Welcome, all!

Welcome, all!

It's great to be in a race that started millenniums before we were born. It's greater to understand what this race is all about by learning from those who started it. This race for the salvation of our own souls, which we were told to work out with fear and trembling, has been fraught with a lot of counterfeiting right from the morning time of Church age. Even the Master asserted that the very elect could be deceived, if it were possible.

Can we not see all the deceptions that exist today in the name of church?

Come out from among them and be separate ..."come out, my people! Come out from her! ...You must not share in her punishment."(Isaiah 52:11, 2Cor. 6:17, Rev. 18:4)

You may wish to visit www.churchofgodeveninglight.com for more, Thanks.

Sincerely Yours in His service

Eric Osomurie Winter

Bible Doctrines

Bible Doctrines
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"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32


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Bible Doctrines





Below is a brief list of Bible Doctrines as taught and practiced by the Church of God. The list is not all inclusive.

Bible: The divinely, inspired word of God. The Church of God has no other creed or theology other than that which is taught in the Word of God in its entirety. (II Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21).

Relationship of Love: There is no greater doctrine of the Bible than that of love. Jesus confirmed that an individual is to love the Lord God with all of his heart, soul, mind, body, and strength. God created mankind for the purpose of having a relationship with him. Love is the foundation to the relationship with God that He seeks in humanity. Without a supreme love of God, all other doctrine and religious life will miss the mark. Love is the motivation and key to living acceptably to God. This love for God is than manifest in loving our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:30-31)

Church of God: The body of Christ is composed of every blood-washed one. Salvation makes you a member of this divine institution of God that stands above the religious confusion of humanly- organized religion (Acts 2:47; I John 3:8-10). Jesus Christ is the true, active head of the church on earth and in Heaven (Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18). Christ is the foundation of the Church (I Cor 3:11); he governs the Church (Isaiah 9:6), and God places the members in the body--not a board or committee (I Cor 12:18,27-28).

Unity of God's People: God has only one church (I Cor 12:12-13,20; Eph 4:4-6) and Christ desires that there be unity and fellowship amongst His children (John 17:20-23, Gal 3:28, Phil 1:27). For unity to be attained, there must be a coming out of Babylon (Rev 18:2,4).

Salvation from Sin: While all have sinned, Jesus Christ died on the cross that the power of sin might be broken in the hearts and lives of mankind. There is power through redemption to enable us to live free from sin on a daily basis. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." II Cor. 5:17. To live acceptably before God and to make Heaven our home, we must live without sin. There is a definite experience of salvation that all can have when they believe in Christ, repent of committed sin, and walk in newness of life. (Matt 1:21; Rom 6; I John 3:3-10; I John 5:18a; John 5:14b; John 8:11b).

Infilling of the Holy Ghost: As it was on the day of Pentecost, there is a second work subsequent to justification (Acts 19:2) that every child of God must experience. The Holy Spirit wants to come into every justified individual and take up His abode. The Holy Ghost brings power to the lives of Christians to enable them to be the separate, called-out, holy people that God desires. The Holy Spirit is a sanctifier, comforter, purifier, and enabler. (Acts 2; Acts 15:8-9; Acts 1:8; I Cor 6:19-20; John 14:16-20, 25-28).

Kingdom of God: The kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom but a spiritual kingdom that has been in existence ever since the coming of Jesus Christ. We look not for another kingdom on this earth but are experiencing the joy, blessings, and power in this life as kings and priests in the kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-21; Romans 14:17; John 18:36).

End Times: At a time we know not, Christ will return to this earth as a thief in the night (Acts 1:9-11, II Peter 3:10-12). All people, the living and the dead, will stand before the judgment seat of God (II Tim 4:1,8; John 5:28-29; I Thess 4:16-17; II Cor 5:10). The righteous shall live in Heaven while the unrighteous shall live in Hell for eternity (Matt 25:31-46). The earth will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:7; Rev 20:11-15).

Faith: The life and experience of a Christian should be based on faith and trust in God with regard to every aspect of living. Spiritual, financial, physical, and temporal dependency is to be on God and not man (Heb 11:6; Romans 5:1; John 20:31). This is one of the reasons that ministers are not salaried, but rely on free-will offerings as the Lord provides (I Peter 5:2-3; John 10:11,13).

Divine Physical Healing: Provision was made for divine physical healing when Christ shed his blood on the cross. Divine healing is not something of the past but it is still available for those who put their faith and trust in God. God still works miracles in the body as well as the soul. (James 5:13-16; Isaiah 53:4-5).

3 Ordinances: Full Immersion Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39); The Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-30; I Cor. 11:23-27); Feet Washing (John 13:14-17).

Holiness: The Word of God teaches that we must be holy in all manner of conversation -- our attitudes, meditations, motivations, actions, where we go, what we do, what we wear. Holiness must encompass our lives inwardly and outwardly. Without holiness, no man shall see God. This holiness does not come from man's work but it is the work of God within man. Therefore, there is no place for 'self-righteousness'. Part of holiness is living humbly before God and man. (Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15; I Thess 4:7; Eph. 4:24; Rom. 6:22; Titus 2:11-12).

Modesty of Dress: A child of God must not be conformed to this world but rather be a reflection of humility, purity, and simplicity (I Timothy 2:9-10; I Corinthians 11:14-15; Deuteronomy 22:5).

Sanctity of Marriage: The scripture teaches that a man and woman, when married, are joined for life in the eyes of God. Remarriage while a first companion is still living constitutes adultery (Luke 16:18; I Cor 7:10-11,39).

Worship: True worshipers will worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24). Worship services of God's people are not programmed but are led and ordered by the Spirit of the Lord. As was the practice of the early morning church and as the reformers also taught, musical instruments are not used in active worship service. Ministers are not formally trained but are called by God to preach the gospel under the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:7; I Cor 2:1-5).

Great Commission: The burden of Christ remains with His true children to 'go into all the world and preach the gospel.' (Mark 16:15) The purpose of the Church is not to settle down and enjoy the wealth of this world but to be the light of the world, to spread the good news of true salvation, and to show lost souls the love of God by good works.

The Church of God Part One

The Church of God
Part One
 
Table of Content
Topic:
1. 28 Marks of the True Church
2. What is the Bible Name of the Church?
3. What is the Church?
4. Is the Church Building a Church?
5. The Church of God WHAT THE CHURCH OF GOD IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT
6. Who are Members of the Church?
7. Where is the Temple of God Today?
8. The Visible Body
9. Come Out
10. Teachings of the Church of God
11. A Look at Ecumenicalism
12. How Can We Know the Truth?
13. Old Paths Versus New Light
14. Anointing in Worship Services
15. The Mission of the Church of God
16. Have We Done What We Could?
17. The Great Commission
18. Spiritual Sacrifices
19. A Fundamental Difference
20. From The Diary of D.S. Warner
21. Through the Bible in a Year




28 Marks of the True Church

1. She was built by Jesus Christ. “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18.
2. Her theme is love (1 Jn. 3:14; Matt. 5:44; 1 Cor. 13:1-8, 13). “…Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God…” 1 Jn. 4:7.
3. She was called out of sin by the gospel (Rom. 1:16; 10:13; 2 Thess. 2:14). “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy…” 1 Pet. 1:15.
4. The church is the body of Christ; there is only one true church (1 Cor. 1:2; 12:27; John 10:16). “There is one body…” Eph. 4:4.
a. She is not divided (1 Cor. 1:10, 13).
b. She shares the same mind, judgment, and faith (Eph. 4:4-5; Jude 3).
c. Her members are of one heart and of one soul (Acts 4:32).
d. Her congregations share the same standards and ministry (1 Cor. 4:17; 11:16; 14:33; Eph. 4:11-13; Acts 15:23, 28).
5. The members of Christ’s body, the church, are saints, holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1). “…called to be saints…” Rom. 1:7.
6. Her people are of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, including believing children and adults (Rev. 7:9; Matt. 19:14). “…thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Rev. 5:9.
7. Her people are all equal and available to be called of God to any office or duty, regardless of race, social status, nationality, or gender. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28.
8. The Lord has set her members in the body, calling and placing them where He will (Acts 13:2; 20:28; Eph. 4:8, 11). “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Cor. 12:18.
9. Her ministry–apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers–for the edification of the body and in the interest of being accountable for the souls of the people, has been given binding and loosing power, having rule over the people of God as helpers of their joy (2 Cor. 12:19; Heb. 13:17; 2 Cor. 1:24). “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt. 16:19.
10. She keeps the ordinances of baptism of believers by immersion (Jn. 3:23; Acts 8:38); the Lord’s supper and feet washing (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Jn. 13:14-15), and the holy kiss (Rom. 16:16). “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” Matt. 28:19-20.
11. She believes in divine, physical healing of the body (Matt. 8:16-17). “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14.
12. She continues in the doctrine of the apostles and prophets, holding the holy scriptures, the Bible, as the infallible, inspired, and complete divine revelation (Acts 2:42; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Jude 3). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Tim. 3:16.
13. She believes in the Tri Unity of God, three Persons in one God (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6). “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 Jn. 5:7.
14. She teaches that mankind is depraved by nature since the fall of Adam and that the atonement of Christ and call to salvation applies to all of mankind, “whosoever will” (Rom. 5:15-19; Rev. 22:17). “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12.
15. Her converts “go on to perfection” after their initial conversion to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, purifying their hearts from the depraved nature received from Adam (Heb. 6:1; 4:3; Acts 15:8-9: Eph 1:13; 2 Pet. 1:4). The evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is holy living and is not unintelligible utterances erroneously called by some, “speaking in tongues” (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:9; 2 Tim. 2:22). “…John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 11:16.
16. All of her converts are truly new creatures in Christ, having been born again – Jn. 3:3. (Drawn by the Father through the Spirit – Jn. 6:44, 12:32made to have godly sorrow through the gospel – 2 Cor. 7: 8-10; Acts 2:37; led to repentance and faith – Rom. 2:4; 10:17; having confessed their sins to the Lord – 1 Jn. 1:9; having forsaken all sin – Rom. 6:1, 2, 18; having called upon the name of the Lord for salvation – Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13; their spirit having received a witness by His Spirit that they are the children of God– Rom. 8:16; and having begun and continued making restitution of all past sins – Luke 19:8; Acts 19:19; to walk in the light of God’s Word and Spirit – 2 Pet. 1:19; Gal. 5:16). “ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor.5:17.
17. She is separate from the spirit of the world inwardly, and from its every outward manifestation, including but not limited to its entertainments, dress, patriotism, pursuits, and all of its sins. Therefore, she uses the clothing ordained of God, plain and modest outward apparel coming from a meek and quiet spirit (1 Cor. 2:12; 1 Jn. 5:19; 1 Pet. 3:3-4). “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Rom. 12:2.
18. She is non-violent (inflicting injury upon none; not participating in any way in carnal military action) (Lk. 3:14; Jn. 18:36; 2 Cor. 10:4). “…Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you…unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other…” Lk. 6:27-29.
19. Her worship services are led of the Holy Ghost in every aspect including singing (without the encumbrance of mechanical musical instruments) – Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; including who shall pray, testify, exhort, or preach; including which songs are called, and the sequence in which all things are done (1 Cor. 12:4-7; 14:15, 40). “…every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part…” Eph. 4:16.
20. She has been called in these last days to make the judgments of God manifest to all nations, calling all souls out of false religion and the world (Babylon) into the one, true fold (Matt. 13:38-41, Mk. 16:15; Rev. 18:1-4). “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Rev. 15:1.
21. She teaches there will be everlasting punishment and everlasting reward according to the deeds done in the body (Matt. 25:46; 2 Cor. 5:10). “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12.
22. She executes corporate judicial action within the church (1 Cor. 5:4-5; 2 Thess. 3:14-15). “…do not ye judge them that are within?…Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Cor. 5:12-13.
23. She lives sacrificially for the sake of Christ and the gospel (Matt. 19:29; Lk. 14:33; Rom. 12:1). “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me…” Mk. 8:34-35.
24. She believes in the sanctity of marriage, one man and wife for life (Matt. 19:5-6; Lk. 16:18; Rom. 7:2-3). “Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.” Mk. 10:11-12.
25. Her people are the true Jews, Jews inwardly. The physical nation of natural Jews will never again, as a whole, be the people of God (Gal. 4:25-31; 1 Thess. 2:14-16). “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly…but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter…” Rom. 2:28-29.
26. She looks for Christ to return in the clouds at His second and final coming on the Judgment Day, wherein there will be the resurrection of the just and unjust. (There will be no “millennial reign” on earth, for the saints are in the kingdom now, and no secret rapture from the earth before that day.) Heaven and earth will then pass away (Heb. 9:27-28; Jn. 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Pet. 3:7, 10-11). “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him…” Rev. 1:7.
27. She teaches that it is possible for a saint to fall from grace, losing his salvation (Acts 1:25; 1 Cor. 10:12; Gal. 5:4). “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Rom. 11:22.
28. She is the church of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 10:32; 15:9; 1 Tim. 3:5). “…unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia.” 2 Cor. 1:1.
Filed in: Articles • Sunday, July 26th, 2009



What is the Bible Name of the Church?
(Taken from: Church of God Doctrines -1979 ed.)

By: Bro. Cecil C. Carver
________________________________________

The Bible speaks of only ONE CHURCH belonging to Jesus. Its name is found several times in the New Testament. There being only ONE church, the name was not always given in full, but there are enough times in which the name is given to satisfy us all. Let us examine some instances:

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the CHURCH OF GOD, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28.

"Paul. . . and Sosthenes . . . Unto the CHURCH OF GOD which is at Corinth." I Cor. 1:1,2a.

"Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the CHURCH OF GOD." I Cor. 10:32.

"What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the CHURCH OF GOD, and shame them that have not?" I Cor. 1l:22a.

"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the CHURCH OF GOD." I Cor. 15:9.

"Paul. . . and Timothy. . . unto the CHURCH OF GOD which is at Corinth." 2 Cor. 1:1a.

"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." Gal. 1:13.

"For ye, brethren, became followers of THE CHURCHES OF GOD which in Judea are in Christ Jesus." I Thess. 2:14a.

"So that we ourselves glory in you in THE CHURCHES OF GOD for your patience and faith." 2 Thess. 1:4a.

"(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the CHURCH OF GOD?)" I Timothy 3:5.

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the CHURCH OF the living GOD, the pillar and ground of the truth." I Tim. 3:15.

The above Scriptures show us that the body of believers in the morning time was spoken of as being THE CHURCH OF GOD. Each town or community that had a group of "called out" people had a "CHURCH OF GOD." The geographical locations were the only differences. Paul could preach in THE CHURCH OF GOD at Corinth, and THE CHURCH OF GOD at THESSALONICA, etc., and that is what is meant when the church is spoken of in the plural. There is one instance: "But if any man seem to be CONTENTIOUS, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." I Cor. 11:16. Paul preached against contention to the CHURCH OF GOD at CORINTH, and to the CHURCH OF GOD at ROME-(Rom. 2:8.)

Rom. 16:16, Paul writing to the church at Rome said, "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you." This is not a name for the body, but shows the churches belonged to Christ, in fact they are His wife. Eph. 3:14,15 says, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth [you do not die out of the church, only move over into the group on the other side] is named." Now, my father is a Carver, and when Miss May Jackson married me, she took my father's name-Carver-even as I had. She is now Cecil's wife, but her NAME IS MAY CARVER. The churches belonging to Christ are the Churches of God.





Copyright © 2005 - Church of God. All Rights Reserved

 



What is the Church?
(Taken from: Church of God Doctrines -1979 ed.)

By: Bro. Cecil C. Carver
________________________________________

"...Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. 16:18.

Note:- This is the first mention of the word church in the Bible. Since it is something that the gates of hell should not prevail against, it behooves us to know just what it is. The word CHURCH is a translation of the Greek work ekklesia which is two Greek words ek, meaning the point of origin - usually translated FROM, or OUT OF - and the Greek work "Kaleo" meaning I CALL. So a church is a CALLED OUT group. We find the word ekklesia 115 times in the New Testament, and it is translated church or churches 112 times and it is translated assembly 3 times - Acts 19:32,39,41 (The ASSEMBLY was confused; in a lawful ASSEMBLY; and, he dismissed the ASSEMBLY.)

We next find this word in Matt. 18:17, "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the CHURCH: but if he neglect to hear the CHURCH, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." We find it no more until we read in Acts 2:47, "...And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as should be saved." "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the CHURCH OF GOD, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28. Let us read it thus: "Feed the CALLED OUT GROUP OF GOD (church of God)."

We see that the CHURCH was not a building or place of worship, but men and women who were disciples of Jesus Christ. They had been CALLED OUT of various things: sin, the religion of the Jews, Pharisees, Sadducees, being fisherman, tax-collectors, and the like. They all had been brought into something common. They had fellowship together and with the Lord. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20.



Is the Church Building a Church?
(Taken from: Church of God Doctrines -1979 ed.)

By: Bro. Cecil C. Carver
________________________________________

The meeting house, or the church house as it is commonly called, is for the "church" to assemble in. It is not the church. God does not live there all the time like He did in the temple at Jerusalem. Today He lives IN THE HEARTS OF HIS CHILDREN, and when they come to meeting THEY BRING HIM with them.

"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." John 6:56.

"Ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John 14:17b.

"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." I John 4:15.

"If we love one another, God dwelleth in us." I John 4:12b.

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Rom 8:11.

"...Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them...." 2 Cor 6:16.

"That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." 2 Tim. 1:14.

"...the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands." Acts 7:48.

"Abide in me, and I in you...He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit..." John 15:4,5.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." I Cor. 3:16,17.

So, we see that where two or three of God's called out children come together we have a local unit of the church of God. A saved man or woman is in the family and when more than one is present in the name of the Lord, He is there; and thus, God has a working, active, visible, local church. Saved man and women do not go to "church," but when saved men and women go to meeting, they automatically constitute a church. The meeting house is a place where the "church" assembles.





Copyright © 2005 - Church of God. All Rights Reserved.




The Church of God
WHAT THE CHURCH OF GOD IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT
By: D.S. Warner
________________________________________



Chapter 1 What is the Church?

Chapter 2 Who is the Founder of the Church?

Chapter 3 When was the Church Built?

Chapter 4 Who is its Foundation?

Chapter 5 Who is the Head of the Church?

Chapter 6 What is the Door of the Church?

Chapter 7 Who Takes Members Into the Church?

Chapter 8 Who are the Members of the Church?

Chapter 9 Who Organizes the Church?

Chapter 10 How Many Churches Has God?

Chapter 11 But Does the Bible Speak of More Than One Church?

Chapter 12 Does the Bible Teach the Unity of All Believers?

Chapter 13 What is the Basis of Union?

Chapter 14 What is the Bond of Union?

Chapter 15 What Experience Perfects Us in Oneness?

Chapter 16 What is a Sect?

Chapter 17 What Does the Bible Say of Sects?

Chapter 18 Can We Observe the Ordinances Outside All Sects?

Chapter 19 Can We Meet to Worship Without a Sect?

Chapter 20 Is the Church Visible Without a Sect Organization?

Chapter 21 In Coming Out of Sects Do We Have to Form Another Sect?



________________________________________


CHAPTER 1
What is the Church?

The words church and churches occur in the New Testament 109 times, always translated from ekklesia, which would have been more correctly rendered congregation, which, with the Bible qualifications, would have read, “the congregation of God,” “the congregation of the first-born,” etc., denoting its divine Founder and Owner. And, “the congregation that was at Antioch,” “The congregation of God which was at Corinth,” “The congregation of Asia,” “The congregation of Galatia,” etc., denoting the different geographical locations of the congregations of God. But whether we use the word church, as in common use, or congregation, the more correct appellation, we should only attach such meaning to it as agrees with the Word of God. To use a Bible word out of its biblical meaning is perverting the Bible. What then is the Bible definition of the church? Answer: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” Eph. 1:22, 23.

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Col. 1:18. “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” Col. 1:24.

The church is the body of Christ. And its being the body of Christ, necessarily includes all His members. Therefore to call an earthly building the church is ridiculous, and to call an organized division the church is subverting the truth. No sect contains all the body of Christ, therefore, no sect is the church of God. Then as honest men, who expect to be judged by the Word of God, let us never call anything the church but the body of Christ; i. e., all the saved, either universally, or in any given locality.


CHAPTER 2
Who is the Founder of the Church?

We are told that Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11:10. And the apostle Paul says to the converted Hebrews in the next chapter (verses 22-24), “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

That city whose builder and maker is God we have come unto in the gospel dispensation, and it is the church of the first-born. Christ, who was “God manifest in the flesh,” is the founder, builder, and maker of the church. “For this man [Christ Jesus] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” Heb 3:3, 4. “. . . feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church . . . holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:25-27. “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18.


CHAPTER 3
When Was the Church Built?

The last text cited above speaks of her building as then in the future. Now read I Cor. 3:9, “. . . ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Eph. 2:20-22.

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” I Pet. 2:5.

In A. D. 32 Christ said, “I will build my church.” In [A. D.] 59, and after that, the apostles said, “Ye are God’s building,” “are built up a spiritual house.” So the church was built between those dates. It is true that the church was begun under the labours of John the Baptist, Jesus, and His apostles, before the day of Pentecost. Many believed and entered the kingdom then, and constituted material for the church. But the coming of the Holy Spirit was the point of time when the church was really built, and set in order, as seen in I Cor. 12:6, 11-13, 18, 24. The church is defined as “his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Eph. 1:23. The church proper then did not exist until the fulness of Christ came, which was on the day of Pentecost. Then it was fully set up, and “fitly joined together and compacted.” That being the time of the founding of the church of God, it follows that every religious body that has since come into existence is not the church of God, but a daughter of confusion, born out of due season. This includes Romanism and all the Protestant sects.


CHAPTER 4
Who is its Foundation?

“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” Isa. 28:16.

“For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?” Psalm 18:31.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Cor. 3:11.

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Eph. 2:20, 21.

In the last text we see that the apostles were foundation-stones. If we were held to apply the “rock” in Matt. 16:18 to Peter, there is nothing in such an application of the text that conflicts with the scriptures. The apostles all being foundations, of course Peter was one of them. He does not single Peter out here because he had any preeminence over the rest, but because he was conversing with him, and his name, Cephas–a stone–called out the assertion. For evidence that all twelve were all foundations, see Rev. 21:14. Yet, Christ is the all-underlying foundation. The apostles being first chosen and inspired to give us the new Testament, were foundation stones occupying a connecting position between Christ, the Rock, and the rest of the building. Christ is then the only Rock. “Other foundation can no man lay.” Only one structure can stand on one foundation. Christ built His church on Himself. All later organizations are without Christ as their foundation, and must perish.


CHAPTER 5
Who is the Head of the Church?

“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him [Christ] to be the head over all things to the church.” Eph. 1:22.

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph. 4:15, 16.

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” Eph. 5:23, 24.

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Col. 1:18.

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Col. 2:18, 19.

The head of an institution is its lawmaker. “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.” Isa. 33:22.

“There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy . . .” James 4:12.

All organisms that make their own laws, creeds, disciplines, and systems of co-operation, do not hold the Head–Christ. Their law-making synods and general conferences ignore the divine lawgiver, usurp the place of Christ and sit in the stead of God, and are not Christ’s church, which is subject to Him.

Again, there is one head; hence there can be but one body.


CHAPTER 6
What is the Door of the Church?

Thus saith the Lord: “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep . . . I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:7, 9.

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Rev. 3:8.

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Eph. 2:18.

In these scriptures we see clearly that Christ is the door of the church, and salvation the mode of induction, and that it is a door that stands open continually, and no man can shut. Christ is not the door of any sect, therefore no sect is the church of God. The experience of salvation does not constitute a person a member of any sect on earth; therefore they are not the church of God. All sects have doors, a manner of admitting members, that are open and shut by men, hence are unlike the church of God, which no man can open and shut. They are therefore not His church.


CHAPTER 7
Who Takes Members into the Church?

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46, 47.

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” I Cor. 12:18.

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” I Cor. 12:13.

Here the setting of the members into the body, or adding to the church, is ascribed to God, to Christ, and to the Spirit. Of course they are one, the triune God.

But God never takes men into a sect. Therefore no sect is His church.


CHAPTER 8
Who are Members of the Church?

If, as we have seen, salvation is the process of entering the church, it follows that no one is in the church who has not salvation. The church is one “family in heaven and earth,” named from the Father. Eph. 3:15. This family is “the household of God.” Eph. 2:19. Then it follows that only the sons of God, such as are born of the Spirit, are in the church. And we are told that “he that committeth sin is of the devil,” and “whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil” (I John 3:8-10), namely, in the fact that children of the devil commit sin, and the children of God do not. The holy apostle repeats the fact with emphasis “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” I John 5:18. There are no sinners in the church. But all sects are more or less filled with sinners. Hence, no sect is the church of God.


CHAPTER 9
Who Organizes the Church?

