Members Only

Thus far we have examined that a true church is constituted by only those that are saved and Scripturally baptized. These are two requirements mandated by Scripture. I received an "Anonymous" comment that found my last post "offensive". First, I refuse to post "anonymous" comments. Second, it is not my desire to be offensive, but it is my desire to preach and teach Truth. This is truth, and at times truth is offensive to those in disobedience. 'Anonymous' said that those who pleased their parents by being confirmed are no less 'church.' Actually, they are not part of any true church. Problem is that 'anonymous' has been taught error that being in the 'church' is equivalent to being saved. This is false teaching. You can be saved and on your way to Heaven and not a member of a true church. Also, our service to the Lord may require us at times to forsake our mother and father (Matt. 19:29). Anonymous also said that there are those who cannot be immersed for medical reasons. First, in all my years, I have not seen this to be true. Second, (at the risk of sounding blunt and uncaring-which I am not) it doesn't matter, God made no exceptions. Anonymous also said that they too were 'part of the baptist movement.'

No you're not.

I strive to be kind, have compassion, love as brethren, pitiful, courteous (1 Peter 3:8), but I also must reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long suffering AND DOCTRINE (2 Tim. 4:2). I have no spirit of pride, but humility. I seek no applause, but rather giving honor to our Lord. In these days, especially these days, we must stand for truth. I pray this is received in the same spirit it is written in.
We must go on.

A true church is constituted of members only. And we are not talking jackets here (though they were smooth!) A church is made up of saved, Scripturally baptized, members of that local church. Those members were set there by God Himself to be joined to that individual body to please and serve Him.

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1 Cor. 12:18

Members of a true church are received by their profession of faith in Christ and following that profession with a Scriptural baptism or by a church letter of recommendation (2 Cor. 3:1). These members will be received only if they are commended by their last church. This practice is Biblical, but sadly many times ignored today.
Many of our "Local church colleges" do not 'mess with sending and receiving letters' of the students joining while studying there-what a shame. Many 'large empire' churches don't have the time to do such minuscule tasks. Some smaller churches don't bother with keeping records. Other liberal churches do not require them because they are just glad to be able to love anyone and keep ignoring their sin. These practices have weakened and polluted our churches. It is no wonder our churches are filled with such filth and the world!
One joining a church from another church should only be accepted into membership if they can be recommended by their previous church. I am aware of the problems in this. Pastoral pride at times will never allow him to 'recommend' anyone that would leave HIS flock. This is why a pastor's qualifications include "of good behaviour, given to hospitality,...no striker, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous...lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." God does move people at times. Remember pastors, "God sets the members..." not us.
There are privileges and requirements of being a member. Members should attend all services and not forsake the assembling of ourselves (Heb. 10:25). Members should participate in observing the ordinances of the church (1 Cor. 11:2). Members should support their church with their offerings (1 Cor. 16:2). Members should use their talents to serve in any way through their church (Rom. 12:1-2). Members should live a life above reproach for the glory of the Lord in the church (2 Cor. 6:17). Members can pray for one another and bear the burdens of one another (Gal. 6:2). Members can fellowship with and encourage one another (2 Cor. 6:14). Members should rebuke and if necessary discipline with the authority given to the church (1 Cor. 5). Members are able to vote upon church matters of authority (Acts 6:5). The government of a true church is 'members only.'
Oh the church, the true church, 'My Church' as our Lord described it, is a place of authority, power, and Truth, and each one is for Members Only!

