The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
April 6, 2008
In
This Issue:
Denominations
You Can Read About in the Bible
by
Steve Klein
The
Lord's Supper
by
Jeff May
Denominations You Can Read About in the Bible
For years I've been preaching that, "You can't read anything about modern man-made denominations in the Bible!" Christ only built one church (Matthew 16:18), the same apostolic doctrine was taught in every congregation (1 Corinthians 4:17) and there is but one Biblical faith which was "once for all delivered to the saints" (Ephesians 4:5; Jude 3). These facts preclude the Lord approving of even one denomination in the New Testament, let alone the hundreds of denominations that exist today.
But I've come to realize lately that it is not completely accurate to say that you can't read anything about denominations in the Bible. Their existence and doctrines are indeed prophesied! And their existence and doctrines are condemned! Notice the following denominational doctrines and practices specifically condemned in Scripture:
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Forbidding marriage. Certain cults, and notably the Catholic Church, forbid their clergy to marry. You can read about that in 1 Timothy 4:1-3: "The Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons . . . forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."
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Forbidding certain foods. Note that 1 Timothy 4:3 also mentions that those who depart from the faith would command their adherents to "abstain from foods." Several Eastern religions have various restrictions on foods, but so do some that claim to be followers of Christ. Mormons forbid ingesting hot liquids and Catholics have forbidden the eating of meat at certain times.
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Leaders who act for or as God. Some denominational clergy claim to remit sins on God's behalf. Some claim to be head of, president of, or father (pope) over their churches. Others, often working together in a convention or synod, claim the authority to legislate laws for God's people. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 prophesies concerning an individual who "exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
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Denying the virgin birth of Christ. John MacArthur reported that, "The Survey Research Center of the University of California at Berkeley polled the denominations to get their view on the virgin birth: 69% of the American Baptists believed in the virgin birth, 66% of the Lutherans believed in it, 57% of the United Presbyterians, 39% of the Episcopalians, 34% of the Methodists, and 2l% of the Congregationalists." The apostle John saw this coming. In 1 John 4:1-3 he wrote, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." Later in the same chapter John wrote, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God" (1 John 4:15).
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The doctrine that the Christian cannot so sin as to be lost. This doctrine, a key point of Calvinism, is accepted by several denominations which teach once saved, always saved. Baptist preacher Sam Morris explained this doctrine as follows: "We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul! The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul . . . All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger &ldots; The way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul." (Via the Handbook of Religious Quotations, p. 24). Again, the apostle John saw this heresy coming. In 1 John 3:7-8, he wrote, "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil."
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Fake miracles. Several denominations of the Pentecostal or charismatic stripe claim to perform miracles such as tongue-speaking. They ignore or misuse passages like 1 Corinthians 13:8 which teaches that these things would "cease." The so-called miracles they perform do not compare favorably to the authentic miracles performed by Jesus and His apostles. The Bible speaks of those whose coming would be "according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception" (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). Jesus said that "false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." (Mark 13:22).
So, the next time a member of a denomination tries to tell you that his church is doing what the Bible says, maybe you should get your Bible out and show him just how right he is!
-- Steve Klein
Think about your covenant (agreement) with God. Remember that when you be-came a Christian you promised God you would honor Him by living as a Christian shou1d. He agreed to be your God. You agreed to be His child. The Lord's Supper is a meal you eat of that reflects your covenant with God. Jesus made this clear (Mt. 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25). The Lord's Supper becomes a great time to examine our lives (I Cor. 1.27-31). Am I keeping my end of the agreement? The supper can be a moment of great resolve to be all that we can be for the Lord.
Think about the body of the Lord. No one impacted the world more than Jesus. All that He did, He did with His body How does He impact the world today? It is still through His body the church!! We are His hands, feet, eyes, ears and mouths today. As you partake of the bread today, which represents His body you might think about your role in His body. Do you realize that God has given you certain abilities He wants you to use in His body (1 Pet. 4.10)? Are you doing your part in the body of Christ? Are you helping Christ impact the world today? That is good for thought during the supper.
Think about Jesus as the Bread of Life. The bread you partake of is symbolic of His body which died to give you life. Jesus is the Bread of Life (Jn. 6:35). As you share in that bread today, are you sharing Him with others? Are there others you could share Him with? Think about those who are yet thirsty and hungry for an answer to their soul's deepest longing. Share the Lord.
Think about the blood of the Lord. As you partake of the fruit of the vine, it might be a good time to ask the Lord to help you to never do anything that would show a lack of appreciation for His spilled blood (Heb.10:29). You might ask Him to help you show Him more each day how much His blood really means to you.
Think about the cup He had to drink (Mt. 26:42). It was a dreadful cup. It contained mocking, a scourging, spitting, nails, and abandonment. He drank it down to its bitter dregs. The cup you drink of during the supper spared you from all these things which you deserved. Now, won't that keep our thoughts focused a while?
Think about the communion you share with Christ and the entire body of Christ. It is a wonderful thought to realize that, on the Lord's day, there is really just one bread being partaken of by the entire body of Christ (I Cor. 10:17). Take time to think of all the wonderful people you are in communion with in the body of Christ. Some of them have passed on. Some are sitting near you today and are a great blessing to you. Some of them are across continents thanking God for your fellowship with them in the gospel. Some of them you have not met and likely will not meet until the resurrection. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice which brought you into communion with the people of God.
These are just a few thoughts that could fill our minds during the Lord's supper. It is my prayer that these suggestions will help all of our minds to be stayed on Him the next time we commune with Him.
~ Jeff May