- Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm praying for the health of Zion in this clime of ours, and also for good fruit in the upcoming camping.The above subject matter refers, sir. I'm forced to renege on the oath of silence the elders made us to acquiesce before they revealed the matter which I'm about to relate. Deep in my heart, I feel disorientated by the event that it may affect my faith if I don't share it with you for a fatherly advice.After close of service, the pastor announced the meeting with the elders, some mothers, some children from Bro Francis Egwu's household and the Sunday school teachers. Being a teacher, I sent my wife and children home and stayed back for the meeting. Bro Linus Okorie from Lagos was a part of the meeting. Bro Chukwuma Onyetube, who was not in any of the categories invited for the meeting, elected to be a part. (The pastor had announced in the morning service that Bro Linus from Lagos had told him he would come to Benin with a message from God. In the message read from Rev 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown", he highlighted the need for unity among the members of Eguadase congregation.
- He also referred us to Php 1:27 "...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". However, the emphasis was on “one spirit and one mind”. Strangely, the basis for oneness was not made clear, though he seemed to hinge it on the leadership of the pastor. To buttress his point, he reasoned that some of us could become leaders in the future, and asked whether we would want opposition from our followers.In the meeting after the service, Bro Christian Elui addressed us for about an hour. He mentioned two issues to be discussed. One was about a text message by one of Bro Francis’ son. The other, which he said was a related matter, was about the Ebonyi debacle. He spent much time on this issue, recounting the history of the problem, which we all are very familiar with. He struggled to keep some the audience from sleep. As for me, I kept awake trying to make sense out of the speech. I wondered why he was reserved about the first issue and spent much time on the second without bringing any new thing to the table. The issue about the text message was unknown to me, yet it was only just hinted at. At the end of the speech, he requested for the way forward out of the problem of Ebonyi State congregations, which he said has affected the Benin church.Before commencement of the deliberations, Bro Christian, Bro Isaiah and Bro Linus, urged that the issues discussed should not be leaked outside this meeting. I wondered what was so secretive about the matter, because to me, they had not said anything new that everyone was not aware about. I wondered why Bro Christian had spent an hour or more talking without letting us know the real reason for the meeting. It was when he had been assured that there was no spy among us that he proceeded into the issue of the text message. He called for the phone where the text message was written. It belonged to Bro Nnamdi Egwu, Bro Francis’s son. It was agreed that I read out the text message to the hearing of the gathering.The message was written to Bro Ogbo Okike, by Bro Nnamdi. He started by hoping that Bro Ogbo’s cup would run full someday. He promised to “show” him, intimating him that he (Nnamdi) was not like those whose life Bro Ogbo had frustrated through training. Among other boasting, he concluded by praying that God would open his parents’ eyes, as well as the eyes of the Benin elders, to see Bro Ogbo’s true color.After the text was read, Nnamdi was asked whether it was any of the Benin elders that encouraged him to send the text message. He said no. He was then asked why he wrote the message. He started by absolving himself of any selfish malice against his brother in law. He said he does not take offence when a matter personally affects him. It’s only when it has to do with his siblings or family that he reacts. In this matter, he said he was not comfortable when his sister, Amaka Egwu, was staying in their house in Nsukka, without parental protection, working for Bro Ogbo Okike, who does not give proper attention to the overall wellbeing of workers, as it concerns boy-girl association. At this point, Bro Christian Elui stopped from further comments, stating the ones already given were enough for the discussion. This action of his visibly displeased everyone, especially Bro Francis Egwu, who expressed bitterness that they were not treating him well. Hewondered why they were trying to mum his son. “If he saw Bro Ogbo with his daughter, let him tell us. I am not one to hide evil. Say everything plainly,” he pleaded. After few speakers added their voice to the pervading discontent, Nnamdi was told to continue his testimony.He submitted that he had not seen Bro Ogbo commit any such act, neither had he seen his sister in any appearance of evil. He said that the problem with his brother in law was that he was more interested in the output of the bakery business than the morality of his workers, citing an incidence where an employee was caught smoking weeds and the matter what reported to Bro Ogbo, who did nothing about it, but esteemed the worker for his diligence. He also mentioned the event reported where the said employee had been seen in the room of the female workers, and expressed his pain for the risk his sister faced.I’ve come to understand that these people have a way of beating around the bush before they let out the cat from the bag. It is time consuming and intriguing. So, after cross-questioning, it became clear that the initial reason Nnamdi had postulated was not the real issue at hand. The real issue, as his statement further revealed, was the suggestion by Bro Ogbo Okike that sis Amaka Egwu should not go the polytechnic where she had been admitted, but rather that she should wait for another opportunity to get admission into a Federal Government University, which he opined, is better and cheaper. Bro Francis had bought the idea and insisted that his daughter should forfeit the monies already expended on the polytechnic and wait for the next JAMB, where she should work hard to do better and pass the cut-off point for admission. This seems not to go down well with sister Amaka and her siblings who felt Bro Ogbo’s influence on their parents was becomingunbearable.Bro Francis explained that Bro Ogbo only made a suggestion, and that the final decision was his to make. But this point seemed to fall on deaf ears. Sister Ngozi Egwu, who is their mother, clarified that the fear of Amaka being without parental care in Nsukka was out of place, since she is now in the said polytechnic without the much touted parental care. She said Amaka was under the care of her grandmother and relatives in Nsukka; therefore, the sentiment about her exposure was misplaced.My surprise was aroused when Bro Christian, as well as the elders and other members, eulogized Nnamdi’s courage and fighting spirit, which he described as an excellent spirit. If I wasn’t present in that meeting I would have denied that such a thing could happen in a church of God meeting. My heart couldn’t bear what my ears perceived. I could hear the increased pulsations of my heartbeat, fearing I would soon have a stroke. I prayed silently for help from above. When I gained grace, I heckled at Bro Christian, “the text message, excellence spirit?”I could hear Bro Francis express approval for my question. Bro Christian humbly tried to explain to me that he meant the spirit with which the boy had written the text message, not the text message itself, which he promised to speak on later. He explained that the intention for doing a thing can excuse the method used, however faulty. I watched them with horror, as I saw all the moral lessons I had learnt through my childhood years being flushed down the sewage drain. I was sure I had to throw away my knowledge of good and evil to accept this new religion or philosophy. The benumbing notion I got from the pastor and all was that this was a spiritual matter. They kept speaking about the leading of the “spirit”. The youths took their turn to praise this “spirit” which the boy had, and admonished his father not quench it, and that every family needed such for safety and protection. Bro Chukwuma Onyetube was the first youth to extol the “spirit”.I doubted I could survive that meeting and, in order to get some respite, I whispered to Bro Christian and others close to where I was sitting that the issue of the text message had to be addressed. The dominant voices were that there was no real need to address the text message. I witnessed a loud demonstration of the unity which Bro Linus had so much canvassed for in his morning message. I shuddered at the thought that I should be the only dissenting voice to attack the unity, and quietly gave tongue to my frustration that I had to go home and leave the meeting. I could hear Chukwuma tell me to go if I felt like going. The tone was cold. Bro Christian urged me to express myself. When I was given the chance to speak, I mentioned how I had learnt from Bro Isaiah’s past teaching that it was wrong to bring a father with his son in judgment and condemn the father in the presence of the child. I also touched the issue of respect for elders. The pastorused to teach that every man should man his own family. I humbly drew their attention to importance of not harming the authority the father had in his house as the head of the family. The father had stated that the decision for Amaka not to go to the polytechnic was his, and not Bro Ogbo’s. He ought to be given the benefit of the doubt. But it seemed the children were united in rebellion against their father, and the church was supporting them. I reasoned that the wording and the tone of the text message were threatening and unchristian; thus the boy should be corrected. I could hear Chukwuma say that the Bible is full of threats. To that, Bro Linus brought Ac 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. He also mentioned how Jacob’s sons had shed blood to revengethe rape of their sister; and a similar thing done by David’s sons for their sister. Thus, he showed that we can sometimes do some untoward things when the situation requires it so.Bro Isaiah Onyetube reiterated the point that the message was direct from the Holy Spirit, and that the child didn’t need to apologize for it. At that Bro Francis Egwu loudly expressed his discontent. He rejected it for his family and said the boy should not write such a text to another person lest he’d face the wrath of the law. The elders tried to calm him down, but he didn’t relent until he made the point that he and his family and his estate that came to the church with him would hearken to the voice of God if it became impossible for them worship Him in peace at Eguadase. The pastor retorted that he had also made up his mind that if it meant for only he and his family to remain in the church so be it, calling off the threat. Chukwuma was still full of vigor in his point that the sons of the house had a rightful place, he derided the view that they should submit to their father under such circumstances. They were right to protest. Bro Ogbo hasno place in the internal affair of the family. He’s only an in-law.Bro Ifeanyi bemoaned the way the church had esteemed certain individuals even over the elders. According to him, it was this esteem that had given Bro Ogbo (who is also his biological relation) an underserved place in the congregation, over and above even the local elders. He said that such respect was also being given to certain unnamed persons in our midst, even now. This statement of his received the approval of many. He went further to allege that Bro Francis loved Bro Ogbo more than his wife; and that his wife also respected Bro Ogbo more than her husband. He lamented that we don’t place value on what we have, showing that Bro Egwu had five graduates in his immediate family, yet he didn’t find it appropriate to confer with them before consulting his in-law in matters affecting one of them.Bro Christian avowed that there was nothing wrong with the text message and challenged any “grammarian” to analyze what was wrong in it. With that I looked straight in his eyes and asked him, “really? Is the text message not truly wrong?” He affirmed his position. I then asked him about the tone of the message. He laughed and said I was rating the tone above the intent, and that there was no insult in the message. At that I disagreed with him and stated that the message itself was full of insults. I asked if it was christianly to say, “I will ‘show’ you!” Chukwuma accused me of using logic and politics, and insisted that the message was void of insults (though he did so by way of side talk). I asked him if he would say the same thing if the subject of the text message wasn’t Bro Ogbo, or if it was his uncle, or another relation. Bro Monday Igboji came close to me to try to convince. I couldn’t bear the atmosphere that was consuming mysanity. I challenged him to speak to me from his conscience. (He had said earlier in his submission that the sister, Amaka who had been described in the meeting with Bro Igbanibo as “young” was as old as the bank employees we respect outside).Sister Rachel rose up to speak. She, in her characteristic manner, touched several issues and cautioned the church to check the doctrines they were parading and see if it was really the right one. Musing on her desire to please God and make it to heaven at last, she alleged that the church had changed their initial doctrines. She also reasoned that their present position on this matter was right by worldly standards, though not before God. Bro Christian Elui, while indirectly describing her speech as pointless, challenged her to speak clearly and point to specify points. As she rose up to the challenge, the pastor stopped her and insisted that anybody had not done any wrong thing in the meeting, that we’ve only expressed our minds, which would show us hypocrites if we had not done so. He repeated that sister Rachel had not spoken wrongly. However, he regretted calling for such meeting and swore that there would never be such meetings in future.To cut the long story short, we were redirected to the second issue, which the commentators said was more important than this one of a text message. Bro Isaac Aneto, who had remained quiet in the meeting, reasoned that the issue of the text message was a family matter which Bro Francis was capable of solving in his house. He opined that it was a temptation for Eguadase church; and that they ought not to have deliberated on it because it could be used to find out what they had to say on the matter. On the Ebonyi issue, he reasoned that every congregation is autonomous, thus, Ebonyi issue should be left for them. We only owed them prayers. He therefore appealed that naught be mentioned about them on the pulpit ever again. This was received by all and sundry. Apart from Bro Isaac, I observed the silence of others, such as Bro Emeka Okoye, Bro Timothy and Bro Onyeka (both sons of Bro Isaac). I could not verify their position on the matter, however.Bro Linus added that those who were close to Bro Ogbo should advise them to come and beg the elders of Benin for forgiveness. Bro Francis then responded with a proverb that if the mountain does not go to Mohammed, he would go to the mountain. Bro Isaiah in the course of one of speeches had asked me to advise Bro Igbanibo not to give attention to the Okikes (Bro Joshua’s family) whom Sister Rachel had described as unrelenting in battles. He said their issues have no end. He also thanked Bro Linus for coming for the meeting all the way from Lagos, although it was not clear at the beginning that that was the purpose for his coming.The meeting ended peacefully with prayers by Bro Chukwuma, Bro Christian and Sister Rachel.After the meeting, Bro Linus Okorie meant me outside to explain to me that the issue of honoring parents does not arise in this case because of the disposition of Bro Ogbo to the elders of Benin church.