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph. 3:21

Researching the Church

In order to be confident as to which churches are part of the 'My Church'es the Lord spoke of in Matthew, one will have to endeavor to study and examine the practices of that church. By micro-examination, one should be able to find the common DNA (Doctrine, Nature and,Ancestry) to confirm relationship.
So what constitutes a true church and what separates it from church pretenders?
First, a true church will be made up of regenerate members. Salvation has always been a prerequisite to church membership (Acts 2:41-42, 47). Church members are those that 'call upon the name of the Lord.'(1 Cor. 1:2). These saints must secondly be Scripturally baptized. According to Acts 2:41, a person was to hear the Word, believe the word, then be baptized. All church members were to be baptized believers. What is Scriptural Baptism?
It is this baptism that has separated true churches from pretenders. It is this baptism that has given to us the name "Baptist". It is this baptism that has resulted in the martyrdom of our faithful forefathers. This baptism is of great importance!
Jesus knew it was important, that is why He walked 60 miles to be baptized by the only man authorized to do such at that time (John-the Baptist). The Holy Spirit knew it was important, for He too attended the Baptism of Christ and made His presence known. The Father knew also of its importance, for He voiced His approval when His Son was baptized that day! The Devil knew of its importance, for he too was there right after to tempt Christ and it is he that has caused much confusion and counterfeited true baptism.
Baptism was only administered to those that were saved already (Matt. 28:19, Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12, 36-37; Acts 10:43-47). Baptism was only done by immersion as the subject was plunged beneath the waters (Mark 1:9-10; Matt. 3:13-16; John 3:23; Acts 8:30-39; Rom. 6:4). This immediately voids all 'baptisms' done by pouring and sprinkling. In Scripture, 'much water' was needed to properly baptize, and the subjects went 'down into' the water; furthermore, a burial is hardly represented by a sprinkling.
Baptism was also only administered in Scripture under the proper authority. Baptism is regulated by the Word of God. The authority to Baptize was given to the church in Matthew 28. A study of this authority will take one down this path:
John the Baptist was the first baptizer and had his authority from God (John 1:6). Jesus and the 12 baptized by John (Acts 1:21-22) and it was the church that was given the authority upon the great commission. 3,000 were baptized and added to that church at Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Phillip was sent out by that church and baptized, Peter was sent out of that church and baptized. From this church and its work of evangelism, other churches were started who also, upon their beginning of being a church, had the authority passed on to them to baptize. The apostle Paul was sent out of one such church, the church at Antioch, in Acts 13 with the authority to Baptize. This authority was passed on from church to church from generation to generation down THIS LINE of 'My Church'es.
Baptism from pretending churches was never accepted by the true church. The true churches demanded a 're-baptism' if the subject had not been Scripturally baptized (thus the term ana-baptist applied to churches such as ours during the times of the reformation).
Baptism has always been important to the true church because it pleases the Lord, proclaims the Gospel, and protects the church. It pleases the Lord in that baptism is the result of souls being saved! It proclaims the Gospel in that the baptism is a picture/type/figure (1 Pt. 3:21; Col 2:12; Rom. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Gal. 3:26-27) of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, the death of our old life to sin and resurrection of the new man to walk in newness of life, our faith in the Trinity, and our putting on of Christ. It protects the church from doctrinal error. Church pretenders have false doctrine taught in their 'churches.' By a true church not accepting their baptism and allowing membership from such churches, it is protecting the church from doctrinal error such as baptismal regeneration, infant baptism, etc. It protects the church from protestant denominationalism. Those that came out of the catholic church retained some/most of the doctrinal errors of the catholic church. Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodist, Episcopal all believe in some form of baptismal regeneration and sprinkling of infants. The rest of the protestants branched off of them or accept their baptisms thereby welcoming in false doctrine.
The 'My Church'es are not protestant! We have existed since the first century and cannot accept the false baptisms of those that believe falsely. Consider the following:

Baptism is that wherein I was made a child of God.
-Episcopal Catechism

Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ for regeneration, remission of sins.
-Presbyterian Confession

Sanctify this water and grant this child now to be baptized to receive the fullness of thy grace and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children. -Methodist ritual

It is certain our church supposes all who are baptized in their infancy are at the same time born again. -John Wesley

Concerning baptism, it is necessary for salvation and we condemn the anabaptist who hold infants can be saved without it. -Lutherans Augsburg Confession

Baptism protects the true church from inter/non denominationalism and the ecumenical hellish doctrine.
There are many pretending to be churches, but cannot be a true church, for a true church is made up of only believers who have been Scripturally baptized.
Now, let us look closer.....

