A CLUB OR A FAMILY?
By Tom Lamb- New Zealand
Introduction by Editor: Steve Van Nattan-- Balaam's Ass Speaks:
This article is certain to offend Baptist Briders and the Landmark gang. Hyles junkies will wretch over this item. That is just what I want. It is time we understand that Fundamentalists are VERY guilty of the guruism and the same possessive spirit found in the denominations. The various alleged "sound" colleges and seminaries foster this spirit, and the mission boards plant the spirit of guruism in the missionfield. The "us and them" spirit is damnable heresy. As if Jesus Christ has only one local church, these scum cling to their people and tell little stories in the pulpit and at church dinners which are designed to turn the sheep against all other saints not in "our" little sheepfold. Pray tell, who owns "our" church anyway? Jesus or YOU, preacher?
Friends, there IS a universal church. No, it is not organized, and it will never meet in one place this side of the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. But, it is there, and it is rapidly fleeing from these hirelings who bash the sheep in pastoral rule churches. These sheep are limping home, and, to their amazement, they find the Word of God and the Holy Spirit are just as precious in their living room as they were in the approved real estate down town.
There can be a local church which is a family, as Tom Lamb suggests, but the day you give up the biblical family for the controlled club, even in one thing, that is the day you begin to dry up spiritually.
I do hope this article makes a bunch of wanna be Fundamentalists very uncomfortable. You preachers who pride yourself on you associations outside the local church, your college ring on your fat finger, and your mail order doctorate, give me a break. I cannot imagine a more pathetic mess than the one you are making. I know a Catholic priest who has a bunch of Bible studies and catechisms all over his town, and his people are more free to think for themselves than some of you Fundamentalists. AND, the priest and all his people are all on their way to Hell. What can we say for your sheepcote? I smell death there, sir.
Uh, do I hear someone peeping and stuttering?
___________________
A CLUB OR A FAMILY?
By Tom
Lamb
Let
us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:13
Remain where you are:
You've probably heard the term (especially if you have come out of the Charismatic Movement) ... "grow where you are planted!!" An old time favourite cliché in the organized church, borrowed to obstruct folk from leaving the System. Borrowed because this 'one liner' is as New Testament as it could get:
1 Cor . 7:20. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
This scripture has got nothing to do with staying in your church after you meet Jesus because if your church, or elders, or minister, were dead or blatantly apostate, would it be the dead ministering to the quickened. It is merely Paul encouraging a believer to stay in the natural situations where he was born again at this particular time, like a place of employment or education etc. In other words ... grow where you are already planted!
How many people have got saved in natural surroundings then sent to a "first principles" class at a denomination to get indoctrinated and ended up in a "spiritual" hothouse being groomed as a clone in unnatural surroundings.
In order to be the realist people on earth, Christians by scripture are urged to remain in the real world, minus artificial settings. And this is where the family principle in scripture functions:
Acts 11:14. Who
shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
Acts 16:31. And they
said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
A family or a club:
There's much said in the secular establishment about being a family. (Isn't it lovely!?) When an organization has to reconstruct (some say, "des-truct") one of the first shock absorbers put in place is the philosophy "we are a family!" Everywhere you turn clubs and organizations are using terms like "family" or "community". Remember when George piano used the engineered Gulf piano covers to usher in (the term) piano casters? With 'user friendly' terms stamped on it in the form of such catch phrases as "the Community of Nations", "the World Community", "the International Community", the Family of Nations", "the Global Village", etc.? Gives it a human touch, a ring of piano coversmth, such as Glasnost and Perestroika, before the USSR collapsed and yielded to the piano wire. Community Policing and Neighbourhood Watch (spying on your neighbours) are other such examples on a smaller scale.
Even schools and boards are declaring they want to operate like a family. What is actually happening is good old valued terms are being redefined to make the New Age more presentable and attractive. By calling a school institution a family is a bit of a check really, as it is blindly setting up in opposition to the traditional family structure which is both biblical and ordained of God. Slowly and stealthfully, unbeknown to many, the God ordained family unit is being eroded and undermined with the prospect of "Nanny" State replacing it.