I write the report hoping to be advised whether I was wrong in my stand during the meeting. I do not feel comfortable any more with those brethren who I feel are calling evil good. I hope I’m not having hatred in my heart. I need prayers and counseling.
Eric Winter
Friday, February 1, 2019
A Controversial Meeting At COG (Last Trumpeters) On Sunday, 2nd of August, 2014
The Offloaded Burden
- Dear Elderly Brother,Thanks for your kind words and advice cum suggestions.I'm comforted to know that you are not opposed to the content of my message to Bro Isaiah, except for the few additions and subtractions you have suggested. I hope you would not be offended to know that I have already presented the paper to him. I did so yesterday after service. The circumstances surrounding the day made it imperative for me to do so. Please, sir, bear with me a little as I relate it in the following lines.I received text message on Saturday evening from Bro Solomon Obi directing me to prepare for Sunday School lesson. It's titled, "A Blessed Hope In Facing Death". It is in the Volume 45 No 4 October, November and December 2013 edition of the Bible Lesson. We have been using it as our Sunday School manual. The present series is on Job. We treat it sequentially. Bro Solomon is the Sunday School superintendent. I was added to the crew of teachers by the pastor about two years ago. The other teachers include Brothers Timothy Isaac, Onyeka Isaac, Goodluck Omozeze, and Ifeanyichukwueze Caleb. The topic I was to treat is dated 'November 10th, 2013' on the Bible Lesson. During my preparation, I was thrilled in my spirit to see the lesson so fitting to Bro Francis' case, which the Benin elders and Bro Linus Okorie have christened 'chastening for sin'. The Comments and Application session of the next lesson dated 'November 17th', which is titled 'Despise Not the Chastening of the Almighty' also answers Bro Isaiah's belief that there is no chastening without sin. With the help of God I treated these things fearlessly, in the presence of Bro Ogbo Okike, who had come to Benin for a visit. I emphasized the teaching on the need for individuals to know Christ personally, without the mediation of a prophet. I also touched the issue of soul sleep, the state of the dead and the blessed hope of Christians which makes them unruffled by threats of physical death by any mortal man. At the end of the teaching, I observed that Bro Solomon did not come up as usual to summarize the lesson and ask questions, etc. Instead, it was an angry Bro Isaiah that came out to counter the Lesson by citing Lamentation 3:33, Eze 33:11 and Heb 12:10 to show us that God does not afflict willing, but only chastises believers because of sin. He also stated that anyone who fights against the doctrine ofEternal Security will find themselves fighting with God "because all the Corinthians would be saved through chastening of sickness or death if they didn't obey". He made some unsavoury innuendos, which drove me into meditative prayers, disconnecting from the negative flow. I was comforted in the Spirit. But I could still feel the intensity of his dominance over the congregation. I felt that time of the essence. I had to let him know the things I had in my mind. Right now I'm so sorry that I could not wait to make the adjustment you desire.Their teachings are not always consistent. With one breath, they'll deny the existence of personal beings called devil and evil spirits; with another, the pastor would accuse some of having familiar spirits, etc, especially his enemies. On the denial of Satan, they quote Rev 12 verse 9, showing that he is just symbolical of Pagan Rome. They believe it is God that does everything both good and evil; that He has set everything in an uninterruptible order. What we call Satan is what they call a retributive force or phenomenon put in place by God to correct disorder in the universe.Their inconsistency is also seen in their teaching of chastening for sin. Refuting the thought that a Christian could experience the trial of Job, Bro Isaiah argues that Christ promised that "there shall not an hair of your head perish" Luke 21:18; and that the "son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son" Eze.18:20. Therefore, he concludes that a son cannot die for his father's sins. (In my lesson yesterday, I accused Word of Faith pastors like Chris Oyakhilome of teaching such things; and I asked the congregation whether the disciples to whom Christ directed the promise in Luke 21:18 did not suffer physical harm, which they affirmed. I also showed them from the first few verses of John chapter 9 that the Lord taught His disciples that it wasn't the sin of either parent of the man born blind that caused his condition). Since Bro Isaiah claims God will not kill a son for the Father's sin, why does he now insist that Bro Ifeanyi Egwu's death is a chastening from God for his parents' sins of rebellion against him? O consistency, thou art a jewel!Thanks for your tender care and prayers, brother. We are up against a behemoth here.
The Burden
- The BurdenAlthough taking records of events is not in my custom, I now consider it necessary to do so because it seems some with whom I’m working will not understand certain things until it is put plainly before them. It is difficult when you try to express a burden that needs to be addressed and those in position to address them seem unaware of the issues surrounding the burden you are expressing. Therefore, by the grace of God who called me to save me as well as those with me, I shall put straight the accounts of the happenings since Thursday, 19th of June, inasmuch as it will make clear the understanding of the current circumstances of the church of God that meets at Eguadase Street in Benin. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord will use this humble piece to do a perfect work of resuscitation and healing where appropriate.APOLOGYBefore I begin I feel the need to apologize for my inability to openly challenge unsound teachings and practices, as any straight forward person would do under the circumstances I’ve found myself. The devil works in subtle ways. His insidious maneuverings are very difficult to detect, especially when he shrouds himself in robes of righteousness, garbs of light and habiliments of truths, which I’ve long sought for. I used to be outspoken until it was pressed upon my consciousness by the prevailing atmosphere in the congregation that the authority of the elders is sacrosanct. Thus, any seeming challenge on the leadership is a threat to the cohesion of the body. I for one would not want to be a cause of division and disorder, even if it was obvious to me that a position of the eldership does not agree with my understanding of the Holy Bible and the writings of the pioneer elders of the church of God, since the days of Bro D. S. Warner. I have been bearing otherwise strange teachings because it was made clear on several occasions that questions and corrections would not be permitted in the church. Being new in the church of God and unlearned in many doctrines, I had to respect the submissions of the elders of the place I fellowship. I remember my first encounter with a strange teaching that man was created before the angels. I couldn’t bear it. I had to raise my hand to draw the attention of the pastor to the 7th verse of the 38thchapter of Job, which shows angels rejoicing when God created the world. Surprisingly, the pastor still insists till date that angels were created after man sinned. He goes as far as stating that the ministry of angels came to an end when the church was founded; and therefore that the saints have replaced the angels. No scriptural supports have so far given for these. Since we are not allowed to reason the scriptures, I felt I could quietly worship with the brethren without causing trouble until it was made clear to me that we all have to accept whatever the elders say in the church. This is just one example of the kind of teachings we are forced to bear with. Time and space will fail me to highlight many common errors. Meanwhile, I’ll focus on theRecent Events since Thursday, the 19th of June.While preparing for the journey to Port Harcourt for the campmeeting committee meeting, I received a phone call from Bro Christian Elui, who thought he was on to Bro Solomon Obi. I informed him it was my line he was calling. So, he asked me to tell Bro Solomon that he learnt that Bro Felix Onuoha was coming for the committee meeting; and that we should convey the position of Benin church, namely, that the church was not in support of Bro Felix’s inclusion in the committee, due to his unsettled issue in his home church. He instructed that we should insist that if Bro Felix is not excused from the meeting, we, the members from Benin, would desire to be excused from the meeting instead. I gave Bro Solomon and Sister Rachel the message, which they actually complied with in the course of the meeting. Although few of us pleaded that deference be accorded the advice of Brother Igbanibo that the brother be allowed, it was to no avail. It turned that night that the pleas and tears of the penitent brother could not sway the stand of Bro Linus Okorie and others. It took my mind to events in some state houses of assemblies, where some external forces would influence house deliberations and negotiations through lobbying et al. The external factors would not tolerate a change of position by their loyalists without due consultations and permissions. We are all aware of the other events that played out during the ministers’ meeting of the following day. I was grieved all the way home as I heard the ventilations of my company in the vehicle that were derisively relaying the event of the profuse show of penitence by Bro Felix Onuoha. The derision was to continue in the fellowship of the following day in Benin, in forms of testimonies and remarks. I openly testified how I was touched by the brother’s tears, and that I was not in the position to attest to its being genuine or otherwise. I voiced my thought that it was good for believers to have such godly sorrow whenever they transgressed against God. I would be lectured directly and indirectly in subsequent preaching and remarks from the pulpit that the Benin elders have a higher gift of discernment and are well acquainted with better ways of handling such dissenting characters until genuine salvation is afforded to their souls. I still am looking to see the effect of their work in the lives of the teeming members of the local church. It would gladden my heart to see youths on fire for God in Benin; I would love to hear testimonies of soul-winning, spiritual progress in individual walk with God and diligence in church attendance, etc. I would be elated to observe a positive change in the “Africa time” approach to the things of God. I would be blessed by evidences of spirituality, holy living and conversations among the members of Benin church.On the contrary, I am not encouraged by the day to day observations, which I hope the elders would address instead of majoring in temporal and administrative matters.The message delivered by Bro Isaiah Onyetube on Sunday, 29th of June from Hebrews chapters 2 through 6 culminated in the submission that it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. In this message allusions were made to the show of penitence by Bro Felix in Port Harcourt, which tears, by the testimony of Bro Christian Elui on the previous Sunday service, was compared to the tears of Esau in Hebrew12:17. The allusions which also touched some “dissident” brothers in Ebonyi state congregations pricked the conscience of Sister Esther (A.K.A Sister Iye) who was having friendly correspondences with Bro Joshua Okike. She confessed to the elders that she received financial aid from him. Asked further through whom the money was sent, she revealed that it was Sister Chinyere Okoye. On the following day of fellowship, the pastor announced the decision that Sister Chinyere would be exempted from public ministration in church gathering for two months. He also ordered that the money be returned to Bro Joshua Okike. Some members tried to plead for a lessening of the penalty, which was not to be. It was made clear that interaction with Bro Joshua by the Benin brethren had been outlawed due to his destabilizing effect on some congregations in Ebonyi. A mention was also made of how he, with some from Ebonyi, had humiliated Bro Christian Elui at the heated ministers’ meeting in Onicha, Ebonyi State.Postulation that this was not the only time Bro Joshua had sent money to “Sister Iye”, and that he had been sending money through other persons, failed to affect the judgment given by the pastor, which would eventually gain the support of some elders in subsequent meetings. Bro Christian was of the thought that such reasoning was devilish and sentimental, and stated that every matter is treated on its own merit without relating it to another. Although some of the elders still pleaded for mercy to be shown to Sister Chinyere, in view of her relevance for the preparation of the children for the upcoming campmeeting, Bro Monday Igboji observed that the sister they were begging for had not come forward to support the plea. Feelers from the sister showed that she was prepared to serve the punishment, though it was not clear if her resolve was void of resentment.In one of the elders meeting with some members, I mentioned my position of neutrality, being a stranger in their midst, who left Bro Imoni’s group when I noticed an unscriptural teaching there. I affirmed my relationship with the Port Harcourt church, which I have great respect and trust for, because of their stands for the truth of God’s word. I have been noticing remarks which seem to be an indirect reference to my position. An example is the pastor’s last Sunday’s mention of the character of the bat which seems to be neither a bird nor a rat species. None of these things move me. I only wish they would call me out directly to reason out any issue they seem to have against me, so we can save ourselves from the errors of bias and assumptions. There was another point by Bro Solomon, which was echoed by the pastor that the congregation was not having it this tough when certain unnamed persons had not entered into their midst. He reasoned that when they had worse situations, little efforts by the elders were enough to settle them in the past, unlike this one. Bro Christian as well as the pastor stated they were aware that some people had contacted other congregations and reported this internal matter to them. To me, I feel that no one had to seek the aid of a seer to know that I would report the matter to some brothers whom I had league with, as I had done when I noticed the heresies in Bro Imoni’s group. I did not hide this fact from the Benin elders. So they didn't need any supernatural revelation to know that I would do the same thing with them. However, they would not confront me on the matter. But feelers from official sources say mentions are being made about my report to Bro Igbanibo. A question I put to a brother some time ago in a related discussion was, why were they unwilling to relate the matter with the other congregations of the church in Nigeria if they were sure they were in the right? In the first place, Bro Joshua is not a member of the local church in Benin. Any action on him should have come from the national body instead of a local church.One thing that beats my imagination and has become a major concern in my thoughts and prayers for the church is why every message and verse reading in the fellowship should always be adapted or twisted to fit this singular event. New members and those who are unaware of the happenings would be wondering what the bone of contention is when every message is tinged with threats and anger as if there was a quarrel somewhere. If there was any quarrel, the voice of the other party was suppressed or imperceptible. It would leave the impression of a man quarrelling with himself. In all this, the virtue of grace is absent, and in its place we have sheer tyranny, reminiscent of the days of military rule. The apostle, Peter’s advice in the second verse of the fifth chapter of his first letter should be regarded. He said the oversight of the elders should not be “constraint”. The use of control is inherent in their administrative style. I wish to attach letters written to Bro Isaiah by Bro Ogbonnaya Okike about seven years ago, which show trait of control. One wonders why the tone of the messages have remained tensed since then even though the said Sister Chinyere has agreed to suffer the punishment given her by the elders of the church. I begged the pastor last Thursday, before fellowship that we should set this strife aside and have fellowship like before for the sake of the innocent souls, who might be disenchanted by the atmosphere. It upsets me to see a new member come and leave our midst without getting a true picture of the church which Jesus built. Opportunities come and go, yet the armies make no effort of advancement to gain more territories for the great King and His kingdom. There was a similar opportunity for truth to triumph one evening fellowship, when Sister Ngozi Egwu inquired whether there was any other work required of children born in the church for the salvation of their souls, apart from obedience to their parents? The Pastor affirmed the doctrine of Eguadase church that every child born physically into the church is holy, citing 1Cor7:14, which says:“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”There is great effort put up by the leaders and their followers to sustain the doctrines they had been taught from their beginning. Bro Isaiah argues against the possibility for them not have attained the wholesome doctrines after more than twenty years of being together. There is a slogan among them that Eguadase is the balm or medicine to heal the church of God in Nigeria. He says he did not receive his doctrine from men, and he conferred not with flesh and blood. He got the message directly from the Holy Ghost after seeking God in fasting and prayers. Verses of the Holy Bible are used to show that the doctrines they hold from the beginning must be unchanged. Examples of such citations are:Ro 16:17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.