REAL
RELIGION
Sister Robin Jones (Hurstville ecclesia,
Australia)
What is real
religion and what is the real gospel?
What causes brothers in Christ to feel they must exclude some from
the table of the Lord in order to maintain what they sincerely believe
is the true Gospel? What does the New Testament teach about who we fellowship,
and where does fellowship begin and end?
It seems to me that there is a small group of verses used as justification
for actions which exclude others, but there are far larger volumes of
teaching which promote unity and reconciliation . For example John's
words condemning those who do not preach “this doctrine” have been used
to make a separation between those who think they have the one true
gospel and those they believe are in error.
“If there come any unto you, and bring not “this doctrine”, receive
him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; For he that biddeth
him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds “ (2 John 10,11).
When it comes to excluding people we have to be very careful that we
are really acting as God intended and are not just taking a verse out
of context as justification for our pre-conceived ideas of what God
requires to keep His doctrine pure.
To quote another author concerning 2 John 10,11...
“ This is one of the more prominent "twisted scriptures."
It has become the handle for every factional tool used to pry apart
the living stones in the temple of God. It is the murderous knife employed
to dismember the body of the Lord. It was written by the apostle of
love to protect the flock of God from the prowling wolves who sought
to seduce them through denial of the foundational fact that Jesus came
in the flesh. It is now used to convert the sheep into snarling dogs,
snapping at each other over every stray scrap of doctrine. It has substituted
the law of the pack for the love of the flock.
No other passage so well illustrates the danger of ignoring the context.
That the leaders of religious thought in some sects should have been
betrayed into adopting an interpretation which makes unity impossible
and renders ridiculous their vaunted claim to respect for the authority
of the word of God...Any use of the written word which makes impossible
the fulfillment and realization of the prayer and purpose of the Living
Word is abuse and misuse. We can never regain our integrity as scholars
until we repudiate the partisan explanation which makes every vagary
of thought and dissent an occasion to destroy the fraternal relationship
created by the blood of Jesus, and stab love dead at our feet.
What is "the doctrine" which is so transcendent that one who
does not attest to it must not be allowed to enter the house, nor be
given a greeting on the street or in the marketplace? Or, looking at
it from the opposite position, what is it that, when advocated is so
heinous and so poison to the fellowship, that to merely salute its opponent
is to make one a participant in his vicious works? To this question
a medley of things is contributed by factional voices. Every trivial
idea which has been magnified out of all proportion to its value and
worth is exalted to the status of the doctrine which is to preclude
hospitality and make all greeting a violation of the Word of God. So
ludicrous are some of these that it serves no good purpose to even mention
them.
The depth of one's love for the family of God can be determined by
the relative value of those things which will cause one to sacrifice
it or to break up the relationship. The triviality of those views elevated
to a higher station than the family ties created by the blood of the
cross is indicative of the shallowness and superficiality of thought
eating like a pernicious cancer at the heart of a wonderful fellowship
created by God and inaugurated by the indwelling Spirit.
Who can believe that the apostle who wrote more about brotherly love
than any other man, would recommend that we refuse entrance to our homes
to those saints who disagree with us over some of the things about which
we debate? What sane reasoner can actually conclude that to greet a
brother who disagrees with us about these matters is to become a participant
in some "evil deed"? The very absurdity of such a conclusion
renders obnoxious the common usage of the passage by expositors who
should know better."
And so this writer has stated that to twist such a scripture and misapply
it, kills love and the real message of the gospel. In fact John is speaking
about the importance of love in the context of this passage, and the
importance of recognising that Jesus came in the flesh in all His humanity,
and that if people can't understand such a simple message and are bent
on making trouble and division then they should be avoided so as not
to destroy the message of love which Christ brought.
Jesus never condemned people for a misunderstanding of doctrine the
way that some do in this age. His condemnation was saved for those who
thought they were better than others and for those who oppressed others
(see Matt 23). It is interesting that Jesus did not correct the disciples
for their misunderstanding about demons... nor their thought that they
saw a ghost walking on the water... Jesus emphasized that real doctrine
is how we live and not just the list of creeds we profess.
The modern practice of disfellowship is a cause for serious concern.
It seems to be a practice copied from the “Campbellites” and included
in the ecclesial guide, however the term “withdraw fellowship” does
not occur in the Bible. One of the verses used as justification for
such action occurs in
2 Thess 3 v 6
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according
to the tradition which he received from us”
To quote another Brother, concerning this verse,
“The KJV expression “walketh disorderly” has been used by religious
purists to expel anyone who doesn't measure up to their standards, doctrinal
or behavioural.
