The doctrine of fellowship in the New Testament is not the doctrine of mutual congeniality. It is not that we get along because we like each other, ( Yes, Ideally we should get along because we like each other).
The doctrine of fellowship is not because our personality is delightful. Some of us, are just not very personable for a verity of reasons.
The doctrine of New Testament fellowship: We belong to each other because "Christ died for us." "Know you not, that so many of us, were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in a newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4).
The Christians in the church at Rome could not get along.
Those of the seed of Abraham, (note 11:1) felt that they were holier then the Gentile by being "Jew." The Gentiles felt they were the holy ones because the Jews crucified Jesus and the kingdom was given to them. Paul said, "For God has concluded them ALL in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon ALL."
Be careful whom you judge..."Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges: for wherin you judge another, you condemnest yourself; for he that judges does the same things.
Paul would say many times to the Christians at Rome:
"There is no distinction." He informed the church at Rome: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus," if you cannot worship with these "immersed brothers" let it not be because you are "judging."
The drumb beat: "There is no distinction" in the church of Christ.
Ep.5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Paul commands us to DIVORCE ourselves from what is going on in the NEW STLYE WORSHIP. In 2 Cor 6:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Part of the SOWING OF DISCORD has always been to lay the GUILT on the party which spurts blood when shot in the heart. The discord created by the introduction of Instrumental Music gave rise to the GUILT CLAUSE: IF we impose an instrument and YOU OBJECT then YOU are sowing DISCORD: I know a present-perfect tense example. Jesus never commands us to have fellowship with the blind.
Ken, do you see "instrumental music" any where in my post?
I believe it is etched in your mind that the Titanic hit a piano in the North Alantic that caused her to sink.
Do you abhor any one who can play a Baldwin, Kawai, Steinway, or Yamaha? I spent 13 month in Afganistan; you will be elated to know that there were no piano's there. We in the CoC often observed the Lord's Supper in the belly of an Abrams M1A2.I believe we had three or four Baptists in my platoon. I never asked them to turn down the cracker and grape juice. We very seldom sang, or hummed, but when we did, if one of those Baptist could find his guitar we would follow along in Amazing Grace: this was "fellowship." I certainly hope the Lord doesn't hold that agains us.
If He does, His "yoke" is heavy.
I know there will be many in the self-righteous wing of the church of Christ that will ship us off into hell with the piano players, but we did the best we could under the circumstances.
Well, it just didn't occur to me to ask permission. If you will read THE issue on this forum is people JUDGING by forcing others to listen to their silly praise singing or LYING about instrumental music being COMMANDED by God's Song Writer and Dance Master, the Holy Spirit.
And also, goody for you: I did mine in the belly of of a destroyer off Korea a half century before yours. And I am not a good swimmer. I knew people who served as prisoners in Germany who died having seen their life's church work go up in smoke.
However, THAT has absolutely nothing to do with ANY jot or tittle of the Bible. I am saying and God has commanded that I NOT fellowship those who use the LAW OF GIVING to collect money and then PRESUME the authority to DIVERT the money to hire a--xcuse the curse word--"musical worship leader" to lead me into the presence of God after Jesus died for that right. Or, in my case, collect my money knowing all along that they intended to go ECUMENICAL with any coon dog that would run with them.
The fact that people have the NAME over the door does not make it a church or Synagogue of Christ. Jesus put the JUDGING authority in His Word and therefore when I repudiate false teaching I always use the Word. Your assigment, if you choose to accept it, is to not repudiate those who explain why half of their congregation was ACED outof their "happy family." It is not to try to bully people by denying them the right to make a FREE CHOICE and criticize unlawful professionals who COULD NOT remain on the dole without doing a good job of Urban Legends.
I beg your pardon, but I am not aware that any major contributor on this DEBATE FORUM are DOING THE SAME THING by what they brag about: Infiltrate and Diverting a church and making it a "theater for holy entertainment." In fact, I am pretty sure that those who have been STOLEN FROM do not charge anyone for their hours of research and FIGHTING principalities and powers in high places.
So you may NOT be excused for making false accusations against those whom, as far as I can determine, have GIVEN all of their lives and NEVER taken from the widows and hard working families who cannot affort health care because the slickers want 10%--more than most are charged by their government.
Paul said, if you are interested:
Ro.10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
RIGHTEOUSNESS is by faithful living for BOTH the Jews and Gentiles. In chapter one of Romans Paul defines the UNRIGHTEOUS and I don't think we must refrain from PASTING the Word on them to see whether it fits or not.