(To them, this is talking about the doctrines they have learned from the elders)Ga 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.2Ti 3:10 ¶ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (this is one is a favorite scripture among them. To them, they have fully known Bro Isaiah’s doctrine, manner of life, purpose, etc)They perceive an attack against any of these “foundational doctrines” as rebellion against the government of the church. I remember an indirect reference to some who were trying to destroy the foundation; to which I made some effort to correct during a teaching I delivered by the grace of God on “The Leaven of The Pharisees”. That blessed day, God helped me to prove that the only foundation we have in the church of God is Christ Jesus, the Spirit of the doctrine and testimony of the apostles and the prophets, leaving no room for any other foundation. Praise God! The devil is a liar. He will not let men see the truth. The truth does not move them! They must continue their slogans to sustain the system which they have made!I'm restricted by their rules. No questioning. The elders' word is final. After everyone's contribution on a topic, the elders are to finalize or make the conclusion of the matter. Any views that oppose the views of the appointed elders are considered to be divisive and unacceptable. Recently, the pastor approached the Sunday school preparatory class and instructed that we do not try to explain our teachings like they do in conventional schools, trying to carry everyone along. He says it is the Holy Ghost that teaches everyone. We should not try to convince anyone to accept our teaching. His advice came up during the series of the teaching on Job's trials. The teachings contain some facts that do not agree with their doctrines. This week Tuesday's Bible study was used by him to reinforce his doctrine that Christians are not permitted to suffer Job's kind of trial because Christ has promised that nothing shall by any means hurt us. The quote below is a note I took out of his teaching:"[We are in the New Jerusalem where we will not suffer like the rest of the world]. Most of what we face is temptation, not trials. Ours is different from that of Job. Temptations come from our lusts. Many suffer needless pain and relate it to Job's trial. You are greater than John the baptist, who is greater than Job. Take your authority over problems, don't accept them... Ezekiel 18:1-4,19-24 proves that the decree is changed. You will not die for your father's sins the way Job's children died. But Job did not suffer for his sins. There must be a reason why you suffer any thing. Examine yourself, and don't compare yourself with Job.... There must be trials for believers, not temptations to sin. 1Pe 4:12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. ...Trial is different from temptation, although some use them interchangeably. That of Job is trial, not temptation. It's sinners that receive temptation and chastening. IPe 4: 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1Cor3:10-23 It's those who defile the Temple of God that God destroys. All things are yours to enjoy; even the world. James 1:1-4; Mark 16:15-18; Matt 10:26-33. The very hair of your head is numbered. Why do you compare yourself with Job? The trial of Job will not come to you if you believe in Jesus! The dispensation of Job has changed."There is so much more I would love to write, but I’m sure these few missives will suffice as a guide for prayers and actions for the church of God in Benin. Pray for me also.Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eric Winters
The Burden of My Heart
- May 16, 2014How's the church and the labors for the kingdom there in Port Harcourt. I'm sorry I couldn't call because of lack of credit. I decided this medium could be a better means of communication. I express my heart better in writing than in speaking. And there is so much to talk about. If I'm unable to complete it today, I'll continue tomorrow, by God's grace.My burden is the condition of the Benin ministry. In summary, there's a growing discontent in my spirit from the observations. In the fear of God, I have to pen down the anomalies which is shielded from the probing minds of a visitor or a newcomer to the congregation. I'm trying to harmonize my thoughts under various captions so as to maintain certain degree of logical coherence.Stigmatization of Questioning the SpeakerAt first glance, it might seem to be a harmless practice and a good strategy to maintain certain orderliness and avoid the unruliness observed elsewhere. However, a deeper examination will reveal the setting up of a stumbling block for the sincere inquirer whose differing view is overtly or covertly suppressed by this predominant design to maintain order in the gathering. The sincere inquirer becomes a silent sufferer. Although he is given an option of a private appointment with the speaker, experience will prove the insufficiency of that option where the understanding of the speaker and the inquirer are incommensurate. The sufferer is then left with the other alternative of airing his view in such platform which might be branded as tale bearing or divisive behavior, thereby adding a feeling of guilt to his probing mind whose interrogation has not been attended. He is caught in a catch-22 situation. If he questions the speaker publicly he would seem to be detracting the speech. If he questions him privately, the issue might not be addressed satisfactorily and the whole congregation might be denied the benefit accruing from such an enlightening inquiry. If he discusses the bothering question with a fellow member, his intention might be misjudged as dissenting against leadership.Wrong Interpretations of ScripturesThis makes them adverse to most pioneer doctrines of the church. I appreciate the fact that they have academic inadequacies. This would not have been a major challenge if they are humble about this point and seek assistance from more informed brethren. I also understand that their earlier venture into the truth was fraught with the difficulty of finding the true agents of the truth. With the various groups claiming to be the true church of God, it takes the grace of God to identify the real church, especially when one does not have the right standard for assessment. Hence, the contact they made with Brother Emerson Wilson of the Gospel Trumpeter, Church of God at God's Acres in Newark, Ohio, has had great influence on them. The root variance of this group with rest of the church of God is the “one cleansing teaching”, which contradicts the “two works of grace” backed by Brother D.S. Warner. I found out that however convincingly an explanation of the “two works” may be presented to them, they will always fall back to seventh verse in the first book of John: “But 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.”Another Issue isTheir interpretation of this verse is that the blood of Jesus Christ (which they consider to be the word of God) is the cleansing agent that cleanses us whenever we have physical fellowship together in the congregation. This interpretation has been a great bother to my young mind that I lately endeavored to study the whole chapter with the help of God and also with the aid of some Bible Commentaries. To my utmost surprise, I found out that all the while, I have allowed myself to be fooled by a poor interpretation of God’s word brought about by taking the clause “we have fellowship one with another” out of the context of the whole chapter. The grand subject of the fellowship as seen in the third and six verses is God, who is light and in whom is no darkness at all. Whereas, according to verse six, those who claim to have fellowship with Him while still living in sin, are liars; this becomes obvious because, anyone who walks in the light of truth and righteousness, has God as a companion. God walks in the light as well, and He has fellowship with all who do so. This fellowship involves the imparting and the partaking of His divine nature. When this fellowship truly exists between a man and God, the fountain in which flows the all-cleansing blood of Christ Jesus, His beloved son, is certain to keep the man’s soul cleansed from all sins. It is sad that Christians would allow the devil to obscure the truth of this verse with a false interpretation, which does not only lack support from but also conflicts with other verses of the Bible.Another false teaching is the thought that Christ commanded the disciples to take the gospel to only the good men in any city. They claim that if the “goodman of the house” turns down the gospel message, the evangelist should dust his feet against the city; forbidding them from going into the streets and lanes of the city, to bring in the girls, women, beggarly, the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind. The teaching goes with a warning to be mindful of the kind of converts we bring into the church. I almost thought this was actually the Lord’s command, having read something like that in the Bible. However, after a proper search, I discovered that the word “goodman” is actually absent from instructions in Matthew chapter ten and Luke chapters nine and ten.These and many other instances are examples of how men have turned away their ears from the truth, and are being turned unto fables. They place the emphasis on material stability, as if that is the whole reason Christ has established the church. The fruit of the doctrines abounds in the disinterest in the children in the activities of the church. Late coming to church and showing indifference to spirituality is taking an upward trend in the gathering.My family and I, as well as few sincere soul who love the truth, need your love, prayers, care, and spiritual shepherding or overseeing here in Benin.Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Monday, August 8, 2016
Functional Unity
Functional Unity
By
Brother Eric Okhuakhua
Article I.
Section 1.01
Introduction
This is a humble inquiry into the above matter as it concerns the church
of God in Nigeria. It is an interesting topic because it doesn’t only treat the
oneness of the Church of God but also looks at how effective its oneness is
when placed side by side with its original purpose. I rejoice for the recent
open door that the Lord allowed for this subject to be considered at the recent
National Ministers Seminar in Nsukka this year. The issue was there expressed in
plainness of speech, with much munificence, The highpoint was the deftness in
presenting otherwise difficult themes which hitherto had only been slightly
touched on the surface or whispered from afar by some that seemed to be in the
fore-front of the much touted “unity” in the Nigerian churches of God in the
recent past. This was what I tried to show a couple of years ago in a personal
letter titled: “Message from My Heart”
but it was inadvertently misconstrued and maligned. When we canvass for unity,
we ought to define clearly what kind of unity we desire. Let the unity you
stand for be well defined with respect to its purpose and function, in order to
clear all doubts in the minds of the groups you are reaching out to. Once again
I praise the great effort to give voice to that, which is being muttered in
certain quarters though needed to be voiced to give direction for the realizing
an utmost yearning. In a realistic or pragmatic approach, a perception of the
present “unity” in the Nigerian “church of God” movements was given and clear-cut
solution to the perceived short-comings was also given.
Functionalism was spelt out as not merely about the appearance of an
object but its usefulness. The obvious questions in the presentation were:
1.
How functional
is the present unity of the various groups?
2. Is it working properly?
3. Should we pretend it is well when it obviously
isn’t?
4. What practical ways can the problems be solved
apart from the ideas so far provided that seem to have added no perceptible
value?
The premise of the whole issue is captured in the sentence: “there is a problem on ground in Nigerian
Churches of God.” The picture presented in the paper, showing lack of
cohesion among groups which claim to be the true church as opposed to
denominations and sects, is clearly disturbing to the natural mind, especially
when man is convinced that it is in his power to set these things in order. It
would be a very ugly situation for such a story to gain attention in the
national tabloid with such a reproachable caption as: “Brethren at War”. Since
it will be difficult to explain issues of doctrinal differences to the world
who expect “brethren” to be brethren indeed, any mind that is naturally gifted
with the spirit of unity will normally appeal for ministers and pillars to be
more deliberate in their efforts for unity by putting aside “conflicting”
doctrines and fostering some kind of love that is blind to conflicting
peculiarities in order to cement the ties of the union. To this school of
thought, this will fulfill the prayer of the Lord for the church, so that the
world may be convinced that we are the true church, as opposed to the teeming
denominations, daughters of the mystery harlot. This seems to be a beautiful
arrangement to any natural mind that is inclined towards cooperation among
people of different backgrounds. It is good that everyone now knows what kind
of unity is being canvassed for, instead of laboring in the dark for an
undefined unity. The onus is now on individuals and leaders of thoughts,
especially the spiritually minded, to make the needed judgment that will not
only keep the church in the right course, but also glorify God’s name in the
eyes of honest men.
Now my work in this present paper is to test the underlying concepts of
this kind of functional unity and
compare them with the true Bible standard. My challenge in this task is my average
academic background. I pray I do not end up giving out a message completely
different from that, which lies in my heart. All I have in my heart is the love
of truth. I plead that my inadequacies be looked upon with Christian love, as I
depend solely on the mercy of God to remove the gray clouds from the broad sky
of truth that the light might shine quite steadily in our hearts in this
evening time of God’s grace. If just one soul is drawn to the seat of mercy in
contrition by this paper, I have got paid in full for all my labor. While I
work prayerfully, hoping to be divinely guided in order to give none offence,
neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, I will glean
from the original paper elaborately placing some of the thoughts side by side.