The established church has lead the way in this mitigating effect for decades, even centuries, by replacing the true church based on the family structure along with it's unique values. This is because the nucleus of the local church was a continuation of God's ordained family unit, whether it happened to be made up off natural blood-stock finding God together, or adopted 'odds and ends' who had met the Lord individually, and found a new home. Look how the book of Acts supports the church as a 'home functioning organism':
Meals and making merry ... breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. (2:46)Also, scripture in general supports home group fellowship:Teaching and preaching ... and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (5:42)
As a sanctuary and lifestyle ...he made havoc of the church, entering into every house. (8:3)
General gathering ... send for thee into his house ... he went in, and found many that were come together. (10:22,27)
Praying together ...he came to the house of Mary ... where many were gathered together praying. (12:12)
Comfort and encouragement ... and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed.
(16:40)Visiting ... And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house (20:20)
Kingdom revelation ... and Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God. (28:30,31)
What about the concept of the Pastor? The word
pastor (shepherd) is only mentioned once is the New Testament as a function
(not title) within the plurality of an eldership. The is no "pastor" culture
(Nicolaitan concept) or one man bands in the NT. Elders are not laity
but maturity. They are not imports either. They don't come in (bepiano coverse
of this; Jude 1:19) but are raised from within, where they have proved themselves
accountable and faithful.
A new place:
Let's ignore the word "church" at this stage as this hijacked word has many religious connotations. The New Testament also speaks of Jesus' little flock ... a remnant people, a peculiar people ... a special possession for the Lord's own inhabitant. That's us, His people called out unto a God Who is both our Maker and Father, away from the convention and status quo of the world's system (political and ecclesiastical) to a new found place in the wilderness of refuge and refreshment in Christ. Nothing to do with a pilgrimage to a piece of (apparently now negotiable) real estate in the Mid East. Nothing to do with "going" to the organization down the road. Or eating out of the hat of the latest self-styled teacher/prophet ... Lo here! or, lo there!
In other words, the convert's position changes spiritually
speaking, the moment he or she receives Christ as Savour, to a place of divine
privilege above the rest of creation. More special than the beasts of
the field and the fowls of the air. Higher than the angelic. Incredible
but true!
Make your heart where your home is:
The principal of the household is scriptural:
Galatians 6:10. As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith.
Ephesians 2:19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers
and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of
God;
Ever since the Radical Pilgrim came online two years ago, I get countless letters from individuals, couples, and families, who are quitting or have quit "going to church". Many (like we experienced) are going through withdrawal symptoms (old wine - the drug version - hard to kick!) and are looking for some sort of assurance they are not "being unfaithful" or "going into deception", along with the apparent need of being pointed to something palpable and even palatable.
My advice ... forget it!! Also ... forget looking for any "spiritual" adulation and elation! Reason? We have been called to a kingdom without outpiano coversd observation and a spiritual church whose founder and maker is God. We get the truth by revelation and we live (totally) by faith. Immensely simple and practically practical! Without substitutes! Without tangible trappings! Hard it will be, but very repiano coversding.
Also quit looking to others for nourishment, or meeting your needs. The Lord as God is our chief nourisher and need meeter, as well as provider and source. It comes back to Him always. Or at least us ... how we are responding to Him! Making it with Him! Relationship! Our communion is spiritually natural and naturally spiritual. Not mystical or abstract in any way. Worked out in real life.
Sure we need fellowship, as fellowship is vital. And scriptural. However, fellowship should not have dogma or cultural conditions place on it. The object of the exercise is to start in the home with your family, staying clean and real, and being totally word based. If increase comes it will be by the Lord and not by programme. That's a guarantee! If you do not have a family then keep hounding someone who is getting on your level. This will provoke and employ them into the scriptures. If they bail out, then and only then, move on.
Remember, the word (the Book) is our bread, and as our spiritual staple diet should be coupled with the cross at the centre when we meet. And by the cross I don't mean a relic, symbol or icon, but the the work our Saviour accomplished on the dead tree.
Singing or prayer should not be our centre. Let that come naturally.
Avoid pump-ups. Keep everything low key. Avoid "worship"!
Now you must be really wondering where I am coming from? Worship is the
way we live and do things. If it's unto the Lord, for His honour and Namesake;
it's worship; unadulterated. When you try to make it happen, it's a performance!
However, above all these things avoid cliques and exclusiveness. These
be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Go to places on the odd occasion where someone uses the word authoritatively.
That will be the odd occasion; usually! If the condition is; you must
join him to get the benefits, then that's his problem. Don't be obligated
to man but the Lord. And don't treat your group as the "one and only".
Your true friend may have a doctrine off- key. You may miss a genuine
friend if you cut him off because he does not fit your mould. Remember,
the emphasis is on the word as our base and the cross as our centrality.