The word “organize” is not in the scriptures. It is defined in the dictionary as follows: “To furnish with organs; to arrange in parts; to form in due order.”

God’s church is furnished with organs, arranged in parts, in due order; hence, is an organic structure. But who is the organizer of the same? Who furnishes it with organs? Answer: “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” I Cor. 12:8-11.

“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.” Verses 27, 28.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and unto all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” II Cor. 3:5, 6.

“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4:10-13.

These are sufficient to prove that God furnishes His church with all its organs, namely with all necessary gifts of the Spirit, and officers. The foregoing scriptures cover the first two definitions of the word organize. But who forms in due parts? “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him . . . 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.” I Cor. 12:18, 24, 25.

Other scriptures also show the harmonizing of the body of Christ, by the hand of God and through the Spirit. But those given above are sufficient. One thing, however, we mention, and that is, the laying on of hands by the elders in ordaining elders, etc. That this pertains to the organization of the church, we freely allow. But it is never called organizing the church. God ordains by way of qualifying and choosing, and His ministers ordain in the sense of recognizing the divine call, and dedicating thereunto. This order is clearly seen in Acts 13:1-4.

Succession of authority down through a course of ecclesiastical lords is all a superstitious delusion; a dragon power. Those whom God saves, baptizes with power, and commissions by the Holy Spirit have the only ecclesiastical authority instituted of God, and this comes direct from heaven, and not through any imaginary line of predecessors.

Voting for officers only belongs to Babylon formality, where God is not present to work “all in all,” by the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He wills.

The church, then, is organized by the Lord, who sets all the members in the body as it pleases Him, and distributes the gifts and callings by His own wisdom to all the members of the body. Men may organize a human compact, but never the divine body of Christ, which is the church. Thus said the Lord: “And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.” Isa. 44:7.

This is to the point. God Himself “appointed the ancient people” to their several places in the body, and who will now presume to take upon himself the prerogative of the Almighty? “Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the Lord of hosts is his name.” Jer. 51:17-19.

The sect-founders are confounded because their structures “have no breath”–no life. They call them churches, but it “is falsehood,” the work of error. But God’s true church is the former of all things, the primitive church that Jesus bought with His own blood, and built before the rise of the first sect of the apostasy.

He that builds a house organizes the same. But if other men were to come and saw the same house into four parts, and throw each off its foundation, such work would be disorganizing the building, and destroying the same. Just so should God, by the pure Word and Spirit, fully save, say four hundred souls in one city, He would organize and temper all together in one body. But should four preachers, representing as many sects, each form his schismatic organism there of equal members, each would have the impudence to report to his conference that he had organized a church there of one hundred members while the facts would be, they, like the parties cleaving the house asunder, would really disorganize and disintegrate the church. Thus, we see that the organizing sects, the work of men, is the disorganizing of the church, which is built of God. Since, then, the church is organized by the Lord, it follows that so-called churches organized by men, lack the authentic seal of God, and are not His church, but unscriptural schisms.



CHAPTER 10
How Many Churches Does God Have?

Every description of the divine church shows its oneness “Other sheep [Gentiles] I have, which are not of this fold [not Jews]: them also I must bring . . . and there shall be one fold [church], and one shepherd.” John 10:16.

We have seen that Christ is “the head of the body, the church.” Therefore, as there is but one head, there can be but one body.

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Rom. 12:4, 5.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. But now are they many members, yet but one body.” I Cor. 12:12, 13, 20.

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” Eph. 2:14-16.

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Eph. 4:4-6.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Col. 3:15.

These scriptures prove positively that there is but one true church, just as there is but one God, one true God. Since we are called of Christ into one body, the call to join various bodies must be of the antichrist.

Again, the church sustains the same relation to Christ that a wife does to her husband.

“And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.” Hosea 2:19, 20.

“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” Rom. 7:4. “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” II Cor. 11:2. “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. . .” Jn. 3:29.

“For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Isa. 54:5.

The idea of Christ having more than one wife (church) is repugnant to the Bible, and a slander on the Son of God.

“Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:15.

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Eph. 2:19.

From these and other scriptures, we see the church is God’s family, or household. And, since a man can have only one family, it follows that God has but one church. It would be an awful reflection on the holiness of God to have many wives and separate rival families, and they of the “nude and lude” character Bishop Foster ascribes to the modern sects. Therefore the multiplicity of sects, falsely called churches, are not God’s church.


CHAPTER 11
But Does the Bible Speak of More Than One Church?

The word “church” frequently occurs in the plural form, but never in the sense of sects of denominations. When more than one church is spoken of, it is always the one church of the living God, in different localities.

“. . . they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch . . . and when they had ordained them elders in every church,” et cetera Acts 14:21, 23.

“And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” Acts 15:41.

“Who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Rom. 16:4.

“. . . as I teach everywhere in every church.” I Cor. 4:17.

“And so ordain I in all churches.” I Cor. 7:17.

“. . . as I have given order to the churches of Galatia.” I Cor. 16:1.

“The churches of Asia salute you.” I Cor. 16:19.

“. . . throughout all the churches.” II Cor. 8:18.

Thus we see that when churches are spoken of, they invariably denote the same church of God in several cities, or throughout one or more countries. But there is not the slightest intimation of more than one church in the same city. Speaking of the church in various geographical localities, the apostle says: “So ordain I in all churches.” “As I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye [Corinthians].” It can easily be seen that if these New Testament “churches” were different sects, as we have today, one bishop could not give orders to them all. Bishop Simpson of the M. E. sect cannot issue orders over the U. B. Lutheran, Presbyterian, and other sects. He has no jurisdiction over them. So we see a vast difference between Bible churches and sect divisions. The former are all one in Christ. The latter are independent and separate schisms. Several sects exist in the same town, but God only has one church in the same place. Hence we read: “. . . the church that was at Antioch.” Acts 13:1. “. . . the church of God which is at Corinth . . .” I Cor. 1:2. “. . . the church of the Thessalonians . . .” I Thess. 1:1. “. . . unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” Rev. 1:11. Thus we see there was only one church in one city. Seven sects can now be addressed in one town of no great size. But when messages were sent to seven churches in Asia, seven different cities had to be addressed. All the saved of God in any place constitute His church in that place. Then it follows that a plurality of separate bodies in the same place are not God’s church, but babel confusion.


CHAPTER 12
Does the Bible Teach the Unity of All Believers?

Yes. “. . . Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name . . .” John 17:11, 12.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me . . . and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:20-23.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” I Cor. 1:10.

“. . . for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28.

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Phil. 1:27.
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Phil. 2:2.

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 15:5, 6.

“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” Acts 4:32.

Can anybody look upon this picture and not see an awful contrast between it and the dark picture of the present-day sect confusion? Do the members of the different sects have the same care one for another? Behold, they are not of one mind, nor of one judgment; they are not one in name, nor creed, nor body; they are not of one heart, nor of one soul, nor of one spirit, nor yet of one faith; they have not one mouth, nor do they speak the same things. They are never one, except it be in opposing Bible salvation. As God confounded the babel-builders, and they all became divided and of different tongues, so he has sent His thunderbolts of wrath upon Rome, the mother of harlots, and has knocked off several hundred Protestant fragments, each one of which speaks the peculiar dialect of its creed.

The church, compared with a human body, is required to have but one mouth, which means perfect harmony in all her teaching. If we were to allow that the multiplicity of sects are the church, then a human monstrosity, having several hundred mouths, and every mouth speaking contrary to every other mouth, would be necessary to symbolize it. As the body of Christ has but one mouth and speaks the same things, it is very evident that the jargon confusion of sect tongues does not represent His body, and is not His church.


CHAPTER 13
What is the Basis of Union?

1. “. . . all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28.

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ . . .” Rom. 12:5.

As it is here stated, there is but one body in Christ, it necessarily follows that the many separate sect bodies are not in Christ. As we are all one in Christ Jesus, to join anything else but Christ incurs the sin of sectism.

2. “. . . Holy Father, keep through [Greek, in] thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are . . . I kept them in thy name.” John 17:11, 12. Here the church was named by “the mouth of the Lord” as had been predicted in Isa. 62:2. Eph. 3:15, as correctly rendered from the Greek by the Emphatic Diaglott and other versions, reads thus: “From whom the whole family in the heavens, and on earth is named.”

The name of the church was given by the mouth of the Lord, and was derived from God, His Father. The apostles respected the prayer of Christ, and kept the church in God’s name.

“. . . feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.

“. . . the church of God which is at Corinth . . .” I Cor. 1:2; II Cor. 1:1.

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” I Cor. 10:32.

"We have no such custom, neither the churches of God." 1Cor 11:16.

“. . . despise ye the church of God?” I Cor. 11:22.

“. . . I persecuted the church of God.” I Cor. 15:9.

“. . . beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” Gal. 1:13.

“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus . . .” I Thess. 2:14.

“. . . we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God . . .” II Thess. 1:4.

“If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” I Tim. 3:5.

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” I Tim. 3:14, 15.

Here are twelve instances of the title, “church of God.” This corresponds with the Saviour’s prayer, and is the only proper appellation. But as there was but the one church, the qualifying part of the name was not needed in every instance.

Hence, for convenience, they usually said, “the church,” or the church at some certain place.

We hear a babel cry, “There is nothing in the name.” It is a false assertion. In the Bible, as shown above, God is honoured as the maker and owner of the church. Would an appellation that does not indicate whether God, man, or the devil founded and owns the church do equal honour to God? Let it also be known there is enough in false names to divide and confuse the family of God. Therefore Christ prayed the Father to keep them in His name, “that they may all be one as we are.” Therefore all persons that join themselves to any other name, are guilty of the sin of division.

3. “I have given them thy Word.” This said Christ in His prayer for our perfect oneness. To impose any other creed, or subscribe to any other, is to make and join divisions, and is a sin against Christ and His body, the church.

It is claimed that the organized divisions are necessary to convert the world. But Jesus prayed that all His disciples should be one as He and the Father are, that the world might believe. O ye sectarians, thus saith God: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Isa. 55:8.


CHAPTER 14
What is the Bond of Union?

Answer: Love. “Above all these things put on charity [love], which is the bond of perfectness.” Col. 3:14.

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” Col. 2:2.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39.


CHAPTER 15
What Experience Perfects Us in Oneness?

Answer: Entire sanctification, or perfection.

In connection with His prayer for oneness, the Saviour prayed the Father to sanctify the disciples and all that would believe on Him through their word, which included us. “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:22, 23. Sanctification, perfection, and the glory of Christ all relate to the same experience, and this makes God’s children one. “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Heb. 2:11.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4:11-13.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Pet. 1:18, 19.

The salvation of the Lord, which qualifies us for heaven, makes us one on earth. A religion of divisions will deceive the soul. The chief object of God’s ministers is to “perfect the saints.” The blood of Christ not only purifies from “all sin” and “all unrighteousness,” but also sweeps away all erroneous doctrines. The Comforter guides into all truth, which involves the removal of all error. It is true that cleansing from error is not as instantaneous as from sin. But the pure in heart have perfect fellowship, even though all previously educated errors have not yet disappeared. There is therefore no real cause of division but sin. Therefore to cry against sects and divisions without first being wholly sanctified, and then leading people into this precious paradise of holy love, is nothing but confusion mocking confusion, or satan buffeting satan, as the devil flogged the sons of Sceva. All efforts of union but that of God’s holiness is like pounding cold, crooked pieces of iron against each other to make them fit together. The more blows, the more crooks and differences. Put them into a furnace of white heat, and they will lose their cold, stiff, crooked individuality, and flow into one mass. That is God’s way of uniting His people, in the fire of the Holy Spirit. All tinkering up platforms of union is wasted time. Each effort has only molded another sect calf for the people to worship and wrangle over. Freedom from sin knits together in love. But all merely strapped-up unions are bundles bound together to be burned. Bible salvation is all that is needed. This obtained, both union of heart and soul, and harmony in outward worship and life, will follow as a result or fruit of the Spirit. When “baptized by one Spirit into the one body,” and made to drink in the one divine Spirit in His fulness, there will be no trouble to “worship God in Spirit and in truth.” For all such “know the truth, and the truth makes them free.”
On the plane of Bible holiness, no outward observances are made a test, in fact nothing is made a test of fellowship. For holy men “judge not from appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” I John 1:7. Fellowship is of the Spirit (Phil. 2:1), and exists where heart-purity exists. It is the conscious blending of hearts filled with the same Holy Spirit.
One may have been led into all truth, the other not. This does not interrupt fellowship. Nevertheless it is the duty of such as “know the truth,” in meekness to instruct others who do not. Ignorance of some truth does not destroy fellowship, but resisting the truth does, because it forfeits salvation. We must not sanction people’s errors, but if saved, show our love and fellowship to them, so long as they do not get the evidence that their wrong doctrines have become wilful, or they have in some way lost salvation. The fellowship ends, but love and kindness still continue in faithful efforts for their salvation. To ignore fellowship simply because of some doctrinal error is bigotry. To agree to disagree, or to put on an equality truth and error, is babel confusion. To know the truth is our privilege; to teach the truth our duty; but to have fellowship with the pure and upright of heart is an involuntary and spontaneous fact. Sects are the result of carnality. Nothing but perfect holiness destroys carnality, and thus removes both sectism and its cause. The fire of God’s love saves the soul, harmonizes all hearts that receive it, leads them into perfect and uniform obedience to all truth, and drives afar all who refuse to pass through its purging fire, and gain the plane of holy fellowship.


CHAPTER 16
What is a Sect?

In a little tract entitled “Sects,” written by the founder of the Free Methodist sect, who signs his name, Rev. B. T. Roberts, the following definition is given:

“The word ‘sect’ is from the Latin secare, to cut off, to separate. The word section is from the same root. Hence a section is a portion cut off, or separated from a body of which it forms a part. A sect of Christians is a part of the entire Christian body, separated from the rest by some peculiar doctrines or tenets which they hold exclusively, or to which they give especial prominence. This we believe is a fair definition of the word sect, as commonly used by those who know the meaning of the words which they use.”

This we confess is a true definition and explanation of the word sect. But how any man of ordinary intelligence can thus correctly define sects as separate, cut-off portions from the body of Christ, by some exclusive party doctrines and then turn around and say it is right thus to sever the general body of Christ into fragments, is a mystery of iniquity. It well demonstrates the fact that a heretic (i. e., sectarian) is subverted and sinneth. To justify and sanction such schisms from the general body is to sin against God, and utterly disregard His Word.


CHAPTER 17
What Does the Bible Say of Sects?

They “devoureth the man that is more righteous than he; and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things that have no ruler over them. They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?” Habakuk 1:13-17.

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” I Cor. 12:25. Sects and schisms mean the same thing.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom. 16:17, 18.

“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Titus 3:10, 11.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” II Pet. 2:1-3.

The words “damnable heresies,” are rendered “destructive sects,” in the German version.

“For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” I Cor. 11:18, 19. Here we see that heresies means the same as divisions. And in the margin the translators put it in plain English, “sects.” Paul declared the Corinthian brethren carnal, because they were inclined to schisms, saying, “I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos.” I Cor. 3:1-4. In Galatians 5:20 the apostle classifies “heresies,” translated “sects,” in the Emphatic Diaglott, with murders, and the whole catalogue of “works of the flesh,” and declares “that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

God help man to flee out of heresies–sects–and be complete in Christ. Since God’s word renounces sects, they cannot be His church.


CHAPTER 18
Can We Observe the Ordinances Outside All Sects?

The New Testament clearly shows that Christ enacted certain ordinances, namely baptism, or in plain English, immersion, the washing of the saints’ feet, and the Lord’s supper. But we need join no sect to observe them. They do not belong to any sect on earth, but they are placed in the body of Christ for the exclusive observance of its members. Sectarians who do not discern the body of Christ are not even qualified for their observance. See I Cor. 11:27-29.


CHAPTER 19
Can We Meet to Worship Without a Sect?

Is it so that God’s children cannot meet to worship Him unless they meet in some sect name, some name other than the one Christ told us to meet in? Thank God, we find no difficulty in assembling together outside all sect names and inclosures. But sectarians are actually so blind that they think holy men cannot convene together to worship God and enjoy any means of grace unless they join some earthly craft; as though all grace were in the sect, and nothing in Christ.


CHAPTER 20
Is the Church Visible Without a Sect Organization?

Another plea for sect idolatry is, that the church is invisible, unless organized in sect order. This is another superstition of the dark age. The Holy Spirit, who organizes the church, is indeed invisible, but His organization is visible. As the invisible wind which is a symbol of the Spirit, produces visible effects, so the church of God is a visible effect of His unseen power. Being composed of actual men and women, a city set upon a hill, the light thereof cannot be hid; “as terrible as an army with banners,” she always was visible, and needed no sect-founder to make her such. Paul was not addressing disembodied spirits at Corinth when he said: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Nor is it only the hidden man of the heart that belongs to the church; but “know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?” I Cor. 6:15. And our physical bodies do not become invisible when God sets us into the body of Christ, and remain so until a sect builder comes along and organizes us into visibility. Not only are the members of the true church visible, but so is the organization itself. Every gift and office that makes up the divine institution is visibly exercised in all the members, by all the members, by the invisible operation of God “who is over all, and through all, and in you all,” and “who worketh all in all.”

CHAPTER 21
In Coming Out of Sects Do We Have to Form Another Sect?

This is the final question, and we are very thankful to God that we can answer, NO. God forbid that any more of the harlots should be “conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity.” If that were so, sectism is a sin from which there would be no escape. But the voice from heaven says, “Come out of her, my people.” So there is a way out of her, and “It shall be called the way of holiness.”

When a non-professing sinner is converted to God and born of the Spirit, he is thereby made a member of the church of God, but is in no sect at all. And since there is no command in the Bible to join any sect, he can obey all the Word and keep salvation, in the church, without ever joining a sect, so can every saint of God on the earth do the same. But should any number of such disciples of Christ through false teaching be led into a sect corporation and afterwards discover the deception practised upon them, cannot they renounce the sect organization and come out of it, as the Word of God commands them, and remain only in the church, which is the body of Christ, as they were before they were decoyed into the sect? To deny this fact is simply perverse cant. If men were to come out of sects and join themselves together, and make their own creed, they would be another sect. But the church of the living God is not thus produced. She is the result of men and women being saved in Jesus, and therefore joined together by the Lord in the “bond of perfectness.” The question is not, what system is most practical for all Christians to step upon as the basis of union, but what foundation do all Christians actually and necessarily stand on? By abiding only in Christ, His body the church, we stand on the foundation which includes all Christians in heaven and earth, and not a member of any sect or cut-off faction. If the Word of God had said, “We are all one in the Methodist body,” or any other human corporation, then Methodists would occupy the divinely appointed platform of union, and every other name and order would stand condemned for the sin of division. But since the Word commands us to abide only in Christ and declares us “all one in Christ Jesus,” “one body in Christ,” by staying in Him only, in whom all Christians must abide, and in whom there are no sinners, we are joined to all saints, and separated from all sinners, and stand free before God of the great transgression of sectism.

Therefore, since every intelligent reader of the Bible knows that the Protestant sects and Romanism are not the church of God; that every sect corporation yokes together saints and sinners, which the Bible forbids; since the most bigoted confess that “the church [meaning the sect] will not save anybody,” and since Christ alone can save and keep us, and “we are complete in him,” why not abandon the sect and abide only in Christ, and His body the church? Since there will be no sects in heaven, why cling to them on earth? Why insult the wisdom of Christ by the imputation that the church He founded is not practical, and some man has, in these last days gotten up a better one, which you prefer? In the name of Jesus Christ, whose Word will soon judge us, we beseech all men to escape from all sin and sinners, from all sect clans, and sectish bands, and take refuge in Jesus Christ, and His own church, which is the “pillar and ground of the truth.” Amen.





Copyright © 2005 - Church of God. All Rights Reserved.


Who are Members of the Church?
(Taken from: Church of God Doctrines -1979 ed.)

By: Bro. Cecil C. Carver
________________________________________

"And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47b.

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9a.

"And he is the head of the body, the church." Col. 1:18a.

"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?" I Cor. 6:15a.

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." I Cor. 12:13a.

"But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." I Cor. 12:18. "That there should be no schism [division] in the body" verse 25. "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 healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues," verses 27, 28.

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." Heb. 12:22,23. "Except a man be born again [or, from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Ye must be born again." John 3:3,6. See Verse 7.

Note:Thus we see that a member of the church has the following qualifications:
• He is a saved man.
• He was added by the Lord, not some preacher. He came through the door, Christ Jesus.
• He has become a part of the actual BODY OF CHRIST. The church is the body of Christ today. His body is in this world and we can become a part of it. The church is that body and He is its head.
• His body is now a part of the BODY OF CHRIST.
• That body is ONE (not divided up).
• His name is written in heaven.
• He is a just man.
• He is a perfect man.

Membership in the Church of God is a matter between the individual and Christ. One may become a member all alone, far removed from human contacts. If an individual is convicted by the Holy Spirit of his sins, and he calls on God for mercy, repenting and forsaking all sin, and believing in the atoning blood of Christ, placing his sins on Christ by faith, he is born into the family of God. The new birth is the only entrance into the church. You cannot join it, be baptized into it, or be accepted by vote of the other members. You may not join by letter, nor by any other means than the new birth. All who experience the new birth are automatically members of the Church of God. You need to get acquainted with your brothers and sisters, but they have nothing to do with your becoming a member of the family. Do the children of ANY earthly family come together when a little brother or sister is born into their home and VOTE as to whether it shall be accepted into that family? Certainly not! The analogy is perfect concerning the child of God. Neither does that infant need to seek a "home," for it is God's own child. God is its Father. If this. new child of God goes and joins some "church" it has moved that much out of God's will, and will have to forsake that which it joined if it desires to remain in fellowship with God.

This born-again individual will remain in the Church of God as long as he remains free from sin. Sin brings death to the soul. Sin will cause God's child to die, and that child will be separated from God as truly as physical death causes a separation in the earthly family. We may not become "unborn" after being born again, but we may DIE. "The wages of sin is DEATH."

Is The Church a Visible Body, Or An Invisible Mystical Body?

"And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47b.

". . . And at that time there was a great persecution against the church WHICH WAS AT JERUSALEM. . . ." Acts 8:1.

"And when they had ordained them elders in every CHURCH, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord. . . And when they were come, and had gathered the church TOGETHER, they rehearsed all that God had done with them. . . ." Acts 14:23,27.






Copyright © 2005 - Church of God. All Rights Reserved




Where is the Temple of God Today?
(Taken from: Church of God Doctrines -1979 ed.)

By: Bro. Cecil C. Carver
________________________________________

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying... And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell AMONG them." Ex. 25:1,8.

Note: This was in Moses' time, and God dwelt in the ark which was in the tabernacle as He said in Ex. 25:22, "And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee. . . ."

"The house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the GLORY OF THE LORD had filled the HOUSE OF GOD." 2 Chron. 5:13,14.

Note: This was in Solomon's time, and God was moving into the temple which Solomon had built for Him to dwell in that He might be AMONG THEM.

". . . And his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Matt. 24:1,2.

"Jesus, . . . yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom." Matt. 27:50,51a.

Note: The temple at Jerusalem was to be destroyed as Jesus had predicted. God moved out of that temple, and showed His departure by ripping the veil open from the top to the bottom as He left. Now let us watch God moving into His new temple, the church, and let us see if there is glory in the entrance.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost...And they were all amazed....But Peter...said...This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh...And I will shew wonders in heaven above...whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2nd chapter.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteous ness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? 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. Wherefore COME OUT from among them,and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2 Cor. 6:14-17.

This shows us that God's PEOPLE are now HIS TEMPLE. They do not have to go to the place of worship to find God, but He is dwelling, living, working, and using THEM as HIS TEMPLE. NOW-not AMONG them, but IN them.














The Visible Body
By: Bro. Michael Smith
________________________________________

The Church is not a group or organization of man but a divine institution composed of every saved individual. In Acts 2:47 the scripture says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Salvation is the redemption of sin through the blood of Christ. When individuals repent and depart from iniquity, they become one with the body of Jesus Christ – of whom Christ is the head (Eph 1:22-23).

Entrance into the glorious Church of God is not obtained through joining a congregation or having a name written in a book here on earth. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (I Cor. 12:18). Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep … I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:7,9).

Scripture after scripture supports the fact that the body is composed of the saved. We are only saved through Jesus Christ. Hence, man cannot put us into the church, nor can man put us out of the church. Sin is what separates us from being part of the body of Christ – the Church.

The Church is bigger than you and me. None of us have salvation to offer except Christ. There are people who through Christ have been born again and become new creatures. They may have never heard of the ‘Church of God’ but they are members due to their experience of salvation. On the other hand, there may be people going to a congregation with a sign over the building ‘Church of God’ who are not actually in God’s church if there is sin in their lives. Hence, God’s church is the only Church that is pure and without sin – as it is divinely composed of the pure and holy. This is why the ‘Church of God,’ Mount Zion, reigns above all religious organizations of man.