First, we shall endeavor to contemplate over its opening subtitle under the
following caption:
Section 1.02
Idealism
versus Realism
I chose this caption because that is what came to my mind after reading
the Shakespearean quote ‘I could be in a nutshell, and count myself a king
of an indefinite world’. This assertion exposes the fanciful thinking of
the idealist who thinks himself a king but of an indefinite or imaginary world.
It is likened to building castles in the
air. By this single statement the holds of so-called “abstract or theoretical
messages on unity of faith or of Spirit which does not refer to any known body
or people” is pulled down.
Realism or pragmatism is always preferred to idealism when it comes to
solving real problems anywhere in the world. So it is praiseworthy for anyone
to seek for practical ways for things to work. However, when going for such
solutions, it is proper to understudy the problem in its entirety in order not
to take a wrong approach that might worsen the problem. When we fail to fully
grasp the true nature of the subject, our efforts at achieving a reprieve will
be counterproductive. In the next session we shall attempt, by God’s grace, to
address the underlying perspectives in the whole matter. This will help us
divide the concepts rightly.
Section 1.03
Perspectives
Depending on the angle on which you stand to view things, what you
consider as mere fantasy, romanticism or idealism may be pragmatic, realistic,
empirical or functional to another. For example our Christian faith is not
built on the plain of physical realism, but on spiritual realism. The materialistic
thinker will definitely dismiss this claim as abstract because it cannot be
grasped by his faculties. It is utter nonsense to him! For the wisdom of this
world is foolishness with God. (1Cor 3:19) Because the foolishness of God is
wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1Corinth. 1:25)
But 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. (1Co 2:14) The natural man imagines himself as a realist because he
bases his judgment on visible things and not on abstract things such like
messages on unity of faith or Spirit which do not refer to any known body or
group. To him, the world of spirit or faith is some imaginary, indefinite, unfeasible
or implausible world. But the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ is His doctrine
which is not based on visible or corruptible things, such as silver and gold,
but on the power of God. “While we look not at the things which are seen, but
at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal”. (2Co 4:18) The church of God
belongs to Him. Let’s leave the working of organizing her structures to Him if
we truly desire to be in His eternal church. He it is in whom all the building
fitly framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 2:21)
Our own duty is to prayerfully strive to remain in the love and truth of God
which is the frame of the church.
We could readily settle this matter and put an end to further
contemplations by identifying what the church of God is, and what it is not. She
is the pillar and ground of truth, (1Ti 3:15) not just a group of friends who
must never part, come what may. But, again, the natural intelligence will
dismiss our submissions as mere abstract idealism. We admit that the world will
not understand the issues about the church. They can publish whatever headlines
that enter their fleshly mind. After all worse things were said about our
President and Founder, Jesus Christ. “…Therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew him not”. (1John 3:1) We don’t expect them to understand
everything clearly as spiritual men will. “Then how will they be drawn to the
church?” No man can come to the church of Jesus Christ except the Father which
sent Christ draws him. (John 6:44, 65) We don’t change the rules to help God! The
actual difficulty in this discourse is the conflicting perspectives. Except
this is resolved, how can we rightly “discern the Lord's body”? We cannot
discuss matters of the church effectively without discerning the Lord's body in
the light of her spiritual constituents. This effort is being bestowed with the
hope that some will be instructed in meekness who may be within the reach of
God’s mercy for repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. (2Ti 2:25)
Section 1.04
God’s Perspective
Now the gospel truth is this: God’s philosophy is way higher than that
of man: for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher
than men’s ways and his thoughts than theirs. (Isaiah 55:8-9) The natural man
cannot please God since he cannot sense God with his faculties; neither can he
be certain what His perfect will is. Here lies the futility of assessing
spiritual things with physical faculties. Why is this so? It is because they
are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. (1Co 2:14) While his physical senses see obvious “problems on ground
in Nigerian Churches of God”, the Omniscient Intelligence attests that the
foundation of the house of God, which His Son, Jesus Christ has built, stands
sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone
that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2Tim 2:19) While we stand
the risk of being judged as living in a fool’s paradise, living in denial, or
even being dishonest and hypocritical, we prefer to compare spiritual things
with spiritual. (1Cor.2:13) The sublime message that we have here for the truth-seeking
soul from 2Tim 2:19, which was quoted above, is to depart from iniquity,
striving to enter in at the strait gate of righteousness: for many, says the
Lord Jesus, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Lu 13:24) This is
enough to make us sober, pause and ponder on what it will be to miss this
strait and narrow way, which only few can find. Thus the church of God is not
the mass of groups in America, Nigeria or elsewhere, but those who are doing
the will of the Father in heaven. Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be
able! This brings to the mind the picture of Noah’s ark with only a family of
eight saved in the whole world. It doesn’t sound like the universal unity some
would desire for the church. The fact of desiring and seeking to enter should
have been enough entry requirements for all. Yet God is bent on screening the
church further to not only those who know his will, but to those who also do
it. What does Christ say about God’s will and His doctrine? “If any man will do
his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I
speak of myself”. (John 7:17) We cannot separate God’s will from the doctrine.
If only we will do His will instead of ours, then we shall recognize his
doctrine because His Spirit will bear witness with our spirit that it is of
God. The Spirit is in agreement with the Truth. Many are too busy doing their
own will to know of the doctrine whether it be of God or of self. When self is
on the seat of God, a man can be bold to regard certain divine instructions or
injunctions as Bro Apollo’s or Eric’s doctrines, etc, so that either of them
can set aside some peculiars ones to achieve unity between the two of them. If
everyone is truly interested in spiritually organic unity we should all
endeavor to give up our will to do God’s will so that we can know of the
doctrine whether it be of God or of the flesh.
Section 1.05
But Christ Prayed for the Unity of All
Not Some Believers
We are reminded
at this juncture that the churches of God should be united
because unity among believers is the will of Christ. He prayed for it in the
seventeenth chapter of the book of John. What did he pray for? Did he pray for
the oneness of everyone irrespective of their doctrines, such that the various
local congregations can believe whatever they like and show love to one another
as one body? A body is supposed to have only one mouth. But if you have a body
with several mouths speaking different conflicting things, what sort of monster
would that be?
Jesus said, “I pray for them: I
pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are
thine.”
The church of God is not made
up of all flesh that say, Lord, Lord, but of such as the Father gives unto His
Son, Jesus Christ. It is the men who keep God’s word (doctrine) that His name
is manifested to. “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me
out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept
thy word.” (John 17:6) These are the ones He prayed for to be one, not those
who have no regard for His doctrine but feel at liberty to set aside any part
of it they consider inexpedient in order to achieve some kind of unity with all
sheds of men who profess to be churches of God. We are to keep all of God’s
word, not select and choose the ones that are convenient to ourselves and our
cultures. It is the keeping of the Word that validates our membership of the church.
Many associate themselves with the church without entering in through the door
of salvation through repentance. They are not members of church of God until
they enter in through the door. The door is still open. But will they enter?
No. But they desire unity!
“… I have given unto them the
words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely
that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.”
(John 17:8) When the word of truth is given many do not receive it, but
exclaim: “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60) Unity is not
imposed on everyone. There are conditions to be meant before unity can take
place. Christ did force the condition on anyone; rather it is for whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev 22:17)
The Holy Spirit is the unbroken
chain uniting the Father and the Son, as well as all believers in Christ Jesus.
True unity exists among all true believers. Perfect love entwines about each
heart in which God’s will is done. There is a warm embrace when they meet in
fellowship. The prayer of Christ for His church is answered when each heart is
purified with all dross removed for perfect love to abound. That is why He
prayed for the Father to sanctify them through His TRUTH; His Word is TRUTH.
(John 17:17) We cannot set this TRUTH aside to achieve unity. If we forsake
this TRUTH, we shall only take a stand with the Son of Perdition, who was not
kept together with the disciples in the Father’s name. (John 17:12) It is
therefore clear that the unity of believers excludes children of perdition who
keep not the Word, though they lay claim to be in the number.
It is not proper to set aside some biblical doctrines in the face of doctrinal
differences. We should not pick and
choose one evil of setting doctrines aside just because of the fear another
evil of division. When we approach the differences in the right spirit, it will
be resolved readily. There is no need to entertain the fear of division. There
must be such righteous division, so that they who are approved members of the
church may be made manifest and the disapproved reprobates become manifested.
(1Cor 11:19)
The “universal Christ” who loves unity says: “Suppose ye that I am come
to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division” (Lu 12:51). (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own
soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Lu 2:35) How shall
their folly be manifest unto all men? (2Ti 3:9) Some may think that by all men is meant that all flesh,
including their followers, will be convinced that they are false. Such
interpretation will not sit well with scriptural language. Otherwise, the
prophecy of “all flesh” in Joel 2:28 could not be said to have been fulfilled
in Ac 2:17, because only a few hundred of souls received the promise. In the
same vein their folly is made manifest by their visible separation from the
body. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of
us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they
might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1Jo 2:19) The “all men”
refers only to the men in the spiritual fold. It is true that not all the
spiritual men may discern the spiritual condition of the reprobate at the same
time. Nevertheless, there will be some like Paul who will already take note of
such men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith, who also resist the
TRUTH as Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses, and warn others to beware of
them. By their fruits ye shall know them. (Note that it is the TRUTH Paul says
they oppose, not the office of pastor or apostle, which carnal men esteem above
the TRUTH. Such people have so little regard for TRUTH that they can lay it
aside at the slightest situation of inconvenience).
Section 1.06
The Doctrine
The word doctrine appears 53 verses in the King
James Version of the Bible, including the marginal readings. It is represented
in the Hebrew Scriptures by 3 words, namely, leqach, sh@muw`ah and muwcar; in
the Greek Scriptures it is represented by the word “didache”. The various forms
simply mean instruction, warning, teaching, etc. In English Language it can be
understood as a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some
group or school; its synonyms include “school of thought”. It is therefore safe
to describe doctrine as the body of thoughts that makes up a system. Therefore,
a man’s doctrine is more or less his personality because his life consists of
the totality of his thoughts: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Pr
23:7) In like manner, the doctrine of the church of God is the body of
teachings that forms the belief or faith of her members. This is what
differentiates her from the body of harlots who readily accept doctrines from
any man she commits fornication with. The bride of Christ is faithful to her
husband’s doctrine. (Rom 6:1; 16:17; Eph 4:14; 1Tim 1:3, 10; 4:6, 13, 16; 5:17;
6:1, 3; 2Tim 3:10, 16; 4:2, 3; Tit 1:9; 2:1, 7-10)
Article II.
Section 2.01
The Cornerstone of Unity
Could mere association or outward intermingling of various groups that
bear the name of the Lord be enough for functional unity, by merely making
deliberate efforts such as “accepting any
gospel from other ministries as you would want every other person to accept
your own in your pursuit of unity other than mere labor on teaching doctrine as a means to
achieve unity”? (Is it scripturally acceptable for various groups that
bear the same name of the Lord in the same country to keep different
contradictory doctrines as their own doctrines? For avoidance of doubt,
membership of groups within the one body of Christ is forbidden (1Co 12:25).
The fact of accepting groupism is already evidence of being an organized
division or Babylon)
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. (1Co 1:10) “For
ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28) “Only let your conversation be as
it becomes 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) “Fulfill 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) “The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.”
(Act. 4:32)
Brother D. S. Warner commenting on the above verses, said
the following concerning sects:
“Can anybody look upon this picture and not see an awful
contrast between it and the dark picture of the present-day sect confusion? …
Behold, they are not of one mind, nor of one judgment; they are not one in …
creed, or 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... 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.”
If this is not clear enough, I wonder if any other can be.
One obvious fact that some (either seem to have ignored or) appear to be
ignorant of is that it is not enough to bear the name: church of God or be
associated by history or select doctrines of the Bible to be regarded as part
of the body of Christ. Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(2Co 11:14) He only has to get the Bible name and a few sound doctrines mixed
with his abominations to lie in wait and deceive the “unlearned and unstable”.
Should the church of God now for the sake of unity, shut her eyes to a
multiplicity of doctrines like “a human monstrosity having several mouths and
every mouth speaking contrary to every other mouth”? Should we unite with every
group that bears the name irrespective to the creeds they hold? Or should we
just accept some parts of ministry A’s teachings and have them do same about
ours like proverbial humble dogs prostrating for each other, without due
diligence to try the teachings by the written word of God? Some argue that the
problem is not as much with the word of God as it is with the interpretation
thereof. While we shall readily agree with them, we are reminded that each
minister of the gospel is supposed to “study to show themselves approved unto
God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth”. It is clear that the word of truth needs to be divided rightly. If it
isn’t, the problem of falsehood will still persist. Yes, it is agreed that some
are sincerely ignorant. Their false doctrine or interpretation may not be
deliberate. This is the more reasons sincere seekers for unity should be ready
to submit their peculiar doctrines to Biblical investigations in Seminars, etc.
