America
needs heroes. People we can look up to and imitate. As a youngster, I
admired Superman, Mickey Mays, Hank Aaron and Dwight Eisenhower. In
those days, America was the shining star in a world full of misery.
Truth, Justice and the American way was more that a saying from
Superman, it was a way of life. Most of all, America was a religious
nation; everyone went to church and tried to genuinely follow the
Christian example. As I grew into adulthood, I came to admire Jesus
and have done my best to follow his teachings.
As
I consider these things, the following passage from the book of John
comes to mind…
John
1 ( World English
Bible )
1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
2
The same was in the beginning
with God.
3
All things were made through
him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.
4
In him was life, and the life
was the light of men.
5
The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
6
There came a man, sent from
God, whose name was John.
7
The same came as a witness,
that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through
him.
8
He was not the light, but was
sent that he might testify about the light.
9
The true light that enlightens
everyone was coming into the world.
10
He was in the world, and the
world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
11
He came to his own, and those
who were his own didn’t receive him.
12
But as many as received him,
to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who
believe in his name:
13
who were born not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14
The Word became flesh, and
lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only
Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15
John testified about him. He
cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes
after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
16
From his fullness we all
received grace upon grace.
17
For the law was given through
Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18
No one has seen God at any
time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has
declared him.
Jesus:
from creator to human form to teacher, healer and God’s emissary,
Jesus and only Jesus stands above every other human that has ever
walked on this earth. His life on this planet is an example for all
to follow and his death was nothing less than the deliverance from
sin for all who will truly obey God.
In this series, so far we have considered the challenges of...
Authority In Religion
Denominationalism
Sectarianism
Factionalism
Traditionalism
Secularism
Each of these contribute toward changing the church...
Into something very different than Jesus intended
Creating churches that are more worldly than spiritual
[Most of these challenges have a long history in confronting the church.
A more recent challenge confronting the church is that of
institutionalism...]
THE DEFINITION OF INSTITUTIONALISM
CHURCH SUPPORT OF HUMAN INSTITUTIONS...
"...the doctrine or practice of a church sending money to an
institution of some kind in order to carry out some work that
the church has deemed worthy of support."
- Ryan Waldron
"... this may include supporting missionary organizations,
orphan's homes, nursing homes, schools, other churches, even
political organizations." - ibid.
SUCH INSTITUTIONS ARE PARACHURCH ORGANIZATIONS...
"The parachurch is effectively a new form of religious
organization that dates from the early 19th century."
- William McDonald, Parachurch Organizations
"In the first quarter of the 19th century, parachurch
organizations were abundant in many forms -- Bible tract
societies, independent educational organizations, independent
missionary groups, and moral reform organizations." - ibid.
"The defining characteristic of a parachurch is that it stands
outside of the organizational structure of well-established
religious bodies." - ibid.
"Parachurches are often the creation of an entrepreneur or a
small cadre of people who seek to achieve specific goals."
- ibid.
THE ISSUE OF INSTITUTIONALISM...
The goals of such institutions are certainly noble:
evangelism, benevolence, edification, etc.
The issue in this study is not whether such institutions have
a right to exist
The issue is whether local churches should support them out of
their treasury
[Is institutionalism really a challenge confronting the church? Some
consider it a blessing: "Look at all the good churches can do through
parachurch organizations!" But consider some thoughts regarding...]
THE PROBLEM WITH INSTITUTIONALISM
PERSONAL CONCERNS...
It has no scriptural support
There is no example of NT churches sending money to human
institutions as a way of carrying out their work of
evangelism, edification, or benevolence
The practice began in the 19th century (see above)
It gives oversight of the local church's work to those not itselders
Human institutions are governed by board members, CEOs, or
other individuals
Churches outsource their work and their oversight by giving
to such organizations
It turns local churches into collection agencies for man-madeorganizations
Institutions appeal for churches to support their
organizations
The local church thus becomes a mini "United Way" for human
institutions
It tends to denominationalize the church
Institutions usually identify their association with a
particular group of churches
E.g., a "Church of Christ college", or "Church of Christ
benevolent home", etc.
The use of "Church of Christ" in such a way contributes to
a denominational mindset
It has led to division among many churches
Supporters of human institutions fight hard to get them
into churches budgets
Churches and individuals that do not go along are often
libeled ("anti!", "orphan hater!")
Brotherhood papers have used such issues to quarantine and
isolate the opposition
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS...