Clearly then, to be part of the Church of God, religious history and past affiliations are relatively unimportant. Receiving material from a particular congregation or group does not make one part of the Church of God. Membership is only contingent upon a born again experience. All the redeemed, the world over, are part of the true Church.

Ephesians 4:4-6 states “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” God is not a polygamist and has only one Church. This should not be confusing when we understand, as previously explained, what the church really is.

Some members in the body of Christ will not have attained all the light and understanding that other members possess. It is God’s will and purpose to draw each one through the Holy Spirit that we might “...come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). As people grow in Christ, they will come into a fuller awareness and understanding of the pure doctrines of the Bible. Christ can never be separated from truth.

The visible body of Christ on earth is a group or a congregation of believers who are openly unified in the oneness of God’s faith and Spirit. Wherever the two witnesses - the Word and Spirit - are having full freedom and right of way, there is the visible body. Although there will often be tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:37-42), where the Word is being uncompromisingly taught and lived in its fullness under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, that is the visible body.

Therefore, it is possible for someone to be in the Church of God but not be part of the visible body due to their fellowship of a false system of religion and/or lack of doctrinal understanding. It is God’s will for all to leave the systems of man’s religion and be joined with other believers in the purity of doctrine and Spirit. “Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins…” (Revelation 18:4). When people fail to forsake the religious organizations of man, their spiritual life usually quickly ebbs out due to the influence of erroneous doctrine and lack of Holy Spirit empowerment. If an individual chooses not to leave spiritual Babylon once they have light on the subject, it is a case of disobedience to God. The end result will be spiritual death. God continues to call His people to unity in the oneness of His Spirit and faith.

God has one church; however, the visible body of Christ is not dependent upon one’s knowledge of all other geographical representations of the one body. Being part of the visible body is not dependent upon what time period a congregation broke free from others who were compromising – if such be the case. A congregation is not part of the visibility just because of an association or history, as the true test of visibility is the Word and Spirit. But when people who are operating in the fullness of God meet, there is a sweet fellowship of love, and unity should be the natural outcome. Where there is a lack of unity, either the Word or the Spirit (or both) is not having total liberty among one or both groups.

In the early 1900’s, there was an ignorant fisherman in Nigeria who gave his heart to Jesus Christ. That made him a member of the Church of God although he had never heard of the church. This man began to minister and God revealed the wonderful, pure truths of the Bible to him. A congregation was raised up which made them part of the visible body of Christ, as the Word and Spirit were operating in their full capacity. Subsequently, this brother came into contact with some of the pioneer brethren from the Church of God reformation in the United States. They were teaching the same thing and had the same spirit. Both groups of people then were the visible body in different locales. Once they made contact, there was a unity that spontaneously flowed between them.

So, as we enter into the Church of God only through a heart relationship with Christ, we enter into visibility only through the working of God as well. Sometimes various professed Church of God groups get in a tug of war saying, “Come to US.” The cry from God’s true people should be to enter through the door of Jesus Christ and forsake all false doctrines and man’s religion. The result will be holiness and unity with God’s visible body on earth. God’s Church should transcend culture, tradition, and history, and be founded on the truth of the rock Christ Jesus.

A vision of the church is imperative to keep from becoming just another denomination amongst many. Understanding this basic teaching will keep God’s people from falling into the quagmire of Church of God sectism. "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach" (Isaiah 4:1). Let all who profess to be in God's church partake of the whole Word of God and be adorned with the holiness and righteousness of Christ.

May the Lord give all His people a greater vision of the wonderful Church of God. May we die out in a greater way to our thoughts and opinions and be joined together in the fullness of the Word and Spirit. Thank the Lord for the glorious Church of God.

-Bro. Michael Smith
March 6, 2006




Come Out
By: Bro. Michael Smith
________________________________________

“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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (II Cor. 6: 16-18)

What a wonderful privilege and consolation to know that the almighty God, the creator of the universe, has promised to be our personal God and Father. He will dwell with us and walk with us. He is our refuge, our comfort, our strength, our victory over sin, and our glory. It is heartwarming to reflect on the blessings of God’s people. But beyond reflection, are you experiencing the reality of being one of God’s children?

God’s promise to be a Father was conditional. I will receive you if you come out and be separate. I will receive you if you ‘touch not the unclean thing.’ The world is full of people professing ‘God the father’ but few are experiencing the reality of the power and glory of God. The reason for this is that many are not willing to separate themselves from the idols of this world. Many of the idols of 2000 years ago have changed, but there are still idols in our society today. Things that people worship or give themselves over to are idols -- music, immodest dress, and sports, just to name a few. The scripture says to ‘touch not.’ Too many professing saints of God are imbibing in things of the world that do not measure to the purity and holiness of the word of God. God is calling for you to ‘come out’ and be separate.

One of the most deceptive idols is the idol of religion. People are worshiping religious groups, movements and ministers more than God Himself. “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev 18:4). The call of this scripture is to come out of Babylon, which has “become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Rev 18:2). Babylon denotes confusion and in turn deception. Babylon is inclusive of congregations where false doctrine is being taught, where man is exalted, and where man is trying to take the place of the Holy Spirit. There are people that one time had light and understanding on this truth that are today turning back to the defilement of Babylon. Come out of her my people. This is still the cry of the Spirit in these last days.

The scripture teaches us that ‘no man can serve two masters.’ We cannot and will not be God’s people if we try to serve both God and mammon. God has called us to holiness and separation from the world and from religious confusion. God’s people are a separate people. They live differently, act differently, and think differently. There are forces of the enemy at work amongst God’s people trying to obliterate the ‘come out’ message. God is looking today for individuals and people to make a stand for truth that goes beyond theology and doctrine. The doctrine of holiness and separation from the world and Babylon must be a reality in our daily lives or we are guilty of denying the call of God.

Joining the church of your choice does not make one God’s child. There must be a complete separation from the sin of the world and Babylon. Just because a body of people have the name ‘Church of God’ over the door does not make them part of God’s body. The word ‘church’ in the Greek is ekklesia, which by definition, means ‘called out.’ God’s true people are individuals who have responded to the call and come out of the world and Babylon and into Zion, where the Word and the Spirit have complete right-of-way.

When we ‘come out’ we ‘come in’ to the wonderful fellowship of God’s true people. But even greater than that, we experience the reality of God the Father.





Copyright © 2005 - Church of God. All Rights Reserved.


Teachings of the Church of God
________________________________________

Bible: The divinely, inspired word of God. The Church of God has no other creed or theology other than that which is taught in the Word of God in its entirety. (II Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21).

Relationship of Love: There is no greater doctrine of the Bible than that of love. Jesus confirmed that an individual is to love the Lord God with all of his heart, soul, mind, body, and strength. God created mankind for the purpose of having a relationship with him. Love is the foundation to the relationship with God that He seeks in humanity. Without a supreme love of God, all other doctrine and religious life will miss the mark. Love is the motivation and key to living acceptably to God. This love for God is than manifest in loving our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:30-31)

Church of God: The body of Christ is composed of every blood-washed one. Salvation makes you a member of this divine institution of God that stands above the religious confusion of humanly- organized religion (Acts 2:47; I John 3:8-10). Jesus Christ is the true, active head of the church on earth and in Heaven (Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18). Christ is the foundation of the Church (I Cor 3:11); he governs the Church (Isaiah 9:6), and God places the members in the body--not a board or committee (I Cor 12:18,27-28).

Unity of God's People: God has only one church (I Cor 12:12-13,20; Eph 4:4-6) and Christ desires that there be unity and fellowship amongst His children (John 17:20-23, Gal 3:28, Phil 1:27). For unity to be attained, there must be a coming out of Babylon (Rev 18:2,4).

Salvation from Sin: While all have sinned, Jesus Christ died on the cross that the power of sin might be broken in the hearts and lives of mankind. There is power through redemption to enable us to live free from sin on a daily basis. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." II Cor. 5:17. To live acceptably before God and to make Heaven our home, we must live without sin. There is a definite experience of salvation that all can have when they believe in Christ, repent of committed sin, and walk in newness of life. (Matt 1:21; Rom 6; I John 3:3-10; I John 5:18a; John 5:14b; John 8:11b).

Infilling of the Holy Ghost: As it was on the day of Pentecost, there is a second work subsequent to justification (Acts 19:2) that every child of God must experience. The Holy Spirit wants to come into every justified individual and take up His abode. The Holy Ghost brings power to the lives of Christians to enable them to be the separate, called-out, holy people that God desires. The Holy Spirit is a sanctifier, comforter, purifier, and enabler. (Acts 2; Acts 15:8-9; Acts 1:8; I Cor 6:19-20; John 14:16-20, 25-28).

Kingdom of God: The kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom but a spiritual kingdom that has been in existence ever since the coming of Jesus Christ. We look not for another kingdom on this earth but are experiencing the joy, blessings, and power in this life as kings and priests in the kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-21; Romans 14:17; John 18:36).

End Times: At a time we know not, Christ will return to this earth as a thief in the night (Acts 1:9-11, II Peter 3:10-12). All people, the living and the dead, will stand before the judgment seat of God (II Tim 4:1,8; John 5:28-29; I Thess 4:16-17; II Cor 5:10). The righteous shall live in Heaven while the unrighteous shall live in Hell for eternity (Matt 25:31-46). The earth will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:7; Rev 20:11-15).

Faith: The life and experience of a Christian should be based on faith and trust in God with regard to every aspect of living. Spiritual, financial, physical, and temporal dependency is to be on God and not man (Heb 11:6; Romans 5:1; John 20:31). This is one of the reasons that ministers are not salaried, but rely on free-will offerings as the Lord provides (I Peter 5:2-3; John 10:11,13).

Divine Physical Healing: Provision was made for divine physical healing when Christ shed his blood on the cross. Divine healing is not something of the past but it is still available for those who put their faith and trust in God. God still works miracles in the body as well as the soul. (James 5:13-16; Isaiah 53:4-5).

3 Ordinances: Full Immersion Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:36-39); The Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-30; I Cor. 11:23-27); Feet Washing (John 13:14-17).

Holiness: The Word of God teaches that we must be holy in all manner of conversation -- our attitudes, meditations, motivations, actions, where we go, what we do, what we wear. Holiness must encompass our lives inwardly and outwardly. Without holiness, no man shall see God. This holiness does not come from man's work but it is the work of God within man. Therefore, there is no place for 'self-righteousness'. Part of holiness is living humbly before God and man. (Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:15; I Thess 4:7; Eph. 4:24; Rom. 6:22; Titus 2:11-12).

Modesty of Dress: A child of God must not be conformed to this world but rather be a reflection of humility, purity, and simplicity (I Timothy 2:9-10; I Corinthians 11:14-15; Deuteronomy 22:5).

Sanctity of Marriage: The scripture teaches that a man and woman, when married, are joined for life in the eyes of God. Remarriage while a first companion is still living constitutes adultery (Luke 16:18; I Cor 7:10-11,39).

Worship: True worshipers will worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24). Worship services of God's people are not programmed but are led and ordered by the Spirit of the Lord. As was the practice of the early morning church and as the reformers also taught, musical instruments are not used in active worship service. Ministers are not formally trained but are called by God to preach the gospel under the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:7; I Cor 2:1-5).

Great Commission: The burden of Christ remains with His true children to 'go into all the world and preach the gospel.' (Mark 16:15) The purpose of the Church is not to settle down and enjoy the wealth of this world but to be the light of the world, to spread the good news of true salvation, and to show lost souls the love of God by good works.


A Look at Ecumenicalism
The Spirit of Eliashib – A Look at Ecumenicalism
By Susan Mutch
“…Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.” Neh. 13:4, 7-8.
Today’s religious generation is like Eliashib. They open the door for God’s enemies to dwell among them. It seems that very few share Nehemiah’s discerning vision and zeal for the purity of the house of God. The scriptures call Eliashib’s deed “evil.” He likely thought it was benevolent; big-hearted, as would the ecumenical-minded of today.
Is this “Let’s get together and forget about our differences” and “all paths lead to heaven” mentality inspired by pure, divine love or is it the slick subtlety of Satan, perfecting his craft of deception? Indeed, the devil loves mixture–darkness with light, truth with error. And mixture he has.
We live in the time of the generic “church.” No name brand denominations. “The Community Church.” “The Bible Fellowship.” Just “believe in Jesus” or pray to Mary, even sincerely believe in your heart that Buddha or Mohammed is the right path and we will all end up in heaven. People have been deceived into believing that it would be rude and narrow-minded not to tolerate, yea, even respect, all religious notions. But does not the Bible teach us that Jesus is the Way? He is not one of many ways. One would have to deny this absolute Bible truth to accept any other way, any other spirit. “Buy the truth and sell it not.” Sell this truth and you have no gospel.
Truth is absolute, not relative. Truth calls everything outside of it a lie. This ecumenical spirit would have us respect lies. Not only will Truth not tolerate error, it reproves it, glad to rescue souls from its path of death (Prov. 14:12).
The apostle Paul was anti-ecumenical. He feared that the congregation at Corinth would “bear with” something other than the pure gospel–another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel. He knew it was a corruption of the true (2 Cor. 11:3-4). Nor did Paul respect as “another way to God” the pagan beliefs of his day. He called people to forsake them through the preaching of the one and only gospel of Jesus Christ. He joined no council of religious leaders, other than in the exclusive church of God, wherein they had one mind and one doctrine. He held no joint “unity” meetings with pagans or the Judaising factions. The gospel that Jesus died to bring us is diametrically opposed to any such confederation. This exclusiveness the devil hates. And this exclusiveness the ecumenical minded just cannot understand.
This ecumenical move is in direct fulfillment to Bible prophecy. It is another sign that we are very near the end of time. Rev. 20:7-9 shows this gathering of the false ways Satan has used through the history of the church to deceive souls–paganism (newly revived in this last century or so with the New Age Movement, occultism, witchcraft, humanism and a revival of eastern religions), Catholicism and Protestantism. Satan has wrath, knowing that his time is short (Rev. 12:12) and is doing all he can to deceive the multitudes before the final return of Jesus Christ. This triad of error is gone out “to deceive the nations” worldwide. It is actually sent by Satan to battle against the truth and is depicted as surrounding the camp of the saints about, the beloved city, the church of God.
Many shall be deceived by this pernicious movement, and through its blinding, deceiving influence “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Pet. 2:2). The children of God, who can discern the enemy’s workings, as did Nehemiah, and refuse to accept or fellowship any false way will be called intolerant, narrow-minded, unloving, bigoted, divisional, cultish, etc.
While we sincerely love the souls who are ensnared in religious error, we do hate every false way that binds them (Psa. 119:104, 148). The Bible declares that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life. Woe unto us if we say there is any other way; any other truth.
Filed in: Articles • Monday, September 28th, 2009

How Can We Know the Truth?
By: Bro. Harlan Sorrell
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We are living in a world of lies and deception. The prince of this world, the devil, is the father of lies. Jesus spoke these words concerning him in John 8:44: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Jer. 17:9-10 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

The human heart was not originally created deceitful and wicked, but Satan so succeeded in marring God’s creation through Adam’s fall that this has become man’s natural state without divine intervention. Thus, all who are born into this world have to overcome two things in order to arrive at the truth – a lying devil and a deceitful heart. God’s great desire for man is that truth might dwell in his “inward parts” (Psa. 51:6).

Jesus was born into this world with a perfectly pure heart and with the purpose to overthrow the father of lies. Jesus met this arch-deceiver on his own territory in head-on conflict, assaulting his kingdom of lies with the truth. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). He announced that the words He spoke were His Father’s words (John 14:24) and that those words are truth (John 17:17). He said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32.

As long as Jesus was in this world He bore personal witness to the truth. But when the time came for Him to leave He promised to send another personal witness to the truth whom He called the “Comforter,” or “Spirit of truth.” This One, He said, would abide with us forever (John 14:16), would reprove (convict, convince) the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8), and guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

There are those who seem to feel that, because of man’s inherently fallen condition, it is not presently possible for anyone to be totally free from error and fully established in truth. 1 Cor. 13:12, “For now we see through a glass darkly” is often quoted as an excuse for dimness of spiritual vision and understanding. But what about 2 Cor. 3:18? “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Paul speaks here of an experience presently attainable to all of us whereby we may behold as in a glass (not darkly, but brilliantly) the glory of the Lord with an open (or unveiled) face and thus be changed into the same image by His Spirit. Prov. 4:18 says, “But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

James 1: 16-17 says, “Do not err, by beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” God, the Father of lights, has sent two especially good and perfect gifts down from above to illuminate our darkness and save us from error. They are (1) the Word of truth and (2) the Spirit of truth (the interpreter of the Word). Having received these two gifts it is not needful that any man err.

In the June 1, 1885 issue of the Gospel Trumpet, Bro. D. S. Warner wrote the following words: “When a weak convert of two years old, after rambling through a wilderness maze of human creeds, to find out what church I ought to join, and was more unsettled than before I read any, I threw myself at the feet of Jesus, and asked His leading through the Spirit. My soul was in an agony of intense earnestness. I kept up this pursuit until the refreshings of the Holy Spirit came upon me, shedding much light on my mind. One thing was settled by the voice of the Lord, that was, God willed me to ignore all human sects and creeds, and commit myself to the whole Word of God, and rejecting all it does not teach. But ten years later, after becoming wholly sanctified, and receiving the personal Comforter, I soon found that I had not been able to decide in many things what the will of the Lord was, until this glorious illumination. Then I laid all my previous views down at the feet of Christ, just as if they were all wrong. Then putting myself under the direct teaching of the Comforter, He has led my soul forward in the steps of the truth with absolute and eternal certainty. … Doubtless, much truth lays beyond our present knowledge, but what we know by the revelation of the Spirit, we do not think, but know indeed.” End of quote.

Without the guidance, inspiration, and illumination of the Spirit of God, we are ALL sure to misunderstand or misinterpret the truth at some point or another. The depths of God’s written Word cannot be understood by the natural man or comprehended by the carnal mind. (See 1 Cor. 2:9-16; Rom. 8:5-8.) Since “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation,” but “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet. 1:20,21), it is imperative that our hearts and minds be moved by the inspiration of the same Holy Ghost who spoke through the holy men of old that we may properly understand the message He intended to convey in the Scriptures. Only “in thy light shall we see light” in proper perspective (Psa. 36:9).

God has made just enough of His Word comprehensible to us in our natural state to enable us to find the way of deliverance from our carnal mind and to receive “the mind of Christ;” to get us out of the flesh and into the Spirit. It is only in this state that we are ready to begin learning and exploring the “mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints” (Col. 1:26).

Nothing except the “unction” that comes from the Holy One (1 John 2:20,27) can teach us all things and help us to correctly interpret and “rightly divide the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). “For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:10. Without the “unction,” or “anointing” that comes from the Spirit of truth all men will certainly miss the mark. On the other hand, it is not possible to err by the leadings of the Spirit of God. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Rom. 8:14. Every time the sons (or children) of God err, it is because they have gotten out of step with their Guide, the divine Spirit – the One who bore witness to their adoption (Rom. 8:15), and regenerated and spoke peace to their souls (Tit. 3:5). We always err when we trust in our own understanding and follow our own minds, or the influence of some other spirit beside the Holy Spirit upon our minds. We are instructed to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to lean not to our own understanding (Pro. 3:5). How can we who “know not what we should pray for as we ought” arrive at a proper understanding of God’s truth and will for our lives unless “the Spirit helpeth our infirmities?” Therefore God, in His great mercy, has sent His Spirit to make “intercession” for us (see Rom. 8:26-27) and to personally reveal His Son to us, Who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). It is the Spirit of truth who quickens the Word of truth, making it alive in our inner man, and more than just a dead letter. The Holy Spirit is the One who administers all the blessings Christ purchased for us at Calvary. The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of all things pertaining to salvation, the New Testament, and the New Testament Church. He is our Teacher, our Guide, and our Director. All who “live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit,” and are “led by the Spirit” will go right and be right, because God’s Spirit is right. He can’t err. He KNOWS the will of God. He KNOWS the truth. If we would know the truth, then we must have our hearts tuned to the Spirit. It is the Spirit who writes God’s law of truth on our inward parts (see Jer. 31: 33, Ezek. 36: 27, & 2 Cor. 3: 3).

Even with all the advanced education available to us, we humans, in our natural state, cannot comprehend many important aspects of divine truth. We cannot discern, in many instances, the true meaning of the scriptures. Why? Because the Word was given by the inspiration of the Spirit, and “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2: 14. I heard a man say one time that his IQ was of the top two percent of the nation, therefore if anybody could rightly understand the Bible, he could. But it is just such persons as he who miss the mark! Obadiah 3 says, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee.” There is no greater deterrent to arriving at knowledge of the truth than “pride” in the heart. “If any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Cor. 8:2. Pride is an inherent part of man’s carnal nature. It is natural for all men to think they know and are capable of discerning truth from error. It takes the refining fire of the Holy Spirit to melt and consume this spirit of pride in man’s heart – to reduce our estimation of who we are and what we know to “nothing” and exalt the knowledge of God and who He is to “everything.” This is why it is vitally important that all Christians be emptied of “self,” and “filled with the Spirit.” One writer says, “Do we enjoy His fullness? Are we filled with the Spirit? Or is He quenched, grieved, resisted, crowded into a corner by carnal purposes, passions and pleasures? The full measure of the Spirit comes in when self goes out. Self must die, and then God the Spirit will fill us.” How true! It is only then that He can lead us into all truth. “When He, the Spirit of truth is come (having been given full control of your body, soul, and mind, by your complete consecration), He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13.) “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” Psa. 25:9. The secret of understanding truth is found in being filled with the Spirit of truth. Thereby we assimilate the meekness of Christ as well as all the other attributes of the divine nature. (Consider Acts 1:8 and 2 Pet. 1: 3-4; also Phil. 2: 5-8.) It is neither safe to lean on our own understanding of truth nor yet that of others. But by the illuminating presence of the Holy Spirit, who wills to indwell us in His fullness, we can all receive personal revelation of truth from God’s perspective. The Spirit leads all men into the same truth.

The reason many are “ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7), is because they do not possess the spiritual illumination that comes from being “filled with all the fullness of God.” They are neither “filled with the Spirit” nor “walking in the Spirit,” but are still “carnal, and walking as men” (1 Cor. 3:1-4). They are still filled with much of themselves. Through the sanctifying and all-pervading presence of the Holy Spirit, Who comes to possess us in His fullness when we “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom. 12:1), we can become intimately acquainted with the Author of truth, lose our biased opinions of truth, and be led into all truth. It is then that we become “transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2). We then take on the “mind of Christ” and begin to comprehend “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Eph. 3:18-19). “And it is the Spirit that beareth witness (to this revelation of fullness), because the Spirit is truth.” 1 John 5:6. Becoming “wholly sanctified,” as Bro. D. S. Warner terms it, means giving the Holy Spirit complete control of one’s whole being. It means being wholly consecrated to God in every respect, with every aspect of our lives subjected to the personal council, direction, and leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is then that the refining fire of the eternal Spirit consumes the dross of our carnal nature and we begin to grow and abound in the knowledge and revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As one old song says, “Let me lose myself and find it, Lord, in thee.” “Our God is a consuming fire.” Heb. 12:29. “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all,” and “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5,7. Jesus said, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12), and “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). We can never be too dead to self and filled with too much of God. This is the abundant life! It is found in the fullness of Christ, who “is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30) “by the Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 3:18). “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thes. 2:13,14. Thus man is restored to the image of God, being sanctified by the Spirit and by the truth (John 17:17). This is the only way we can know the truth. Amen.


12/10/2007


Old Paths Versus New Light
By: George Peek
(of Camden on Gauley, West Virginia)
________________________________________



Editor's Note

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 In the Beginning

Chapter 3 "New Light"

Chapter 4 Dress

Chapter 5 Authority of the Holy Ghost

Chapter 6 Education of Ministers

Chapter 7 Financial Support

Chapter 8 Music in Worship

Chapter 9 Honorary Titles

Chapter 10 Trusting the Lord

Chapter 11 The Trinity



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Editor's Note

This booklet was written in the early-mid 1900's concerning the split that took place in the Gospel Trumpet movement around 1913. George Peek explains some of the truths from which many departed. What is now known as Church of God (Anderson, IN) is the referred to group of people that let down on many of the original practices and truths that the pioneer brethren taught.
I have made this booklet available, not for a standard, but for historical context. This is one of the few writings concerning this respective time period in the Church. It is no way intended to be offensive to any individual or movement. It is important to note that there were some ministers after the split that acknowledged that they should have had a more gentle spirit in how they addressed some of the issues. Although much truth is contained in the book, this office in no way condones any sarcasm, dogmatism, or harshness that may be drawn from this reading. Our purpose is, as the Bible teaches, to speak the truth in love while not compromising practical holiness.
Other than making a few changes to chapter organization and titles, I have posted this book as written, although the grammar and syntax is very poor.
-Bro. Michael Smith (Oct. 2005)


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Chapter 1 - Introduction

I still hold, as in the booklet, An Appeal to Reason, that a person should have a strong reason for writing a book; but I feel I have an urgent reason for writing this one, as it is written to answer the many questions that have come to me, and no doubt to answer many others in both movements. The one great question is, Why are there two bodies of people preaching the same doctrine? Surely they have a right to know the truth, especially since both movements hold the same name, "The Church of God," and both preach unity, but yet will not unite. Both movements claim to recognize the founders as God-sent men and women and both date from 1880, the God-appointed time for the evening light to shed forth her rays according to Zach. 14 and Rev. 11. The old pioneer saints are passing fast to their reward and still there are a few left who will witness to the truth of the statements that I shall make in this booklet. There is no record of the facts recorded by either side, that I know of, but I feel it is very essential that this mystery should be clarified and I still appeal to the reason of God-fearing men and women.