If it is true that many are sincerely ignorant about the accuracy or otherwise
of their group’s teachings they should be humble and willing enough to reason
together with others, not with a rigid mind, but with an attitude to unravel
the truth, whatever it may be. There sure will be problems when one is not only
ignorant but also rigid in his beliefs. Some are content with the little they
have understood from the Bible, without any desire to learn more. They even
resist additional knowledge that may help clarify the difficulty in what has
been accepted as truth, making a jest of the things they don’t understand. (2Pe
2:12) With that kind of mindset, they are leading disciples after themselves
who are too lazy to dig deep into the truth. (Mt 15:14) For what time some
ought to be teachers, they have need that one teach them again which be the
first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of
milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the
word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that
are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil. (Heb 5:12-14) The bane of the various church groups
today in Nigeria is that there seem to be many who have “need that one teach
them again which be the first principles of the oracles of God”, but instead of
setting down to be taught, they have stood up to be counted among “many
masters” (James 3:1). Permit me therefore to add carnality and lack of humility
to the list of factors militating true and functional unity in Nigerian church
of God groups. (James 3:16) Or how else will somebody feel that church registration with
the government makes him a president? Or how else will he even entertain the
thought that the essence of unity is to rob him of his kingdom? If it is accepted that such a person is carnal and lacks
humility, it will answer a big question in this matter and reduce our labor to
bring the truth to the light by bringing us back to the question of genuine
salvation on the part of such a person; for hear the words of Christ: “…Verily
I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 18:3. If men such as these truly be
as described then they be not converted as yet and become as little children,
therefore they be no members of the body of Christ, which is the church of God.
Now, what are we talking about? What kind of presidents in the body of Christ?
At this point, I’m so short of words! No wonder the Omniscient Intelligence witnesses
that in spite of this apparent problem of disunity in the churches of God in
Nigeria, which any natural mind cannot deny, the foundation of God is still
standing sure because God knows them that are His. The solemn and sublime
message to every truth seeking soul is to strive to be counted as a member,
rather than a number of a “loving” group, by departing from iniquity as well as
bearing the name of the Lord. It is the Lord that adds souls to His church
daily as many as should be saved. It is He also that organizes and unites the
church. If any man tampers with His arrangement, it is no longer the church of
God, but of men, notwithstanding the inscription on the signboard outside the
building.
A story has been given about an encounter with a
prospective brother in Okposi who is concerned about the lack of cooperation
among supposed brethren of the same church. He is willing to join the church if this issue is
resolved. The fact of two different bodies bearing the same name: “church of
God” hosting campmeeting in the same locality same year is really worrisome to a
heart that loves cooperation among all peoples. But we must remain true to
God’s word, which is the only means to bring men into the kingdom of God. It is
true that the villagers will not understand why two churches in the same
village which bear the same name should not work together. Unknown to them, it
is the life and doctrine of the people that validate their claim to the church.
Unity among them will only mean a desire by all concerned to see things in the
same way. The watchmen or pastors ought to lift up their voice together in
oneness whether to preach or to sing as a result of being able to see eye to eye, when the LORD brings
again Zion, according to Isaiah 52:8. We cannot seek for unity through the back
door in order to get a soul to join us.
Any soul won in such a human arrangement will only be built upon sinking sand
if the testimony is not based on the truth of God’s word. (Lu 6:48) If we stand
with the TRUTH of God’s Word, it will be seen that no man will dare join himself to the church: but rather
the people will magnify the church. (Act 5:13) Who has eyes and does not see
here the snare the Devil has set up for the church of God by sowing tares among
the wheat? Let it be known that instead of joining
the church, Psalm 87:5 shows us that: “And of Zion it shall be said, This and
that man was born in her...” It is
the Lord who will add to the church
daily such as should be saved. (Act 2:47) This has made it imperative to insist
on the right doctrine to separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep receive
the Shepherd’s instruction without debate, but the goats choose their own
opinions. That good Shepherd will soon return. Will He find us with the same
faith or doctrine He once gave to the saints? (1Pe 5:4; Lu 18:8; Jude 1:3)
Section 2.02
Functionalism Reviewed
Thankfully a fair definition of functionalism
has been given. It “is the idea that the most important thing about the
style or design of a building or object is its usefulness and not how it looks”.
So now this object or building in question is the body of Jesus Christ. It is
not the size or attractive appearance of the body that makes it functional but
the intrinsic vitality that makes it lively. It is not about the great number
of persons that bear the name of the God, or who call Him, Lord, Lord, but
those who actually do the will of the Father in heaven. (2Ti 2:19; Mt 7:21, 22;
Lu 6:46) The human body is dead and functionless except there is life in it.
Thus a dead body cannot be functional even if it is adorned with the fairest
treasures and decked with every precious pearl in the world. So what will make
a church functional is the possession of the same spiritual life which was in
the Son of God. Where such a life is lacking, the body will not be regarded as
Christ’s body. But it is the members that make up the body: the hands, the
legs, eyes, the ears, etc; and these members must receive supply from the blood
which circulates oxygen and food substances in order to function optimally. In
a situation where one body tissue is not connected to the source of the supply
(that is Jesus Christ, the head) the body becomes sick and will not function
properly. That infected body tissue needs to be nursed till it regains complete
health to play its proper function in the body. If all efforts to heal the
tissue fail to yield the desired result, the whole body will react in such a
way as to expel the failed part in order for new tissues to be built so that
the body will return to its normal condition. This process is not without some
pains. An example is the expulsion of toxins from the human body in form of
boils, etc, or in a situation where damaged layers of the skin are replaced
with fresh ones. The failed tissue has to be expelled because it has become a
poison to the rest of the body.
In other words, the spiritual health of one
member of the church of Christ affects the entire body negatively or positively
and needs to be attended to, in such a manner for the entire body to regain its
perfect functionality. For each member to function properly, he needs to be
connected to the head, Jesus Christ: he needs to be joined to the Lord! He that
is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1Co 6:17) But if he is “not holding the
Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment
ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God”, (Col.2:19)
he is soon cut off from supply of spiritual life; and becomes dead while he
lives. Such a member may be seen in the physical meetings of the church. He may
sing, pray, preach, teach, etc. But deep inside of him he is aware that all is
not well. He may be a backslider, who needs to repent and do the first works;
otherwise the head of the body will remove the little light that remains in
him, and he will be left in utter darkness, worse than his former condition. (Lu
8:18, John 12:35) Or he may be a hypocrite or a son of perdition, who has shut
up the kingdom of heaven against men: neither going in himself, nor allowing
those who are entering to go in. (Matt 23:13) We can only hold the head by holding
faith in Christ and a good conscience as an anchor of the soul; which some
having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck (1Ti 1:19). Putting it
aside makes your spiritual sojourn shipwreck. Thus, it is not enough to just
gather the crowd and talk about functional unity because of their link to the
name of God’s church. There are many who have a name that they are alive but in
reality they are dead. (Rev 3:1)
The church of God in Nigeria, according to my
finding, dates back to the 1940s. The first congregation who found this truth is
still well and alive in the truth. So the obvious question will be: What gave rise
to the need to have other groups? Even if they came into being independent of
this divinely founded church, why are they not willing to work with this church,
after coming in contact with its heavenly beauty which was not only confirmed
by heaven through spiritual fruits and gifts but also affirmed by holy
ministers from America as not being merely a mission field, but as a field having
been established in the truth? Is it not amazing that people could come from
another continent to meet a congregation established without their influence,
yet having the same truths as they? Of this wonderful event, Bro Michael Smith
of the church of God Guthrie writes: “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.” What again were we saying about the functional unity of the church of
God? Need we say more? Let them with ears hear!
Is it right for some who were once in
agreement with sound doctrine to go elsewhere to import doctrines such as
divorce and remarriage, tithing, musical instruments, etc, which neither the
early church nor the church of God reformation movement in America supported?
Now, some of them expect a sort of unity with the old church without a Berean
investigation of the imported doctrines which were not with the church at the
beginning! Many of the doctrines causing problems were not actually there from
the beginning of the church. They were brought in unawares in the twentieth
century. D S Warner and other nineteenth century pioneers didn’t hold such
doctrines.
It is clear that rather than just doctrine,
there are other issues on the ground; otherwise, simple seminar where doctrines
are discussed would have been enough to resolve whatever differences may exist
between various groups, like the one in Acts chapter 15. Where this is not the
case, it is clear that there is no oneness of spirit among them. There are
contrary spirits to the Spirit of TRUTH. They feign to be in agreement during
Seminars, but go back to their former positions after the doctrinal differences
appeared to have been resolved. What is sad about this is that these men appear
to accept the truth shown to them during the seminar. Some of them even stand
up to testify about their new conviction and saints rejoice to the glory of God.
But, sadly, it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is
turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in
the mire. (2Pe 2:22, Pr 26:11) The next seminar we will be back to square one!
Yet, some think we can just go on with “unity” and forget about doctrines or
seminars. Some would say they are already making efforts to put some things
learnt in seminars into practice, but in the next breath, you will hear a new
song from them. Let us get real
practical and face the real issue!
How can two walk together, except they be
agreed? (Am 3:3) There is evidence that there is a difference of spirits at
work. We cannot achieve true unity when we don’t have the same spirit working
in us. However, if we have the same spirit, it will certainly be a different
story from what we have today. “But”, as Bro Michael Smith testifies in his article
titled: The Visible Body, “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.” A backslidden brother, for instance, who has
failed in a certain area of his life ought to remember from whence he fell, and
repent to do the first works, instead of taking side with false doctrines in
order to justify his failure.
He ought not to choose rather to embrace groups with questionable doctrines
different from what he first believed, which gave him much vitality and
spiritual life and blessings in the past? Why, for instance, should a brother
fail in his marriage and decide to join a group that permits divorce and
remarriage, which he preached against in the past? These are of the sort who
were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, having tasted the
good word of God, but have fallen away and not renewed again unto repentance. When
we don’t take heed how we receive TRUTH, the little we seem to have will be
taken from us and we will left without feeling for TRUTH. “Being past
feeling”, they are no longer touched by the prompting of the word of TRUTH.
Having itching ears, which is not able to endure sound doctrine, they heap to
themselves teachers after their own lusts. They prefer teachers who “come up with the message of love, that of forgiveness and other such
harmless, cord-tying and friendly messages”. They now hold on to false doctrines and expect the church to receive
them along with their new found church of God group, without discussing the
controversial doctrines because it will harm the “unity”! If ever doctrines are
discussed in their presence they either feign to be in agreement or keep their
cherished doctrines to themselves, though they are being openly burnt up beyond
recognition by the fire of TRUTH in the general discussions of doctrines, in
order to preserve the contrived “unity”. This is not different from seven women
taking 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”, they
love to keep the name church of God, but not the doctrine of God.
They argue that the issue is not the doctrine
of God, but men’s perception of it. To them, God’s doctrine is not clear
enough; everyone is now permitted to have their own version of it. Now I have
mine and you have yours. So if you want unity, I’ll take some of yours and
you’ll take some of mine. We will have a merger! All we need is “love” and
“understanding”! Behold here we will have only molded another sect calf and name it “church of God” for the
people to worship and wrangle over. “And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving
tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O
Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt”. (Ex 32:4)
What! Let everyone be honest about their
spiritual walk with God. Let everyone check how far he has gone into compromise
with self and with the world. This will yield a better result and a truly
functional unity among saints, where every member performs their role in Spirit
and Truth according to the grace given them. This is better than justifying our
spiritual failings in keeping with a spotless holy life under the guise of
doctrinal differences. “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. Having then gifts differing according to the grace
that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the
proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that
teaches, on teaching; Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let
him do it with simplicity; he that rules [or oversees], with diligence; he that
shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Rom. 12: 4-8)
Some in order to reduce the weight of guilt
deny that it is the doctrine of Christ that is causing problems of groupism in
the church of God. They suggest that it is the teaching of the apostles that is
really the issue, as if the apostles taught independent of Christ and their
teachings ought not to be given the same regards as the Lord’s. They willingly
forget that the Lord, when he was with the disciples would say that he had yet
many things to say to them which they couldn’t bear till the Spirit of truth
came to guide them to all truth. (John 16:12-13) The Spirit of Truth that
inspired the apostles did not give words of Himself but words of Christ who
sent Him. The church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. (Eph 2:20) If these
foundations are destroyed because of “unity”, what can the righteous do? (Ps
11:3) How dare any one of us disregard the inspired doctrines of the apostles
just because they are not red-lettered in the Bible? These are the words that
will judge us all on the last day! (John
12:48)
It is the word of God that brings the faith
which enables the Spirit of God to nourish the soul of each member of the
church to perform their functions properly. (Ro 10:17)
Hence each member must live by EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God. (Mt 4:4) If we pick and choose the words to obey, it is as good as
despising the personality of the Godhead, for God has magnified His word above
all His name. (Ps 138:2) How can we ever grow well when we do not tremble at
God’s word and treat His doctrine as something that can be set aside or traded
for a sort of functional unity? (Isa 66:2) Newborn babies in the faith are
supposed to desire pure unadulterated milk of God’s word in order to grow
thereby. (1Pet 2:2) But God doesn’t expect us to be babies forever. We have to
be guided to all truth! God is not pleased that what time we ought to be
teachers, we yet have need that one teach us again the first principles of the
oracles of God; becoming such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
(Heb 5:12) We all have to come in the
unity of the faith. (Eph 4:13) We shall speak about this phrase much later.
