God says: "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear
Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with
them, and with their children for ever" (Deut.5:29; see John 14:23).
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A FOUNDATION GUIDE FOR THE ASSEMBLY
By R. DeWitt, 6/07
[A few thoughts from another paper to help Christians not reared within a scriptural assembly]
The Gathering Place according to the scriptural order for the church, is probably not like anything one has known from the various Christian gatherings in the world, who often take a name, have leaders, follow rituals and creeds, embrace the world, have entertainment and activities, programs, innovations, etc. That is man's ideas rather than true to the Word of God. One needs to decide if they want to be a part of a scriptural assembly as a worldwide fellowship, and as a local expression of that, or follow traditions and the popular ideas of men. A true believer ought to seek to know church truth, church history, talk with the elders associated with the gathering, be baptized, pray much, and be an observer for a time before asking to be received into the fellowship. Reception is not dependent on knowing all the Scripture, but one should come simply in faith as a learner. One should come with the thought of "unity of the faith" and in truth.
The Word Of God should be our only authority for the Christian faith, not rules, creeds, the reasoning of men and personal preferences. One should study the Word, seek counsel from sound teachers, and pray earnestly.
The Assembly Life concerns happy fellowship and the various meetings and function as in Acts 2:41-42 and the Epistles, a Godly spirit, and the care and fellowship for all the saints. One should stand apart from various sects and appreciate the truth of expressing the "one body" of Christ as given for the church, rather than the independent ways or mergers of the various religious sects of men. Mergers is not scriptural.
The Holy And Royal Priesthood is a precious truth given all saints and something different than one will find in the various sects and systems, where the liberty and gifts of God's calling and participation is not allowed. One should study this.
The Order And Government Of God speaks of the scriptural form of the collective meetings, unity worldwide, a Godly spirit, correction and discipline, and honor to God; and God's mind and purposes for His testimony from the beginning of the church.
The Honor And Glory Of The Lord ought to be paramount among the saints in our personal life and the assembly, rather than pleasing men with their religious ideas.
The Collective Worship And Ministry speaks of the Lord's table and the supper as worship in both a collective and personal way; and the ministry shared in Bible studies and in messages delivered among the saints.
[It is important to appreciate that in all this it is speaking of God's testimony in the world after His order. There is no such thing in the Holy Scriptures as "a church of your choice", so one ought to seek to find what God intended for the church, rather than look for a popular place of convenience and entertainment. One cannot speak for others, and surely each child of God ought to pray earnestly to find God's mind for one's pathway. - from a paper: CA 8 ] - RLD
THE SIN OF SECTARIANISM
A Commentary By Robert DeWitt, 8/09
[Dividing God's testimony in the world is not acceptable in the eyes of God, as the Word shows, but the carnal man is always intent on pleasing self and accom-odating friends at any cost. Every year new sects are being formed. Let us consider how sects get started and what God says about this.]
The mind of God is for "unity in the faith" and "one accord" and "likemind" (see Eph.4 and Phil. 2:2), and He says "...there should be no schism in the body" (I Cor. 12:25). This does not suggest mergers as a remedy, but unity in the faith according to the Word. God speaks much of being "together" and showing the truth of the "one body in Christ" (Rom. 12 and I Cor. 12), but most Christians prefer their own ideas and ways. The reasoning of man and his own interests always leads him astray. God's testimony in the world is harmed by such. There will surely be a day of accountability for this.
A statement from another paper answers a common question: "What is the problem with a name or having a separate gathering? It is sectarian because it makes a limited company (sect) out of that which God established as a universal truth in the world (the "one body" of Christ). Faithful saints will not want to take any name that divides them, and which God has not called us. It is His church (assembly) and believers are His, so we ought to follow the Word of God and bow to His govern-ment, rather than go off to join or start a new gathering every time we are not pleased about something. Where would Israel have gone if they had left the pillar of fire and cloud that God established for the place of collective worship?" - (CCC-CH 6).
If one looks at church history he can see that the flesh of men has always been active to assert self and oppose God. The revival by God in the early 1800's was to recover the testimony of church truth lost after the Apostolic period, and soon the flesh of men arose at the bidding of Satan to divide and scatter those saints of God. Some of us are endeavoring to maintain that good work God began for unity and truth. Essential to the testimony is sound assembly government and unity of the body, and that is often the cause of division when the believers will not accept it ---either to have a looser and more permissive path or their own ideas to make rules. A number of papers are available on these matters to show what began to happen from the revival, and which has continued. Questions may be raised here, and the reader is referred to the Christian Counsel Collection for papers to read on
sectarianism.
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CHURCH TRUTH is about faithful compliance and conformity to what God intended in Acts 2: 41- 42 at the beginning of the church, and then the Epistles. It speaks of obeying and honoring God collectively without innovations. One who is saved (Jn.3: 16) ought to follow the Word (see Jn.14:23-24; Jn.17:17; Titus 1: 9; Phil. 2:2); including baptism, the gathering locally, the collective testimony in the world; and obedience to the Word, a Godly walk, the Lord's glory and honor, etc.
From time to time papers will be set forth here and on the Feature Pages herein, concerning various aspects of this truth. We ought to love all saints everywhere and be a help, even if we cannot walk with all. - RLD