In the Thessalonian context we can see that the NIVs translation “every
Brother who is idle (rather than walketh disorderly)” is a reference
to the problem of idleness in Thessalonica (many retired people supported
by the Romans and granted tax exemption)...It is almost impossible to
imagine how the tangled maze of disciplinary action – accusation, boycott,
disfellowship, and congregational exclusivism – has grown out of this
passage. When authoritarians seek justification for their bullying attitudes
they undoubtedly find that the words “withdraw yourselves” provide a
handy tool to satisfy their divisiveness and they appropriate them as
a weapon in the arsenal of factionalism.” end quote
I think it is a misunderstanding of what the real gospel is that has
caused such verses to be misapplied. The doctrines of men have always
been a threat to overshadow the gospel which Jesus preached...the amazing
“Good News” which gave men encouragement and hope and shone as light
in darkness... Jesus calls us to let the true light of the world shine
out and not be overwhelmed by darkness. He says that we are the light
of the world by our “GOOD DEEDS” rather than our pure theology (Mt.
5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.” )
Yet over time some have developed such a long list of what they consider
first principles that it may take a year of study for a person to be
considered to have enough knowledge to be baptised. This in itself has
caused some to question whether in fact this long study of head knowledge
before baptism can indeed be really what God intended, and has caused
some to stop their studies and give up... this lengthy list of requirements
is perhaps because we are seeing baptism as a schooling of people into
a denomination rather than converting desperate sinners to Christ as
their Saviour.
It has been said that things were different in New Testament times so
baptisms could be much quicker than today because they were not confused
by so many different religions. If this were true the New Testament
couldn't be an example to us, it would merely be a historical record
of no value.
Different religions abounded back then just as they do today, and even
the Jews held many false doctrines – they misunderstood who Messiah
was to be, and they believed in the myths of the immortal soul and a
personal satan.
The New Testament baptisms were shown to us as examples not as exceptions.
It's disturbing when the multitude of quick baptisms in the New Testament
are quoted as being exceptions, yet the isolated examples of casting
others out have been used as weapons against our fellow brothers yet
all done with sincerity.
The real gospel does not drive people away, does not oppress others
or need to be guarded or buried in the ground. The real gospel is about
a better way, as different as light is to darkness. We are not contaminated
if we break bread with someone who has done something wrong, if that
were true we would all be contaminated, imagine asking all sinners to
leave the meeting... who would be left?
Fellowship is more than just breaking bread, they are two different
things and are listed as such in Acts Acts 2:42
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
So “breaking bread” is a time for each of us to remember what was done
for us by Jesus “do this in remembrance of me”.. it's not a time to
judge others or guilt by association. Having fellowship with others
involves getting to know them and care for them.
The Gospel that Jesus preached was about love... He would not quench
a smoldering wick or break a bent reed...yet for too long verses about
casting others out have been misapplied.. it was never what Jesus intended.
His focus was always on bringing back the lost sheep, He shared many
a meal with the outcasts of society . His warnings were about the ones
who would scatter the flock by their harsh judgments, the worthless
shepherds.
I have heard judgments passed on others that they are not “bona fide”...
that they are “wishy wahsy”...that their “eternal salvation is in jeopardy
because they do not understand the true gospel”. I have heard people
condemned because others judge them wrongly and assume wrongly how they
are thinking or what their motives are, or judging how they were many
years ago, as if they can never grow in Christ... and for years have
been bothered by such harsh types of judgments especially when they
are spread and endorsed by various groups. If we believe that Christ
died for us then how can we condemn others so readily after all that
has been done for us? How can we condemn others yet hope to have our
own sins forgiven?
I would like to encourage those who have come under fire as being “wishy
washy” Christians because of their belief that the true gospel does
not consist of doctrines of men, but consists of the doctrines which
Jesus taught by word and deed. I believe there is a real danger of drifting
into the doctrines of men instead of holding to the doctrines of Jesus...
the real gospel - found in the gospels.
Each account of the four gospel records confirms that Jesus taught
us the gospel.
Matthew 4 v 23: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds
of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. “
Mark 1 v 14,15
“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God”
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and
believe in the gospel.”
Luke 4 v 18
“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed MeTo preach
the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To
proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,To
set at liberty those who are oppressed”
John 1
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend[it...He
came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as
received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to
those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Perhaps the best summary of first principles is given in the gospel
records by Jesus himself in the “Sermon on the Mount”... and the best
understanding of what the real gospel is gained by looking at the words
Jesus taught and the things he did. He gave us examples to follow. He
ate and drank with the outcasts, He broke bread with them in their houses
he had fellowship with them... and the pharisees despised Him for it.