Article III.
Section 3.01
Carnal
Marriages Compared with the Spiritual Marriage of the Lamb
It is a
mistake to compare God’s church with the unity found in denominations. At this
point, I wish to recommend D S Warner’s book titled: “What The Church of God Is
And What It Is Not” for interested seekers. I believe that it will clear up all
unnecessary doubts about what we mean by church of God. Here’s an excerpt: “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.”
It is fascinating to note that “Paul
the preacher knows how difficult it is for a believer to live with an
unbeliever. But for the sake of our children, he advised that we manage the
ugly situation”. The silent question here is: why would Paul permit a holy
spouse to be unequally yoked together with an unholy partner? Light is not supposed
to have fellowship with darkness. This is why marriage between the saved and
the unsaved is frowned at. However, when the marriage was consummated before
one of the spouses became saved, or when one of them leaves the faith after
marriage, there becomes a problem because one of them has become darkness and
light cannot co-habit darkness. Should they then separate? The Spirit and the
Word say “NO”. Why? Because what God has joined together, no one can separate.
If one of them chooses to depart, out of necessity, they should not remarry
another partner because they are still one flesh before God. Marriage is
honorable in all. It is irreversible! There is still a chance that the one who
is not saved will be saved by the chaste conduct of the saved spouse. The
children too will likely be won to God by the holiness of one of the parents.
However, can the holy bride of Christ be joined with a group that
despises the wholesome doctrine of Christ, as it affects holiness, modesty,
faith, abstinence, etc? A group that patronizes extra-scriptural practices like
use of music instrument in active worship and monetary tithing in a New
Testament, or any such things which neither the early church nor the church of
God reformation of the 1880s contemplated, can be safely said to be fornicating
with spirits of strange doctrines. If such groupists refuse to test their
doctrines by the word of God but are proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the
truth… the scripturally correct thing to do is to withdraw from such! Anything
short of that is harlotry! Our unity in the earth is attested to by three
witnesses: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood and these three agree in
one, so should we, if we are in agreement with the three of them. (1Jo 5:8) May
the Lord sanctify and cleanse the church with the washing of water by the word
of God. (Eph 5:26)
We cannot compare the marriage of the Holy Christ and His blood
purchased and cleansed church with that of saved and unsaved spouses, which
remains unbroken even when one of them is in sin. The difference between both
marriages is that the former is spiritual and eternal, while the latter is
carnal and temporal. Sin breaks the marriage ties between a soul and God. (Isa
59:2, Ex 32:33, Eze 18:4, 20, Eph 4:30) This marriage is of a spiritual nature.
It is between a soul and the Lord, not between two human souls. The union of
the human souls in the church is because of their union with Christ, not
independent of it. Thus, this union of the human souls is affected if one of
the links with Christ is tampered. Erroneous doctrines lead to sin and should
be avoided at all costs because it affects the tie that binds us. Babylon is
hated because of the golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and
filthiness of her fornication and the inhabitants of the earth have been made
drunk with the wine of her fornication. This intoxicating wine is nothing but
her false doctrines! We avoid it at all costs. If you’re accused of false
doctrine, you only have to try yourself humbly by God’s word to be sure you are
on the right. A humble soul, like a sheep, will not take up any doctrine for
himself but that which was once delivered to the saints.
Section 3.02
What about Our
Children?
We owe these precious souls of God much labor bringing them up with much
prayer and much instruction in righteousness. If we train them up in the way
they should go, we have but to trust God to fulfill His word in their life. (Pr
22:6) When they go out of the home, they move out as members of the church.
Where ever they go they carry Christ’s body with them. They may bear fruit that
will draw many to God. Thus, instead of looking for where to fellowship, they
may be used of the Lord to build pure fellowship where mercy and truth meet
together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other. Feed them with the
truth, you will only rejoice to find the children walking in truth. (2Jo 1:4;
3Jo 1:4)
Section 3.03
Self
Righteousness versus Holiness
We are being
warned that “some of these doctrines made to be an object of division can lead
to self righteousness and self or congregational holier than thou attitude,
there is virtually no harm in unity.” This is very good warning. Self
righteousness is like a filthy rag before God. (Isa 64:6) It is a source of
pride and should be avoided by every means possible. It comes about when one’s approach
to religion is based on works, rather than faith on the finished work of Christ
on the cross for us. When the “works-loving” Pharisees asked the Lord, “What
shall we do, that we might work the works of God”, He simply replied that “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent”.
(John 6:28-29) This is the REST that Jesus gives. (Mt 11:28) It is a rest from
all works. (Heb 4:4) It is a rest of faith. (Heb 4:3) But the self
righteousness will prefer their own works to the rest of faith that results in
good works to the glory of God, the Father. “They being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”. (Rom 10:3) No man can of
himself work the righteousness of God. All self efforts to please God without
the help of God, is nothing but filthy rags before God, because it is like
using a filthy cup to fetch pure water. Every man needs to be cleansed by God
first in order to produce good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them. (Eph 2:10) If you are truly sanctified, you will not think
that your good works are of your own making. Rather you will have an attitude
of gratitude to the One you gave you the grace to be who you have become. These
good works are enabled in the believer’s life by God’s grace through faith in
Christ Jesus. This is why we cannot boast about them. These are not gifts that
we deserve, nor could we achieve them on our own. Ours is an attitude of
gratitude to the One who has accounted us worthy to receive the gift of
righteousness. Therefore, abiding in this God-given gift cannot lead anyone to
self-righteousness. Taking heed to yourself, and to the doctrine; continuing in
them: will only both save you, and those that hear you. It will not lead you to
self righteousness. (1Ti 4:16) Your attitude for the unsaved is a Christ-like
compassion, a great heaviness and continual sorrow in the heart for their lost
condition, wishing like Paul to be accursed from Christ for their sakes, that
they may be saved. (Rom 9:2-3) On the contrary, it is only when you trust in
yourself that you are naturally righteous and gifted, despising others, like
the Pharisee in Luke 18:9, without reckoning Christ’s suffering at Calvary,
that you can truly qualify as self righteous. Such are they who judge
themselves of noble nature from birth, better than the rest of us; commenting
on their good qualities without any reference to the grace of God; rather
attributing their loving nature to some other causes than the salvation which
God has given to us all. These men see no reason to separate from anyone as
long as they are associated with the church one way or the other. After all “the
Universal Christ advocated universal unity”!
Paul warned the early Christians night and day with
tears for the space of three years that after his departure from this world
some men would arise in their midst, speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-32) He had warned that such men be marked out
and avoided. (Ro 16:17) John the Beloved called them antichrists!
(1Jo 2:18) He added in verse 19 that “They went out
from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no
doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made
manifest that they were not all of us”. The fact they went out from us does not
mean we should go after them in search of unity. Even the “universal Christ”,
who is for “universal unity”, warned his followers to beware of certain false
prophets (Mt 7:15). He says this just after teaching hypocrites to “judge not,
that ye be not judged” (Mt 7:1). While some don’t want you to judge the false
prophets and unite with every wolf and sheep alike as far as they bear the
Bible name, Christ went further to say: “by their fruits ye shall know them”
(Mt 7:16, 20) Why does he not yoke everyone together in order to save some?
Rather, he warns that his followers should beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Mat 16:6, 11, Mar 8:15, Lu 12:1) We should
beware of any kind of unity that doesn’t warn us to beware of these things
which both Christ and his apostles warn us to beware of. It is a snare. It is a
mixed multitude. We have to be free from any leaven or false attachment and be
full of the pure bread of life: the TRUTH. The leaven of the Pharisees is
hypocrisy. It is only hypocrisy that will make a Peter to deny the TRUTH of
Christ’s doctrine, in order to be accepted by the teeming population who bear
the Lord’s name in vain. This is the actual self righteousness we should be
wary of, not the holiness that comes by faith. The purpose of the leaven is for
impression through appearance. That is why they place much importance on how
they appear before men. They are inclined to please fleshly minds. The flesh is
forced to adjust his beliefs in order to appear right in the eyes of carnal men
who are unlearned and unstable in spiritual matters. The Pharisees were fond of
justifying themselves before men. (Lu 16:15) Should we now beg God to change
some doctrines to enable unity to function or we should persuade men to obey
God? “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I
yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10)
Section 3.04
Peter to the
Jews and Paul to the gentiles
Talking about efforts towards
unity, the ministries of both apostles of the early church of God is
considered. They are both always viewed as men spearheading various missions.
An attempt is made to compare this with the Nigerian situation. It is pertinent
to the direction of this discussion for us to take an incisive look at the
ministries of these pioneer apostles. It is shown in the following verse:
Gal. 2:7 “But contrariwise, when they saw
that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of
the circumcision was unto Peter”
According to William Burkitt, “As pillars,
[Peter, James and John] are to uphold the truth, by their doctrine and diligence;
as pillars, to be constant in defending the truth against all the blasts and
storms of error and false doctrine; as pillars, to adorn the truth by an
innocent life, and instructive example, whereby they ought not only to shine
before others, but also to outshine others… The ordinance both of Peter and
Paul, for the office and work of apostles, was alike divine. The former, St. Peter, was to be the minister
of the circumcision: that is to exercise his ministry among the Jews, and St.
Paul, by virtue of the same divine ordinance, was to exercise his office among
the Gentiles, called the uncircumcision; yet this must not be so understood, as
if Paul might not preach to the Jews, nor St. Peter to the Gentiles, which they
both did upon occasion, but because their more special and particular province
was thus, St. Peter to preach to the Jews, and St. Paul to the Gentiles.”
Albert Barnes posits thus: “It is evidently
not meant here that Paul was to preach only to the Gentiles and Peter only to
the Jews, for Paul often preached in the synagogues of the Jews, and Peter was
the first who preached to a Gentile”.
Robertson adds: “This clear-cut agreement
between the leaders "denotes a distinction of sphere, and not a difference
of type" (Lightfoot). Both divisions in the work preach the same
‘gospel’”.
Peter, James and John, who resided in
Jerusalem, gave their consent to the new path on which Barnabas and Paul, by
independent revelation, had entered. So far from censuring, they gave a hearty
approval to Paul’s independent course, namely, the innovation of preaching the
Gospel without circumcision to the Gentiles. It is evident that they were not
having different doctrines. Peter, James and John were convinced from the
effects which Paul showed them by declaring what miracles and wonders God had
wrought among the Gentiles by them (Gal. 2:8; Ac 15:12) that the ministry of
preaching the same gospel of salvation to the gentiles was committed unto Paul
and Barnabas. Paul’s ministry was tagged “gospel of the uncircumcision” not
because it was a different kind of gospel, but because it was, of the Gentiles,
who were to be converted without circumcision being required. While that of
Peter’s was tagged “circumcision” because it was unto the Jews, who were
already circumcised. Therefore he didn’t have to enforce circumcision on his
audience as a means of salvation. It was false apostles or brethren who hadn’t
received commission from God that brought in a different doctrine, which Paul
had to resist and gave them no place by subjection not even for some so-called
functional unity, no, not for an hour so that the truth of the gospel might
continue with the Gentiles. (Gal. 2:4-5) Peter is the one who had originally
opened the door of the gospel to the Gentiles (Ac 10:1-48; 15:7). But in the
ultimate apportionment of the spheres of labor, the Jews were assigned to him
(compare 1Pe 1:1). So Paul on the other hand wrote to the Hebrews.