These two movements were one and the same from 1880 till 1913, and God wonderfully manifested His power in bringing souls out of confusion and deception into the glorious light of the gospel, and healing the sick and casting out demons. Thousands of precious saints came 'Out of the cold, formal institutions of men and came home to Zion the church of God, with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.

They truly obtained joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing fled away (Isaiah 35:10). Babylon quaked and the tenth part of the city fell.

During this period, God's faithful ministry saw eye to eye and all spoke the same things. There were no big I's and little you's. They were a plain, God-fearing people. They suffered much from their enemies' hands as they lifted their voices against Babylon (Rev. 18) and showed God's people their transgressions (Isa. 58:1). But according to the prophesy of Isa. 63:18, "The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: Our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary." As was the case in the morning of the gospel day, the people of God soon drifted from the purity, holiness, and power of the early saints into the wilderness of formality and selfishness. History repeats itself. The pure, holy bride that was gathered out of Babylon and the world in the evening light restoration, because of the love of money and her unwillingness to bear the cross, has drifted into the ways of the world. But a minority, "choosing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," stood firm for the truth as taught by the pioneer saints, and confirmed by the precious, old Bible. That is briefly the answer to the question, Why are there two movements of the same origin, name, and so nearly alike, yet so far apart?

The question has been oft' asked of me,
Why two bodies in one town should be,
Both claiming to be the lovely bride
Our Saviour purchased when He died.

My aim in writing this book is this,
Not to expose all divisions that exist,
But to turn the search-light on these two,
Which both are contending that they're the true.

From 1880 these movements were one,
Till 1913 the first round was won
In lowering the standard of the truth
To suit the "better" class and the youth.

The Devil was too smart to try to divide
The people of God as with a landslide;
If his endeavors were to succeed at all,
He must use something that seemed very small.

So he chose a very small article. of dress,
But it was very prominent, nevertheless.
He made them believe that ?, if evil, it would
Overcome evil by helping do good'

By winning those that were wealthy and wise,
And thereby give them a home in the skies.
He made them believe that the pioneers were wrong
By hindering the progress of the throng.

This stamp of the world He made them believe
Was only a custom and would greatly relieve
The embarrassment of the "better" class,
And would surely work for good at last.

The good it worked, as the prophet said,
Was evil, and worked great havoc instead.
The custom, if desired, we allow it for you,
But it is not desired by the faithful few.

It was a worldly costume for a worldly clan
And was worn to adorn the outward man,
And worldly adornment and conformity
Is condemned by the Word as you can see.

For one long year to keep neutral I tried,
Hoping in vain the body would not divide;
I hoped and prayed a turn would come soon
That would stop the breach and heal the wound.

The division was on and nothing could prevent,
Since the rivulet through the dike had went;
Till nothing could stop it or right the wrong.
Larger it grew as the compromise went on.

Wrong was not righted and none was so wise
To keep the peace, unless you would compromise;
If you'd hold your peace and in old paths abide,
You were called a division-maker and were cast aside.

Their claim was not true, though it was hurled,
Division was caused by them turning to the world.
They dress like the world, to worldly places they go,
Even to the ball game and the picture show.

They take on titles, Rev's; D. D.'s, and LL. D.'s
Great ones condemned of the Lord if you please.
In seeking the highest seats in the land,
They spend long years in schools taught by man.

The Lord warned us the highest seats not to take,
And if we disobey, our souls are at stake.
But these lordly preachers ignore God's plan
And strive to attain the applause of man.

Sin bars us from heaven unless we repent,
But God often in mercy chastisement has sent.
Then if we humble ourselves, for the elders' call,
He'll forgive us and heal us one and all.

But they, after losing contact with the Lord,
Chose their own course, ignoring God's Word;
Their members are instructed, when God lays the lash.
If they haven't got faith to turn to the arm of flesh.

So the hospitals are full to the very last ward
With people professing to trust in the Lord.
The preachers are usually in front of the herd,
Casting reflection on God's Holy Word.

These are some of the reasons, you see,
Why these two bodies do not agree;
If they will return to the old paths and abide,
We'll be one with them and walk by their side.




Chapter 2 - In the Beginning

When I came in contact with this movement in 1903, I met a people that manifested great love for each other, all spoke the same thing, and at least seemed to see eye to eye. I attended a campmeeting where there were 325 preachers and there were no lords over God's heritage, no Rev's, D. D's, or other lordly titles, only brethren. There were no programs in advance, or committees to guard the pulpit. They believed God was able to over-rule any crook that might take the pulpit. There were four services each day for ten days, and usually there would be 30 or 35 ministers on or around the platform when time came for services. Usually someone moved out leisurely and delivered the message. I never saw two make a start for the pulpit at the same time. A time or two they would sing and pray and no one went to the pulpit. They sang and prayed again but still no one moved. Finally some one rose up and said, "I believe the Lord wants a general testimony service." It proved to be a real blessed time in the Lord. Other times some one would get up right in the rear of the audience and walk leisurely to the pulpit and deliver the message. No one was ever over anxious to get to the pulpit, not afraid some one would beat them to it. They knew that no matter who delivered the message, it would be the same truth. Surely the Spirit of God was leading as it should. I have remarked many times that that was the nearest sitting in heavenly places in Christ of any time I have known where there was a large assembly. The meeting was run on the free-will offering plan and it was reported at the end of the meeting that the bills were all met, many souls were saved, and believers were sanctified, many sick folk were healed, and devils cast out. Surely God was in the midst of this people.

I was pastor of a little flock at that time of whom I have thought and said often I believed were as near living to the Bible standard as any congregation I ever knew. Some had to come as far as six or eight miles, usually on the street cars, but the attendance was almost perfect. If one was absent, some of us went to see what was wrong. If they were sick, the prayer of faith was prayed and they were healed. The sad part of all this, and the thing that makes our hearts sick is that such conditions did not continue. The type, or the shadow of this very movement did not move on ceaselessly. After the. Children of Israel were released from Babylon and were building the temple, the type of the church of this evening time, the enemy made it so hard for them that the work ceased for a time. Ezra. 4:23, 24. Again, as mentioned before, the morning church with, all its unity, holiness, and power did not move on ceaselessly, as it looked like it might, but soon drifted into the wilderness. The work on the temple did not cease for good, neither did the work on the anti-type. Though the devil gave a terrible blow to the work, it is again moving forward, gathering the pure, holy bride together, making ready to meet the Bridegroom in the air. Praise God!




Chapter 3 - "New Light"

According as stated in a former chapter, the blessed conditions that existed when I first became acquainted with this movement and continued for some years, came to an abrupt end. There were three ministers of the same community who must have become tired of the old paths, at least they got their heads together and decided that if they would take on a little of the world, in the form of a small article of dress which had made them, as well as all other saints, "conspicuous because of its absence," that the young men and the "better" class would come right into the fold. They launched their scheme, which did not work so well the first try, but as you have no doubt noticed, the advocates of a false movement seem to never tire or slacken their efforts, so likewise, these ministers, though they were rebuked for their act, and confessed they were wrong, continued their work of undermining the truth, as time proved, for these ministers in three years after their rebuke, enlisted another minister from their state to join them in their effort. The quartet then confronted the editor that had rebuked them in their first endeavor and told him that he could either come across and join them or resign his position as editor. He yielded. The quintet launched the scheme again, and never let up till they had turned everyone that could be moved, to accept the little stamp of the world. They even held the club of division-maker over the heads of the saints to frighten them into yielding. While these ministers were cutting a dividing line right through the congregations of the saints. More true saints yielded to that false club than they could have moved any other way. They also used the club of authority, that you should yield to those who had the rule over you, but they never for a minute, dwelt on the fact that they were the ones who should yield to those who stood for the truth that God had so wonderfully blessed for the past thirty years. No, no yielding for them. They had found a way to win the "better" class, which meant the money class; and of course, they must accomplish their purpose. In the scheme it means the difference between the hardships and privations of the pioneer ministers, and a life of luxury for preachers of other movements, or if not luxury, at least freedom from the necessity of trusting and looking to the Lord for daily bread, as many of the true ministers had the blessed privilege of doing, as they chose to walk in the old paths. Like as a roguish cow, they had learned the art of laying the bars down, and now as the occasion demanded it, they knew how to throw off another, that anyone they desired could step in. As they had attracted so many into the fold who advocated different views, there was nothing they could do but set up a liberty of conscience standard to let everybody do as they pleased.

They christened the movement, "new light". After our little congregation was scattered to the four winds, one of my brothers who had worked with me, both in spiritual and physical labor, who I loved as myself, moved to Alabama. We kept corresponding with each other, and were agreed in the Word. Some folks went down to the campmeeting and persuaded him that they had "new light", and he soon left off writing. The "new light'" they had has shown so clearly, it looks like anyone could see that it is the kind Isaiah spoke of, Isa. 5:20, "that put darkness for light and light for darkness." I have tried to find out if he still believes in the "new light”, but I have been unable to get in touch with him.

I have no idea that the trio who planned to take on the little article to conform to the will of the "better" class ever had any idea of the enormity of the flood of compromise that would follow. A little thing indeed, but it is like the little break in the dike of Holland in the story we used to read when a child, where a small lad held the flood back by putting his hand in the small hole to keep the waves and water from washing and making it bigger, until help came. This flood might have been held back if it had been taken in hand at the right time, and have saved the awful damage done to the movement; but alas, it quickly got out of control. Like the prophet said of Babylon, Jer. 51:9, "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, . . . for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies."




Chapter 4 - Dress

We desire to take up some of the points in which the "new light" as advocated by the preachers in question, differs from those who have been and are still holding to the old paths that were restored to the world through the labors of the ministers whom God called for that purpose, which have been and are still recognized by all who believe in the evening light reformation.

The first point in question was dress. Those holding to the old paths, held up a standard of dress as they believed the Word taught. (Rom. 12:2). "Be not conformed to this world" -a command not to follow after the worldly customs, fads or fashions, and to be not like or to please the worldly-minded. But the preachers in question, when they took on the little article of dress, did so that they would not be so conspicuous or so different from the worldly-minded. They did not aim to throw down the bars completely on dress; they only intended to make it easy for the young men and old 'men of the "better" class, and many of them did preach hard against the women's toggery, but found the women were not asleep and demanded their equal rights. The ministers' hands were tied.

Did Jesus ever change His plan to make it easier for some one to follow Him? The young lawyer from the better class, who had kept the commandments from his youth and whom Jesus loved, lacked one thing; but Jesus did not say; "All right, that is all I will require of you," but he said, "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, and follow me." And there was the one that said, "I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest." Jesus did not say, "Come on, I will make it as easy for you as I can." No, but He said, "The foxes have holes; and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head;" as if to say, "If you follow me, you can expect to have hardships and privations." Another said, "Suffer me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said unto him, "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." Matt. 5:18-22. He expects all to come to his terms, but these preachers have undertaken to please the youth and the "better" ? class; and they are doing a good job of it. They are letting them take their own course, liberty of conscience. What else could they do when the preachers set the example and tied his own hands?

I was in Florida some time ago and visited one of their congregations on Sunday morning. There were three young girls around the pulpit. One was playing the organ, one stood by her and sang, and the other stood behind the pulpit and beat time with her hands. They all wore dresses that revealed their knee-caps, and their faces were painted a sight. I mentioned it to the pastor later, and he said the condition existed when he came there. One of his brother ministers had thrown the fence down, as it were. The congregation said he had been there two years, so he was making poor progress righting the wrong. The fact was he could not lay the truth down on the dress question for the preachers had led the way in taking on adornment. The Word is 'plain, that "women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness, and sobriety (I Tim. 2:9), and not "outward adorning" (1 Pet. 3:3). When the preacher has set the example of adorning himself, what could he do? If he should desire to give a message along this line, it would fly back, as it were, and hit him in the face.

I visited another congregation later and there were some girls singing a special. Two of them were the preacher's daughters. They sang like little angels, with their hands raised to heaven, but I felt sorry for them, for to say the least, their dresses were immodest, and their hair was cut and they wore pearl ear drops which is forbidden in the last reference and in 1 Cor. 11:6-15. Their own father dared not to preach against such as he had taken on the mark of worldliness and his mouth was closed. God pity such people. They laid a snare and got caught in it.

Though there is much that could be said on this line, I will have to hasten on lest this booklet become too large for busy people to read.




Chapter 5 - Authority of the Holy Ghost

When the "new lighters" had forced the stamp of the world on all the preachers they could, it had made so much uproar and confusion (this was the time the work ceased for a while) both sides desired a cessation of hostilities; and as neither side would give in, the "new lighters" decided to smother the pioneers; but the Lord would send a message now and then on the standard of dress and would break into their arrangements and cause a back set. The campmeetings to this time were open to anyone the Lord wanted to place in the pulpit, as I mentioned in a former chapter of a meeting I attended where there were 325 preachers. As long as everybody wanted the truth, they were willing to try the spirits by the only try square, the Word of God. There was seldom anyone that would dare to advance any crooked doctrine in the meetings, because every body that knew much about the movement knew that the ministry, especially, were too well fortified in the Word, with the Holy Ghost for their guide, to try to put any crooked doctrine over them. If it was tried it was immediately exposed and rebuked so there was no need of a closed shop in the meetings.

But this was a different proposition when it came to keeping the truth out for there was plenty of trouble. God said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” When God gave His preachers a message, they felt like Paul, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel" As these meetings were always in the world, and there were always creatures there, they felt constrained to deliver the message, even if it should upset some one there. Therefore, if their scheme to win the worldly-minded was to succeed, they must work another scheme to keep these messages from going forth, especially in the campmeetings. They must govern the meetings instead of letting the Holy Ghost rule, as had been the case for the last thirty years. They invented the pulpit committee and set them to guard the pulpit, and if anyone wanted to deliver a message he must go to the committee. They would ask for your subject and if the subject should be connected with worldly conformity, or lifting up a standard, they would reject you straight out, or say, "We will consider it," and you would never hear from it again. But their committee was not a perfect success. Some times some one would reach the pulpit in spite of all their precautions and would lift the curtain and would cause consternation and plenty of trouble.

As time went on and other gaps were let down, there were too many subjects to watch. They had to discard their pulpit committee or at least they invented the program scheme. They began to outline every thing that was to take place in the meeting, so that if anyone tried to break into their arrangements, they would give him trouble a plenty. I have not attended any of their campmeetings for quite a while, but I hear them talk about their campmeeting evangelist, and some have spoken of their state overseer, so they must have plenty of protection to keep the truth out of the campmeetings. All these devices are not sufficient to protect the many congregations from the efforts of the hosts of God's ministers who are still standing for the truth as taught by the old pioneer preachers. They swap pulpits with the sectarian preachers, but lest some of the old-time preachers get into the congregation and some of their sheep follow them off, they have invented a yearbook, as they call it, and require their preachers to have their names in it.

My wife was talking to a lady about a preacher who came through the neighborhood and preached in a private house. She told her he preached very good and the lady told Wife that he ought to have his name on the yearbook, that he was at their house the day before, but they did not know him. Wife said, "Are there no crooks on the year book?" The lady acknowledged that there were. They could not deny it for one of the preachers that had his name on the yearbook had come and stayed all night with us and told us the man the lady had spoken of, who had his name on the yearbook with him, would not keep him all night. There are three or four in the same neighborhood who have their names on the yearbook who cannot get along at all. The yearbook does not even make them good citizens, but I guess it answers their purpose, as it shows they are not those who are contending for the old paths.

The old paths where is the good way
Is the one that leads to perfect day,
But the way that only seemeth right,
Is the way that leads to endless night.

There is a way some call "new light,"
It leads from God and all that's right;
Its advocates call bitter sweet
And compromise with all they meet.

Many who claim to have "new light,"
Are leading souls to darkest night.
The prophet warns that woe will meet
All who pronounce bitter, sweet.

There are some proclaiming evil, good,
But a woe awaits them as it should;
They are prudent in their own sight
And dare renounce those who are right.

The old paths, the vulture hath not seen,
It's reserved for those who're pure and clean;
It's a way that's narrow and very straight,
And will lead travelers to the pearly gate.

The vultures' eyes hath never seen
The path that leads to pastures green,
The lions' whelps hath never trod
The path that leads us home to God.

The way is very high and holy
And was made for all the meek and lowly,
The redeemed of earth shall walk thereon,
As with songs of joy they march along.

Sorrow and sighing shall flee away
As we near the land of endless day.
This way is always bright and fair,
As we think of that sweet home up there.




Chapter 6 - Education of Ministers

Since these people have taken in hand to please the "better" class, contrary to Gal. 1:10, they must not only dress them like the world, but they must educate them like the world. The pioneer preachers believed and taught that God was able to find and call the party he needed for the job he needed done, without calling one that was not qualified for the position and sending him to school two or three or four years to qualify him for the job that was laid upon him; as the sectarian world has been doing so long. They believed, and we still believe, that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If he needed some one to carry his message the common people could, and more than likely he would call some common person that could sympathize with them, because he understood them, like Peter and John. The Word says the Sanhedrin perceived they were unlearned and ignorant men, but took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13. No doubt, if they had been educated, these men would not have been moved.

When the Lord needed a man to stand before kings and Caesars, he called a man who was fighting his way-Paul. He was persecuting the Lord's saints. He was then on his way with warrants to bring those he found of this way, bound to Jerusalem to be punished; but the Holy Ghost arrested him, and sent him to the very ones he was hunting, but not for this purpose, to take counsel of them. God had seen the very qualities in him that were needed for the job he wanted him to fill. Paul tells us he did not confer with men, but went into Arabia. He did not say what his business was, but I feel sure he was not in some seminary learning to preach for he tells us in another place that the gospel he preached was not of man, neither was he taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. He tells us, too, that not many mighty men are called, but God takes the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, yea, and things that are not, to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence.

In another place he said he was determined not to know any thing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. We can be assured that Paul did not try to win the "better" class by any attraction of himself.

Many young people then, did have a burden for souls and had talents that the Lord could use and increase if they had been encouraged to move out for him, but because they were awkward and unlearned, they were persuaded, and many times hired, by the movement, paying their expenses to go to school for three or four years to learn to preach. By the time they got their training, instead of having a big heart of love for their fellowmen as they had when they started, they had a big head full of doctrines and traditions of men. I heard one of the preachers from their school some time back try to preach who preached more school than Bible.

The pioneer preachers called their schools cemeteries instead of seminaries, because they said if the student was not dead when they started to school, he would be before he got through, spiritually.

These preachers, though the older ones had preached against such waste of time, as soon as the flood of compromise got going, joined right in and started a school to educate their preachers.

As had been pointed out by the pioneer preachers that the Methodist schools turned out Methodist preachers and the Baptist schools turned out Baptist preachers, of course it was intended this school should turn out "new light" preachers; and in so much that many of them today are making light of the old pioneer preachers whose mantle they claim to be carrying, saying they were fanatic on all these points I am taking up, and that they have greater light or "new light." It is no wonder the old pioneer preachers called these schools preacher factories, because they always turn out the product according to the model of the factory they are molded in. In fact, that is the purpose of these schools-to stamp their brand on them.

Who believes that when God launched the evening light movement and called men for that purpose, as both sides have and do believe and teach as far as I know, would have made the mistake of calling a bunch of fanatics to carryon the work of the reformation, and then have set his approval upon it? Signs and wonders and divers miracles he did in mightily turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, and then look at those who claim to have "new light." It is no wonder a brother said, "Consistency, thou art a jewel!"




Chapter 7 - Financial Support

The division was caused by endeavors to win the so-called "'better" class-those who are better able to support the movement, and who more likely will if the standard suits them. The whole difference between us is mammon. No marvel then that the apostle declared that the love of money is the root of all evil. Like the agitation in Congress now going on to vote themselves a raise of $15,000 per year that we might obtain a more efficient set of congressmen, the "new light" preachers are using every influence they can bring to bear upon humanity, that they may be able to raise the income of the preachers. If that would give us a more efficient set of preachers, it might not be so bad; however I am skeptical that the $15000 raise if obtained could give us a more efficient set of congressmen; and much less do I think that a better financed set of preachers would be any more efficient soul winners. One of the best soul winners we have account of, said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee; in the name of Jesus Christ arise and walk. If he had a million dollars and had spent it all on that cripple and had sent him to all the institutions and specialists of earth, he would not have done as well for him as he did with what he had, faith.

But these men have set out to get the finance, and get it they must. The pioneer preachers believed that when God sent a man to do an errand for him, he would see that he was enabled to accomplish the task. It has been the custom of the human race, as far as I know, when they employed a person to do a job for them, to pay the bills or furnish the finance necessary, and surely God is no less reasonable if they are really working for him. If we are doing things according to our own notion, we might truly take care of our own plans.

When Jesus sent out his first preachers, he forbade them to take any scrip (money) or any extra clothing. I have thought possibly that he forbade them to take any thing tangible, lest they should think if they got in a hard place they would pawn them for a night's lodging and not have to fully depend on his promises; but now they had nothing to rely on but his promises. Did they prove sufficient? Surely they did, for they came back rejoicing and we don't hear of them backing down from His commands afterwards.

The Lord saw fit to put me on trial soon after I began to preach. He called me to go around 300 miles from home to hold a meeting. While He did not forbid me to take any cash, yet I was called at a time when I only had enough to pay my fare there, and I had promised the Lord when I began to preach that I would not lay my needs before the people. I found myself 300 miles from home among perfect strangers as far as the flesh was concerned, with no promises that I would get a cent, only the promises of God's Word that He would supply my needs. The enemy took advantage of the occasion to tempt me. I was very human and when time came for me to start to my next appointment, and had but half enough to pay my fare, the enemy suggested that I let my brethren know my needs. Although I had promised the Lord that I would not do that very thing, I found myself studying if the Word gave me any room to take my needs to the brethren; but nothing came but the promise in Philippians, that if we would come with prayer and supplication and let our requests be made known to the Lord, God would supply all our need according to his glory by Christ Jesus. I told the enemy that if the Lord wanted the brethren to know, he could let them know, but I would never. When I got to the depot I asked the fare to my destination. While the agent looked up the fare, the money came in abundance, though I only had half enough when I asked the fare. I, like the apostles, came back rejoicing; for truly that was a blessed experience for me. My faith was strong that God would take care of His trusting children. I told my wife, after the Lord had so wonderfully provided for us on another occasion, that I would not be afraid to start to California without a cent if I felt sure the Lord wanted me to go.

Surely the Lord said, He that preaches the gospel shall live of the gospel. That was what the early disciples were doing when they obeyed the Lord and went out without scrip or any extra luggage. That was what I was doing when I was depending on Him to take care of me 300 miles away from home among perfect strangers, as far as the fleshly man was concerned, and standing on the promises till the finance came. We certainly are not living of the gospel when we go contrary to God's Word, and use some scheme to induce people to give of their means to support us.

These people, soon after they had let down the first bar of the Bible standard, composed a little booklet called the "Financial System" which surely wrested the Scriptures to suit their occasion.

When Paul was instructing the Gentile saints regarding their contribution to the poor Jewish saints at Jerusalem, he said for them to be ready, that there be no gathering when he came, as they planned a year before, and asked them to give liberally, but not grudgingly or of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver. This tract made it appear that they had a system of purposing a year ahead how much they would give. Instead of inducing them to purpose to care for the poor saints as these Gentile saints were, they made it appear otherwise. They had cards printed, We purpose to give this year so much first, to the missionary cause (which was to go to the ministers engaged in such activities) second, so much to the free literature fund (which was of course for those engaged in that line of work) third, so much to the home work (which would of course go to the pastors). These preachers and workers could go to the purpose cards and figure out how much they would get for that line of work.

A certain member of a congregation that I used to visit, told me that they had purposed to give a certain preacher $50.00 per week, but after he went home they gave him the job of editorship, so he rejected their offer. In their messages they usually put great stress on the paragraph, "God loves a cheerful giver," but ignore the other part, "Not grudgingly or of necessity."

This plan must not have been satisfactory, or they have doubled up on their parishioners, for now they are preaching tithing.

