THE TRUTH IN PRINT
January 2005, Vol. 10: Issue 12
A Publication of the
(928) 539-7089
MAN TELLING GOD WHAT IS AUTHORIZED
Apostasy once spawned continues to promote itself. It is has been said that
certainty and boldness in presentation are often separated in time by the
amount of support. But once put in motion (production), and given sufficient
support, both financial and numerical, its full-blown presence presents itself
to the brotherhood.
There are times recorded in Scripture when the aggression of false teachers was
manifested in trying to shut the mouths of the faithful still intent on
trusting in God's ways in order to receive His blessings:
Isaiah
30:9-11
That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children
that will not hear the law of the Lord: [10] Which say to the seers, See not;
and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth
things, prophesy deceits: [11] Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the
path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
Additionally, and often corresponding to, there are times when the picture is
that of general acceptance, all is well in Zion, and God's people are at last
as happy as a bunch of geese arriving from their migration!
Jeremiah
The prophets prophesy
falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have
it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Specifics of descriptions given in the Scriptures, for our admonition and
learning, concerning those going into Apostasy are:
1.
They are rebellious.
2. They are liars.
3. They will not hear the law of the Lord.
4. They bear rule by their own means.
5. The people love to have it so.
Quite naturally, according to man's own wisdom, the above items are set
in a context of man telling God what is authorized. Never can I find where God
is so happy as they are with their telling Him!
Isaiah
40:13-14
Who hath directed the Spirit
of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
[14] With whom took he counsel, and who instructed
him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Many having lived through or studied apostasies know this is the way men have
spoken through the ages when seeking to justify human organizations to do the
work God gave the church (local). Although willing to sound out a great
respect for God's wisdom in giving the local church (cf. 1Tim.
One of the more disgusting attributes of apostasy is the tribute given to those
who dare tell God what is authorized. The people appear to be blind in not
seeing that such great ones are not capable of teaching God the path of
justice, knowledge, and the way of understanding. No doubt, though, wisdom lies
with the great ones and others should not be able to see that they are telling
the Lord what is authorized! In addition, nauseas as it is, those younger and
lacking in wisdom exult in such great men, while ambitiously hoping one day to
achieve their wisdom status.
In his day Jeremiah took God's message to both sides of the spectrum:
Jeremiah
5:2-5
And though they say, The Lord liveth;
surely they swear falsely. [3] O Lord, are not thine
eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they
have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive
correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to
return. [4] Therefore I said, Surely these are poor;
they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of
their God. [5] I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for
they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these
have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
Suffice it to say that when it comes to an understanding of God's divine wisdom
we all get there the same way. Consider Solomon's admonition:
Proverbs
2:1-9
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my
commandments with thee; [2] So that thou incline thine
ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding; [3] Yea, if thou criest after
knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for
understanding; [4] If thou seekest her as silver, and
searchest for her as for hid treasures; [5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the
knowledge of God. [6] For the Lord giveth wisdom: out
of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. [7] He layeth
up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
[8] He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. [9] Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and
equity; yea, every good path.
In a local body or church you can have those who through hard work (Please note
the verses above that explain the "if" qualification.) have gained
God's wisdom and knowledge (Cp. Eph. 3:1-4; I Tim. 4:13-16; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb.
5:12-14; 13:7-17, etc.). This knowledge is for "all" of God's
children who imitate the apostles even as they imitate Christ, Paul said (cf. I
Cor. 11:1-2, 17-34; 2 Th. 2:15). The "praise" or commendation
given by inspiration rests only upon those who keep things the way God set them
up (cf. I Cor. 11:2,17, 22). The charge given is that
disciples hold fast the pattern of sound words (cf. 2 Tim.
The local church is the pillar and support of the truth (cf. I Tim.
When considering the Lord's Supper and its placement in this pattern, Paul said
"…when you come together as a church" (cf. I Cor.
The local church is funded to do the above mentioned works through a collection
(cf. Acts 4:34-35; I Corinthians 16:1-3; Phil. 4:15-17). These verses and
others make it abundantly clear that the local church functions by the members'
ability to give. Yet human reasoning alone convinces many that they have given
sufficiently to God's organization, thus releasing them of full obligation so
that they may now give to the human society. Who has the right to limit the
function of God's organization in order to channel their support to the human
society formed by Christians to engage in the same works God gave the church?
The wisdom of God should destroy such reasoning and bring such into obedience
to Christ (cf. I Cor. 10:5).
Now, what organization did God say was to receive your funds for evangelism,
worship and edification if you are a Christian?