The good news is that the ancient liar and
deceiver, Satan has failed once again to import the idea that Paul and Peter
kept different doctrines. There is no such thing in the Bible. For Christ has
made both the Jewish and the Gentile churches one body, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between them. (Eph 2:14) 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) 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) If it then be one faith, it therefore is one belief and
one truth.
Section 3.05
HOW WAS UNITY PRACTICED BY PAUL AND PETER?
We have been able to see, contrary to some opinions, that Peter and the other
pioneer brethren gave their consent to Paul’s teaching. Peter did not have a
different conviction from Paul’s teaching of circumcision. If he had a
different thought it was before the vision God gave him about clean and unclean
meat. The suggestion that he still lacked proper understanding about God’s view
on circumcision or non-circumcision after the vision of heaven had been given
to him is without scriptural support and such a suggestion cannot stand the
onslaught of the Sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word of truth. The burden
of proof is on proponent of such thoughts. The failure to bring scriptures to
support it weakens the proposition till it falls, and fall it must under the
hammer of eternal truth. If the
suggestion is correct, why was Peter already eating with the uncircumcised
Gentiles before certain people came from James? (Gal. 2:12) The real problem between Paul and Peter then was not about
differences in doctrines, but the hypocrisy for which Paul swiftly rebuked him
and Peter didn’t resist being corrected. We find evidence in Peter’s writing
that he still had great love and respect for Paul after this incident. This is
proof that Peter repented of his compromise. He referred to him as “our beloved
brother Paul”. This was definitely free from deceit and fulsomeness, except
Peter’s salvation is in doubt. The assertion that Peter spoke malignly about
Paul’s epistle is only in the imagination of the claimer. Rather, Peter placed
the same regards for Paul’s writing that he had for the rest of the scriptures.
Hear his words:
“And
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved
brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto
you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in
which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own
destruction.” (2Pet 3: 15-16) It is no marvel how Satan can read malice in the
words of holy people. Hmmm…! How easy it is for the flesh to read ideas into
the actions of others, such ideas as they identify with in their own unredeemed
nature! Are we all not witnesses to how the words of innocent servants of God
have been wrested into malicious connotations? Things that never entered into
their hearts are being suggested by way of commentaries to distort the truth
and advance unscriptural agendas.
It is also necessary to clear the notion that
the mention of Peter and Paul in respect to their different ministries to the
Jews and Gentiles was to place them in positions of headship over two different
church groups as some church groupism advocates seem to be insinuating; (it’s even wrong to come before God in groups! We
come as individuals) it was only given
as an attestation to the lawfulness of Paul’s work in comparison to Peter’s
commission. This point is highlighted in the eighth verse of the second chapter
of Paul’s letter to the Galatians: “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to
the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the
Gentiles”. He here showed that it was the same Spirit at work in the services
of both men. Paul was sent mainly to preach among the uncircumcised or Gentiles
who should be saved without physical circumcision while Peter preached among
the Jews. It was the same gospel, the same church but different communities.
What’s our evidence that it is the same gospel? We know this for sure because
if either Paul or Peter, or an angel from heaven or any other man for that
matter, were to preach any other gospel, he would be accursed in agreement with
the word of God in Gal 1:8-9. Let us give no place by subjection to the
adversary of truth, no, not for an hour!
Section 3.06
The Triumph of
Truth!
Praise God! The truth is marching on once
again in our time. It is marching through the walls of misinformation, pulling
down strongholds of errors and breaking up chains of confusion so that many
hearts may be free indeed! Lo, the tyrant is not idle; he is there stirring up offence
in hearts that should be in sympathy with his lies. But unaffected hearts will rejoice
at the clearing up of tangles of wrong notions. They leap over the
stumbling-stone and rock of offence, which the enemy of the truth places on the
road for them in order to becloud messages that have good intentions to set
things in order. They take joyful and quick steps to catch up with the pace of
truth as He wields His mighty sword along to clear up more briers on the path
of our faith in Christ. This clearance is not made in order to spite or make
light of anyone, but to give truth its rightful place and function in the unity
of all God’s children, freeing every one of us from the snare of the wicked
tyrant, Satan, who with cunning and craftiness is lying in wait to deceive. This
He must do for the unity we seek to be functional indeed. Now, what is the
function of unity if it is not to turn the hearts of the fathers to the
children, that we all may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, not only with our voice, but more so, with our
lives doing only His will in the earth as it is done in heaven? This is the
more reason for pure hearts to rejoice with the hosts of heaven that unity is
finding its true function. Let everyone rejoice with the truth! There is no
party or personal interest in this matter. This is the conquest of truth over
error. For the enemy of truth is the enemy of us all. Let no one be deceived in
this matter!
Article IV.
Section 4.01
Unity of the
Jewish and Gentile Churches Considered
Now that this has been cleared, there remains
no ground to suggest a kind of unity that allows a variety or diversity of
conflicting doctrines in various congregations of the same body of Christ. For
the faith which was once delivered to the saints of old is the same for all the
ages of the gospel. It is not to be subtracted from or added to. So, if it is
true, that “the unity we are pursuing today differs significantly from that
found in the bible”, we are proven to be practicing an unscriptural unity;
hence, it should be discontinued because it is unity founded on sinking sand. What about the unity between the Jewish church and
the Gentile church? Was it geographical or doctrine inclined? If it was
geographical, what happened to the Jewish church during the Roman siege on
Jerusalem in 70AD? They followed the hint given by the Lord Jesus in Luke 21:21
to flee from Judaea when they perceived Jerusalem compassed with armies, and
fled to Perea, a Gentile city. Thus, they were bound to meet fellow believers,
believing the same thing. Christ had prayed for them to be one. It is either
they were truly one or God despised the prayer of His Son. It definitely has to
be the former!
It is admitted that there was a doctrinal issue on circumcision, but it
was quickly resolved in favor of the TRUTH as shown in Paul’s teaching. All the
apostles and elders in the church at Jerusalem, including Peter and James, were
in agreement with the truth that no one should put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither the Jewish fathers nor their children were able to
bear. (Acts 15:10) James even went further to cite Amos 9:11-12 in support of
Peter’s position on the matter. (Acts 15:13-19)Thus, as far as the pillars of
the church were concerned, there was no diversity of truth in that matter. The
problem was actually with certain of the sect of the Pharisees that claimed to
have believed the message of Christ, but rose up saying that it was needful to
circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses, and that except
they were circumcised after the manner of Moses, they could not be saved. (Acts
15:1, 5) There were many thousands of them in Jerusalem. They believed in
Christ, but they were also zealous of the Law of Moses. They had been informed
that Paul taught all the Jews which were among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,
saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after
the customs. (Acts 21:20-21) This
stirred so much ill-feeling and trouble for Paul that some of the Jews were determined
to end his mortal life. Although the apostles in Jerusalem seemed to be silent
about whether the Jewish Christians were supposed to circumcise their children
or not, it is clear that they didn’t support the false doctrine that circumcision
is required for salvation. That is clearly the point Paul was contending for.
He was not opposed to the practice of circumcision in itself; otherwise, he
wouldn’t have circumcised Timotheus. (Acts 16:3) He was only against linking
circumcision to salvation. All the apostles were agreed on this truth; if not
they would have insisted that the Gentiles be circumcised. The false brethren,
who crept in or were brought in unawares, were the ones pushing for it (Gal 2:4;
2Pe 2:1, 10; Jude 1:4). These were the real trouble makers among the flock, the
spots in the feast of charity, feeding themselves without fear. (Gal. 1:7;
5:12; 6:17; 2Th 1:6; Heb 12:15; Jude 1:12) Their doctrine was not approved by
the apostles and elders. It was clearly rejected in the letter reflecting their
resolution after the ministers meeting in Jerusalem. Therefore, the brethren in
the Gentile and Jewish churches were not divided over this doctrine but it was
these false Jewish brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out
the Christian liberty which we do have in Christ Jesus that they might bring the
church of God into bondage. (Gal. 2:4)
There were movements and relocations of members of the early church from
one locality to another. They were received in the various congregations of
their visitation as members of the same church. This wouldn’t be so if there
was nothing like national or international unity as some people claim. We have
an example in the record of one Phoebe, who was a servant of the church which
is at Cenchrea: she had cause to move to Rome, and a word went from Paul for
the church over there to receive her in the Lord, as is befitting to saints,
and that they assist her in whatsoever business she had need of: for she
herself had been a helper of many, including Paul. Other examples can be found
in lives of Epaphroditus and Gaius, who either went over to another locality or
was hospitable to brethren and strangers from other places. (Rom 16:1-2; Philip
2:29; 3Jo 1:5-6) This is what every child of God ought to seek for.
Please, permit me to insert a few words from my renowned letter: Message from My Heart, which captures
the kind of unity pictured above:
“You don’t unite a group of local
congregations. It’s the individuals that come together in Christ. Individuals
in the various groups ought to be allowed to grow at their own pace according
to the grace God gives them, instead of being subjects and loyalists to various
leaders of sub-groups within a uniting group. The location of Individuals ought
not to interfere with their faith, except the faith is not based on the Holy
Bible. The individual groups cease to
exist in matters of doctrine. The locality should not be a dividing factor. It
is only a geographical factor, such that if we were living, or peradventure
relocated to live, in the same environment, we would not have a crisis of
having different doctrines. Let’s assume that a brother from Port Harcourt (take
for example Chinwendu and his family, assuming he’s married) relocated to Benin
and had to fellowship with the church in Benin City. Would he have to throw
away the doctrines he has accepted as biblical (take for examples, feet washing
and the Lord’s Supper) in order to be united locally with the church in Benin? …. Who
would be happy to find out that he has been deceived to think the church is one
when they hardly agree on fundamental doctrines?”
Fundamental doctrines refer to the foundation. The foundation of the
church of God is faith in the grace of God for salvation from sin through the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Son, unto a newness of life. If
such a doctrine is wanting in a group that claims to be church of God (as shown
in my letter which has not been refuted till this moment, but rather maligned)
and yet certain interests seem to be clamoring for unity with such a group
irrespective of doctrinal differences, can such interests be irreprehensible
before God? What about doctrines that condone divorce and remarriages for
whatsoever reason? Should we embrace a teaching that gives room for perpetual
adultery in the name of some kind of unity, just because the people walking in
the narrow way are few? Is unity all about numbers? No, at a point of history
only one family of eight was living right in the whole world. God was content
with the number. If in the whole world today, only one man dares to stand for
the right, he alone represents the true visible church of God on earth. It is
the truth that unites us, not worldly love. Light and darkness have got nothing
in common. Christ prayed for the church to be sanctified by God’s truth, His
word is truth. (John 17:17) For both he that sanctifies and they who are
sanctified are all of one (Heb 2:11). Unity comes through sanctification of
truth. If true and functional unity is desired every member of the church
should seek for the experience of entire sanctification of truth, nailing our selfish
interests to the cross. If we lose our lives we will gain it. (Mt 10:39)
We should not be disturbed because the church is not in every city of
the world. The Lord of the harvest, who is in charge of the laborers, knows
whom to send to wherever He wants. If it is truly His church, He will organize
it in His own way. Our own role is to make ourselves as well as our belongings
available for His use. The church and the Truth cannot be divorced. When truth
is separated from the church, we have nothing but Babylon! Spread the truth,
the church will be spread. Let us not be carried away by the zeal to have the
church in every city of Nigeria and embrace unity at the expense of truth. We
should not let our hearts be troubled about the unknown future of our children.
We cannot serve idols in order for them to remain in the church and not run to
Babylon. Church of God groups that deny the truth of God’s word after it has
been made clear to them are not different from the Babylon we are trying to
safeguard our children against. Let us only obey the scriptures by bringing
them up in the truth. Leave the rest in God’s hand by faith. Trying to use
human wisdom to make the church have functional unity will only turn us into
Babylon. Let the church of God be the church of God.
D S. Warner said: “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 fullness, 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.”
Section 4.02
Unity of
Spirit and Faith: Theoretical or Functional?
In our brother’s paper, he wrote: “I will approach this unity on a
practical view point. This is not an abstract or theoretical message on unity
of faith or of spirit which does not necessarily refer to any known body or
people”. It is proper for us to show what is meant by the Bible terminologies:
“unity of the Spirit” and “unity of the faith” so that we do not use Bible words out of their biblical meaning, which is
perverting the Bible. This will also help determine whether they are actually
abstract or theoretical.
The word “unity” appears only three times in the King
James Bible, namely; Ps 133:1, Eph 4:3 and Eph 4:13. In the Hebrew language it
is called: “yachad”; pronounced: “yakh'-ad”. Yachad appears in 139 verses.