Prove It!

So with all the so many 'churches' in existence today, can we prove what churches are truly His Churches and which ones are pretenders? This is a matter of great importance. The world's religions push an ecumenical theme where all churches are accepted and should get along. This is a belief from Hell itself and will be used by the anti-christ and his prophet one day in uniting the world. A true Christian should have no part in this! It is the Devil that has brought all the confusion and intermarriage of belief. It is time more people stood up for Truth!
Churches that are 'My Churches' cannot join in with Billy Graham and have an ecumenical evangelistic campaign side by side with pretenders. 'My Churches' cannot accept the baptisms of infant sprinklers, works salvation preaching, pretenders. 'My Churches' cannot join hand in hand with those assemblies that have not Authority from on High, do not preach the doctrine of Christ, and hold no areas of separation from an ungodly world.
Due to a 'Fundamentalist' movement from Bob Jones and the like, 'My Churches' did join hands with the unscriptural, and sadly, most still cling today to the error of those before them. We proudly proclaim we are 'Fundamentalist', when it was the fundamentalist that sought to unite the 'My Churches' with the pretenders on the grounds of a few shared beliefs. Most Baptist churches and schools have a 'Christian Flag' that they pledge to, that was birthed by a Methodist and embraced by all protestants as a means of uniting 'My churches' with pretenders. (We should only pledge our allegiance spiritually to our Saviour and not "to the Christian flag AND to the Saviour..."...that was free.)
We have allowed protestant teaching to become our foundation in our Christian schools through Abeka, Bob Jones, and similar curriculum. In them you will read of the Wesleys, Luther, Calvin and the Puritans as our spiritual forefathers and to whom we owe our allegiance-Wrong! There were Baptist who stood for truth to whom we owe a great deal of gratitude today. Men like Isaac Backus, John Clarke, Obadiah Holmes, and Shubal Stearns were men who stood for truth in the face of persecutors who believed like Luther, Calvin and the Puritans.
Can we prove this? Are the 'My Churches' so different than the pretenders? At one time there was a great gulf between the two, but due to a lack of knowledge in Biblical Doctrine, our Baptist Heritage, and the teachings of most Christian school curriculum, the gulf between the two has been greatly diminished...all part of Satan's ecumenical plan. Marks of this tragedy is seen in a belief in pastoral absolute (pope) rule or plurality of elders teachings, open and close communion accepted, alien baptism accepted in the church, 'empire building' ministries that 'rule'-I mean greatly influence smaller churches, etc.
1. The 'My Churches' can be identified today in studying history. As stated before, if your church can trace its history back to a man-it is pretending to be a church. Consider the following:
a. Catholic church had its beginning with Constantine in the 4th century.
b. Lutheran church had its beginning with Martin Luther in 1520.
c. Episcopalian church had its beginning with Henry VIII in 1534.
d. Presbyterian church had its beginning with John Calvin in 1536.
e. The Congregational church had its beginning with Robert Brown in 1580.
f. The Methodist church had its beginning with John Wesley in 1740.
g. The Church of Christ had its beginning (ironically) with Alexander Campbell in 1827.
Of course we do not even mention men like Joseph Smith, Mohamed, or Mary Baker Eddy to name a few. The 'My Churches' began with the speaker of that phrase-Jesus Christ!
2. 'My Churches' will have doctrinal unity. The New Testament church today will believe the same doctrines as the first church. They will have continued in the 'apostles doctrine' and faith. Doctrine is of great importance. If a church holds to false doctrine, has held to false doctrine, and has ignored teaching of Truth-they are merely pretending to be a true church. This is why areas such as discipline, the ordinances, doctrine, and our commission is of great importance.
Can a church go wrong and then repent and be right? Definitely! Can I prove it! We shall see...