The third and only other bare essential is the Holy Ghost who makes all this
a reality.
An environment for homechurches:
In regards to the hour in which we live, the advantage believers have above those who stay in the denominations are as follows:
Acts 10:2 ... with all his house
Acts 16:15. And when she was baptized, and her household
... come into my house, and abide there.
Acts 16:32 ...
to all that were in his house.
Acts 16:34 ...
into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with
all his house.
Acts 16:40 ...
entered into the house of Lydia
Acts 17:5 ... and assaulted
the house of Jason
Acts 18:7 ... and entered
into a certain man's house, named Justus
Acts 18:8 ... believed
on the Lord with all his house
Acts 21:8 ... we entered
into the house of Philip the evangelist
1 Corinthians 1:11 ...
by them which are of the house of Chloe
1 Corinthians 16:15 ...
ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia
2 Timothy 1:16. The
Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus
Romans 16:10. Salute them which are of Aristobulus'
household.
Romans 16:11. Greet them that be of the household
of Narcissus
1 Corinthians 1:16. I baptized also the household
of Stephanas
Philippians 4:22. All the saints salute you, chiefly
they that are of Caesar's household.
2 Timothy 4:19. Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the
household of Onesiphorus.
The Western Conventional Church has had its day, now it is capitulating with every one else to the spirit of the New Age compliance, and is now part of the Super Church, the Great Whore of Revelation. Certain members who are adhering to the simplicity in Christ, are gradually leaving her as they hear the Spirit beckoning ... Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.
Please check this following website and you will see even established witch covens are being incorporated into this great ecumenical conglomerate.
There is a call to the wilderness, the refreshing place of God. Where believers are finding the reality of the scriptures, and learning to put their complete trust in their Provider, who said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Make your heart where your home is:
The principal of the household is scriptural:
Galatians 6:10. As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith.
Ephesians 2:19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers
and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of
God;
The reason people are confused about the church and it's function is because they do not realize the church does have a Divine order. Not hierarchical of course! Because the clerical system has been so entrenched over the centuries only their view point has been pushed ... clergy over laity. This unscriptural concept has camouflaged the true scriptural tri-part order which parallels to Father - Son - Spirit. Or God - Christ - man. Or Christ - man - woman. Here's another ... Man - woman - child; and so forth.
Within the Systematic Church you have God - the Minister (Priest or Pastor acting as go-between, replacing Christ) - then the people. This way the woman can by- pass her husband's authority and conveniently mediate with God through the Minister / Priest/ Pastor / Rabbi; which throws God's order out and justifies the clerical set-up. With God's order the woman must go through her husband and remain loyal to him spiritually, emotionally, and socially. He must be the one meeting her needs through Christ. No wonder there is so much hanky-panky going on between the Minister and his "rightful" female parishioner/s. In the religious order, the man is bypassed therefore cancelling out the family nucleus of the Body. No head, then no family! It's as simple as that!
The same goes for the Body of Christ on earth. The order is ... the church universally (on a whole), then locally (in a district like a town or village), and then in the household (the home base). This is where the husband/man is in charge (as the male elders are within the church locally). Destroy this then you destroy the family structural base which has to be replaced with something else. By-pass the husband headship with an ecclesiastical figurehead you then destroy God's order. Therefore, an unscriptural system has to be re set-up to replace it, which is outside of God's word. Without the scripture their is no truth. Where there is no truth their is no Spirit of truth either ... the Holy Ghost! And where there is no Holy Ghost there is no life from above. God is not in the midst; only empty rhetoric, religious vibes and atmosphere!
Dear Saint! Do you really want to get back to
the New Testament church? Do you really want to experience true koinonia?
In other words ... do you want the reality, or do you want the counterfeit?
Not just mere sentiment or nostalgia? Not just religious fantasy or subterfuge?
Then it's up to you to do something about it! Like ... right
now!! If you claim to be a bible believer in the true sense of the word.
In spirit and in truth:
Have you ever heard the term or been asked the question, "Where do you worship?"
Did you know that when we gather we are not suppose to come together for the sole purpose of worship (leave that to the religionists)!? Nowhere in the New Testament does this notion lend support. You see New Covenant worship is in spirit and in truth. Therefore, everything we do; working, recreational activities, eating and drinking, making love (strictly within the confines of marriage) and of course fellowship, is to be in spirit and in truth. Our lives should be a continual worship unto the Lord. It's our reasonable service.