I am just trying to let others know that it is NOT judging beyond Christ's EXAMPLE and COMMAND to tell the watching world that the NEW STYLE worship is fully explained by John and others as the BABYLON HARLOT where MUSIC is the PRIMARY mark from Genesis to Revelation 18.
Beg your pardon again, but we have a different TAKE on the meaning of worship and I am telling you that it is absolutely impossible to worship GOD and do music. The Mind simply cannot go in two directions at one time: you have to LOVE the one and HATE the other but you HAVE to make a choice between your SPIRIT or MIND and your PLEASURE CENTERS the exercise of which Paul utterly OUTLAWED in Romans 15.
So, perhaps you should address the STEALERS and leave the STEALEES to their lawful protest.
I believe that you have clearly defined “fellowship” according to what the New Testament says—i.e., it is comprised of the body of believers who have been buried with Christ (into His death) in baptism, which we know is for the purpose of having a sinner’s sins remitted in His blood. It is my understanding that there is no bypassing of this condition or requirement of being baptized that man must follow, just as believing and repenting are, in order to receive redemption by God’s unconditional love and grace.
Acts 2 clearly tells us that those who became Christians by this process were added to the church. We, therefore, can conclude based on the conversion examples in the book of Acts, that only those who are baptized so that past sins can be forgiven in His blood are members of the body of Christ without exception—and this is the true fellowship that we have in Christ Jesus.
I think we should not confuse: (1) that type of fellowship with other members who have put on Christ in baptism and (2) the type of welcome that we extend to those who visit our assemblies.
Could you clarify a little bit more as to where you stand on this issue of fellowship? I’m somewhat confused for the reason that you mentioned something about “judging others” as if to say that those who have not been buried with Christ in baptism in order to receive redemption are also members of the body of Christ and the NT fellowship that you have clearly defined. Please don’t misunderstand me about judging. We all leave that to God and His word. But at the same time, if God’s Word determines who is a member of the body of Christ and who is outside of Christ, then let His Word do the judging.
"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." 1 John 1:7 (KJV)
"...ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Ephesians 5:14 (KJV)
We must be guided by the Word of God, for not all preachers, churches, so called christians, are the true light.
"..such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness..." 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (KJV)
This web site is not part of or approved by any Church!
...........................THE BOOK
What Happened At the Madison Church of Christ?
There are thousands of churches being taken over across America.
This book is only about one of those churches. It's about the Madison
Church Of Christ. By studying the methods used here along with the resource
references you might be able to inoculate your church. At the very least
you will recognize the signs early on.
Many of the current members of the Madison Church of Christ still don't
know what happened.
Some never will know! This book is for them as well.
Madison Church of Christ was a 60 year old church. At one time it was
one of the largest churches in the US, and the largest Church of Christ.
It thrived for many years on the vision of it's elders and those of
it's ministers. Those visions undoubtably came from the the inspired word
of Jesus Christ.
At sometime in the last 10 years there was a deliberate plan by a majority
of the elders to take the Madison Church of Christ into a more worldly
realm.
They used secrecy, covert planning, and outside sources to scheme and
to change the format and direction of the Madison Church of Christ.
The Elders knew that the membership would never approve such a plan.
Using the tools of the "Community Church Movement"(consultants, books,
seminars, meetings,planters,seeders) they slowly started initiating change
so it was never noticed by the members until it was too late.....
At the heart of the plan was the fact that old members were going to
be driven off so new techniques could be used to go out and reach the unchurched
through new "Contemporary Holy Entertainment" methods developed by the
"Community Church Movement"
Old members had to be kept on board long enough to get their plans ready,
or the funds would not be there to pay for the new building. So by the
plans very nature, it had to be secret.
The church had no plan in effect to renew or approve elders. There was
never any need. The elders had always been "as approved by God". 10 of the last
15 elders would begin to shed some doubt on that.
The Elders did not even need a majority at first, because some of the
elders went along unwittingly.
This edition starts shortly after some of the members begin to smell
something strange in January 2001. Later editions may go back and fill
in some of the timeline.
To even start to understand whats happening here, you must read the
background materials in the first of the book.
This is only the first edition, and not the end. New editions will be
printed as needed. To keep abreast of current changes, please visit our
web site; http://www.concernedmembers.com/madison
Here is the list of players;
5 Godly Elders
10 Not so Godly Elders
120 "Deacons" (allegiance unknown)
2,800 - 4,000 church "members"
2 "teners" (people who have publicly confessed to have broken all ten
commandments)
Unknown number of "sinners" (This is what the 10 elders call us.)
Unknown number of "demons" (Flying everywhere, to many to count)