WHAT IS THE “STANCE” OF THE CONGREGATION?

That is a good question, and one especially appropriate in our day. It has been shown, time and time again, that a person baptized can grow and develop into a knowledgeable, working, and faithful child of God due, to a great extent, to the congregation wherein he has his membership. The opposite has been shown also. In fact, it is seen in the movement that some members must make, through job transfer, etc. Leave one sound and faithful congregation, and then place membership with and serve with a congregation known for “what it will tolerate,” and that child of God will change also. The individual will accept and blend in with the congregation. It depends on the congregation’s “stance.”

Be sure, a congregation will have a name, a reputation, based on its work and its “stance.” Rome was known for having a faith spoken of throughout the world (Romans 1:8). Thessalonica was known for its sounding out the word into far distant areas (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The churches of Macedonia were known for their liberal giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). Sardis, once having a good name, and with some of that still lingering in the minds of men, nevertheless was told by the Lord that “thou are dead” (Revelation 3:1). We recall hearing of one person saying, “This congregation is known for its love and that congregation is known for its doctrine!” That, brethren, is tragedy? Love and doctrine are combined within the system of the Lord. Jesus combined them in his statement in John 14:15.

What, by the way, wherever this is received, is the “stance” of the congregation where you are? Is the doctrine of God sounded forth powerfully and plainly, and without modification, addition, subtraction or dilution? Is the congregation a “disciplinary” one, in that sin is rebuked, and the wayward and disobedient are seen to with dispatch? Are the Bible classes known for their emphasis on the word of God, or are the classes given to playtime and waste-time? Have the elders led the congregation in taking a stand against worldliness, sectarianism and every other form of error that will weaken and finally kill the church? Is the emphasis of the congregation’s work that of preaching and teaching rather than entertainment and social work? Are those in the congregation content to abide in God’s will, rather than always having a desire for something new and appealing that they can borrow from sectarianism? Are those who stand up to preach and teach grounded in the faith, with no disposition to traipse off into liberalism, anti-ism, Crossroadism or any other “ism”? Oh yes, a congregation has a “stance”―a name―a reputation.         

Preachers can help it be known for what it is, good or bad. Elders can do the same. So can Bible class teachers. So can the members. What is entered into the eternal record books, under our names, will be those things we did/failed to do while members of the congregations where we lived. We will partake of, support, condone, and further whatever “stance” the congregation has taken. Now, the question again: How is it where you are? Are you ready to face God concerning it?

Bill Jackson

“BROUGHT UP IN THE CHURCH”

Some people seem to have the absurd idea they are Christians simply because, as they put it, “they were brought up in the church.” They mean by this that their mothers and fathers were members of the church and as children they regularly attend the services of the church. They may be as spiritually ignorant, as hogs, as spiritually cold as proverbial cucumbers, and as worldly minded as infidels, yet because they were “brought up in the church,” they assume the Lord has a reserved seat for them in Heaven.

This reminds me of a joke we read in a recent publication. The story is this:

A man was giving a government clerk information for filling out a required form. When the clerk came to “nationality,” he said, “you’re French, aren’t you?” “No, English,” replied the citizen. “Both my father and mother are English.” “But you were born in France,” protested the clerk. “What’s that go to do with it,” demanded the exasperated citizen. “If your dog had puppies in a stable, you wouldn’t call them horses.”

Some of these “brought-up-in-the-church” folks, on the basis of their reasoning concerning their spiritual state, would very probably call the puppies “horses.”

Brother J. D. Tant, Sr. once told us of an experience he had with a man whose wife was a member of the church. On meeting Brother Tant, he advised him that he was a “brother-in-law to the church.” Brother Tant asked, “How is that?” The man replied, “Well you see, my wife’s a member of the church.” Brother Tant then said “In that case I suppose one could say your wife is a sister-in-law to the Devil.”

Some of the most useless members of the church we have ever known have been those who could have laid claim to being “brought–up-in-the-church.” Fortunately, ancestry in the church is not the standard by which God judges His people. Fidelity to the Word of God is the determining factor in being listed in the divine “Blue Book.” “The Lord knoweth them that are his,” and it is no accident that inspiration appends to this fact the admonition, “let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19).