It deprives the church of workers
"One result is that capable teachers and preachers have
been called away from their primary ministries in order to
become administrators."
"If all mission board administrators were serving on the
mission field, it would greatly reduce the need for personnel
there."
It is an inefficient use of funds
"Another result of the proliferation of organizations is
that vast sums of money are needed for overhead, and thus
diverted from direct gospel outreach."
"The greater part of every dollar given to many Christian
organizations is devoted to the expense of maintaining the
organization rather than to the primary purpose for which it
was founded."
It can hinder the spread of truth
"Organizations often hinder the fulfillment of the Great
Commission."
"Jesus told His disciples to teach all the things He had
commanded."
"Many who work for Christian organizations find they are
not permitted to teach all the truth of God."
"They must not teach certain controversial matters for fear
they will alienate the constituency to whom they look for
financial support."
It contributes to factionalism
"The multiplication of Christian institutions has too often
resulted in factions, jealousy, and rivalry that have done
great harm to the testimony of Christ."
"Consider the overlapping multiplicity of Christian
organizations at work, at home, and abroad. Each competes for
limited personnel and for shrinking financial resources. And
consider how many of these organizations really owe their
origin to purely human rivalry, though public statements
usually refer to God's will." (Daily Notes of the Scripture
Union)
"An acute writer, contrasting the apostolic work with the more
usual modern missionary methods, has said that 'we found
missions, the apostles founded churches.' The distinction is
sound and pregnant."
"The apostles founded churches, and they founded nothing else,
because for the ends in view nothing else was required or could
have been so suitable."
"In each place where they labored they formed the converts
into a local assembly, with elders - always elders, never an
elder (Ac14:23; 15:6, 23; 20:17Php 1:1) to guide, to rule, to
shepherd, men qualified by the Lord and recognized by the saints
(1Co 16:15; 1Th 5:12,13; 1Ti 5:17-19); and with deacons,
appointed by the assembly (Ac 6:1-6; Php 1:1) - in this
contrasted with the elders - to attend to the few but very
important temporal affairs, and in particular to the
distribution of the funds of the assembly..."
"All they (the apostles) did in the way of organizing was to
form the disciples gathered into other such assemblies. No other
organization than the local assembly appears in the New
Testament, nor do we find even the germ of anything further."
-- C. H. Lang, quoted in Parachurch Organization
CONCLUSION
Again, the question in this study is...
Not whether institutions per se have a right to exist
But whether local churches should support them out of their
treasury
We have seen that church support of human institutions...
Is without scriptural precedent
Affects the church in its ability to do its work
Contributes to factionalism and denominationalism
Let us not forget that the local church is limited in its
resources...
“Abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed is undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers
God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). The word ‘fornication’ refers to all kinds of sexual intercourse
outside of marriage (including homosexual activity), and adultery is fornication that violates a
marriage. Some versions translate the one Greek word “fornication” as “sexual immorality”.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual
immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and
honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take
advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such,
as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy
Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). In fornication and adultery, people take advantage of each other,
they “use” each other.
The laws God has established regarding sexual activities are to preserve the sanctity of
marriage and the well-being of man.
What is required, according to Scriptures, to preserve personal purity and the sanctity of
marriage? First, men and women are to remain virgin until marriage. All sexual relations outside
of marriage are forbidden by God and are referred to as fornication, a sin that had the death
penalty under the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant one can be forgiven and purified by
the blood of Christ. It is a sin, however, that is extremely damaging to those concerned, to society
and to marriage as an institution.
After marriage one is to have sexual relations only with the marriage partner. Sexual
relations with any other is adultery, which also earned the death penalty under the Old Covenant.
We read in Hebrews 13:4 that God wants marriage to be preserved from the damage caused by
these two sins. Immorality harms people physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
The root meaning of the Greek word “fornication” is “filthiness”. A boy and a girl who keep
themselves pure until marriage and remain faithful after marriage, are a separate island. They
never come in contact with the filthy cesspool of venereal diseases that are passed around from
person to person by immoral people.
Venereal diseases are sexually transmitted diseases. Such a disease, because of its
characteristics, is transmitted from person to person almost exclusively through sexual
intercourse. Transmission usually requires either that the pathogens remain at body temperature
(otherwise they die) or direct blood to blood contact. Sometimes such diseases are also
transmitted through injection with a dirty needle or from mother to child in the womb or at birth.