We who have endeavored to stay on the old paths (follow the Bible), find nothing to suggest that tithing had any place in the New Testament church, for we with all that we have belong to the Lord, not just a tenth. These preachers have let the bars so low that most any one can qualify for membership. Having large numbers on their roll that know nothing about consecration. They have resorted to the tithing system, a kind of tax, to force them to support the movement, or to pay for their pew and the privilege of listening to, and looking on their performances. In fact, any way to get the cash.

In their campmeetings any more, they have some preacher who is qualified to raise or lift the expense of the meeting. I do not know if they ever had any experience in auctioneering or not, but one would think so when they announce their needs (of course they make it strong enough) before the audience. Then they begin, "Who will give us $10.00 or $15.00?" Then before anyone has time to respond, they say, as if no one was going to respond, "Oh, I see you don't want to be that cheap, then who will give us, say $50.00?" Some of the "better" class who want their name published as liberal will raise their hand and possibly several. Then they will drop the amount a few dollars, and so on, till they get all they can that way, then they will send around the plate and gather up the "fragments" as they call it.

Before I found the old paths, I used to hear a certain denomination go on begging till I would get so disgusted that I wished I would never have to endure another harangue like theirs, but these people have them so far out-stripped, that they make all her sectarians seem like amateurs.

David said, I was once young and now I am old, and I never saw the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. Surely there is something wrong. I cannot believe that God sends people out to beg for him. He said, The cattle of a thousand hills are mine, and the gold and silver are mine. I feel sure if He is in a project, the means will be forthcoming without begging.




Chapter 8 - Music in Worship

The pioneer preachers believed that everything that had breath should praise the Lord, but we never have believed that noise made by inanimate objects added anything to spiritual worship, but rather many times hinders.

In fact, plain congregational singing such as was the custom with the movement in question, and in fact, which most every other movement practiced as long as they were spiritual, is the sweetest music I have ever listened to; especially while they are zealous for the cause they represent, and are pulling together. Of course when there is discord in the movement or congregation, it makes a jar instead of harmony.

I suppose that is the reason so many movements, after they become larger and more popular, take on musical instruments. They need something to drown out the discord. Anyway, this movement, after they had lowered the standard and began to teach liberty of conscience, took on the musical instruments, and began to justify it by holding up David as an example. They say David was a man after God's own heart and he used musical instruments. Yes, David was a man of God and he used music. He also offered up burnt offerings and danced before the Lord. In fact, he believed in and practiced fleshly circumcision. He also kept the Sabbath, the new moons and the holy days, but we do not follow David's example in those things. Facts are, we see in the New Testament that "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith; but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school master." These things were law ordinances (Gal. 3:24, 25). Paul said again (Col. 2:16,17), "Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon or of the Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ." David was living under the shadow or type, and all these things were shadows of good things in this gospel dispensation. The burnt offerings pointed mostly to Christ the principle sacrifice. Peter speaks of the church as a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices. I Pet. 2: 5. Paul also speaks of some things. The Philippians had sent him as a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. The circumcision was a type of the circumcision of the heart. Rom. 2:28, 29.

Music and dancing were a type of the joys of salvation. When we have the real thing, we don't need the type, but if we lose the joys of salvation out of our hearts, then of course, these things might give us an imitation of the real.

Paul in I Cor. 13:1 said, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." He could have said just as appropriately, "Though I sing with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, it is like sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal."

I have listened to choirs in some of the popular churches that it would have been a relief to have had enough noise of some kind to drown out what they called singing. The people who need musical instruments are such as Amos speaks of (Amos 6:1-5), "That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick like David," as they have lost the grace of God out of the heart, and need something to take its place; but if we keep filled with the spirit, then the singing of Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs will make melody in our hearts, and we will not need or want any noise to drown it.

I believe the reason instrumental music was never mentioned in the New Testament, only in connection with the prodigal son and never in connection with the service of God, was that they considered that only worldly minds cared so much about such, and they were not instructing us how to entertain, but how to worship God.




Chapter 9 - Honorary Titles

The pioneer preachers had no desire for honorary titles, neither the apostles. We read where some of the apostles before the Day of Pentecost desired to know who would be greatest in the kingdom, but after they were translated into the kingdom, we hear no more about their wanting to be great. Jesus said, “My Spirit will guide you into all truth and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.”

No doubt they remembered the sayings of Jesus where He said, “Those that are accounted to rule over the Gentiles, exercise lordship over them and their great ones exercise authority over them; but so it shall not be with you; but whosoever of you would be chiefest, shall be servant of all.”

Again, Jesus in speaking to his disciples of the way the Pharisees loved to be called Rabbi, Rabbi, said, “But be ye not called Rabbi, for one is your master, even Christ, and ye are all brethren.”

After Pentecost we hear no more clamoring to be great, no Rev's or D. D.'s among them. John, one of the two that wanted to have the best place in the kingdom, meekly said, “I, John, your companion in tribulation.” James simply said, “James, a servant of Jesus Christ, to my brethren.” No Rev's for them. And Paul to Philemon, “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” No Dr. or D. D., not even ‘The Prisoner,’ but just, a prisoner.

I believe these apostles would have been shocked if some one had addressed them as Reverend, and no doubt they would have administered a rebuke as Paul and Barnabas did when the heathen wanted to do sacrifice to them.

It has always been embarrassing to me to have some one address me as Reverend. I most always inform them that I am not a Reverend, but I feel sorry for those who have been brought up under such a false custom. People who have once known the truth, and then attach the title Reverend to their name seem to verge onto blasphemy. It seems to me to be very irreligious to say the least. The titles Dr. or D. D. does not seem so irreligious, but it makes one feel as the definition of title is, that the recipient wants to show his dignity or preeminence and like the Gentiles would like to exercise authority or lordship over his brethren. Reverend is only mentioned one time in the Bible and that in regard to God himself. Surely a man, a puny dust worm of the earth, has no claim on the title. These preachers have lowered the standard of God's plan of salvation of love and have lifted their importance so high that they dare to place the title, Reverend, on their doors and place it before their names on all their correspondence. Shame on all such pretentious greatness!




Chapter 10 - Trusting the Lord

The pioneer preachers of this movement taught us not to limit God's power, but to trust him fully. Jesus said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7. We still believe if we abide in Him we can afford to trust His Word. Phil. 4:6, "Be careful for nothing [don't be disturbed and upset]; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Ver. 19, "But God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." If we hold on to him in earnest prayer, thanking him in advance, not allowing any thing to disturb us, He will give us everything we need. I John 3:21,22, "Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God "and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." Notice, "if our hearts condemn us not." Paul said, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:1. We have to be in Him to claim His promises.

Many other promises that fortifies God's children against any impositions the enemy might try to impose upon them are, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Psalm. 37:3). "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Ver. 5). (Prov. 3: 5, 6) "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Surely if we believe His Word, we have no excuse to limit his power or to doubt His will.

We therefore that decided years ago to trust the Lord fully have never regretted our decision because we have found him truly a present help in time of need. Of course, if we stray from the narrow way and are not willing to repent, we cannot expect the Lord to come to our rescue. We are hindering his promises; they are null for us. If we repent and renew our covenant with him, all will be well.

Since the "new light" dawned, and the movement has taken their conscience for their guide, instead of the Word and the Spirit of God, it seems they are afraid to trust the Lord too far. They say they trust Him, and possibly they don't visit the doctors as often as some of the world: but if they get very sick, even the preachers will advise them to get a doctor, or at least to be examined to see what the trouble is, and that is the first step toward the hospital.

If we are going to trust the Lord, we don't peed to know anything about the case, as it will not help us to exercise faith and the Lord does not need the case diagnosed. The fact is, that they were not sincere in their claim to trust the Lord. They were only playing trust.

These folks have said to me, "If you should get sick enough you would want the doctor." They were possibly honest in their thoughts; but if they were they have never learned what trusting the Lord means. If there ever was a time when I would want to trust the Lord it would be when I was poorly enough to think I would possibly go to meet Him.

There are people who love the Lord but because of the lack of light they have never learned to trust Him for their bodies. They might have perfect victory in their souls and still trust in the arm of flesh. I think those are the kind of folk Jude had in mind when he said, "And of some have compassion, making a difference" (Jude 22).

The woman that had suffered many things of many physicians and had spent all that she had and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse (Mark 5:26), no doubt never would have spent her money that way if she had known anything about the great Physician; for when she heard of him, she pressed her way through the crowd and touched him and was made whole.

We have people today, no doubt, like this woman. If they were to come in contact with this precious truth they would lay hold on the promises with rejoicing, but because of the confusion that exists and the many who falsely profess to trust the Lord, who when they get sick or hurt do just like the rest of the world, these folks cannot see any thing better than what they have, so they are turned skeptic-and they are not to be blamed. But how about those who have been brought up in the truth, then have lowered the standard to allow the throng to come in, then like Sampson find their strength gone, and begin to persecute those who have held to the old paths, and claim they were fanatic? They advise their adherents that if they could not exercise faith to go to the doctors instead of instructing them to repent and do their first works.

Surely if we are living to please God, we ought not to fear to meet him. Why not fully trust Him, and leave it in his hands? He says, All things work together for good to them that love the Lord. Even though God is not through with you, He may see fit to let you be tried, any time. He wants a tried people. Job was righteous, but God saw fit to let the devil try him as very few are tried; but he did not give down and send for a physician. No, he said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." If we will keep it settled like that, we shall find everything will work to the glory of God and the good of His cause.

What kind of progress will we (who claim to teach and practice holy living and are trying to convert the world to this blessed truth) make, if when we are provoked break loose and say ugly things like they do? Would we ever win them? The same regards divine healing. We claim to believe in and teach and practice the same while we are well; but if when we get sick or hurt we do like they do, send for the same doctor, go to the same hospital, and take the same remedies as they do, do you suppose that we will ever make them any better? Of course you might persuade them to profess to trust the Lord; but if they follow the example you set, it would not profit them.

A preacher said in my presence, "If anyone claims perfection, I would like to go to his house and have a talk with his wife." Of course this fellow was a skeptic regarding Christian perfection, but we who are living the life have no objections to a thorough investigation of our wives and our neighbors. The same in regard to divine healing. There are many skeptics, and no marvel in a land where so many people profess to practice it, and when they get sick do just like the rest of the world, fly off after the doctor, just playing trust. I thank God that there is a people who are not just playing trust, but are really trusting Him with all their hearts and find it pays abundantly. These folk like the holy people, would gladly invite an investigation of the home folk, the doctors, the hospitals, and drug stores.

We are not playing religion or trust, but we have found this the best thing we ever found and we are not selfish about it; but we invite the world to share with us. There are two examples or two ways of trusting the Lord in the Old Bible that must have been written for us at this time.

Isa. 38:1, "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death, And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live." This news would have put those who are playing trust on the run for the best specialist, but what about Hezekiah? Verses 2, 3, "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall [shut out every body and everything] and prayed unto the Lord, and said, Remember now, Oh Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore." It brought the answer. He could call God to witness that he had lived the life that will bring the answer to those that obey and trust him. It is today the same as it was there with Hezekiah. Fifteen years were added to Hezekiah's life.

The other case (2 Chron. 16:12), "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."

Read 14, 15, 16 chapters. Here was a good king. God had wonderfully dealt with him; but he made a mistake and was rebuked by God's messenger, and instead of repenting, he persecuted God's messenger. This is surely a type of the movement we are discussing. They made a mistake in letting down the standard of God's truth, and now it is so plain that the world can see it, and many of the ministers do see it, and would love to heal her, but like as Asa, when the truth is pointed out, instead of turning back to the old paths, they begin to persecute God's humble ministers and call them fanatics. No wonder the leaders advise them to resort to the arm of flesh when they think their disease is great.

Another contrast is recorded in Jer. 17:5, 6, "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited." This surely is a picture of desolation, in a wilderness, a salt land, not inhabited, and could not see when good comes. Blinded, all because they trusted in man. But look at the other picture. "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." Jer. 17:7,8. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord. Surely that would be a wonderful thing if it stopped there, but listen, Like a tree planted by the waters, and spreadeth out her roots by the rivers. I have some trees in front of my house that I planted there a few years ago and which now are 60 or 70 feet high, because they were planted by the water. They never know when a drought comes. That is a picture of the pioneer saints.

Others may be hungry, but they will eat; others may be thirsty, but they will drink; others may be ashamed, but they shall rejoice. O, they may cry for sorrow of heart, but they will sing for joy of heart. They will also bring forth fruit in old age. Wonderful experience! Surely it will pay wonderful dividends to fully trust the Lord even in this life. Oh, and what about the hereafter!

There's a band of people that compass the land,
Dubbing the pioneer saints, the anti-necktie clan.
Sure, we are anti for both the aged and youth,
But this title was given to cover up the truth.

We are anti-necktie with all that it implies,
But it's the smallest of a number that may surprise.
We're anti to all the Word condemns, though others may partake,
And such divides; however it was their own mistake.

We are anti-adornment and worldly conformity,
Also short hair for women and dresses to the knee;
Pearls and jewelry for all, also gaudy dress,
Anti-naked shoulders, also back and breast.

Anti-hireling ministry condemned of the Lord,
We're not under a cloak of tithing contrary to his Word.
We, too, are anti-begging, tho done in His dear name,
He had no place to lay his head, we'll gladly share the same.

He owns the cattle of the hills, the silver and the gold,
He'll supply our every need in Philippians we are told.
Shame on you, preacher, who profess to trust the Lord,
Then go begging in His name contrary to His Word.

Cursed is the man that trusteth in man,
(For such as the heat in the desert is he;)
And such as entice one to lean that way;
We surely are anti as anti can be.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord,
For he like the tree by the waters shall be;
And all that will help one to trust in Him,
We are not anti as you can plainly see.

We are anti-man-rule with all it may afford,
Pulpit and other committees, also missionary board;
For these are man's inventions and are only a tool
To place the check-reins on the Holy Spirit rule.

We are anti-state or any other overlords,
All big I's and little you's contrary to His Word.
Jesus said ye are brethren, overlords are out,
God sets the members every one, He knows what He's about.

Yearbooks for preachers are sectarian in the rough,
God is not the author of that kind of stuff;
Also programs and essays all worked out by man,
It interferes with the Holy Ghost and God's plan.




Chapter 11 - The Trinity

A preacher visited our town recently and informed me that I should place the name, "The Church of God, of Richwood," over our meetinghouse door. I informed him, however that I had been endeavoring to get the people out of the habit of calling the place of worship the church, for it was where the church meets. The name of the church over the door had caused the wrong impression among the people.

He said that the Lord had showed him that that was the thing to do and he informed me after he left that he would not accept me as brother if I did not accept the "new light." Well, so much for that "new light."

There was another minister that we learned to love, and highly esteem, because of his talent, and the work's sake. We had gone along in seemingly perfect harmony for perhaps two years, but all at once he claimed to receive "new light." That might not have been so bad if it had not eclipsed the light we had walked in for many years. He found that the old sectarian idea (?) of God having a Father, was wrong, but rather it was that Jesus was God, and God, Jesus; and that we would all have to be baptized over in the name of the Lord Jesus. If there were any consistency about it, I assure you I would be glad to go and be baptized any way at any time, but since Jesus set the example and commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and I obeyed His Word, now for me to go and be baptized again I would have to deny the first. Without His instructions I cannot afford to do it lest I displease the Lord.

It seems very inconsistent to me that these who claim that Jesus is the whole Godhead should rather take Peter’s word than Jesus', especially since Peter had just a few days before this, denied the Lord. He did not say for everybody to be baptized that way, but said, Every one of you, you who crucified the Lord. That would not have been an unreasonable requirement for those who had denied him and crucified him to require them to be baptized in his name. I don't think it would be wrong for one to be baptized in his name with no controversy connected with it, as what you say is only a formula and was not commanded. It was the act that was commanded. Jesus said Baptize in the name of the Father and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Peter, on the day of Pentecost said to those murderous Jews, Be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; and to the household of Cornelius, He said be baptized in the name of the Lord.

So there are three formulas and I believe they are all right, as there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost-these three are one. Either one or all is perfectly all right. But if after you have been baptized in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, then you go and have the work done over again, you virtually deny the other two in the Godhead. It is wrong; it will not stand in the judgment. Unquestionably there are three in the Godhead and as John said, They are one in Spirit, in plan, and purpose. Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and the Father were one, but there are three separate persons as we read in I John 5:7, and as was manifest at Jesus' baptism, and again, the Father and Son at His transfiguration, Matt. 17:5.

It is not consistent for these people to try to persuade people that God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16), neither to pray to God in Jesus' name as instructed by Him, as recorded in John 16:23. Surely such confusion as this ought to make us take heed to the prophet's warning, "Stand ye in the ways, and ask for the old paths." Where is the good way?

The good way as the record shows is that God sent his Son into the world to die to pay our debt of sin. God could not be just and let our sin go unpunished. As Jesus had been conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of a virgin, he became the link between God and man that was broken by the disobedience of the first Adam. Wherefore it became the second Adam (Christ) in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest (Heb. 2:17). Therefore Paul could say, "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5). Yes, Paul said, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God" (Phil. 2:6). Sure it was not robbery as He was sent to manifest God in the flesh. I Tim. 3:16. But Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28). He also said that God knew more than he did. Mark 13:32. "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." I deem the foregone sufficient to convince any fair mind, that physical oneness is not taught regarding the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but spiritual oneness. Jesus prayed that we might be one in His prayer in John 17. We feel we should insert this one more text: I Cor. 15:22-28, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death; For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he [God] is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things are subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." Surely this Scripture ought to explode the theory that Jesus is all the God there is, because Paul, says He (Jesus) must reign, till the last enemy (death) is put under him, till the resurrection, he will then not set up but deliver up the kingdom to God that God, not Christ, might be all in all. Then Jesus himself would be subject to God. Surely this they call "new light" is like the prophet said, taking darkness for light, and light for darkness. Let us stand in the ways and ask for the old paths, before we go forward.

Light at the evening time shall be,
And the light has come as you can see.
The light's so strong even when found,
It causes some just to circle around.

The evening light's not something new,
But always shines midst the faithful few.
Jesus said he was the light while here,
And if we walk in it we need not fear.

Now ye are the light of the world said He,
If you'll live holy and fully follow me.
So the light He shed was true light then,
And the same it will be until the end.

The light Paul saw on the road that day,
Made him ask some to lead him in the way.
If all were humble and the same would say,
There would not be many that would go astray.

But when the scales get over their sight,
They run in a circle and holler, "New light!"
Their vision's so bleared as onward they run,
They can not discern between Father and Son.

To them God is Jesus and Jesus is God,
They'll know no better till under the sod.
They did not wait to clear their eyes,
But lauded their hobby clear to the skies.

There's three that bears record in heaven we've heard,
The Father, the Holy Ghost, and the Word;
And these three are one we hear John say.
We believe it's true as mist clears away.

Surely physical oneness is not what He meant,
For if that was true how could God have sent
His Son to the world to save men as we've seen,
And is recorded in His Word in John 3:16?

But it's spiritual oneness, one mind and one accord,
As again we read from God's Holy Word;
As Jesus in prayer said, Father, make them one,
All mine is thine and thine mine-Father and Son.

These preachers have shown their lack of faith in God and independence of God, by instituting an old preachers' insurance. I am not acquainted with the details of it, as I was not interested in the plan, although I received their literature and an invitation to join them. I cast it aside as I realized there were too many schemes to induce one to turn away from trusting God. That was one thing I was taught when I first came in contact with the pioneer saints and I have found that it pays one abundantly to trust the Lord with all our souls, mind, and strength.






Anointing in Worship Services
By: Bro. Michael Smith
________________________________________

We are individually and collectively desperate for the anointing of the Holy Spirit when we assemble ourselves together for worship service. I thank God for the presence of the Holy Spirit and for how He is still descending to meet with His children. Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we waste our time and are unedified. While the saints have taken the proper stand against entertainment and musical instruments in public worship, it is then glaring when a service isn't anointed. We don't want to use programs, entertainment, humor, etc. to fill in the gap. What we need is to seek God for more of His anointing.

Some measure anointing by emotion, charisma, or intellectual thought. While nothing is wrong with those things in and of themselves, anointing is simply the presence and approval of the Lord. We need to be careful that we don't put God in a box as He operates and blesses uniquely in different services. Sometimes the service may be quiet and other times full of praise. Sometimes the preaching may be gentle and other times loud and bold. These are not indications of anointing or a lack thereof.

Anointing is the presence of God that ministers and touches the souls present in the service. True anointing cannot be manipulated or manufactured. Anointing comes when God's approval is on what is being said and done in the order of the Spirit.

When the preacher or the singer is on display rather than God, the Spirit isn't given full unction to anoint. When God stops getting the glory, the glory stops. Some might leave a service having 'enjoyed' it, but if it wasn't anointed, there isn't much lasting good accomplished.

When a man or woman steps outside of the order of the Lord in worship service, the anointing will be diminished or non-existent. This is why it is imperative that each one be careful to follow the leadings of the Lord.

There is a measure of anointing that comes when the truth is preached as opposed to error. But there is a greater anointing when the truth is preached as the Spirit dictates the time and place.

If we desire to see greater anointing and conviction in worship services and camp meetings, then there is a price that must be paid. People that live spiritually lax through the week should not expect to have the anointing of God when it is time to worship. Ministers and singers should not expect for God's rich anointing to be on their ministry when they have been conducting themselves with pride and carnality.

While some may say they have never been in an unanointed service, I will freely acknowledge that I have. I exhort us in the fear of God to die out to self and allow the Spirit to have His way. When we do that, we will find that the presence of God - His anointing - is richer and more precious than ever before.






The Mission of the Church of God
Jesus gave us a great commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." The Church of God hears and follows the voice of the Master. While Jesus was here, he looked upon people with great compassion, seeing sin-stained lives, broken hearts, and sickness. The scripture says He was moved with compassion, seeing the people as sheep without a shepherd. Saints of God feel that same compassion, and want to reach out to a world lost in sin.
The Saints of God have a great heritage of Bible truth. We treasure that truth and reach out to spread the light of God's word to the world. The Church of God believes and practices living free from sin according to New Testament teaching. Not only do we believe in salvation from sin, we believe in sanctification and infilling of the Holy Ghost.
The Church of God practices baptism by water immersion as shown by the examples in the New Testament. God's saints are called to be separate from the world - not physically, but in spirit, appearance, and conduct. Our doctrine is the Bible. We do not keep membership rolls. Everyone who is saved from sin has his name written in the Lamb's book of life and is a member of the Church of God.
Have We Done What We Could?
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matt. 25

The Great Commission
________________________________________

The Church of God has various mission efforts in different parts of the world. The good news is actively being taken to and shared in Canada, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania & the Philippines.

More information can be found concerning some of these mission efforts by clicking on the following links:



www.churchofgodmission.com
www.africamission.com


In addition to the aforementioned countries, there are congregations in other parts of the world which maintain contact with the saints in the United States. The headquarters of the Church of God is in Heaven and the body of Christ - the Church of God - is wherever individuals are living without sin in holiness.

Christ told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Acts 1:8 says "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."










Spiritual Sacrifices,
Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ
By: Bro. Harlan Sorrell
________________________________________

A popular opinion of our time is that it does not matter how we worship God just as long as our hearts are in what we do as worship. However, the scriptures reveal that since the beginning of time, and in every age, God has been very particular about what He has accepted as worship. Worship in all ages of time, since man’s fall from his original state of purity in Eden, has involved some kind of offerings or sacrifices.

In Genesis 4: 3-5, we read, “And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

This is the first record we have in the Bible of man worshiping God after the fall and we see from this account that one sacrifice was “acceptable” and the other “unacceptable.” Keep this in mind as we go along. The principle here is very important to this discussion. Throughout the Old Testament there is much said concerning acceptable and unacceptable sacrifices. Only certain kinds of sacrifices were accepted and, in many instances, those sacrifices could only be burned on a special kind of altar and by a special kind of fire. After the Levitical priesthood was set up and ordained by God, an offering of incense burned by a fire kindled by the worshiper himself was not acceptable. It had to be burned by “holy fire” and the offering had to be made upon a holy altar. It was a very serious thing to offer “strange fire” before the Lord (see Lev. 10: 1-7). Those particulars pertaining to the literal sacrifices of the Old Testament were types and shadows of the particulars pertaining to the spiritual sacrifices of the New Testament.

Colossians 2: 23 speaks of “will worship.” Will worship involves the will, the desires, the personal likings, or the whims of the worshiper. The offerings of Nadab and Abihu, as recorded in Leviticus 10: 1 were a form of will worship. Cain’s sacrifice was also a form of will worship. He offered it according to his own personal liking, and it involved that which meant the most to him -- the product of his own toil and the work of his own hands. Will worship can never produce a sacrifice that is acceptable to God.