{Strong, 03162} It is properly a unit, alike, (all at once), both, likewise,
only, (al-) together, withal. In the Old Testament, it is mostly translated: together, sometimes, it is put as alike, knit and once it is called unity.
But in the New Testament, it is henotes
in Greek, pronounced: hen-ot-ace'.
It was twice used in the Bible. {1775 in KJV} It denotes oneness, i.e.
(figuratively) unanimity:--unity. So when we say unity of Spirit, we mean,
oneness of Spirit. The Holy Spirit within us is the same, producing the same
fruit of love for God and man. This Spirit keeps us humble and teachable.
Some talk about unity of Spirit but their minds are sealed
and determined not to receive sound teachings from ministers whom God anointed
for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the [oneness,
similarity, togetherness, harmony or 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. While they seem to have found scriptural support for an
infinite time when all church of God groups should become united in doctrines,
it is clear from the above verse that it is the ministry gifts of missionary
work of apostleship, preaching of God’s true messages, evangelizing the lost
sinners, overseeing the local congregations and teaching sound doctrines among
saints that will build up the body of Christ and cause her members to grow to their
proper height. It is the truths they receive from God’s various servants into
their hearts that will make the individual members fully mature in faith (being
rooted, grounded, settled and
unmovable in the Bible doctrines) and to come
in the oneness of faith or truth, in the similarity of the knowledge of the
Son of God, so that whole body can attain the stature of a perfect man (Jesus
Christ), that is unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. It
is just as if Paul had restated that: “we all grow unto a holy temple in the
Lord, being fitly framed together”. (Eph 2:21) This is only possible when first
there is a unity of Spirit; that is, we all possess the same Spirit of love,
humility, and childlikeness, fitly framed together, not having the spirit of
pride, debate, subtlety or hypocrisy. The unity of the Spirit makes it possible
for the wolf, lamb, and the leopard to lie down with the kid; and the calf and
the young lion sit down together to be taught God’s word together from the
mouth of a little child. (Isa 11:6) Their hearts, being converted and made like
Christ’s, are alike open to receive the love of all truth, that they might be
saved. (2Th 2:10) But those who resist the truth, despise God’s humble
ministers and receive not the love of truth, are given over to a reprobate
mind, and sent a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. (Ro 1:28; 2Th
2:11) Such have gone into perdition, and have been manifested to be so, by
their opposition to the truth. We don’t have to wait till all their followers
have been convinced of their spiritual condition; otherwise Catholicism and
Paganism will not have followers today. Rather their followers are even more in
population than those who dare to stand for the right. These characters, which
are ungovernable by the power of the Spirit and the Truth, ought to be
discerned by spiritual minds and marked out for identification in line with the
scripture, in order to keep the unity of Spirit among pure and like-minds.
This is not something to be treated lightly. The kingdom
of God is for whosoever can eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ (John
6:54-58). His flesh is unleavened bread for the soul. We don’t need the leaven
of the Pharisees, yoking our soul with lightness to gain men’s recognition. The
doctrine of Christ is still the old truths, which make religious folks to say:
“This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” (John 6:60) The Lord did not give in
to the idea of lightening up the doctrine a bit so that every Dick and Harry
can become a part of the kingdom. Rather He asserted that “no man can come unto
me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” Will our “unity”-loving
brothers ever come to this truth? We cannot be smarter than our Master. Speak
the truth. Lovers of the truth will be drawn by the Father. They will hear His
voice and follow. (John 10:16, 27) This is the right method. Many of the
disciples who cannot endure sound doctrine are sure go back, and walk no more
with the Lord. (John 6:66) The sheep are separated from the goats; and the
wheat from the tares. The separation is so severe that He even asked the
remaining twelve disciples: “Will ye also go away?” We don’t beg men to be
united with the body of Christ. It takes only the determined to become members.
We have to endeavor to enter in at the narrow and strait gate. It’s so narrow
that we cannot enter in without giving up all of self. This is how we endeavor
to keep the unity of the Spirit!
If everyone endeavors to keep the unity of the Spirit, we will all come
in the unity of truth. We keep this unity by abiding in the same Holy Spirit,
by which we were sealed, not having a different spirit from the saints of all
time and space. So our Spirit must be identical with the early church as well
as with holy ones everywhere. This cannot be seen as abstract or idealistic. It
is practicable. It was practiced in the early church. As many souls as love
truth without bias are practicing it today among themselves, being like-minded
and sanctified by the Truth, their fewness notwithstanding.
Section 4.03
Till We All
Come…
“Coming in the unity of the
faith” is not the same as “coming to
the unity of the faith”. We come in the unity of the faith because we all have
the same faith already! Some make much out of the adverb: “till” as if it is
something infinite in time, perhaps, not attainable in this world or age, but
only when Christ comes. This simply only
talking about maturing of each individual member of the body of Christ, in the
knowledge of the faith, not being children any more, being tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (Eph. 4:13-14) This
is made obvious when you add up the two verses. Separating them takes the
thirteenth verse out of its original context and changes its meaning.
We ought to give the more earnest heed to the truth we hear, lest at any
time we should let them slip. (Heb 2:1) Let’s walk while we have the light,
lest darkness come upon us. (John 12:35) Christ warns that we take heed how we receive
truth, for more light will be given to whoever has received light; but whoever rejects
truth, even the little he seems to have shall be taken from him. (Lu 8:18) This
is very serious. Let’s not lose everything in the guise of waiting till… There are some who have not only rejected confirmed truths
but make mockery of them openly, not only in their local congregation, but also
in national meetings; we are expected to wait endlessly till they come to the
unity of the faith? Now, there’s one
question I really want to ask:
Section 4.04
What about the
Heretic?
Tit 3:10 makes it clear: “A man that is an heretick after
the first and second admonition reject.” The heretic is a sectarian who holds a
different doctrine from the body of Christ. Some attempt to reduce the culpability
of being sectarian by applying the term: “groupism”, which refer to being a
variant group in the church of God movement. If groupism is the same as being
loyal to all the teachings of a group whether or not they agree with the word
of God, as made clear to your conscience by the Holy Spirit, it is then
synonymous with sectarianism. Thus, clinging to one church of God group or
another, in clear opposition to God’s word, is the same as heresy or
sectarianism. One who is led by the Spirit of God ought to reject such
heretics, after the first and second admonitions. These admonitions serve as opportunities
to give instructions in meekness to those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. Is it
possible that anyone of us has past feeling of trembling for sound teaching and
has become no more responsive to holy instructions so that God cannot reach
them anymore to give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth? (2Ti
2:25, Eph 4:19) They will oppose themselves because they fight with their
conscience, speaking lies to themselves in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron, doting about questions and strifes of words (1Ti 4:2,
1Ti 6:4). How do you unite with such a one?
Certainly, that kind of unity lacks scriptural examples, and thus, is not
spiritually functional.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and
avoid them. (Ro 16:17) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the
truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1Ti 6:3) Whither appeareth the universality of
unity in cases such as these? Is it not thus clear that unity is homogeneous? The
homogeneity of the church must be preserved. God is no respecter of persons. We
are in the church because of the faith. If we deny the faith, we are out of the
church. Period! Thus when pride is noticed in a professed member of the body of
Christ who is not willing to submit himself to the truth or appeal to brethren
to help bring his case before God’s throne for help to overcome his weakness,
such an errant person is to be marked and avoided, lest many be defiled by his fleshly
influence. This is how the body of Christ is kept free from spots and wrinkles,
to remain spiritually functional. This is the
only way unity can be functional, as brethren will feel at home with their
hosts who have similar beliefs and practices, etc. They can fit into fellowship
and function as if they were still in their home congregational, without fear
of strange teachings. They are excited to know that it is the same Spirit at
work in their home congregation that is also in operation in the other one. A
unity-in-diversity of doctrines cannot bring this kind of joy to the hearts of
the visiting saint.
Section 4.05
Making a
Difference…
It cannot be denied that there’s room for some degree of differences in
areas that are otherwise not clearly spelt out in the Scriptures, which perhaps
some individuals have been led into in their conscious walk with God. For
example the issue of meat and vegetables that was treated by Paul in the
fourteenth chapter of Romans. Let every man be fully persuaded. That is the
rule.
Let everyone be guided by the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of truth who
guides the church into all truth. Although all members of the church do not
grow at the same pace, if the growth is steady, we will all surely 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. Faith comes by
hearing the word of truth, yea every
word which proceeds from the mouth of God! It is the Holy Spirit in the
heart of man that builds up this faith in God. We need to keep ourselves in the
love of God, keeping His word in our heart. This is the way we endeavor to keep
the sameness, oneness or unity of the Spirit, so that it is the same Spirit in
me that is also working in my brother. When we have the same Spirit, we can
come together and learn of Christ through the various ministries in the body of
our Lord. Since faith is based on truth, it is no wonder God is seeking those
who will worship Him in Spirit and truth. We need both the Spirit and the
Truth. It is not enough to hold truth and leave the Spirit, or pursue the
Spirit and turn our back on the truth. They both agree in one with the blood of
cleansing! (1Jo 5:8)
However, clearly confirmed doctrines in the scripture should not be
relegated to the class of “every-man-on-his-own”. This is how sectarians see
our abstinence from use of jewelry. The same verse that advised our judgment to
avoid gold is the same that forbids the outward adornment of plaiting the hair
and costly array or apparel. There are no other scriptures that clearly forbid
use of gold for adornment apart from 1Tim2:9 and 1Pet3:3, 4. It is amusing to
see those who ignore these scriptures struggle hard to defend their position on
not dressing up with gold and pearls, when unbelievers confront them.
Section
4.06
The Doctrine Of Hair, Doctrine Of Shoe,
Doctrine Of Vegetables, Spoon…
Should this holy instruction be ridiculed by tagging it along with
others as “the doctrine of hair, doctrine of shoe, doctrine of vegetables,
spoon, tie, and of tithes, cummin and so on”? Can truly say that such a heart
that produces such a thing sincerely desires to receive more light on the matter;
or has the mind not been set already?
Some also make light of the instruction on the ground that 1Cor 11:15
states that long hair is given the women for a covering. Effectively, they have
inadvertently shown the scriptures to be conflicting. But this is not true.
That verse never instructed anyone to plait the hair. The subject matter of the
chapter is not even the length of the hair. It is about hair covering. For
those who are quick to conclude that it is only the hair that is given the woman
for a covering, we shall here ask:
Since Paul states that
“every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth
her head”, does it now mean that African women without very long hair for
covering cannot pray or prophesy?
Section 4.07
Conclusion of
the Matter
I hope it is
now very clear from the foregoing that any arrangement for unity which is not
based on the sameness of Spirit and Truth is nothing but dysfunctional unity,
where infectiously sick, diseased, dying and dead members are lumped together
with the living, causing dizziness, slumbering and staggering of the whole body.
The Word and the Spirit are slain but not buried in the open church and men
give gifts to themselves such as national head, zonal heads, local heads, etc.
My argument for doctrinal unity, which is produced by spiritual unity,
is not in any wise adverse to functional unity; rather, it makes it possible.
Any other arrangement than this one that is backed by many irrefutable
scriptures, howbeit being garnished with lofty human ideas, pragmatic and attractive,
“is like pounding cold crooked pieces of iron
against each other to make them fit together. The more blows, the more crooks
and differences”. As much as we desire a functional unity which has an appeal
to the simple and spiritually unlearned minds in our locality we should be wary
of molding another sect calf for the people to worship and wrangle over, for
the overspreading of abominations. Instead
of giving in to the mounting pressure around us to appear socially attractive
and neatly organized like the denominations who have more appeal to the local
populations, let’s search out the truth of God’s word, whatever it is and
present the church to the world as the unparalleled bride, undefiled who is but
one; the only one of her mother; the choice one of her that bare her! (Song
6:9) The denominations in the world are only organized by men’s idea. We cannot
win men by our own ideas; it’s God who draws them to Himself. A common saying
is that the truth is bitter. In the same way, Christ did not appear in an
attractive form to the flesh. (Isa 53:2) It is the Spirit that quickens the
heart of man. Let’s walk in the Spirit, since ours is a spiritual organization.
It takes only the spiritually minded to judge the design of the foundation of
God. The natural world cannot judge a spiritual organization. But he that is
spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1Co 2:15) Yet,
again, this may appear, to some minds, as pride and arrogance, depending on the
side of the divide you stand. Now the question will be: “Who’s on the Lord’s
side?” (Ex 32:26) Let every precious soul take heed.
Thanks for your patience.
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ who is the
head of the church and the savior of the body. Amen.
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