LESSON
1
CHURCH DOCTRINE
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THE WORLD CHURCH by A. E. Phillips
WITH THE LAMP of prophecy in our
hands, this "murky" world is seen to have dark shadows cast by
coming events. The last days are to be
times of apostasy from the truth of God, and the "itching ears" of
the congregations will "accumulate for
themselves teachers to suit their own likings," 2 Tim. 4:3 R.S.V. The
vaporing of such teachers would he
"blasphemous," 1 Tim. 1:20; "lies," 4:2; "unwholesome," 6:3;
"gangrenous," 2 Tim. 2:17; "devoid of
spiritual discernment," 3:8, marg.; and "unhealthy," 4:3.
It is unnecessary to
produce proof that we are living in such times, for error has now become
organized. Most denominations have
acquiesced in the dissolution of the truth, despite those in their midst
who have taken a commendable stand for
the basic beliefs of the gospel.
A hotchpotch of
pseudo-Christianity will yet be formed and, abandoning distinctive
truths of
Christianity, will boast of its unity
as well as its power. This Babylon for such she is
called has her
precursors, and we are right in
expecting that she will prepare beforehand for her short time of
Jezebel-like
glory, Rev. 17. In view of this, it
behooves those who look for the Day Star to assess present religious
movements in the light of the Word of
Truth, lest the winds of false teaching carry them along in the current
of merely fashionable Christianity.
Now, the confused state
of Christendom is apparent to all, and varied have been the attempts to
bring
harmony among the many factions. Most
of these attempts have miserably failed, but we are now witnessing
a new and far-reaching attempt to
establish a universal church. To this end, major portions of many
denominations have joined together
with the purpose of establishing this "inclusive" church. The Roman
church,* so far, has superciliously
drawn its garments tighter and frowned upon the new venture, yet it is
showing more than a passing interest,
for it has frequently been invited to become an essential part of the
ecumenical church. The Greek Church
sometimes deigns to associate with the movement.
* This article was written in
1952.
The movement already has attained to
tremendous proportions, and has exerted no small power in some
lands. Its platform includes all
"Christian" creeds, whilst by misapplication the Lord's prayer "that
they all
may be one," John 17:21, seems to have
become a religious totem. Of course it often finds difficulty in
expressing itself in terms of belief,
and not all its member-groups feel at home in it (as an archbishop
confessed), but its local councils
often contrive to clear up such difficulties.
It should not be thought
that an idea is just being toyed with. Rather is it being translated
into action,
and being aggressively pursued? Not a
few theological colleges are doting on the idea, and courses in
"Ecumenics" will soon be general. Some
mission-fields have felt the pressure of this movement, resulting
in some Missionary Societies feeling
capitulation to be the safer course.
Yet, mere criticism of
these associations is quite inadequate. What provisions have we for
such times
of apostasy? Is there a workable plan
for pure Christian testimony? Our spiritual instinct tells us there must
be, for we rightly expect the Head of
the Church to have left nothing to fortuitous circumstances. It is for
just such a time that the word is
prepared: "the foundation of God standeth sure . . . and, let every one
that
nameth the name of Christ depart from
inquity," 2 Tim. 2:19. To assert the fact of the first clause, whilst
neglecting the warning of the second,
is akin to confessing a fruitless creed.
The last days have their
own characteristics, see 3:1 5, but they should throw into better
relief "the
doctrine" and "manner of life" which
have been found in the God-breathed Scriptures, vs. 10, 14 & 16.
Let the reader collate references in
the Epistles to Timothy regarding the inspiration, value, and authority
of Holy Scripture for individual and
church alike. It will prove more than interesting!
It is evident that in
view of world developments, both religious and political, God's
principles for
church life are the most suitable, as
well as authoritative. Under pressure of unfriendly governments, or the
persecution of religious systems, it
is found that God's way works. This does not mean that the cold blasts
of earth are not felt by such
churches, for they are exotic plants which are not in their native soil
down here.
Nevertheless, New Testament Christian
vigor, testimony and "body-consciousness" are best perpetuated
in such gatherings.
China is a good
proving-ground, and it must be conceded that local churches, each
directly
responsible to the Lord and without
central denominational authority, not only have the best possibility of
survival, but also the best means of
propagation. Other lands witness to the same truth, and if a world-
survey were possible it would
decisively and universally justify apostolic methods. How we should
value
them and encourage one another in
God's ways!
Objections to these
truths are due, we feel, to two weaknesses; an ill-informed criticism,
which
wrongly equates bigotry with adherence
to the pattern, and the attempt to use the Spirit's principles of
gathering without the accompanying
Spirit's power. Mists of doubt born of our weakness should not be
allowed to becloud the pattern "shown
in the mount."
It is good that we
"measure the pattern," not just as a lifeless blue-print, but to lead
to "shame" for
our shortcomings, Ezek. 43:10 &
11. Then the glory of the Lord will fill the house. At such times as
these,
how necessary to be "taken up by the
Spirit" into the "inner court" of God's purposes, v. 5, and then to
allow no intruder into the gate which
belongs to the Head alone, 44:2, so that God may have "glory in the
church," Eph. 3:21.
TEST LESSON 1 CHURCH
DOCTRINE
Place a T (True) or F (False) for your
answer at the beginning or end of the question;
1. There is only one true Church in
the Bible.
2. It is not possible to have a
New Testament local church now.
3. The Bible says the last days
there would be a departure from the truth.
4. A few denominations
have maintained some measure of the truth.
5. To the man on the street
denominations are confusing.
Fill in the blank with
CAPITALS LETTERS in the spaces with the correct word/s
6. The _____prayed ___they ___
be ___
7. The Bible says "___everyone
that ____the ____of Christ ___from ________"
8. Ezekiel speaks of " the
_____of the_____filling the _________."
Name:
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Updated April 12th 2005 by
Harold Smith