Author Unknown

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

“And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ASV).

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

1. The word church comes from “ekklesia” which means the called out (Thayer).
2. It is the body of Christ (Colossians. 1:18).
3. It is the family of God (I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19).
4. It is the kingdom of God and Christ (Ephesians 5:5).
5. It is the pillar and ground at the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

WHAT IS IT CALLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

1. My (the Lord’s) church (Mat 16:18).
2. The church (Acts 8:1).       
3. The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28).
4. The church of God (I Corinthians 1:1, 2)
5. The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16).
6. The body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
7. The church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).

WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS CALLED?

1. Disciples (Acts 20:7).
2. Saints (I Corinthians 1:2).
3. Beloved of God (Romans 1:7).
4. Brethren (Col.ossians1:2).
5. Sons of God (Romans 8:14).
6. Children of God (I John 3:1).
7. Heirs of God (Romans 8:17).
8. Royal Priesthood (I Peter 2:9).
9. Christians (Acts 11:26, 1 Peter 4:16).

Are You Wearing These Scriptural Names Only?

WHEN WAS THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED?

1. In the last days in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4).
2. In the days of these Kings (Daniel 2:44).
3. It was “at hand” in John’s day (Matthew 3:1-2).
4. The disciples prayed for its coming (Matthew 6:9-10).
5. Christ said: “I will build” it (Matthew 16:18).
6. It was to come during the lifetime of some of the disciples
7. (Mark 9:1).
8. The disciples had not entered it [before the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ and Acts 2] (Matthew 18:3).
9. Just before his death Christ said: “The kingdom of God shall come” (Luke 22:18).
10. The kingdom was to come with power (Mark 9:1). The power was to come when the Spirit came (Acts 1:8).
11. All of these requirements were fulfilled on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:1-4).

HOW CAN ONE ENTER THE CHURCH?

1. Hear the gospel of Christ (Romans10:13-17).
2. Believe in Christ (Acts 16:31).
3. Repent of past sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30).
4. Confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:8-10).
5. Be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3). Thus, one is born into the family of God (John 3:5).

WHAT CONSTITUTES BAPTISM?

1. Water (Matthew 3:11).
2. Much water (John 3:23).
3. Going down into the water (Acts 8:38).
4. A burial and a resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
5. Coming up out of the water (Acts 8:39; Matthew 3:16).

 Are You A Member of New Testament Church?

WHERE IS SALVATION?

1. Salvation is in Christ’s church, because it is the blood bought institution (Acts 20: 28; I Corinthians 6:20).
2. Salvation is in the church, for Paul affirmed that Christ would save the church (Ephesians 5:23). No promise to those outside.
3. Salvation is in the church, for it is there that man is reconciled unto God (Ephesians 2:16). Man must be reconciled to God.
4. Salvation is in the church, because that is the group that Christ will present unto Himself. (Ephesians 5:27)
5. Man cannot be saved out of the church, because God adds all the saved to it (Acts 2:47). The requirements of salvation and church membership are the same.
6. The church is the family of God and certainly one cannot be saved out of God’s family (I Timothy 3:15). To say that God has children out of His family would be to charge Him with spiritual adultery.
7. Take the children of Israel as a type: (I Corinthians 10:2-6).

• Crossing the Red Sea was a type of baptism (I Corinthians 10:2).
• Israel in the wilderness was a type of the church (Acts 7:38).
• Crossing the Jordan River was a type of death.
• The land of Canaan was a type of heaven.
• They had to pass through the wilderness [a time of proving Deuteronomy 8:1-3] (church) to get into Canaan (heaven).
• Therefore, we must pass through the church to enter heaven at last.

 Are You Seeking Salvation in the Right Place?

WHAT IS IN CHRIST – THE CHURCH?

1. Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
2. Salvation (II Timothy 2:10).
3. Redemption (Colossians 1:14).
4. The grace of God (II Timothy 2:1).
5. All the promises of God (II Corinthians 1:20).
6. All spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).

Can one be saved without these blessings? They are all in Him, His body, the church. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18) How then does one get into Christ where these blessings can be enjoyed (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27)?

(above adapted by John Rose from a tract)