My Church's Birth

So when did the Lord's church, "My Church" (Matt. 16:18), begin? A study of Scriptures should make this event clear. The first church was organized out of the material prepared by John the Baptist (Acts 1:22). John received his authority to baptize from heaven (Mt. 21:25). Jesus and all the apostles including Matthias were baptized by John (Acts 1:21-22). Jesus took this material prepared by John the Baptist and organized His church.
"My Church" was in existence during the earthly ministry of Christ. Jesus said in Matt. 16:18, "I Will build my church," meaning during the days of His ministry on earth He would begin building it. In Matt. 18, the authority of discipline was placed in the church during Christ's earthly ministry. According to Heb. 2:12 and Mark 14:26, Christ sang God's praise in the midst of the church. According to Acts 1:15-26 and John 13:29, the church had a treasurer and organization during Christ's earthly ministry. Christ also gave the Great commission to the church in Matthew 28:16-20.
The church, therefore, was established in the days of Jesus' ministry here on this earth. It is in the Gospels, during the ministry of Christ that we see a true church by definition: "a local visible body of organized baptized believers. Many look to Pentecost as being the birth of His church; but on that day 3,000 were 'added' unto them. There has to be something already in existence in order to be added unto, thus the church was already in existence.
Thus the church began during the ministry of Christ while on this earth. That was the birth of His church. It was that church that was given instruction for discipline (Matt. 18), command to keep the ordinances (Matt. 26 & 28), and the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). It was that church through preaching and the work of evangelists, that reproduced itself and literally turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Our Lord gave to His church the ordinances, discipline, doctrine, the commission, His power, and His authority; and according to Ephesians, there is truly only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism (vs. 5).
So if a church traces its beginning to a man and not Christ, does not keep the ordinances, practice discipline, continue in doctrine nor fulfill the commission; it's only pretending.

"My Church"

No, I am not referring to Cozaddale Baptist Temple specifically; for the “My” I refer to is a pronoun referring to the Lord Jesus. You see, in Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, “…upon this rock I will build my church;and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The Lord promised perpetuity to the church-His church. Now at that time there were no other ‘churches’ around, but Jesus was making it clear that this promise was for His church.
Today there are many ‘churches.’ One can open a phone book and find Catholic churches, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Jehovah’s Witness, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Synagogues, Latter Day Saints, Community Churches, nondenominational, interdenominational, mosques, Adventist, Anglican, charismatic, Calvinistic, Congregationalist, Mennonite, Quaker, Assembly of God, Methodist, Swedonborgian, Bible Church, Church of God, Church of Christ, Church of the living Hope, Friends church, and (my favorite) the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States-just to name a few.
Then there are Baptist churches. Can we say that ‘Baptist’ churches are ‘His Church?’ Well, there are Alliance Baptist, American Baptist, Reformed Baptist, Affirming Baptist, Bible Baptist, General Association Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Evangelical Free Baptist, Regular Baptist, Independent Baptist, Old Regular Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Separate Baptist, Seventh Day Baptist, Southern Baptist, United Baptist, World-Wide Baptist…I could go on.
Why are there so many ‘churches?’ Is it not any wonder that people are confused and frustrated with religion? Well, let’s just say ‘God is not the author of confusion.’(1 Cor. 14:33). This is one of the master plans of Satan to deceive masses of people. Millions are involved in false churches proclaiming a false doctrine (2 John 10) and are going to Hell. The question we must answer is-“What church is ‘My Church’ as Christ so designated it?
If a church preaches salvation but does not follow Biblical doctrine, is it still ‘My Church?’ If a church preaches salvation but does not keep the ordinances, is it still ‘My Church?’ If it does not matter what doctrine you hold and preach or how you observe the ordinances, then why did our Lord spend so much time teaching and presenting them? Why bother in the fight to uphold and protect doctrine? Why did Paul admonish Timothy to preach doctrine and the Corinthian church to keep the ordinances?
If there is a type of church that is ‘My Church’, then are all others not pretenders? This is a matter of great importance that many do not wish to discuss, decide, or designate; but we must! For the Lord’s promise of perpetuity, power, and purpose are only for the ‘My Church.’