The World Health Organization states: "Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are very
common. The most widely known are gonorrhea, syphilis and AIDS (HIV infection), but there are
more than 20 others. According to current WHO estimates, there are more than 333 million new
cases of STDs every year throughout the world. About one million new infections occur every
day."
Several sexually transmitted diseases are incurable, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and
genital herpes. Others, although curable, cause lasting damage. Several of these diseases show
no symptoms for a long time after infection.
These diseases would disappear if people obeyed God. According to the word of God,
both men and women are to remain virgin until marriage, and a married couple are to remain
faithful to each another. Even in a world where immorality is rampant, people who obey God have
virtually no chance of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. The marriage bed is holy, but
fornication and adultery are filthy.
According to the law of the Old Testament, Israel would be kept pure because those who
committed fornication or adultery were stoned to death.
Forgiveness is possible under the New Testament on the basis of remorse and
repentance. If you have committed fornication or adultery, you can repent and be forgiven. Your
soul can be purified by the blood of Christ. You can determine that from now on you will keep
yourself pure.
Even though you are forgiven, you have placed yourself in great danger with regard to
sexually transmitted diseases. You should see a doctor and have tests made to be sure that you
have not contracted an infection that you might pass on to your present or future marriage
partner, or your children. Your former immorality can also have adverse effects on your marriage
even though you have been forgiven.
This means that you must strive to be the kind of person whom someone with high moral
standards would want to marry! And it means that you must be extremely careful whom you
marry! Find someone who has the same high moral standards based on faith in God that you
have. If a potential marriage partner has been immoral, be sure there is evidence of true
repentance and that the person has changed.
It can still happen that one is deceived or betrayed, but we must make every effort to avoid
marrying someone who does not have a high standard of morality. People who have sex with
each other before they marry, are people who are willing to have sex outside of marriage, which
makes them more susceptible to committing adultery after marriage than someone who had high
moral standards before marriage.
“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers
God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should
abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). “Keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).
Amen.
If Christians are to be kind and loving to everyone (Luke 10:29-37),
some question why 2 John 10-11 teaches, “If anyone comes to you and does
not bring this doctrine (‘the doctrine of Christ’—vs. 9), do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”1
Also, why did Paul instruct Timothy to “shun profane and idle
babblings” (2 Timothy 2:16; 1 Timothy 6:20-21)? Are Christians to shun
those with whom we disagree, and even go so far as not to greet them or
allow them into our homes?
First, Scripture, indeed, repeatedly calls for Christians to love
everyone—whether family, friends, fellow Christians, or enemies (Matthew
5:43-48; 22:36-40; Romans 12:9-21). We are to “[r]epay no one evil
for evil” (Romans 12:17), but strive to “be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave” us
(Ephesians 4:32). But Christian kindness and love are not antithetical
to such things as, for example, punishing rule breakers. A father who
loves his son, and would even die for him, will promptly discipline him
for unruly conduct (Proverbs 13:24; Ephesians 6:4). A school principal
may genuinely love and care for every student under his oversight, but
he may occasionally have to expel a disorderly child from the school for
at least two reasons: (1) so that the hundreds of other students who
want to get an education can safely and successfully do so, and (2) in
hopes that such drastic measures will cause the unruly child to awaken
to his senses before it is too late (and he does something far worse as a
teenager or as an adult). An uninformed outsider, who
sees a father disciplining his son or a school principal punishing a
student, may initially think less of these adults and wonder how they
could call themselves Christians. The logical, more informed bystander, however, will quickly size up the situation and easily see the consistency in loving, disciplinary actions.
In the epistle of 2 John, the apostle expressed his concern for the
eternal destiny of Christians, saying, “Watch yourselves, that you might
not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full
reward” (vs. 8, NASB). John was alarmed because deceptive false teachers
who denied the incarnation of Jesus were a serious threat to the
salvation of Christians. “For many deceivers have gone out into the
world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (2 John
7). These false teachers (known as Gnostics) alleged that Christ could
not have been incarnated because the flesh is inherently sinful. And,
since the flesh is supposedly intrinsically evil, Gnostics taught that
Christians did not need to resist fleshly temptations. Just “do whatever
feels good” and know that such wicked actions are only physical and not
spiritual. Allegedly, the soul could still be pure, even if the
individuals themselves participated in wicked activity.2
The apostle John (who had “seen” and “handled” the actual body of Christ—1 John 1:1-4; i.e., Jesus did
come in the flesh) repeatedly condemned the central teachings of
certain Gnostics who were confusing and misleading first-century
Christians.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does
not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And
this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming,
and is now already in the world (1 John 4:1-3).