The apostle Peter, speaking of the worship of God by the New Testament church said in 1 Pet. 2: 5, “Ye ... as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

This scripture gives us much insight into what kind of worship is acceptable to God in this dispensation of time. To be acceptable, it must be (1) a “spiritual sacrifice” and (2) offered in the divine element of His Son, “Jesus Christ.” I believe that one reason Cain’s offering was not accepted by God in the beginning was because it did not reflect a faith in the future atonement of the promised Messiah. Abel’s did, therefore it was accepted. Cain’s sacrifice, the fruit of his own labors, reflected a faith in his own works, the human element, while Abel’s sacrifice, the life of an innocent animal, reflected his faith in the future atonement of Christ, the divine.

It is quite obvious that all worship, in whatever dispensation of time, has had to be carried out according to God’s provision for that particular dispensation in order to be accepted by Him. Let us examine a few scriptures. In Hebrews 8: 5 we read that “...Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle ... See that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” Hebrews 9: 1, 9-10, “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. ... Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”

By these scriptures we see that even in Old Testament times God had a prescribed system of acceptable worship. It had to be “according to the pattern,” even though it did not make the worshipers perfect pertaining to the conscience, or inner man. That system of worship was but a type and shadow of something better that was yet to come. God had a better plan in mind, which would reach the need of the inner man. This plan would completely remove sin from the heart and thereby perfect the conscience and put man back into spiritual communion with his Creator. This, God knew, would produce the kind of worship He really desired.

In John, chapter 4, we have an interesting account of Jesus conversing with a Samaritan woman who met Him at Jacob’s well. In verses 19 through 24 we read, “The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

These scriptures reveal the true element in which God must be worshiped in New Testament times. Adam Clarke says, “A man worships God in spirit, when under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he brings all his affections, appetites, and desires, to the throne of God; and he worships in truth, when every purpose and passion of his heart and every act of his religious worship is guided and regulated by the Word of God.” “Thy Word is truth” (John 17: 17).

This kind of worship was fully made possible when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. It was in the divine element of the Holy Spirit that God set up His eternal kingdom in Christ, and it is only in the element of His living Spirit working in connection with His written Word that all true worship now takes place. Any worship outside these parameters is now unacceptable to God.

We cited 1 Pet. 2: 5 awhile ago as revealing that worship in the present dispensation must involve “spiritual sacrifices” offered “in the element of Jesus Christ.” Let us expound further on what we mean by “in the element of Jesus Christ.” There was a time when the Word (Christ) was made flesh and dwelt among men, and men beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1: 14). But though He was manifested in the flesh, He was “justified in the Spirit” and “received up into glory” (1 Tim. 3: 16), “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1: 4). And “though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more” (2 Cor. 5: 16). Christ, “the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (1 Cor. 15: 45). Yes, He is still the same in “person,” but He has transformed from “flesh” into the “spiritual” element, a transformation that we too shall experience at His second coming (see 1 Cor. 15: 35 - 55). “We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3: 2; Phil. 3: 21). But in the meantime He has sent the Holy Spirit to connect us in our present state with Him in His present state. And it is through this medium that He now comes to us and sups with us, and we with Him (see John 14: 15 - 26; 15: 26; 16: 13 - 15; 2 Cor. 6: 16; Rev. 3: 20, etc.).

New Testament worship involves an interaction and communication between the spirit of man and the Spirit of God. Without this it is impossible to be a “true worshiper” in this dispensation. The primary interaction between man’s spirit and God’s Spirit comes through the work of regeneration (Tit. 3: 5), or the spiritual rebirth (John 3: 3-8). It is only by being “born of the Spirit” that man’s spirit connects to the element of Jesus Christ and enters into the kingdom of God, the realm of divine worship. It is this interaction that introduces the spirit of man to “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost” (2 Cor. 13: 14). And remember, that which 'begins in the Spirit' can never be 'made perfect (or consummated) by the flesh' (Gal. 3:3).

All New Testament worship is in some sense a “spiritual sacrifice” offered to God in the element of Jesus Christ through the Spirit. There are, so far as I have been able to perceive from my studies, three basic parts of divine worship in the New Testament. They are (1) prayer, (2) praise, and (3) prophesying. Let us consider each one of these.

(1) Prayer. In prayer we speak directly to God, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6: 18). “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God” Jude 20, 21.

(2) Praise. In praise we may speak directly to God in thanksgiving, “giving thanks for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5: 20), or we may extol Him by speaking of His wondrous works to or before others. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.” Psa. 50: 23. “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. ... thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.” Psa. 145: 1, 10-12. “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” Psa. 107: 22. “By him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Heb. 13: 15.

(3) Prophesying. In prophesying we “speak unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort,” and we “edify the church.” 1 Cor. 14: 3-4. Prophesying can, and does, include the predicting of future events by divine inspiration and insight; however, in its broader and more general sense from the Hebrew and from the Greek it means “to speak or sing by inspiration” (Hebrew – “naba”) and to “speak under inspiration” (Greek – “propheteuo”). On the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted from Joel 2:28, saying, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy ...” Acts 2: 16, 17. Prophesying is a very important part of New Testament worship. “If all prophesy,” says the apostle Paul, “and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth” (1Cor. 14: 24-25).

According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, “Prophecy comprehends three things: prediction; singing by the dictate of the Spirit; and explaining the mysterious, hidden sense of Scripture by an immediate illumination and motion of the Spirit.” (See Smith’s Bible Dictionary, pg. 535.) Also, in the October 1, 1887 issue of the “Gospel Trumpet,” D. S. Warner commenting on the meaning of “prophesy” as it is used in the scriptures quoted above, says, “This includes all speaking in the church in the form of public worship.” In this statement he is correct, according to the Greek meaning of the term as it is used in these scriptures. Beside Holy Spirit inspired preaching, prophesying may include singing, testifying, teaching, or exhorting “by motion, or inspiration of the Spirit.” All these, when done under the inspiration and anointing of the Holy Spirit, comfort and edify the church, and are an integral part of New Testament worship.

Singing may be either prophesying or praise, as through singing we may speak either to men or to God or to both. “... Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col. 3: 16. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Eph. 5: 19.

Prayers, praises, and prophesyings that pour forth from hearts that are tuned with and inspired by the Holy Spirit rise up before God as sweet incense. These are “spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,” and He regards these sacrifices as “worship.” Revelation 8: 3-4 speaks of the “prayers of the saints” ascending as incense before the throne of God. Also, Malachi 3:16 says, “they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” This shows the regard God has for prophesying, or “speaking unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Cor. 14: 3). “What is it then: I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” 1 Cor. 14: 15.

It is obvious then, that all prayer, praising, and prophesying (worship) must be done in the Spirit. Outside of that our worship becomes merely a product of the human element and is, in reality, “will worship.” There are many different forms of “will worship.” Any self-motivated style of worship wherein the worshiper seeks fulfillment of certain emotional, sensational, or intellectual cravings is will worship. Will worship can manifest itself in different ways, depending upon the temperament of the worshiper. Our temperament is our “inclination or mode of emotional response -- disposition.” In will worship it is often the temperament that regulates the will and the will becomes the regulating factor of one’s worship. Will worship can take place when the temperament of a person is such as to cause him, or her, to crave the achievement of certain sensations of ecstasy or to experience certain intellectual delights. These sensations and delights can be achieved by listening to, producing or participating in certain styles of music, hearing a demonstrative, piquant orator, etc. In Acts 12: 21-22 we read of Herod giving an oration that so inspired the people that they “gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.” These kinds of motivations, however, come from the human element rather than the divine. God cannot be worshiped on the basis of any kind of human temperament. Human temperament may, and does, become involved in worship when touched by the Spirit of God, but the essence of all true worship lays within the element of God’s own Spirit and His truth. Humanity cannot worship God aright without the moderation of His Spirit and the light of His truth. We must worship within the element of who God is, not who we are. Nothing but God Himself and the very essence of His own person can truly sate the cravings of the human heart.

Since God is a spirit and can only be truly worshiped in spirit (His own element), is it possible to worship Him through any means outside that element, such as by any human invention or mechanical device? Since prayer, praise, and prophesying must all be in the Spirit to be acceptable, can any part of divine worship, therefore, be mechanically produced? The answer is NO! Let us look at a scriptural principle regarding this fact.

In Acts chapter 17 we have the account of the apostle Paul during his visit to Mar’s hill in Athens, Greece, and in verses 23 - 25 he said, “For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”

Here we find a very important and basic principle of truth. Man’s ability to worship God and capability of worshiping God lies completely in his endowment from God by creation and in nothing that his hands are able to produce. God formed a spirit within man (Zech 12: 1) and it is through this avenue that man is able to worship God and God is able to communicate with man. “There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Job. 32: 8. This inspired understanding produces the intelligent communication and interaction between man’s spirit and God’s Spirit, which God accepts as “worship.” It is by Him whose fullness dwells in Christ that we, by the Spirit who maketh intercession for us, offer up the holy incense of prayer that is received before the throne of God according to His will (see Rom. 8: 26-27 and Rev. 8: 3-4). It is by Him that we “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb. 13: 15). And it is by Him that we prophesy, that is, “speak under inspiration” in preaching, teaching, exhorting, testifying, and singing “by the dictate of the Spirit.” None of these things can be accomplished through any kind of mechanical means. All these things relate to a creation possessing spiritual endowment and involved in a spiritual interaction. These are all “spiritual sacrifices,” and they are made “acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,” our supreme sacrifice. (Eph. 5: 2.) We may safely conclude, therefore, that every aspect of New Testament offerings and sacrifices, as pertaining to our worship to God, must lie within the same spiritual element as Christ’s sacrifice. It could not be otherwise. Now in what element did Christ offer His sacrifice? In Hebrews 9: 14 we find the answer: “Christ ... through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God....” It is, therefore, within the element of that same eternal Spirit that we must offer all our sacrifices of worship to God.

In Mark 9: 49 Jesus stated the above truth like this: “For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” Every New Testament worshiper, as well as what he offers to God as worship, must be salted with “fire” and “salt.” Now I want to ask a question. Is it possible to salt a piano, organ, guitar, or any other instrument or mechanical invention created by man with the kind of fire and salt Jesus spoke of here? If not, then it is impossible to offer an acceptable sacrifice to God by any such means. Fire and salt are figures of speech relative to the Holy Spirit. Only those sacrifices that are offered with the warm and seasoned inspiration of the Holy Spirit are accepted by God today as worship. And again, all such sacrifices must necessarily be of a spiritual essence and must involve a spiritual interaction. There is nothing spiritually interactive between a mechanical instrument and the Spirit of God. This is an all-important truth and worthy of your utmost consideration!

There are, of course, sacrifices of service to the Lord, such as alms giving, ministering to the poor, sick, or needy, and distributing to temporal needs relative to the promotion of God’s cause and kingdom here on earth. “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13: 16. These sacrifices however, fall into a somewhat different category than worship itself, although they are related to our worship and the laying up of treasures in heaven. There are also three ceremonial ordinances of the New Testament that may be considered acts of worship. They are water baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and feet washing. But even in the observance of these the spirit within us must be in tune with the meaning behind them, otherwise the acts are of no value to the soul.

God has made man a very complex creature. He is capable of a vast realm of experience physically, mentally, and spiritually. God made us capable of enjoying the taste of good food. He made us capable of smelling the sweet scent of flowers. He made us capable of seeing His beautiful handiwork and enjoying it. He made us capable of hearing the sweet sounds of birds singing in the trees. He made us capable of feeling the gentle breezes blow upon our bodies. These are all physical pleasures. He made us capable of unlimited imaginations, marvelous inventions, and with an appreciation for, and ability to produce, fine arts. In these we find intellectual pleasures. And, by forming a spirit within us, He made us capable of inwardly enjoying Himself. In this we find spiritual pleasure. It is very important that we understand the differences in these experiences. It is possible to mistake our intellectual delights for spiritual experiences when actually our spiritual being has received no divine inspiration at all.

A woman told me one time that a man who attended church services where she did brought his handsaw to service with him and demonstrated a very special skill that he had developed. By certain movements of the handsaw he was able to play the tune of the old familiar hymn, “What a Friend.” The woman said, “I got such a blessing from that!” I believe that what this woman actually experienced was “intellectual pleasure.” The artistic sensibilities of her intellect were touched and stimulated by the demonstration of the player’s skill and expertise, thus producing a sensation of delight and a pleasurable mood. She interpreted this stimulation as “a blessing.” There is nothing morally wrong with this kind of stimulation, but do the artistic skills and works produced by men’s hands really have any relationship to the “spiritual blessings” of New Testament worship? I would here like to quote from the late C. E. Orr, a gospel minister who had profound spiritual understanding, and who was a co-worker with D. S. Warner.

“God has made us physical beings and gives us physical pleasures. He has made us mental beings and gives us intellectual delights. He has made us moral beings and gives us happiness in doing good, but all this is not worship to God. You can have physical pleasures, intellectual delights, moral happiness and yet not worship God in the Spirit. In the realms of our intellectual tastes, and our finer artistic sensibilities we delight in beholding the beauty of sunset or the loveliness of flowers, but when we get in the Spirit and are given a vision of the wondrous perfections of God we do not want any bouquet of flowers to intercept our view.

“It is only human hearts that can pour music into the ears of God. The Holy Spirit never pours incense on the tones of the organ and wafts them up to the nostrils of the Almighty. Heavenly incense is poured on nothing but the altar fires of God in the human soul. Our singing may be out of time and out of tune, but if there is melody in the heart to God, it rolls in sweet symphonies throughout the corridors of heaven and angels listen. My dear holy brethren, let me whisper a secret to you. Artistic music only touches the finer tastes and higher sentimentality of our intellectual and moral being and never touches the spirit being of man. God is a Spirit and it is only the Spirit of God that can touch and delight the spirit of man and it is only the spirit of man that can touch and delight the heart of God. Spirit beings have no ear to hear sounds made by material things.” End of quote.

The question has been asked, “What is the difference in playing musical instruments in your home and in playing them in a church service?” Let us answer this question by considering another question. “What would be the difference in serving cookies and milk as an after-supper dessert in your home and in serving cookies and milk when observing the Lord’s Supper?” There is nothing morally wrong with cookies and milk, is there? But yet Jesus never authorized such to be served as emblems in His sacred memorial service. To do so would be to step outside the plan He ordained and miss the real purpose and blessing of the Lord’s Supper. Likewise, there is nothing morally wrong with musical instruments or with developing our skills with musical instruments, so long as they are not used in a way that displeases God. But when it comes to worship, neither instruments nor our skills were ever ordained or authorized by God to have any part in the New Testament arrangement of things. That arrangement is a spiritual arrangement. Why bring any thing into a worship service that His arrangement has not provided for? Inasmuch as we deviate from the New Testament design we miss the blessing and purpose of what New Testament worship was meant to be. Anything we try to add to the spiritual arrangement of the New Testament system actually hinders rather than helps it. It is complete and perfect just as Christ and the Father set it up in the Spirit. Nothing of man’s provision can add anything to it. Praying, praising, and prophesying in the Holy Ghost provide everything for the soul of man that God meant New Testament worship to provide. The tones of a musical instrument can never accomplish what “singing with the spirit and with the understanding” was meant to do.

Other questions that are sometimes asked are, “Does God condemn those who use instrumental music in their worship?” or “Does God consider the use of musical instruments in worship a sin?” Consider this: did God condemn Cain for bringing an offering of the fruit of the ground, or did He count Cain’s offering a sin? The scripture just simply says, “But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect.” It seems that God did not condemn Cain on the basis of his offering in itself, nor did He count it a sin. He just simply did not regard the sacrifice acceptable. Why? Cain brought an offering that befitted his own temperament. It reflected a faith in his own work and skill as a "tiller of the ground," and a desire to be accepted on his own merit. But Abel offered his sacrifice in a faith that extended to an invisible substance outside himself, apart from any skills or works his own. His sacrifice reflected his faith in the future atonement of Jesus Christ. Therefore, “the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering” (Gen. 4: 4). God could not accept Cain's offering because it was offered in the "human" element rather than in the "divine" When Cain saw that God did not respect or accept his offering, what he should have done was to have inquired of God what was wrong with the offering and how to go about offering a sacrifice that could be accepted and bring God’s respect and favor. God said, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” (Gen. 4: 7.) Cain had the privilege of offering an acceptable sacrifice to God had he sought out that which was indeed acceptable. But sadly, he chose to take another course.

If we find ourselves below the New Testament standard of worship, or having deviated from it to some degree, we have the privilege of allowing God to teach us the deep truth of what it means to offer “acceptable sacrifices” within the divine element of His Son. He longs to “bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1: 3), by the Spirit (Eph. 2: 18). He wants us to know the “spiritual pleasure” that can only come from offering “spiritual sacrifices” salted with “fire.” But we must humble our hearts before Him and fully resign our wills to His will, realizing that we know not even how to pray as we ought, except the Spirit helps our infirmities. Neither can we worship acceptably unless the Spirit makes intercession for us according to the will of God. (Rom. 8: 26-27.) As we tune our hearts to the mind of the Spirit and receive understanding from Him of how to remove those things from our worship services that He cannot salt with His holy fire (those elements that are foreign to the realm of His operation), He is then ready and anxious to fill the vacuum. As He fills it, we can then begin experiencing, to a degree unknown before, the blessings and benefits of true worship -- praying, praising, and prophesying by the illumination, motion, and dictation of the Spirit. This is what “Holy Spirit leadership” means, relative to worship services. This is the kind of worship that searches and manifests the secrets of men’s hearts (1 Cor. 14: 24-25), and this is how it was experienced by the primitive church on the day of Pentecost and in the years following, before the great apostasy introduced other elements into worship.

There are several documentations from ancient church history, which the reader may research, that reveal beyond doubt that musical instruments were not used in worship by the apostolic church, but were introduced into so-called Christian worship by the apostate church during what we now know as the “dark ages.” It was the reviving of the true element of spiritual worship in men’s hearts that inspired such reformers and spiritual leaders as Martin Luther, John Wesley, Daniel S. Warner, and many others to remove instrumental music from worship services, along with other unscriptural practices of so-called worship that developed during the era of the great apostasy. Many hungry hearts had an earnest desire to worship God “acceptably” and to fully conform to the spirit and letter of the New Testament. They earnestly and prayerfully sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help them understand it, and God’s Spirit was faithful to reveal His will to their hearts and minds regarding many issues. It was not by their personal opinions, but by the Holy Spirit’s illumination of scriptural principles that our spiritual ancestors, such as the brethren mentioned above, as well as the Anabaptists and many others, came to regard instrumental music as foreign to the true element of New Testament worship. They did not arrive at this conclusion by any degree of lightness, but with solemn reverence for God and His will. The Holy Spirit enabled them to discern and “approve things that are excellent” (Phil. 1: 9-10). And, as expressed in the preface of a nineteenth century songbook, they found that “It is not only ‘good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity’ (Psa. 133: 1), but it is also beautiful and delightful to sing together in harmony!”

Regretfully however, some succeeding generations did not maintain, or rather failed to personally attain, the same depth of spiritual revelation their forefather’s had attained to through intimate communion with Christ in the Spirit. Once again some allowed the human element to became involved in their worship where the divine should have been. Small provisions for the flesh began to be made, which naturally quench the Spirit, like “little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song of Sol. 2: 15). Although somewhat mildly and subtly at first, so-called “Protestant” movements began retrogressing toward apostate religious practices. This retrogression gained rapid momentum in the 20th century, following World War I.

About the end of the year 1999, Time Life Books, Inc. advertised a series of “collector’s edition volumes” on “the most extraordinary 100 years of history.” A separate volume was dedicated to each decade of the 20th century. Interestingly, the second volume, covering the years 1910 to 1920, was titled, “The End of Innocence.” It is a historic fact that during those very years, when great revolutions were taking place in the political affairs of nations, great revolutions were also taking place in the ecclesiastical affairs of churches. (There is good reason to believe that this stage of events, both politically and ecclesiastically, is prophetically indicated in Rev. 11: 13. However, that is a subject for another discussion.)

The third volume of the above-mentioned series, covering the decade of the 1920’s, was titled “The Jazz Age.” This was the time when secular music took a turn toward a more fleshly appeal (although it was mild compared to our time). This was also the time when traditional restraints began to be thrown aside and new trends began to be accepted that were very bold for that day. Women began cutting their hair and shortening their skirts, and sleeve lengths began to be shortened. But all this was only a beginning. As Time Life Books stated in its advertising brochure, “Sit back in breathless wonder at how we CAME SO FAR, SO FAST!” Did God not warn us in Gal. 6: 8 that “he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption?” We have a generation today that is reaping an overwhelming harvest of corruption from seeds sown by their ancestors 80 to 90 years ago. We are now in an age of full-blown apostasy, so far as nominal Christianity is concerned. And this subtle, apostate spirit is also waging an all-out conflict against the pure Bride of Christ and the remnant of her seed. Who will dare, in this dark mid-night hour, to cleave to radical principles of Bible truth?

Most professed Christians of our time have no idea how greatly their standards and practices differ from those of “holy men of old.” Many have little or even no regard for modesty or decency, and seem not to realize the Bible teaches “Christians” to “cover” their nakedness in a manner becoming to godliness. Most think of worship services as theatrically styled performances and formal programs led by clergymen. And sadly, most have never had the opportunity to hear a remnant congregation of Spirit-tuned people harmoniously blending their voices together, singing and making melody from their hearts to the Lord. And if, per chance, they ever get this opportunity they are amazed and astonished at the heavenly sound of this music and how it speaks to the heart!

Has not this generation been robbed of something very special that was given to the church by the wisdom of God? Indeed it has! God’s ways really are best, and He has much more to offer the thirsty souls of mankind when they resort to His ways than mankind himself can ever begin to offer by his programs, ceremonies, and artistic performances. It is like the difference in drinking from a fresh, living well and a stale cistern! But as God said in Jer. 2: 13, “My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Modern so-called worship services do not even resemble the spiritual environment of those of our forefathers, yet few seem to understand why. Could it be because the Holy Spirit will not and cannot “salt” those sacrifices offered to God as worship that are outside the true element of Jesus Christ?

If we have not yet attained to the same “breadth, and length, and depth, and height” in Christ that some of our forefathers did, we may find ourselves having difficulty understanding their views regarding such issues as we here discuss. Nevertheless, it is wise to respect their views and prayerfully seek to be guided by the same Word and Spirit that guided them in their understanding and perception of divine things. Even in this modern age of “human reasoning” these two faithful Guides are jointly able to lead us to His thoughts that are higher than our thoughts and His ways that are higher than our ways (Isa. 55: 8-9). Also, we should keep in mind that not every child of God arrives at the same degree of knowledge and understanding of God’s thoughts and ways at the same time. Therefore we should always endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” with every truly born again soul, “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4: 3, 13). To attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ should be the ultimate goal of every Christian.

Consider the word “acappella.” This is an Italian word derived from two Latin words “ad capella.” “Ad” means “according to” and “capella” means “chapel.” The word “acappella” means “in chapel style; without instrumental accompaniment.” How do you suppose this word came into existence in ancient Italy? The answer is quite obvious. It was because of the presence and growth of primitive Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. The manner in which the primitive Christian churches worshiped the Lord in song was “without instrumental accompaniment.” Therefore music after that manner became known as “a cappella,” or “according to chapel.”

When we arrive at a clear understanding of what New Testament worship really is, we are struck by the realization that the issue of musical instruments in worship is not so much an issue of right or wrong as it is an issue of possible or impossible! It is simply impossible to bring that which has no connection with the Holy Spirit into the realm of New Testament worship. Only “spiritual sacrifices” are now accepted by God as worship, and they must all be offered within the element of His own dear Son, in the Spirit. Nothing outside that realm has had any place in true worship since the day of Pentecost.

May the Lord bless each reader as you consider, search, and weigh these thoughts in the fear of God.

8/2008



A Fundamental Difference
By: W. H. Shoot
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Introduction

On Dress

On Church Organization

On Church Government

On Visible Unity

On the Financial Support of the Ministry



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Introduction

By way of introduction, I wish to say that, for the past few years, there has been a controversy among the people of the church of God, commonly known as saints, or “Gospel Trumpet people.” And this controversy came about through a few ministers who became very liberal in their views regarding the question of the Christian’s dress. When they first insisted on bringing their worldly ideas and articles of dress in among the saints, it became the duty of the ministers of the church to take a decided stand against them and their false teaching. Accordingly, E. E. Byrum, at that time editor of The Gospel Trumpet, wrote an article, entitled “Marching Along the Bypath,” in which he warned the church, declaring that, “A deceptive, exalted, independent, devilish compromise spirit is sweeping over the land.”

And he gave the church many other statements of warning from which we shall quote from time to time as we proceed. This warning, with many other efforts of other ministers, seemed to stay the worldly compromise at that time, but later the compromise element enlisted other ministers of the church in their cause, and another drive was made against the church, which resulted in carrying away a large number, both of ministers and lay members, and that time the editor of The Gospel Trumpet fell victim to the compromise, and from that time on the publishing work has been under their control and used in the furtherance of the compromise movement.