Non/Inter Denominational Stuff

First, my apologies for taking a hiatus from writing the past two weeks. I have priorities, and must meet them...I went fishing at Lake Erie last Monday and was picnicking and fishing this past Memorial Day, but I will do my best to 'catch' up.
Having studied church practices and church preaching, let us now turn towards church pretenders.
What I mean by 'church pretenders' are organizations that say they are a church, but fail to meet our Lord's guidelines in actually being a church. There are many (too many) religious organizations that claim to be a church, but being a church is more than steeples, stain glassed windows, and a sign. There are many places claiming to be a place that 'changes lives and sets people free,but few that hold to doctrine and the Truths of God's Word. Recently, a church member asked me "How to deal with and speak to someone from a non-denominational church." They gave me the name of the 'church' they attended and I began to pray, study, and research that organization. I would tell you to visit their website, but really don't want to promote them in any way, so 'W'hat 'W'ould 'W'e be looking at if we visited that site? We would be at a 'crossroads' that traps many people in their 'net.'
There you could read about a typical non/interdenominational pretend to be church. You can find Jesus' name if you really look hard, but will easily find 100 references to their free coffee! You will realize you can be saved if you believe 'in this stuff.' and that a church is anyone saved who has conversations about 'real stuff.' I hope I have made myself clear, I can't make this stuff up!
You can (but I seriously do not recommend you do) listen to the 'pastors' last sermon on living "Lavishly." That God created us to enjoy pleasure and the reason people have secret addictions and affairs is because they feel guilty openly enjoying pleasure. He preaches to drink (he prefers beer), buy things for your pleasure, and make yourself happy! His four 'points' to his sermon are

1. Do What Feels Good
2. Do things that allow you to lose track of time
3. Do things that renew energy
4. Pleasing yourself with pleasure reminds you how good God is.

AMEN?
This is blasphemy! I do not write this is a spirit of arrogance or vice, but rather of warning; this is what constitutes many 'churches' today. This is not to take us by surprise though. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 2, "But there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bough them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." We must mark them and avoid them! Warn of them! They have alot of 'stuff' to share and say, but that all it is-stuff.
A church is rather to be the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim. 3:15). We will examine our Lord's true churches and do our best to expose the Devil's false ones.

Expositional Explaining Expository Exclaiming

For many in our "IFB" movement a LOUD service equals a powerful service. The preacher will carry his microphone and preach with it half down his throat yelling and hollering and begging for "amens" and "Preach-ons". As long as the preacher and half the congregation leaves hoarse, then 'God was in the service.' Well, volume does not equal power. Changed lives is a fruit of God's power!
The power of God is not found in volume, but rather in the Scriptures. You see, power is a direct product of proper authority.
For instance, the Lord in giving the Great Commission said in Matthew 28:

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things...

The Authority brought the power!
We also see in Acts 1 the following:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me...

The Authority brought power!
The Lord said to a centurion once that He had not ever seen so great a faith as the faith he expressed. Why was that? Well, when the centurion sought to have his servant healed of Christ, he had faith that Christ could do just that; but his words were as follows in Luke 7:8

