Layman's Lounge
Finding the Line and Holding It.
- Details
- Category: A Deeper Word
- Published: Saturday, 05 June 2010 09:58
- Written by Mark Neddeau
- Hits: 1258
Jer 42:21 And [now] I have this day declared [it] to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any [thing] for the which he hath sent me unto you.
Lately the Lord has been dealing with me about the work that we've been doing on Facebook and here our website and I believe he has been trying to clarify some key points regarding it. So, as I sit here at 5:30am I am truly moved by him to re-examine some fundamentals. One thing that has become apparent in our society is the number of "knowledgeable" people we have. Particularly when it comes to the doctrine. With access to so much information through the internet, doctrine is quickly becoming a matter of personal study more than a matter of truth. What I mean by that is that in the old days - the days of Jeremiah and the 400 years before Jesus Christ the world received little Word. In fact the Bible says that the Word was precious in those days. Well, I submit that it is precious today, but that there is such a volume of writings today that the WORDS are no longer precious. You will find theologians in every corner and, despite your calling and anointing, training and experience, everyone with a computer is able to tear apart your Word and refute it with their own. It is the nature of humanity to be combative. Sin by its very nature is rooted in pride and that pride is coming out in droves through people who can point and click. Yet, so few seem able to point at themselves and recognize that God does still call a chosen FEW and anointing does still flow even in the most basic explanations of God's Word, which some feel they have heard enough at their local church level and online.
Part of this problem is rooted in volume. I chose to join several Apostolic Christian groups. I have followed them, read their posts and try to be very selective when responding to them. I have cut some as I felt led and also after watching and listening to what they consider to be acceptable Christian behavior. I became astonished at the level of disrespect and argument taking place within Apostolic ranks and have begun to see that hiding behind a computer keyboard empowers many to believe they have a right to forsake the true called and calling of God. Some forget that there is a five fold ministry and take upon themselves mantles that they do not deserve, spewing forth anger, malice and hatred. I personally, despite years of ministerial experience have been called some vile names, and it has even been insinuated that I am some kind of trinitarian!
Which brings me back to the volume issue. In the original church there was one organization. It was called the Ecclesia. The Church was merely a collection of people observing the teachings of the apostles and moving from house to house breaking bread. One of the problems is that we now have literally HUNDREDS of apostolic ORGANIZATIONS and each one of them has their own particular twist on the truth! This has gutted the original intent of the true church and caused the body to fracture into these pockets of knowledge that battle with each other, while all claim to hold to the apostolic doctrine. Which, of course, is impossible if the doctrine is peace, love and joy in the Holy Ghost.
So, how do we rediscover the truth? How do we hold the line of the true doctrine of the apostles in this world when we cannot even hold the hands of other apostolics? In my opinion it is simple. We begin to re-evaluate our positions. We go back to Jeremiah 42 and establish that some issues are Heaven and Hell (salvation, for instance) while some are merely Paul and Barnabas issues (that is, man-made personal points of contention based upon individual interpretation)...such as standards of organizational procedure. We must learn that at heart we are APOSTOLIC FIRST. Retracing our steps is the only way we are going to come to the common ground of truth and stability. We don't compromise truth, but we must be willing to compromise the issues surrounding the truth if they can be set aside in the pursuit of unity of faith and development of souls for the kingdom.
This is a hard saying for some, and hardliners will never understand but I will say it again and again: NO ONE ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE APOSTOLIC MOVEMENT HAS ALL THE TRUTH AND NO ONE ORGANIZATION WILL WALK ALONE ON THE STREETS OF GOLD. In fact, anyone believing that will have a tough time getting in at all. No apostolic church is truly independent. We are all linked by a common truth: The Lord is ONE and we must obey ACTS 2:38! Beyond that, issues must be taken one-by-one to determine if they are worth keeping us separate from our apostolic brethren. Jesus is soon to return friends, and we are not ready. John 10:16 proves that we have not seen the fullness of the church in this age, and Jeremiah 42 tells us that God has and is giving us mandates through holy men called of God, whether we recognize them or not.
In Love,
Elder Mark