He shared His bread with Judas at the last supper, this was not an exception...
it was another example to us. Paul endorsed what Jesus preached, he
did not set out to redefine the gospel but to preach the same gospel
and give advice about local situations based on the gospel Jesus preached...
that was and is the one true gospel to hold fast... the gospel Jesus
taught.
The apostles' doctrine was Jesus' doctrine, they were the same. Paul
said “be imitators of me as I am of Christ” and then later “imitate
me”
Jesus warned about the basic gospel being added to, and about the traditions
of men gaining hold.
A fear some seem to have is that if we deviate from the traditions
developed in the last 150 years that the true gospel will go down the
drain... yet the real fear should be whether we have deviated from the
gospel taught by Christ and have again sunk into traditions of men.
Nearly all the baptisms in the New Testament give the impression that
they occurred within hours of a person wishing to be baptised, it seemed
that it was simply the realisation that they needed to be saved, and
the understanding of what Jesus and God had done for them and a very
basic understanding which was enough... Jesus said “Come to me and learn”...
not “Learn and come to me”. It's possible to know perfectly the doctrines
of men and their definition of the gospel, but if you are not touched
by God and born of the spirit then such head knowledge is meaningless.
No-one can make another be born of the spirit or have faith... it is
from God and no amount of head knowledge can transform our hearts.
Below are examples of New Testament Baptisms...there are no examples
given in the Bible that lengthy head knowledge is required prior to
baptism...nor even club rules to gain membership.
NT baptisms
John 3
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you
beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing,
and all are coming to Him!”
John 4 v 1
Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus
made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did
not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again
to Galilee.
Compare to
Matt 3 v 5
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went
out to him (John) and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing
their sins.
(All Judea and Jerusalem went out to John, and Jesus disciples baptised
more than John did... so combined it must have been a great number)
Acts 2
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord
in one place. ...
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said
to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known
to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is only the third hour of the day. ...
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to
Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we
do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and
to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our
God will call.” ...
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
“Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received
his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were
added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 8
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the
eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the
eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 9
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he
received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Acts 10
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the
children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord
of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea,
and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power,
who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the
devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which
He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed
by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed
Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before
by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the
dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify
that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and
the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name,
whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell
upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision
who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the
gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should
not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Acts 16
13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside,
where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the
women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She
was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God.
The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And
when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If
you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and
stay.” So she persuaded us.
Acts 16 - The Philippian Jailer
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be
saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord
to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same
hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all
his family were baptized.
Acts 19
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance,
saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come
after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 22
‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up
at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that
you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of
His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have
seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized,
and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
1 Cor 1
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,
not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of
no effect.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
From these examples it seems that baptisms in the New Testament were
done without delay, and in a spirit of joy.
There is definitely a difference in being baptised into Christ and becoming
a member of a denomination today. A denomination requires the house
rules to be met first before being a member, and fear of being cast
out if they are not maintained. Baptism into Christ requires the examples
given in the New Testament to be followed...to know that Christ gave
His life for us and God gave His only Son to save us, it's a gospel
of grace and Good News.
The consequences of believing a different gospel to the one Jesus taught
are worrying. If we believe that we can only associate with “pure” people
then we judge others harshly so that we are not contaminated. We keep
an eye out for those in error to cast them out . Splinter groups of
the “pure” start up and despise the others fearing contamination.
The overwhelming message of the gospels in about love, grace, overlooking
offenses, bringing back the sinner and rejoicing that God has forgiven
us. It is not about cutting others off. It is not about fear but about
love.
Love keeps no record of wrongs but rejoices in the right.... it overlooks
an offense...these sentiments are summed up in this poem.
“Love is not blind, it sees more, not less
But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.”
This does not mean turning a blind eye to sin as I can imagine some
saying. It is realising that we love others as God has loved us. Strange
how each of us wish to keep our own mistakes hidden , or we don't even
see them, yet those of others just leap out at us.
Just as you can't make someone have faith, you can't make someone have
love... nor understand the real gospel.
However, God can and does change hearts. It has been a wonderful thing
in recent times to see many brothers and sisters come to discover grace,
and rediscover what the true Gospel and "purity" is really
about. Those who are now positively preaching the Gospel in a non-condemnatory
way are finding that large numbers all over the world are showing interest
and responding in baptism.
There is one gospel and it is defined by God, not man. The “One Gospel”
is not held exclusively by any one denomination. Many splinter groups
claim to have the right knowledge of the gospel and say that only they
have the truth... Yet Jesus said that people will know if we are truly
disciples by our love for one another, without love we are just clanging
gongs.
There are still many people waiting to find the message of the gospel
and God's love and grace. Let's take the Gospel of grace with us, and
go find them.
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