For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

You will notice that the centurion knew Christ had the power to heal because he too was "a man set under authority." Not just a man with authority, but also under authority. You see, power comes from being under the proper authority.
This is why the power of God is evident in the home when the children are subject to the parents, the wife subject to the husband, and the husband subject to the Lord and His Word. This is why the power of God is evident in ministries done through the local church and under the church's authority (Eph. 3:21). This is why our preaching, if it is to have the power of God, is to be contextual and centered upon the Word of God!
Paul in his final words to Timothy said in chapter 4:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Paul told Timothy to Preach! Let us examine his thoughts on preaching:
I. The Cause of Preaching (vs. 1)
The word 'charge' there means to testify or bring to remembrance. Paul was reminding Timothy of why he had better take preaching serious...we will give an account before God someday. It would be of great benefit for every preacher to remind himself before taking the pulpit that we will give an account before God for how we use that pulpit. Our duty is the 'perfecting of the saints.' (Eph. 4:11-12). To teach them the Word of God, and we will most definitely give an account (Heb. 13:17). We will not give an account for our jokes, stories, illustrations, or volume; but we will give an account for preaching the Word!
II. The Command to Preach (vs. 2a)
Paul says here to 'Preach the Word!' In this you see a few thoughts:
A. Authority
The word preach there means a 'heralder.' A ruler would have a heralder to make announcements in a clear, loud voice. He was not an ambassador who made negotiations, but a heralder that made proclamations! The idea of a heralder is that he was not THE AUTHORITY, but he proclaimed the message of the Authority!
B. Action
Paul says "Preach". There is no substitute for preaching! God has ordained preaching as His means of proclaiming the Word (1 Cor. 1:21; Titus 1:3). God did not ordain cantatas, dramas, or social events as His means of proclaiming the Word...it is preaching!
C. Article
We are to preach 'The Word.' Not the Sword of the Lord, not another man's commentary, not a hobby horse; but preach the Word. Our people and our churches are truly being destroyed from a lack of knowledge of the Word of God!
D. Appointments
We are to preach the Word "in season, out of season." A true preacher of the Word of God will not seek excuses to not preach, but will seek for opportunities to preach! He will be ready, willing, and wanting to preach! A fire will be burning!(Jer. 20:9)
III. The Components of Preaching (vs. 2)
Preaching of the Word should consist of three actions according to this Scripture:
1. Reproving-Convicting, exposing, and correcting faults
2. Rebuking-Chiding to raise the value of, purposed to make better
3. Exhorting-Calling to one's side to strengthen and encourage.
I read a quote about preaching that said this:

Preaching is afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.

If we encourage those that need rebuking, we assist in their sin; if we rebuke those that need encouraging, we push them towards sin.
IV. The Composure in Preaching (vs. 2)
When one preaches the Word, it must be done "with all longsuffering." Topical preaching has its place and is a good thing! The draw to topical preaching is that it excites and motivates people to make an instant decision! Preaching the Word and allowing folks to perfect (mature) in their knowledge of the Word of God will not produce immediate excitement or even decisions. We judge every service by 'how many came to the altar;' when we ought to judge a service by 'how many lives were changed in the weeks and months to follow.' Preaching through the Word of God must be done with longsuffering and patience.
V. The Core of Preaching (vs. 2)
Preaching must be, above all else centered on doctrine! Paul even goes on to warn in verse 3 that a time is coming (is it here?) when people will not endure sound doctrine! Preachers must center their preaching times not on telling stories, testimonies, jokes, illustrations, or other fluff; but rather doctrine.

True preaching is the explanation and application of Bible doctrine. Anything else is religious speech making.

Oh that we would get back to doctrinal preaching. We have a generation of 'IFB' churches that have been raised on a diet of topical, easy listening preaching that know very little doctrine and as a result are being swept away into false churches and teaching.
VI. The Calamity (vs. 3-4)
Paul warns Timothy in charging him to preach the Word that people "will turn away their ears from truth..." We are living in a day when many folks do not desire the healthy doctrinal preaching of the Word; but rather just have a taste for the carnal weak novelties of easy listening preaching. People would rather be told how much God loves them and how good they are, than to learn doctrine, see truth, and truly see a reflection of ourselves in the mirror of God's Word.
Oh that we would get back to Preaching the Word!