Whoever commits sin also commits
lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested
to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in
Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness
is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil….
Whoever has been born of God does not sin (1 John 3:4-9).
False doctrine was a real and present danger in the first-century
church, just as it is today. Christians were (and are) to be on “guard”
because “some have strayed concerning the faith”—profane and idle
babblers and teachers of contradictory doctrines of “what is falsely
called knowledge” (Greek gnosis; 1 Timothy 6:20-21; cf. 2
Timothy 2:15-26). Denying the physical life, death, burial, and
resurrection of the body of Christ was heresy, and thus John and others
warned the early church of such deception. What’s more, claiming that
“all unrighteousness is not sin,” was to directly
contradict the Law of Christ. In truth, “the works of the flesh are
evident,” and “those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19,21). John wrote: “Whoever
does not practice righteousness is not of God,” because “all
unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 3:10; 5:17).
Christians are commanded to withdraw fellowship (lovingly,
faithfully, and sorrowfully) from brethren who rebel against the
teachings of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
Such actions by Christians and churches are taken for at least two
reasons: (1) to keep the church and the Christian families that comprise
her from being harmed spiritually by the defiantly unfaithful (whose
very tolerated presence would have even more damaging effects than an
incessantly disruptive student in a school room; cf. 1 Corinthians
5:6-7); and (2) in hopes of causing the wayward child of God to come to
his senses (being “ashamed” of his sinful conduct; 2 Thessalonians 3:14;
1 Corinthians 5:5)—repenting of sin and being restored to the family of
God.
Similarly, in 2 John 10-11, the apostle of the Lord instructed
hospitable Christians to recognize the seriousness of greeting and
housing deceptive false teachers. [NOTE: “The greeting was ‘Chairo!’ literally, goodspeed or God speed.
This greeting was more than mere formality; it was an approval of the
course being pursued by the one thus greeting, and included a desire for
success in the effort attempted.”3] First-century roaming teachers and preachers “depended on the generosity of the members of the church” for their housing and hospitality.4
John the apostle, however, wanted the church to understand the serious
threat that these dangerous false teachers posed to the precious bride
of Christ. Doctrinal error is not something to “play with,” especially
when such error involves the foundation of the Church (the life of
Christ—2 John 7) and the denial of sin (the very thing that results in
eternal death for the impenitent—Romans 6:23; Luke 13:3,5). By refusing
to house and bid God-speed to deceptive teachers, the ungodly efforts of
these misleading “messengers” would be greatly diminished. In time,
they might choose to (or have to) stop their sowing of error altogether
because of lack of opportunities, assistance, and encouragement. Such a
result combined with genuine repentance would be the very thing for
which Christians hope and pray.
Anyone who can see the reasonable and loving consistency of parents telling their children to “be nice to everyone,” but
“don’t listen to these dangerous people” (showing them pictures of
known child molesters), should be able to see the consistency of God’s
message concerning Christian love and hospitality, and the way
Christians react to false teachers who espouse damnable error. Children
who shun dangerous sexual predators are protecting their own innocence,
as well as keeping themselves and their families from a moment (or a
lifetime) of grief. What’s more, the avoided, dangerous strangers are
not given the opportunity to continue in their sins. Thus, the
children’s obedient avoidance of them could be of great help to the
sinful strangers in the highest way possible—if they awaken to their
spiritual senses.
Christians are actually fulfilling the Law of Christ to “do good to
all” (Galatians 6:2,10) even as we identify and refuse to embrace and
fellowship false teachers. We are “doing good” to the “household of
faith” by helping keep her pure and unaffected by cancer-spreading
deceptive teachers (2 Timothy 2:17-18). Allowing error to spread would
be tantamount to “rejoic[ing] in iniquity,” which is unloving (1
Corinthians 13:6). What’s more, the false teachers themselves are in no
way encouraged to continue down the road of deceit. Rather, it is the
hope and prayer of Christians that false teachers would become convicted
of the error of their ways and repent before the Master Teacher (Luke
2:47; John 7:46) returns and judges them eternally for their doctrinal
deceit (2 Peter 2).