Now there are two bodies of people standing directly opposed to each other on account of this question of compromise. Many false statements have gone forth, and the minds of many of God’s children are confused, in regard to the questions at issue.

Having been a minister in the Church of God for the past eighteen years, and knowing the history and workings of this compromise from its beginning, I feel it my duty, and for the glory of God, to set before the people the fundamental difference now existing between the Gospel Trumpet people and the Church of God, who still hold the doctrine of the Bible as taught by the church from the beginning of what is known as the Reformation of the evening light.

In order to do this, we will state what the past teaching was, as found in the books, tracts, papers, printed testimonies, and pulpit sermons, etc., which have been preached and published by the Church of God, also The Trumpet’s late teaching in regard to the things at issue. And we believe that after clearly setting forth the facts of the case, every honest, unbiased soul will agree with us that The Gospel Trumpet people are not the Church of God, as they profess to be, and are not worthy of the name which they assume. For the Scriptures declare, ““But Christ as a Son over his own house [church]; whose house [church] are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:6)

The following are some of the points of difference between us, which we will take up in due form and order:

1. On Dress
2. On Church Organization
3. On Church Government
4. On Visible Unity
5. On the Financial Support of the Ministry






On Dress

With the preaching of the full gospel of Christ by D. S. Warner and other ministers of the Church of God in the Evening Light Reformation, which began about the year 1880, came the word of God on the subject of the Christian’s dress.

At first thought one may think that the dress question is of very little moment, or rather of no moment at all; but by carefully reading the scriptures addressed to Christians upon this subject, we find that Holy Inspiration has not left us to ourselves in regard to this matter, but has given us punctual directions as to what we shall or shall not wear.

Accordingly we read, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.” (I Peter 3:3-5)

Also, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (I Timothy 2:8-10)

And also we read, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Again, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)

The first two passages quoted, emphatically forbid Christians wearing gold, pearls, or costly array, or to put on apparel, but commands them to dress as becomes their profession, namely, holiness, declaring that the spirit of the Christian must be “a meek and quiet spirit”; and also that their dress must be modest, for we all know that a Christian is a modest, humble, lowly man or woman of God. Since their very spirit and character are meek, quiet, holy, and humble like unto their Lord and Master, they are commanded to dress as is suitable and becoming their profession of Christ.

The last two scriptures referred to forbid us as Christians to conform to the world, and exhorts us to lay apart all “superfluity of naughtiness.” The Romans 12:2 may more directly refer to the spirit and wisdom of the world, yet it also refers to the foolish fashions and customs, which naturally emanate from its spirit and wisdom, and if we are ever to prove the “good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” thus pleasing Him in all things, we must cease our conformity to the world.

The laying apart of all superfluity is very essential to our Christian life and walk. Superfluity is anything excessive, not needed, unnecessary, and that is worn or used for show or ornament, to please the eye, to satisfy the lust of the flesh or the pride of life; and the Word says, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24)

Therefore, seeing that the Scriptures are against such things, we can truly say that such as laces, embroideries, silks, satins, plush, and other fine goods should not be worn by saints of God; neither fancy vests, neckties, silk socks, fancy watch fobs, or any gay or flashy clothing, but that which “becometh holiness” (Titus 2:3); also, all jewelry, such as rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, gold watches, stick pins, or anything that is worn for show or adornment must be left off for Jesus’ sake. However, lace and embroidery cannot be classed with other fabrics; for whole garments or parts of garments are made of cotton, wool, velvet plush, silk or fur, and such garments cover the body and keep it warm; but garments or parts of garments made of lace or embroidery are worn for show, and not that they have any value as clothing. But again, saints should not wear anything that has the appearance at being worn for show or costliness.

Now this is the way the truth has been preached from the beginning of the Reformation until about the year 1910, as the following extracts from Gospel Trumpet literature will show:

"Superfluities—By this is meant unnecessary things, such as are worn for show and style, and cannot be worn to the glory of God, such as gold cuff and collar buttons, and other jewelry; neckties, an unnecessary amount of ribbon, feathers, and many other things which can be laid aside for the glory of God. By-words, slang phrases, "cracking jokes," silly actions, grumbling, murmuring, idleness, etc., are weights which should be laid aside." [Little Things, pp. 14]

"If we as saints will leave off the feathers, the ruffles and mufflers, the gold watches and chains, the diamonds, rings, necklaces, gold-rimmed glasses, silk dresses, hobble skirts, low necked waists, embroideries, etc., we shall avoid transgressing the Bible, the Holy Spirit, our conscience, sinning against the brethren; then we shall stand without fault before the throne of the great Judge who now stands before the door with the record of our deeds. Take for example the wearing of the necktie. We not only consider our own conscience, but that of others. Because it has been discarded as an unnecessary article of dress, and is so regarded by the church, almost, if not, universally, it is therefore best to leave it off lest we offend our brethren, if for no other reason." [The Gospel Trumpet June 27(or 21), 1912]

"It has been fully agreed upon by the saints and representative ministers that it is an unnecessary article of dress, that the wearing of it is catering too much to the world, and, therefore, should be discouraged. Ministers who are full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom and miracle-working faith and power will not need such things, neither pianos, nor stringed instruments to get an audience and to convert souls." [The Gospel Trumpet December 19(or 12), 1912]

"Question—Why do not the saints (men) wear neckties? It is so noticeable, would like to know.
Answer—For the reason that they are for ornament only, and as such are not needful nor useful."
[The Gospel Trumpet August 20, 1908]

"Question—Can one keep saved and use tea, coffee, wear corsets, neckties, etc.?
Answer—[Caffeinated] tea and coffee are narcotics—poisonous, and more or less injurious to the human system, and men and women become slaves to the habit. Salvation will deliver from all such bondage and habits when connected with the proper teaching. It is a generally admitted fact that the corsets are injurious, and if people know this, they are guilty before God in cleaving to pride and fashion, and especially when it is harmful. Neckties are superfluous. God’s Word forbids outward adorning; but such are fashionable, and doubtless have a part in 'the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.'" (I John 2:16)

"Salvation delivers from the desire, “lust,” and “pride” of such things. Where men and women get saved from these things and teach against them, then take to them again, the devil has seduced them." [The Gospel Trumpet June 12, 1902]

"We gladly refrain from wearing anything that only brings us nearer the world and adds nothing to comfort or necessity. Wearing a collar large enough and of such material that it protects our coat from the perspiration of the neck, seems to be a matter of convenience, economy, comfort, and cleanliness; but this could not be said of a necktie, which is so generally considered by the world as a necessity, but which is for no other reason than for appearance. It is consistent with the word of God that we should be clean and neat, but if you were to take the worldly judgment for our standard of neatness, where should we find ourselves?" [The Gospel Trumpet October 20, 1910]

Now, dear reader, you, can see by the Word of God and the past teaching of these people, that all worldliness in dress was forbidden. But now these very same writers and preachers, including E. E. Byrum himself, have repudiated their own teaching and are wearing many of the things they formerly taught against. So, according to their own statements, as recorded in the above extracts, “The devil has seduced them.”

E. E. Byrum had said:
"It is a matter much to be regretted that two or three ministers of this Reformation have become so blinded by such a spirit as to don their superfluous paraphernalia and take the pulpit, even at a camp meeting, and upbraid as fanatical the saints who would not fall in line with the same…. The word of God stands today as it always has, and to wear a superfluous article will lead to other superfluities and open the gates to worldly conformity and pride; and a compromise spirit that will plead for worldly conformity will plead for letting down on doctrinal lines. Then what is the matter with those ministers? They have stepped over into the bypath of the broad way, and are headed for the dump pile. “Is that not too strong a statement?” someone may say. No; and the sooner they are made to realize it, and the people see it, the better it will be.

It is a downright compromise with the devil. It is the spirit of the thing we are after, and we trust the men themselves may find deliverance. "
[Byrum, Enoch E., Marching Along the Bypath; The Gospel Trumpet September 15, 1910]

The writer of the above now wears his necktie, which he had vehemently condemned in others. So, according to his own teaching, he has “stepped over into the bypath of the broad way, and is headed for the dump pile.”

And the same spirit of compromise, that has seduced these people in regard to worldly dress, has also seduced them into letting down on other doctrinal lines of Bible truth, as we shall see as we proceed. We find among these Trumpet people today those who wear neckties, gold watches, breast pins, laces, embroideries, silks, and coffee and tea drinking, corset wearing and many other things almost too numerous to mention, but may this suffice for the present on this subject.




On Church Organization

Turning to Ecclesiastes 3:14-15, we read: “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”

Without a doubt, this scripture is very fitting and appropriate to the subject under consideration, for all who read the Word of God on the subject of the organization of the Church of God, find that the following was to be her lasting characteristic: she is of divine origin. Her inception coexisted in the mind of God with the plan of salvation. Her origin, being the immediate result of redemption, was inseparable from it. And therefore, since, in the counsel and good purpose of God, Christ was a “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” (Revelation 13:8) the church, redeemed through His blood, also stood before the divine mind parallel with the gift of His Son.

Of that holy institution, we have seen, He cast a beautiful shadow upon the earth, in the form of the temple and all its contents. And, after “Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were, to be spoken after,” (Hebrews 3:5) in due time, “Christ as a son over his own house,” (Hebrews 3:6) appeared, and He built this beautiful “church of the living God.” (I Timothy 3:15) He adorned her foundations and walls with the pure gold of His heavenly love, and set them with the precious stones of His graces and gifts. He adorned her pillars with the robe of His righteousness; and in her He sheds the light of his own glory. She is from heaven, and all members are born of God. Along with Christ, her life and head, she is the gift of infinite love. She is “God’s building,” chosen of Him for His own dwelling place; and where He spreads a continual feast of love for all His heaven-born children. The divine Son purchased her with His own blood (Acts 20:28), yea, He gave Himself for her to be His own bride (Ephesians 5:25); He built her upon the rock (Matthew 16:18).

As the true tabernacle of present divine testimony, the Lord pitched her and not man (Hebrews 8:2). As the house of God, “he that built all things [in her] is God.” (Hebrews 3:4) As the beloved city, she “hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10) Her foundation is Jesus Christ the divine Savior: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11)

Her life and light is the “eternal Spirit” (Hebrews 9:14); her creed is the pure word of God. Thus spake God by the mouth of His servant Moses: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19) This is fulfilled in His Son as the apostle testifies (Acts 3:22-23).

God announced that He would put His words in the mouth of this prophet; and when He came, He testified, saying, “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:10) Therefore, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

This adorable Christ came into the world and delivered the perfect law of His kingdom, and when about to finish His mission on earth, He said, “I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them” (John 17:8); and when He sent forth His ministers to preach His gospel to every creature, He commissioned them to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Thus we see that Christ Jesus spoke all the words that the Father put into His mouth, all that He had commanded Him to speak; and the Son likewise commissioned His apostles to publish all and only that which He gave them. Therefore, “All Scripture divinely inspired, is indeed profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for that discipline which is in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly fitted for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17, Emphatic Diaglott)

God the Father, then, is the source of this new covenant, and Jesus Christ is the mediator of the same, Its object is the conviction of men in sin, and the teaching, correction in discipline, in righteousness, of all the saints of God, and the result is, by means of it they are perfect. As the divinely inspired discipline, it corrects every error, and teaches every obligation of righteousness in all our relations to God and to man. —Daniel S. Warner, in The Cleansing of the Sanctuary. [It is uncertain how much of the above is quoted from the book]

We see by the foregoing testimony of sacred truth, how that God, back in eternity, even before the world was, purposed to redeem fallen man; and not only so, but that He would take the redeemed material and of it build a beautiful church, even to be His dwelling place on earth. We will see as we further give the testimony of truth on the subject of the organization of the Church of God, that God alone is the sole builder of it, and that nowhere in its organization is the touch of man’s hand found, but that it is a wholly divine organization, and in the language of scripture, “nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it [and] that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14-15) Oh, how unchangeable is this organization! And how complete also, even so complete that nothing can be put to it—it has every organ and function necessary to its completeness and perfection. One had as well say that a man with the use of both his legs has need of crutches to walk on, as to say that this divinely organized church has need of a human organization in order to procure and maintain system and order. Such would be horrid folly, and casts reflection upon both the wisdom and ability of God, and is well nigh blasphemy.

In order to show you how the ministers of the Church of God taught on the subject of church organization, we quote the following from D. S. Warner:

"Therefore when men charge us with discarding all organization, they either knowingly or willfully misrepresent us. As the Word teaches, so we teach. The church that Jesus purchased with His own blood, He also built (Matthew 16:18), that is, organized. “In whom [Christ] all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:21) These scriptures and many others clearly set forth the church of God as a symmetrical, and perfectly organized structure.

Of this fact there is no question; but with regard to those who hold the prerogative of organizing the body, all do not so well agree. The general teaching in sectarian theology is that God only saves and gathers men out of the world into a general mass, and that is the duty of ministers to form the material thus provided into organic form. But we teach that God saves men into His church, also forms them into due order, and really organizes the church Himself. As to which position is correct we will now appeal to the Word. A few texts will be sufficient to settle the question. The church, we have seen, is a building, a house; that is, an organic structure. Now it must be apparent to all, that whoever is the architect and builder of a house organizes the same. But “He who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. [And] he that built all things is God.” (Hebrews 3:3-4) “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (I Corinthians 12:18) “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,” (I Corinthians 12:28) etc. To furnish with organs [in the sense of parts of an organism, not musical instruments —Ed.] “built,” “compacted,” (Ephesians 4:16) “fitly framed together,” and to “[temper] the body together,” (I Corinthians 12:24) covers all that is included in the word “organize.” And, “All these worketh that one and selfsame Spirit.” (I Corinthians 12:11) Yea, “It is the same God which worketh all in all.” (1 Cointhians 12:6) He then, through the Spirit, is the organizer of His own church."
[Warner, Daniel S.; The Cleansing of the Sanctuary]

Dear reader, you will see by the above that the Church of God is a divinely organized church, and that God only is that God is the organizer. This is the position that has been taken by the ministers of the Church of God from the beginning of the Evening Light Reformation down to about the year 1910. You will further see by the following extracts from Gospel Trumpet literature, that according to the Word of God we understood human organization in regard to the church to be unscriptural and wrong.

"In January, 1882, Sister Lottie Blackwood told me one day that sectarianism was not right, that she had found a better way, that some ministers around Bangor, Michigan, were preaching against it, and that many had left the sects and embraced the “evening light.” I did not raise any opposition to her, because of the esteem and respect I had for her, but inwardly I felt very sad to think she would leave the good old Methodists and go with a class of people that had no respect for system attained through human organization. Therefore I resolved to study the Bible to qualify myself to convince her of her error. I studied the Word faithfully, but, to my surprise, and delight, I found she was right. So, before I ever heard a sermon preached on the church question, I was thoroughly convinced that the Word of God stood out in bold condemnation of human church organization."
[Palmer, A. B.; Nineteen Hundred Years of Church History]

As many know, A. B. Palmer was one of the ministers of the Evening Light Reformation, and he understood that human organization to the Church of God was condemned by the Bible, hence he preached it that way. Not he only, but all the ministers for thirty years or more held human organization to the church as absolutely contrary to the Word of God, as you will further see by the following extract from The Revelation Explained.

In discussing the two-horned beast of the revelation, and his mark, the writer of that book has this to say:

"The greatest principle of false doctrine that originated with Catholicism, and one that has been transferred to every Protestant sect, is, that a human organization is necessary to complete the Church of Christ on earth. The Church of Rome has an earthly head and a human government; and Protestants, also, firmly believe the unscriptural doctrine, that they must bow to an organization of men and thus be under a visible human headship; they receive the mark of the beast."
[Smith, Frederick G.; The Revelation Explained, “Chapter 13”]

Now, we wish to call your attention to three points in the above, which the writer holds to be wrong and contrary to the Word. First: That to teach that a human organization to the church is necessary to complete it, is one of the greatest principles of false doctrine, brought from Roman Catholicism. Don’t forget this. Second: It is an unscriptural doctrine to believe that we must bow to an organization of men and thus be under a human headship. Third: They that teach and practice such doctrine “receive the mark of the beast.”

Now, dear reader, we will show you by Gospel Trumpet literature, that they, the Gospel Trumpet people, have departed from both the Word of God and their own past teaching on the subject of church organization. In the Ministerial Letter of June, 1915, Thomas Nelson, writing on church organization, after taking notice of the divine organization of the church, comes out very boldly and declares, “There is need of a human organization to work together with the divine Spirit—in this way only can system and order be procured and maintained.” Thus you see that they have surrendered their position formerly held, and according to F. G. Smith’s statement, have embraced the unscriptural doctrine of Catholicism, that a human organization is absolutely necessary to procure system and maintain order in the Church of God. And not only this step has been taken in apostasy from divine truth, but indeed they teach the human headship, which F. G. Smith had once so strongly condemned Protestants for doing. Listen to him:

“Christ is the head of the church,” someone may say. True; but “the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.” (Ephesians 5:23) Does not the wife also have a head of her own? So also the church has a head of its own; the church, however, is subject to Christ, as its spiritual head. The officers of the church constitute its personal head.
[Smith, Frederick G.; Financial System of the Bible, pp. 31]

Here, as in the other statement of heresy, the writer boldly declares that the Church of God has a human head. Surely “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (II Peter 2:22) The Pope of Rome makes no greater claims to headship than this man has. Now let us examine his statement carefully and see how it wrests the scriptures in regard to the wife having a head of her own: for he bases human headship of the church upon the proposition that although the husband is the head of the wife, yet she has a head of her own. His reasoning runs that therefore, although Christ is the spiritual head of the church, yet, since the church bears the same relation to Christ as the wife does to her husband, and the wife has a head of her own, hence the church has a human head of its own.

Now in the first place, we deny that, in the sense the apostle uses the illustration, the wife had a head of her own; for the apostle here is speaking of the family relationship, and we declare on the authority of the Word of God, that, in the family relationship, the wife has no head but her husband, for the scriptures declare in regard to the family relationship, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22) Why, we ask, should wives submit themselves unto their own husbands? The answer is clear: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even [to the extent] as Christ is the head of the church.” (Ephesians 5:23) Here we find that the wife has no headship in the family, but her husband. But one may ask, “Then what is the wife’s place in the family?” Let the Word answer, “And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:20) The Word of God declares the wife to be a helpmeet again here, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain [two] shall be one flesh.” (Mark 10:7-8) So we see that, in the marriage and family relationship, the husband is the head and the only head, and the wife is his helpmeet by his side, from whence she was taken. Hence Mr. Smith’s position of the wife having a head of her own falls to the ground under the weight of God’s Word. Therefore, his position of two heads for the church is without foundation in the Word of God, and he had to borrow it from the unscriptural teaching of Roman Catholicism, and therefore they bear the mark of the beast. A thing with two heads is properly termed a monstrosity. I once saw a dead baby with two heads, but even nature teaches us that a body should have but one head. And this is very apparent, for, since the head is to rule the body, more than one head would result in confusion.

Now, since we see that Mr. Smith has wrested the scriptures in regard to the headship of the church, let us examine the scriptures and see where God placed the ministers of his church. We first read, “But be ye not called Rabbi, for one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren…. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:8,11) Again, in the scriptures, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:1) “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus? sake.” (II Corinthians 4:5) “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:1) “Till we have sealed the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:3) “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.” (Romans 16:1)

These and many other scriptures teach that the officers in the church are servants, and not the head of the church. You may search the Bible through, and you will never find where the officers are head of the church. They never become more than humble ministers or servants to God and His church. So again we see the false teaching of The Trumpet people in regard to the church. Hence the great difference between us and them. They resort to the unscriptural doctrine of Catholicism, but we stand on the Word of God alone, and defy the hosts of sect confusion to move us.




On Church Government

Now we come to the third point of difference between us, namely, church government. We wish to take this up from a scriptural standpoint and set forth the truth in the matter. We have seen that the Church of God is divine, and that God Himself is her builder, maker, and sole organizer. So, also, we find that the government of His church is unlike any other government, political or ecclesiastical. We read in Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end…to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Again, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” (Colossians 1:18-19) Now we see by the above scriptures, that Jesus Christ was ordained of God to be the head and governor of His church, and nowhere in the Bible do we find that anyone was to be chosen to be equal with Him in rule or authority in His church. But we do read in the second Thessalonian letter, of the “man of sin” (II Thessalonians 2:3) who would exalt himself to the headship of the church, and this no doubt refers to the Pope of Rome; but God declares that He will destroy him at the second coming of Christ.

But although Christ is the governor if His church, He has officers through whom He governs His people. So, we read, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Ephesians 4:7-8) “And he gave some, apostles [planters]; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” () One may ask, “For what purpose did He give them?” Hear the answer: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body [church] of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12); “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers” (I Corinthians 12:28); etc. Now we see that the officers of this church are divinely appointed, even by the Lord Himself. So there is no school or college of bishops in the church, to appoint the officers their work; no great ones in this church; no class ministry; none above another. Every preacher is called of God, qualified by the Holy Ghost and sent forth by Him into the particular place where the Spirit pleases. Accordingly we read, “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matthew 20:25-27)

Here we see the humble equality of the ministry as taught by Christ Himself. In the government of the Gentiles, there were degrees; there were petty officers, and above them all was the Emperor. But Christ said, “It shall not be so among you.” All were equal in authority in the ministry; all received the same commission. Their field was the world, and they were to go when and where the Holy Ghost might send them. The history of the labors of the apostles shows this very plainly. And to show you how this has been taught among us, we quote D. S. Warner in The Cleansing of the Sanctuary:

Her government is divine, not only in the legislative, as we have just seen, but likewise, in its judicial and executive departments. “The government shall rest upon his shoulder.” (Isaiah 9:6) “He is the head of the body the church…that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18); a divine government in the highest sense; a theocracy not only appointed by God, but administered by Him; even “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6) “It is the same God which worketh all in all.” (I Corinthians 12:6) He chooses men for elders and deacons, as “helps [and] governments” (I Corinthians 12:28); but these, as well as all the members of the body, have no right or power to act, except as “it is God which worketh in [them].” (Philippians 2:13) If, therefore, they teach or exhort, it is by His Spirit dwelling in them. So her government is indeed all divine; yea, it is indeed a government of God, working all things in all the members.
[Warner, Daniel S.; The Cleansing of the Sanctuary]

Now the Trumpet people teach contrary to this:

"A minister is as much the servant of the church as he is the servant of God, and he should not feel free to go where he pleases and undertake any work in any place on his own responsibility or leadings. We may call following such unsystematic and disorderly methods being led by the Spirit and sent by the Holy Ghost. The result will always prove that such leadings are mostly human notions that waste means, times, and lives, and often work great havoc in the churches. Let the brethren as well as the Lord send you, and if they do not think you are qualified for the work you think of undertaking, God will not hold you responsible for not doing it."
[Ministerial Letter June 1, 1915]

Now, dear reader, you see by the above, that they would set up, or establish, a college, or board of “brethren,” to question your leadings of the Spirit, and to pass upon the same, and to tell you whether or not you could go here or there to preach Christ’s gospel. And if they, the “brethren,” tell you not to go where you feel the Lord leading you to go, God will not hold you responsible for not doing the work He led you to do. Can you think for a minute that such teaching is in keeping with the Word? Such is nothing less than pleasing man, and where, pray tell me, in the Word of God has He given men dominion over your faith, and over your understanding when or where Christ sends you to work for Him? Search the scriptures and see how God calls and sends His ministers independently of any earth-born Council, Synod, College, or Board. Take, for example, the ministers of the early church. Christ sent the first ones forth without human straps or bands to “Go…teach all nations,” (Matthew 28:19) with no One to answer to but the “great shepherd of the sheep.” (Hebrews 13:20) A little later He saved Saul of Tarsus. See how He commissioned him; here are his words: “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ…. But when it pleased God [not the brethren], who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me [not the brethren] by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me [the apostles at Jerusalem were called to preach before he was]; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.” (Galatians 1:11-17) And this same Paul says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1) A good example for preachers now.

The Ministerial Letter quoted above stands contrary to the Word of God on this subject. It calls God’s divine system of government wasteful of means, time, and lives; also destructive. But it is plain to be seen that such men are blinded with he false doctrines of sectism, and have departed from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1:3) Therefore, they are left to their own human reasoning; and they build their own human organizations and try to impose them upon the Church of God, pretending that they are scriptural. But thank God for a Holy Bible and Spirit which will teach His children the true doctrine. “The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way.” (Psalm 25:9) Amen.




On Visible Unity

And now we come to the next subject of difference, namely, visible unity. And upon this, as well as upon all other subjects of the Bible, we wish to give you the Word, and not our human notions, for if there is such a thing in the Church of God as visible unity, it must have its foundations in Bible truth.

