To the brethren in bondage under institutional Churchianity, I implore you: cast off your beloved chains, put away the traditions of men and move freely in the spirit. Many of you say, “We have no chains! To what traditions are we bound?”
My brethren I say unto you: In nearly every institutional church, I have either heard a sermon or read a doctrinal statement entailing the absolute authority of scripture. Yet, both of these mediums violate the very scripture they attest as their foundation.
A doctrinal statement (typical of denominationalism) is, in itself, divisive; establishing a schism in the body of Christ, and declaring a proud unwillingness to discuss scripture fully until the body is unified in understanding. Such divisiveness spoken against and exemplified in the following scriptures:
Throughout scripture, sermons were not a regular thing, and we do not find a salvation message preached to the saved on a weekly basis. There is a place for preaching but it is not behind a pulpit. The purpose has always been to declare the truth to those that know it not, from Moses in Deuteronomy and Ezra in his book, all the way through Christ in the sermon on the mount and Paul on Mars Hill.
Heb. 10:25 is the scripture they use to say, “Be in church every time the doors are open!” But the scripture says: (Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.). First of all, speaking on the importance of fellowship, how in the world can you call two minuets of handshakes per weak (on average) Godly edification and fellowship? Secondly, what kind of “one anothering” is going on if one man expounds to all and no one expounds to him? We are not supposed to operate in a trickle down inspiration system.
The word for pastor means shepherd and is translated pastor only once in the entire New Testament and where it appears it is not a prominent figure. It is in a list of gifts and callings and in no way describes the office now attributed to it. In fact, we are warned against having a chief speaker. In stead, we are to have a multitude of elders (fully discipled men) overseeing the younger in faith, all of which participate in the gathering. But, what do we have if all study and pray while apart, then come together and preach to each other without a hierarchical system of order? You get “a nation of priests.” Sound familiar?
I attended a Baptist church that had mark 16:15 on the wall. It said ( And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.) yet their first priority in witnessing was come to church, that you may be saved and discipled. Now I’m pretty sure that “Go” and “come” are opposite; and as far as inviting the unbeliever to the gathering of the brethren, the bible speaks expressly against it. We are commanded to go and disciple, then invite the believers to the fellowship. If an unbeliever stumbles in, no problem, but we are not to purpose the event.
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If we hold these scriptures so dear, why do we fail to follow the guidelines so clearly laid out? This is not meant to vex you, but rather encourage you. Repent of your traditions; obey the Lord in the direction he has given.
My Family
(Husband speaking)
Brother in Christ,
ReplyDeleteA quick comment on the first part of your post about doctrinal statements. It is interesting that originally doctrinal statements were to protect against heresies, and only came into existence when a Truth was under attack, the first example being of course the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, or the well-known Council of Nicaea which condemned the heresies Arius was spreading about Christ. I suggest that not all doctrines or creeds are divisive, and that pre-denominational doctrinal creeds on the contrary promote great fellowship and unity.
In Christ,
E.