[NOTE: Near the conclusion of his excellent commentary on 2 John, Guy
N. Woods made an appropriate observation that both Christians and
critics of 2 John 10-11 should consider: “John does not here forbid
hospitality to strangers, or, for that matter, to false teachers when,
in so doing, false teaching is neither encouraged nor done. Were we to
find a teacher known to be an advocate of false doctrine suffering, it
would be our duty to minister to his need, provided that in so doing we
did not abet or encourage him in the propagation of false doctrine…. What is forbidden
is the reception of such teachers in such fashion as to supply them
with an opportunity to teach their tenets, to maintain an association
with them when such would involve us in the danger of accepting their
doctrines…. The test is, Does one become a partaker by the action
contemplated? If yes, our duty is clear; we must neither receive them
nor give them greeting; if No, the principle here taught is not
applicable.”5]
Endnotes
1
Cf. Steve Wells (2015), “Should Believers Discuss Their Faith with
Nonbelievers?”
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/discuss.html.
2 For more information, see “Gnosticism” (1982), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans), 2:484-490.
3 Guy N. Woods (1979), New Testament Epistles of Peter, John, and Jude (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate), p. 349, italics in orig.
4 I. Howard Marshall (1978), The Epistles of John (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans), p. 74, emp. added.
John Maxwell tells a great story about a
woman, Thelma, who moved with her husband to a military training center
in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
She lived in a one-room shack in the unbearable heat–125 degrees in
the shade of cacti. She was lonely with no one to talk to. Thelma hated
it. One day she wrote to her parents and told them she was giving up and
coming home. She said she would rather be in jail. The 2-line letter
her mother wrote back changed her life…
Two men looked out from prison bars
One saw the mud, the other saw the stars
When Thelma reread these lines a few times, she felt ashamed and
decided that she would try to see the stars in her present situation.
She made friends with the natives and took an interest in their weaving
and pottery. She learned about the their customs, different forms of
cacti, and the habits of the prairie dogs. Her life transformed. The
Mojave Desert hadn’t changed but she had.
Yesterday we introduced the word of the week “Edify.” Today consider
these 5 attitudes the Edify. Build. Improve. And make a difference in
the lives of others.
#1 The Attitude of Love
The Bible says, Knowledge puffs up, but loves edifies” (1Cor.
8:1) Love is the basis for all other constructive attitudes. Love
says, I care about you. I want to help you. I want to encourage you.
I’m interested in you.
Love edifies when is exhibits the fifteen qualities of 1 Corinthians
13. Love is kind. Patient. Unselfish. And looks for a way of being
constructive. Love edifies.
#2The Attitude of Respect
There is a general lack of respect today among different social,
economic and racial groups. It is seen in Washington. In our
communities. Homes. And too often in our churches.
The Bible exhorts, “Therefore comfort each other and edify one
another, just as you also are doing. And we urge you, brethren, to
recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and
admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s
sake (1 Thess. 5:10-13)
The attitude of respect, esteem and honor should not only be
expressed toward our leaders, but all of God’s people. The apostle Paul
commanded, “Give preference to one another in honor (Rom 12:17)
#3 Attitude of Service
Ephesians 4:12-16 teaches that every member of the body of Christ has
a function. A part. A place. A means to minister. When that happens,
Paul says, “the body edifies itself in love.”
Jesus taught, “He that is greatest among you shall be the servant of all” (Mt. 23:11). It is true. Because serving others edifies!
#4 The Attitude of Peace
Too often the Christian community has displayed to the world a
divisive spirit. One that tears down. Causes confusion. Fractures
fellowship. And is a breeding group for murmuring, grumbling and
gripping.
The Bible simply admonishes us all to “pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (Rom 14:19).
Unlike little children that often delight in irritating and aggravating
their siblings, brethren in Christ look for those things that calm.
Encourage. Ennoble. And provide an atmosphere of serenity. Solace.
And comfort.
#5 The Attitude of Cooperation
The Jerusalem Christians were of “one accord” (Ac 2:26). One mind.
One heart. One soul. They worked together. Prayed together. Shared
with each other. And put aside differences for the cause of Christ.
What if brethren in all churches followed this Biblical exhortation? “Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification” (Rom 15:2) Think how much more could be accomplished? And what a great spirit of unity and harmony would prevail.
Love. Respect. Service. Peace. Cooperation. These attitudes edify.
But don’t wait for others to change. Let it begin with you. No matter
how bleak your situation. Look for the stars. Edify others. And your
will be blessed.
