonsense. The elders of the assembly have authority over the flock and are to serve them as shepherds. The idea of a single head pastor/elder is not found in the New Testament Church. We only find this developing as the Church became corrupted. The Apostle Peter gives us direction regarding the relationship of elders to the flock in 1 Peter 5:1-4 "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

    Notice that Peter is calling himself a "fellow elder" not the senior bishop, head overseer or chief under-shepherd. These are carnal titles that have been superimposed upon the Church by men and their traditions. There is no scriptural precedent (other than how it is read into the Word by ecclesiastical authorities) for an infallible head pastor. That's papacy on a smaller scale. The faithful pastor will be a man who knows he is called to be a servant and one who is under authority of the elders of the local church. If that doesn't line up with the ecclesiology of a particular denomination, it matters not. It lines up with the Word of God

    Acts 20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

    Too often Pastors will tell their flocks true statements, such as "Jesus loves you", without preaching an anointed word that will convict believers and encourage them to holier living through continual cleansing and repentance from sins in their lives. Sometimes these Pastors preach this way because, if they don't, a majority of deacons or elders may ask that minister to resign. The faithful Pastor will remember that He is called by God, not by men, to his vocation. He must please God even when his messages displeases many men. Many times the very message that draws negative response from Church members is the very word that they needed to hear.

    Spiritual abuse is increasing in many churches. The ways of recognizing it and how to deal with it: CBN's articles on Spiritual Abuse


    The Prophet Jeremiah was called by God to speak dire warnings to his people that were not heeded. As a result, many of his contemporaries hated Jeremiah even while they watched his prophetic warnings come true before their eyes. In spite of this Jeremiah was able to say to Almighty God: "As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; Thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before Thee."Jer 17:16

    The faithful Pastor will be a minister and servant of God's Word, not a critic of the Word of God. For this reason the apostles requested that the first deacons be selected in order to handle temporal needs in the local church body in order that the apostles might not lose focus of their principal calling.

    Acts 6:3-4 "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."


    To the pastors who read this, take courage for the Lord has promised His faithful pastors a crown:
    "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: 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; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time..." 1 Peter 5:1-6


  • Women Pastors

    There has arisen in some churches a compromise with the world and its value system as the Church seeks to accommodate the women's liberation movement and the values of the National Organization of Women. In the secular workplace, if women do the job of men, they should receive the same compensation and opportunities for promotion. The Church, however, is not a natural organization but a spiritual organism. The Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that women are not to pastor churches
    1 Tim 2:12-14 "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression."
    I am familiar with the teaching that Paul meant these words only for his time and the customs of his time. If that were true, Paul would not have appealed to the Garden of Eden to explain his statement. PSALM 33:11 -- “The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

  • How Christians are to treat their Pastors:

    1. 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."

    We are to submit -Strong's 5226 Greek: hupeiko (to yield, be "weak") to resist no longer, but to give way, to yield to authority and admonition of the spiritual authority of our pastor and elders.

    2. Christians are not to elevate a pastor upon a pedestal nor are they to treat their pastors as doormats misunderstanding the pastoral position of servanthood.
    Many members of evangelical churches have gravitated between these two extremes.

    3. Christians are to contribute to the support of their pastors generously
    It is a disgrace within the Body of Christ that Christian pastors and missionaries generally constitute one of the poorest vocational groups in our society. Evangelical pastors and missionaries with families to support have not taken a vow of poverty. However, many of them are living as though they have.

    1Co 9:9 "For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?"

    1Ti 5:18 "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward."

    We are strongly encouraged to support the work of missionaries preaching the gospel through the example of the Philippians towards the Apostle (and greatest missionary recorded in the New Terstament)
    Phil 4:10-19 "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 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. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

  • Church Building Programs

    Too often Christian resources are directed to buildings rather than to the support of pastors and missionaries. Christian support of buildings did not enter the early church until after 325AD. The concept of placing resources in building programs above the support of missionaries was unheard of in the New Testament Church.Church buildings are now multi-million dollar edifices that drain the local church of its resources needed to obey Jesus' commands to preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15), teach all nations (Matt 28:19-20) and be witnesses for Him to the uttermost parts of the world (ACts 1:8) Building programs should accrue money and expand when they can pay fully. The Word of God warns us against debt:
    Rom 13:8 "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." and
    Prov 22:7 "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
    Judging from the large amounts of Church debt on building programs, we have many Christian leaders who have disregarded these Scriptures. In the August, 2003 issue of Charisma magazine an article described an Evangelical Church in Nicaragua that just completed the construction of a multi-million dollar church building and is now looking at buying a "prayer mountain". This is done in a country where the average annual per capita income is $2500 and 50% of the population is under the poverty line. I don't want to chastise only the American pastor in Nicaragua for such an extravagant waste of resources when this practice is so commonplace in American Evangelical Churches. Where indebtedness is involved in a church building project, money is being taken from missionary and evangelical outreaches. The excesses of these building programs compared to the financial support of missionaries are a scandal and a shame.

  • Each Christian believer is given at least one gift and a calling by the Holy Spirit in order to build the living Body of Christ and to serve each other in humility. Please keep in mind that the artificial distinction between "clergy" and "laity" present in our churches today is foreign to the early church in the Acts of the Apostles.


    No such distinction existed until approximately 300 years after the death of the last Apostle.

    1Corinthians 7:7 "For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that."
    1Corinthians 14:12 "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."

    Ephesians 4:7 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

    1Corinthians 12:20-31 "But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."

    These scriptures are preceding the great chapter on Christian love (Greek: agapao) in 1 Corinthians 13. From these scriptures it is clear that each member of the local Body of Christ has a role to play in the church. When one member fails to perform his/her service to the Lord in the Church, others, usually the pastor, become overly burdened. Sadly this is the case in most of our evangelical churches today where 20% of the members perform 80% of the labor. I warn each believer (including myself) to avoid being spectators in the local church and begin to function in your gift and calling. We will all account for our use of these gifts before our Lord Jesus Christ at the Bema someday. I beseech you to be faithful in your church service and not to be found wanting at the Judgment Seat of Christ where the works of each believer (not their salvation) will be tested.

    This failure in the Body of Christ has caused some pastors and active church members to become "burned out", broken and disillusioned through overwork and unnecessary burdens placed upon them, on their personal relationships with Jesus and with their families.

    I also strongly encourage each believer to determine his/her gift and calling. Through a prayer of faith, God is pleased to reveal His wisdom in this matter to us (James 1:5). Since the Holy Spirit has given each of us a gift and calling, it is His perfect will for us to know what they are and to use them under His guidance for the edification of the Body of Christ. I also strongly urge each believer to avoid church work that is outside of his/her calling simply because it "needs to be done". There are a great many well-intentioned activities in the evangelical churches that are unnecessary wastes of time and human energy. Such activities do not glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, do not assist the poor, do not reach out to the lost and do not edify other church members. Abstain from these superfluous activities or functions to which you have not been called.


    DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SAY NO WHEN ASKED TO PERFORM A CHURCH SERVICE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CALLING. YOU ARE NOT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST TO WIN ANYONE'S APPROVAL EXCEPT THE APPROVAL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

    CHURCH - ECCLESIA - Page Two

    GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
    Believer's Position "IN CHRIST"

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