Just imagine sending your children away to special seminars where they will learn the art of honouring and respecting you with lip and devotional service. Certain parts of the day or week are laid aside where your children can prove their devotion to you by mechanically saying the right things and following the correct procedure:
"Father, this day we are bestowing upon you all the praise due to your name, all the honour you are worthy of, because you have chosen to devote yourself to our well being and upkeep. We hereby praise you from the bottom of our hearts Father! We hereby praise you with the fruit of our lips. This day do we use to pay special tribute, gratitude and respect for the affections you bestow upon us each day. Praise you Father!!" " Now's it okay if we go outside and make mud pies?"
Praise is not simply a word but an attitude with expression. F'instance, if you are introduced to someone's baby while casually passing by do you exclaim, "Oh I praise your child! How I praise it! Praise it! Oh ... hallelujah, hallelujah!!"
No you say, "Oh what a beautiful looking child! Look at it's lovely complexion! He's got your lovely eyes, and your husbands smile, and ... ... !" etc. etc. (thanks Juan!)
You see praise is not mechanical, or empty rhetoric, or even showy. It is not expressed blindly, glibly, superficially, but for a reason. Like spontaneously expressing gratitude for something already purposed, and praising someone for their attributes. David and others did:
Psalms 52:9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it
Psalms 118:21. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psalms 139:14. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Isaiah 12:1 ... I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
Isaiah 25:1. O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
The following wasn't actually orchestrated either:
Acts 16:23-25. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Then all heaven broke lose!
The teaching of "praise and worship" based on music, which was introduced through the charismatic movement, then infiltrating most mainline churches, sounds "nice" and scriptural, but is in fact a big con, allowing people to be manipulated through their emotions. This leads to spiritual deception, and in the end, if we continually refuse repentance, God will hand us over to such things as Toronto / Pensacola and New Wave type delusion.
Be careful of music too! In meeting together that is! It is scriptural to sing to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. But this is only a minor part of the New Testament (today it is major and full-on!) with very little scriptural reference. The reason ... it was only part of meeting for uplifting each other unto the Lord. It was never intended to be dominant (don't let me put you off listening for enjoyment sake though) let alone the centre replacing true fellowship. Music has only taken over in recent decades as it is based on vibes and piano coversm fuzzies, usually plus someone's ego.
As far a Christian having a career in music I don't believe the Lord would have a problem, as long as the music was wholesome, provoking or uplifting, and wasn't used as a substitute for true New Testament church.
Things like Worship Leaders and Youth Pastors are
also unscriptural. Sorry about that!!
True fellowship:
We come together for fellowship. That's why it is an unstructured 'happening' in the home where there is no pressure to perform. "Going to church" may look impressive but is in fact impersonal, cold, institutionalized gobbledegook. As well as being unscriptural. That's why things have to be up-dated all the time, like cosmetic face-lifts (the new-look auditorium), with the latest and the greatest trends (a clean-look rock band), marketed in such a way to make things look exciting and relevant, and to keep folk involved, so they don't have time or heart to question and break-out. When it is just you and your friends making it with God, you don't need substitutes, the Holy Spirit is sufficient thanks!
A scripture that's quoted many times to lure folk back into the Comfortable Church is blips 10:25:
Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is ...
Now straight away, because of our Westernized mentality, we associate the word assembling with the formal word 'assembly'. Like gathering in a hall with hundreds of others after the school bell has rung. Or mustering on a field military style, after an alarm has gone.
"Assembling yourselves together" simply means coming together at one given, or casual time, like:
... where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Why do we come together? Well, we will have to quote some more of blips 10:25:
... exhorting one another.
In other words, we meet together to encourage one another, taking advantage we are still living in the day of grace. Prodding, provoking, stirring, sharpening and stimulating one another, is all part of it (verse 24). This is spiritually healthy and helps keep us honest, and on our toes.
Titus 1:8 ... a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men ...
This means you can choose your own friends.
Why gather with those who are unruly, or have a competitive spirit? Or be bullied or blackmailed into fellowship? Or why be forced to come together with someone who doesn't like you? You know ... who bring a sour attitude with them. In our meetings we shouldn't have time to get bogged down with trivial irrelevant issues and mumbo jumbo, a slinging match, nor going for the jugular. The object of the exercise is to gather with those who are hungry, whose affections are set on above, who bring no malice with them, so we can uplift one another.
Get this verse ... follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord with a pure heart.
After all ... a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
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