Accordingly, we read, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah [that is, the tribe of Judah], nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh [rest giver] come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49:10)

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign [a standard] of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious. It shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD [not man] shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush [the land of the blacks], and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.” (Isaiah 11:10-11)

“And it shall come to pass in the last days [in the gospel dispensation], that the mountain of the LORD’S house [church, not some sect] shall be established in the top of the mountains [high above all carnal sect division], and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations [not just the white race alone] shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah 2:2)

“I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation [not the religion of one nation] unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together [they don’t divide up in different congregations because of race or color], they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far [from other nations], and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together [not apart].” (Isaiah 60:3-5)

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-82)

“And other sheep I have [Gentiles] which are not of this fold [Jews]: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

“And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” (John 11:49-52)

We see by the foregoing scriptures, that the mission of Christ to this world was to bring salvation to the whole human family, and that He would call His converts from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, regardless of their race or color, customs, traditions, habits, tastes, prejudices, vast difference in education, etc. Although they were formerly broken by sin into fragments, castes, and hostile camps, the one against the other, they were, thank God! to make peace both with God and each other through the blood of His cross, as it is written: “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both [Jew and Gentile] one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity…for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body [not two] by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby…. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom [Christ] all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:13-22)

Here we see that the Gentile does not come to the Jew, neither the Jew to the Gentile, but both come unto God by Jesus Christ, and at the cross are washed from their sins in His own precious blood, losing their race preference, and are made “one new man, so making peace,” from henceforth builded together for God’s dwelling place on earth. And we read in Acts 2 where, on the day of Pentecost, about three thousand souls out of every nation under heaven—which most assuredly included the colored races, such as the Egyptian, the Ethiopian, and Libyan—were saved together and became associated together in the church at Jerusalem. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)

There was the fulfillment of all the scriptures concerning Christ’s coming to earth to bring salvation to all men, and to establish His church in unity and oneness; no division of any kind or character, but perfect unity, both visible and in the Spirit. And indeed this visible unity continued throughout the history of the early church, as witnessed by the labors of the apostles.

Peter had to learn this wonderful truth before he went to the household of Cornelius, and arriving there, he declared that God had shown him not to call any man common or unclean; for “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:35) However, once, through fear of the Jewish converts coming from Jerusalem to Antioch, he withdrew from eating with the Gentile saints. But he was rebuked by Paul for such conduct, and was told that in this he had “walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.” (Galatians 2:14) Therefore, to divide the people of God into different congregations because of their race or color is to raise again the race wall of partition, which Christ died to destroy. And having more than one congregation in any one city because of race or color, is simply division, and destroys the visible unity that Christ most earnestly prayed unto God for, and died that it might be realized among His people on earth. If we do not preach it and practice it we are no better than sect Babylon, and God will disown us as His people. Now we will give you a statement from D. S. Warner on this subject, so you will see that not only the Bible teaches visible unity, but that it was taught and practiced among the saints in the Evening Light Reformation.

As there is but “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all,” (Ephesians 4:6) so likewise there is but “one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4) It was the purpose of God to save both Jews and Gentiles through the gospel of His Son. Now there was a great gulf of prejudice and vast separation in sentiment and education existing between these two classes; and it might very reasonably be thought that characters so remote from each other could never be blended together in one body, and live agreeably under one faith. Did therefore, the Lord indulge their alienation from each other, and their extreme peculiarities, by providing a separate fold for each? Nay, for the Great Teacher says, “Other sheep I have [Gentiles], which are not of this fold [not Jews]: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) Those antipodes of humanity, if saved at all, must be brought together into one fold….

By means of any complete concordance you may see that church is never once in the plural number when referring to the disciples of Christ in any one city. No matter how large the city and how numerous the believers, there is but one Church of God in it. Hence we read, “the church that was at Antioch” (Acts 13:1); “the church of God which is at Corinth” (I Corinthians 1:2); “the church of the Thessalonians” (I Thessalonians 1:1); “unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” (Revelation 1:11) Thus you see there was only one church in one city. And though under the apostasy there are today many bodies, many towering steeples, and rival altars, in every town and city, God’s Word is just as true as when written by the inspiration of the apostles, and there is but “one body in Christ.” (Romans 12:5) Yea, there is but one body universal in Christ, and but one body in Christ in Chicago, in New York, or in any city on earth. Therefore, if “God be true, but every man a liar,” (Romans 3:4) it follows that the multitude of bodies seen in these last days occupying the same place, are not in Christ, not the one body of Christ."
[Warner, Daniel S.; The Cleansing of the Sanctuary]

Now, dear reader, we have given you both the truth, and the past teaching of The Gospel Trumpet people on the subject of the visible unity of the Church of God. We want to say right here, we stand today on the Word of God and preach and practice the truth of this teaching also. But the Trumpet people no longer maintain visible unity, but have separate places of worship for the Negroes who are of their faith, except where there is no race prejudice, and on the occasion of their general or extraordinary meetings. So you see, by such action, they have a white man’s church with all of the colored races admitted, except the Negro race. The reason for such action is that they cater to the race hatred of the unsaved world, and the “Jim Crow” laws of different states, and bar from their local assemblies the Negroes. Hence according to their teaching and action, Jesus has two folds, one for the Caucasian, Malay, North American Indian, Mongolian, etc., and another fold for the Negro. But we believe the words of Christ, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring…and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) This shows the difference there is between us on this subject.




On the Financial Support of the Ministry

And now we come to the last subject of difference between us that we will write upon at this time, as we do not want to make this writing too lengthy. And we are perfectly willing to let the Word settle the question under consideration, for we know that when we come to the judgment, we will not be judged by the tradition of men, but by the Word of God, and we do not want to go beyond it, neither fall short of it, for no doubt to do either would be equally hurtful and wrong.

Now, under the law of Moses, there was a legal system of financial support, and heavy penalties were inflicted on the transgressor. But all who have the knowledge of the Word know that Jesus, by His death on the cross, abolished the entire law system. Therefore no part of it was carried over into the gospel dispensation, and hence no part of it is binding upon the children of God today; and to teach men and women that they ought to give ten percent, or any exact amount, is to go back under the law and bind upon people what Christ has destroyed in His death. The Trumpet people teach a certain definite system of their own make—holding that neither Christ nor the apostles had any certain system of financing the work of God. In this we differ, for we believe that the New Testament teaches a definite system of finance; and that Christ and the apostles both preached and practiced it; and since this is the case, it is both wrong and unnecessary to create a financial system of our own liking.

Now, we will give you the Word of God upon the financial system, as taught by Christ and the apostles.

“Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” (John 12:5-6) “Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.” (John 13:28-29) Now we see by the above scriptures, that Christ and His disciples had a purse, or “bag” which held the money which they had. We see also that this money was used to purchase the things they had need of, and also to use in helping the poor. Further, we see that Judas, one of their number, was their treasurer.

“Now,” one may ask, “where did they get the money which was the common fund, and out of which they supplied themselves and the poor? Did Christ teach the people that they had to give a certain percent of their income unto Him and His?”

If He did, there is no record of it in the New Testament. But we do read where Paul said, “I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how that he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) So from this we infer that Christ taught people to give.

“But where,” you ask, “did the money come from which Judas carried in the ‘bag’?”

We read again, “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.” (Luke 8:1-3) Praise the Lord.

Here we see how Jesus was supplied with the necessary means to carry on His ministry. So, we can say without fear of successful contradiction, that Christ taught the glad tidings of the kingdom of God throughout every city and village, and as He taught them and healed their sick, the people were made to realize the truth that “The labourer is worthy of his reward” (I Timothy 5:18); hence, “certain women with many others ministered unto him of their substance.”

Thus we see the system that Christ inaugurated was a system of freewill. “Freely ye have received, freely give,” (Matthew 10:8) and we do not hesitate to say that thirty years’ experience in the Evening Light Reformation has taught the ministry and saints that the system of freewill has been very successful in spreading the gospel to almost all the nations of the earth.

Now, we desire next to see how the church at Jerusalem, which was the beginning of the divinely organized church on earth, carried on their financial affairs. For Christ, at the time of His ascension, commanded the disciples to tarry at Jerusalem and “wait for the promise of the Father,” (Acts 1:4) which was the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, by which they were organized into the church of the living God. Of their number at that time, we read that they were an hundred and twenty, together with one accord, waiting for the baptism of the Spirit, and that when that day fully came, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance; and thousands cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them [the original one hundred twenty] about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles? doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:41-47) Also, this was a daily ministry, as is recorded in the sixth chapter of Acts; and when the number of believers were greatly multiplied, seven men were ordained by the apostles, who were given charge of the freewill offering system of supplying the needs of the work.

Now, dear reader, do you see how this same system, which Christ employed to finance His work, was employed by His apostles? They did not take the church for money, but they freely gave the gospel in the power of God. And they that gladly received it did not have to be taxed or harnessed with a legal system of giving in order to get them to do their duty, for the burning love of God in their hearts caused them, when they saw their brother in need, to sell their possessions and come and lay it at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made “unto every man according as he had need.” (Acts 4:35) And we further declare on the authority of God’s Word, that that is the way the apostles preached and practiced it as they went everywhere preaching the gospel, even among the Gentiles. We read further, of Paul who was shipwrecked on the island of Miletus among the barbarous people, where he preached Christ, and healed the sick. “And when we departed, they loaded us with such things as were necessary.” (Acts 28:10) Also, when Paul taught gospel giving, he taught it as the freewill of the people, not “of necessity,” but willingly, “for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7)

“Yes,” says one, “but did not the Lord ordain that they that preach the gospel should live of the gospel?”

Yes, indeed He did, and would you like to know when and where he ordained it thus? Then, turn to Matthew 10, and find where Christ commissioned His twelve disciples to go preach. There he tells them what to preach and how to live while they are preaching: “Provide [get] neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.” (Matthew 10:9-10) Again we read of Christ sending other seventy to preach, and He tells them in regard to their financial support, “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house…. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.” (Luke 10:5,7) So you see, dear reader, how and where the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel shall live of the gospel. And you may search the New Testament in vain to find where God has authorized His preachers to bind a legal system of finance upon His people.

“Yes,” says one, “but did not Paul teach the Purpose Plan?”

Let us see if he did, and if so, to what extent. Paul taught the Corinthians in regard to the ministers of Christ, that they were “not [to] muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn,” (I Timothy 5:18) and that the Lord ordained that the people among whom His ministers labored were to support them by freewill offerings. Then also, in II Corinthians 8 and 9, he said he had no commandment from the Lord for them; but he gave his advice, how that they should make up a bounty to send to the poor saints at Jerusalem, and in order that everything be in readiness when he came to gather their gift, he advised them as he had the churches of Galatia, namely, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,” (I Corinthans 16:2) and that “as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give.”* (II Corinthians 9:7) This is the simple truth of the whole affair, and never again do we read of Paul or any other minister of that age, telling the saints to lay by them in store upon the first day of the week. Thus you see there was no system other than the system of freewill, as is so plainly taught in the Word. Hence, the Trumpet system of purposing a definite amount to be paid at stated periods of time, and having the sect envelope way, is only human, sectish, and without authority in the Holy Scripture.

Before we conclude this we wish to record the testimony of some who worked in the early part of the Reformation, and see how they understood, that God would have them do in regard to finance, and you will see by such how the Trumpet people have departed from their own past teaching, as well as from the truth in this matter.

"Today we are saved to the uttermost and filled with the love and glory of God. Not a sin upon earth has any dominion over us; we are free! hallelujah! We live by the Word of God. We believe it all, and enjoy it. We as a family living economically do not use alcohol, tobacco, or medicines; no pearls or jewels or gold; no braids or ruffles or laces; no plumed hats; but dress common and clean and comfortable, and eat common and healthful articles of food. We preach from three to nine times a week, but receive no salary, nor take up any collections. We have all we need, and are just as happy and contented as we could wish to be, and all because God is our salvation."
[Palmer, A. B.; Nineteen Hundred Years of Church History, pp. 415]

Now, dear reader, we could multiply testimonies like the above, to show how the early ministers of the Evening Light Reformation understood, taught, and practiced the Word of God on all these points, but we believe this sufficient to help you see the difference between the people of the Church of God and The Gospel Trumpet people, who, although they once preached and practiced the whole truth, have in these last days let down the standard of the gospel, have compromised with this world and sectism, and are teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and we believe that every person whose conscience is not seared will be enabled by this to see the right way of the Lord and truth, and be persuaded to walk therein and find rest to their souls. Amen.






From The Diary of D.S. Warner

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The Lord taught me many precious lessons of my littleness and his exalted greatness...

"I should never speak of having prayed for certain persons in connection with their conversion, etc. Oh, I am so ashamed of my folly and weakness in often relating such things. I thought I was doing it all to the glory of God, but now I can see that there was some self in it...

"I have boasted too much of my health and ascribed it too generally to my knowledge of, and prudence in, observing natural laws. O God, forgive me this offense..."

In December of the same year, 1877, Warner wrote out a solemn covenant with Almighty God. In part it read:

"This soul which thou hast made in thine own image is placed wholly in thy hands; do with it as seemeth good. This mind shall think only for thy glory and for the promotion of thy cause. This will is thy will. O God. The Spirit within this body is now thine; do with it as thou wilt in life and death. This body is thy temple forever. These hands only to work for thee..."

Warner signed his name along the left-hand margin of that covenant---Daniel Sidney Warner. And then he appended additional explanation:

"In signing my name to this solemn covenant I am aware that I bind myself to live, act, speak, think, move, sit, stand up, lie down, eat, drink, hear, see, feel, and whatsoever I do all the days of my life to do all continually and exclusively to the glory of God. I must henceforth wear nothing but what honors God. I must have nothing in my possession or under my control but such things as I can consistently write upon 'holiness unto the Lord.'

"I humbly pray thee to so keep me that all my powers of soul, body and spirit, my time, talents, will, influence, words, and works shall continually, exclusively and eternally glorify thy holy name through Jesus Christ my Lord, and Savior. Amen and amen.






Through the Bible in a Year
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THROUGH THE BIBLE
IN A YEAR
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"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105)
This is a suggested guide for reading the Bible through in a year. The order in which the schedule lists the books is not the order in which they occur in the Bible, but is a chronological arrangement. Family Radio hopes you will gain new insights into the Word of God as you read it in the order of its events.
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MARCH
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1/Deuteronomy 4-6
2/Deuteronomy 7-9
3/Deuteronomy 10-12
4/Deuteronomy 13-16
5/Deuteronomy 17-19
6/Deuteronomy 20-22
7/Deuteronomy 23-25
8/Deuteronomy 26-28
9/Deuteronomy 29-31
10/Deuteronomy 32-34
11/Joshua 1-3
12/Joshua 4-6
13/Joshua 7-9
14/Joshua 10-12
15/Joshua 13-15
16/Joshua 16-18
17/Joshua 19-21
18/Joshua 22- 24
19/Judges 1-4
20/Judges 5-8
21/Judges 9-12
22/Judges 13-15
23/Judges 16-18
24/Judges 19-21
25/Ruth 1-4
26/1 Samuel 1-3
27/1 Samuel 4-7
28/1 Samuel 8-10
29/1 Samuel 11-13
30/1 Samuel 14-16
31/1 Samuel 17-20
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APRIL
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1/1 Samuel 21-24
2/1 Samuel 25-28
3/1 Samuel 29-31
4/2 Samuel 1-4
5/2 Samuel 5-8
6/2 Samuel 9-12
7/2 Samuel 13-15
8/2 Samuel 16-18
9/2 Samuel 19-21
10/2 Samuel 22-24
11/Psalms 1-3
12/Psalms 4-6
13/Psalms 7-9
14/Psalms 10-12
15/Psalms 13-15
16/Psalms 16-18
17/Psalms 19-21
18/Psalms 22-24
19/Psalms 25-27
20/Psalms 28-30
21/Psalms 31-33
22/Psalms 34-36
23/Psalms 37-39
24/Psalms 40-42
25/Psalms 43-45
26/Psalms 46-48
27/Psalms 49-51
28/Psalms 52-54
29/Psalms 55-57
30/Psalms 58-60
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MAY
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1/Psalms 61-63
2/Psalms 64-66
3/Psalms 67-69
4/Psalms 70-72
5/Psalms 73-75
6/Psalms 76-78
7/Psalms 79-81
8/Psalms 82-84
9/Psalms 85-87
10/Psalms 88-90
11/Psalms 91-93
12/Psalms 94-96
13/Psalms 97-99
14/Psalms 100-102
15/Psalms 103-105
16/Psalms 106-108
17/Psalms 109-111
18/Psalms 112-114
19/Psalms 115-118
20/Psalm 119
21/Psalms 120-123
22/Psalms 124-126
23/Psalms 127-129
24/Psalms 130-132
25/Psalms 133-135
26/Psalms 136-138
27/Psalms 139-141
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JANUARY
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1/Genesis 1, 2
2/Genesis 3-5
3/Genesis 6-9
4/Genesis 10, 11
5/Genesis 12-15
6/Genesis 16-19
7/Genesis 20-22
8/Genesis 23-26
9/Genesis 27-29
10/Genesis 30-32
11/Genesis 33-36
12/Genesis 37-39
13/Genesis 40-42
14/Genesis 43-46
15/Genesis 47-50
16/Job 1-4
17/Job 5-7
18/Job 8-10
19/Job 11-13
20/Job 14-17
21/Job 18-20
22/Job 21-24
23/Job 25-27
24/Job 28-31
25/Job 32-34
26/Job 35-37
27/Job 38-42
28/Exodus 1-4
29/Exodus 5-7
30/Exodus 8-10
31/Exodus 11-13 ________________________________________
FEBRUARY
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1/Exodus 14-17
2/Exodus 18-20
3/Exodus 21-24
4/Exodus 25-27
5/Exodus 28-31
6/Exodus 32-34
7/Exodus 35-37
8/Exodus 38-40
9/Leviticus 1-4
10/Leviticus 5-7
11/Leviticus 8-10
12/Leviticus 11-13
13/Leviticus 14-16
14/Leviticus 17-19
15/Leviticus 20-23
16/Leviticus 24-27
17/Numbers 1-3
18/Numbers 4-6
19/Numbers 7-10
20/Numbers 11-14
21/Numbers 15-17
22/Numbers 18-20
23/Numbers 21-24
24/Numbers 25-27
25/Numbers 28-30
26/Numbers 31-33
27/Numbers 34-36
28/Deuteronomy 1-3

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28/Psalms 142-144
29/Psalms 145-147
30/Psalms 148-150
31/1 Kings 1-4
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JUNE
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1/Proverbs 1-3
2/Proverbs 4-7
3/Proverbs 8-11
4/Proverbs 12-14
5/Proverbs 15-18
6/Proverbs 19-21
7/Proverbs 22-24
8/Proverbs 25-28
9/Proverbs 29-31
10/Ecclesiastes 1-3
11/Ecclesiastes 4-6
12/Ecclesiastes 7-9
13/Ecclesiastes 10-12
14/Songs 1-4
15/Songs 5-8
16/1 Kings 5-7
17/1 Kings 8-10
18/1 Kings 11-13
19/1 Kings 14-16
20/1 Kings 17-19
21/1 Kings 20-22
22/2 Kings 1-3
23/2 Kings 4-6
24/2 Kings 7-10
25/2 Kings 11-14:20
26/Joel 1-3
27/2 Kings 14:21-25
Jonah 1-4
28/2 Kings 14:26-29
Amos 1-3
29/Amos 4-6
30/Amos 7-9
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JULY
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1/2 Kings 15-17
2/Hosea 1-4
3/Hosea 5-7
4/Hosea 8-10 5/Hosea
6/2 Kings 18,19
7/Isaiah 1-3
8/Isaiah 4-6
9/Isaiah 7-9
10/Isaiah 10-12
11/Isaiah 13-15
12/Isaiah 16-18
13/Isaiah 19-21
14/Isaiah 22-24
15/Isaiah 25-27
16/Isaiah 28-30
17/Isaiah 31-33
18/Isaiah 34-36
19/Isaiah 37-39
20/Isaiah 40-42
21/Isaiah 43-45
22/Isaiah 46-48
23/Isaiah 49-51
24/Isaiah 52-54
25/Isaiah 55-57
26/Isaiah 58-60
27/Isaiah 61-63
28/Isaiah 64-66
29/Micah 1-4
30/Micah 5-7
31/Nahum 1-3
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AUGUST
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1/2 Kings 20, 21
2/Zephaniah 1-3
3/Habakkuk 1-3
4/2 Kings 22-25
5/Obadiah
Jeremiah 1, 2
6/Jeremiah 3-5
7/Jeremiah 6-8
8/Jeremiah 9-12
9/Jeremiah 13-16
10/Jeremiah 17-20
11/Jeremiah 21-23
12/Jeremiah 24-26
13/Jeremiah 27-29
14/Jeremiah 30-32
15/Jeremiah 33-36
16/Jeremiah 37-39
17/Jeremiah 40-42
18/Jeremiah 43-46 19/Jeremiah 47-49
20/Jeremiah 50-52
21/Lamentations 1-5
22/1 Chronicles 1-3
23/1 Chronicles 4-6
24/1 Chronicles 7-9
25/1 Chronicles 10-13
26/1 Chronicles 14-16
27/1 Chronicles 17-19
28/1 Chronicles 20-23
29/1 Chronicles 24-26
30/1 Chronicles 27-29
31/2 Chronicles 1-3
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SEPTEMBER
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1/2 Chronicles 4-6
2/2 Chronicles 7-9
3/2 Chronicles 10-13
4/2 Chronicles 14-16
5/2 Chronicles 17-19
6/2 Chronicles 20-22
7/2 Chronicles 23-25
8/2 Chronicles 26-29
9/2 Chronicles 30-32
10/2 Chronicles 33-36
11/Ezekiel 1-3
12/Ezekiel 4-7
13/Ezekiel 8-11
14/Ezekiel 12-14
15/Ezekiel 15-18
16/Ezekiel 19-21
17/Ezekiel 22-24
18/Ezekiel 25-27
19/Ezekiel 28-30
20/Ezekiel 31-33
21/Ezekiel 34-36
22/Ezekiel 37-39
23/Ezekiel 40-42
24/Ezekiel 43-45
25/Ezekiel 46-48
26/Daniel 1-3
27/Daniel 4-6
28/Daniel 7-9
29/Daniel 10-12
30/Esther 1-3

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OCTOBER
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1/Esther 4-7
2/Esther 8-10
3/Ezra 1-4
4/Haggai 1, 2
Zechariah 1, 2
5/Zechariah 3-6
6/Zechariah 7-10
7/Zechariah 11-14
8/Ezra 5-7
9/Ezra 8-10
10/Nehemiah 1-3
11/Nehemiah 4-6
12/Nehemiah 7-9
13/Nehemiah 10-13
14/Malachi 1-4
15/Matthew 1-4
16/Matthew 5-7
17/Matthew 8-11
18/Matthew 12-15
19/Matthew 16-19
20/Matthew 20-22
21/Matthew 23-25
22/Matthew 26-28
23/Mark 1-3
24/Mark 4-6
25/Mark 7-10
26/Mark 11-13
27/Mark 14-16
28/Luke 1-3
29/Luke 4-6
30/Luke 7-9
31/Luke 10-13
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NOVEMBER
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1/Luke 14-17
2/Luke 18-21
3/Luke 22-24
4/John 1-3
5/John 4-6
6/John 7-10
7/John 11-13
8/John 14-17
9/John 18-21
10/Acts 1, 2

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11/Acts 3-5
12/Acts 6-9
13/Acts 10-12
14/Acts 13, 14
15/James 1, 2
16/James 3-5
17/Galatians 1-3
18/Galatians 4-6
19/Acts 15-18:11
20/1 Thessalonians 1-5
21/2 Thessalonians 1-3
Acts 18:12-19:10
22/1 Corinthians 1-4
23/1 Corinthians 5-8
24/1 Corinthians 9-12
25/1 Corinthians 13-16
26/Acts 19:11-20:1
2 Corinthians 1-3
27/2 Corinthians 4-6
28/2 Corinthians 7-9
29/2 Corinthians 10-13
30/Acts 20:2
Romans 1-4
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DECEMBER
________________________________________________________________________________ 1/Romans 5-8
2/Romans 9-11 3/Romans 12-16
4/Acts 20:3-22
5/Acts 23-25
6/Acts 26-28
7/Ephesians 1-3
8/Ephesians 4-6
9/Philippians 1-4
10/Colossians 1-4
11/Hebrews 1-4
12/Hebrews 5-7
13/Hebrews 8-10
14/Hebrews 11-13
15/Philemon
1 Peter 1, 2
16/1 Peter 3-5
17/2 Peter 1-3
18/1 Timothy 1-3
19/1 Timothy 4-6
20/Titus 1-3
21/2 Timothy 1-4
22/1 John 1, 2
23/1 John 3-5
24/2 John, 3 John, Jude
25/Revelation 1-3
26/Revelation 4-6
27/Revelation 7-9
28/Revelation 10-12
29/Revelation 13-15
30/Revelation 16-18
31/Revelation 19-22
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