I hope the reader will sense as these pages have developed, that the views expressed are very much rooted in my own personal convictions and yet based upon Scripture. I have tried to let the 'keyboard flow' and to a large extent, the exercise has been for my own benefit as much, I trust, as for the benefit of others.
In subsequently looking for supporting Scriptures, I have noticed how frequently I have been led to the second epistle to Timothy and particularly chapter two. This was not by design, it just happened that way and so I offer that epistle and particularly the second chapter as a useful 'Charter' for the believer, in these last days.
WHAT CAN I DO?
By now, some readers may well be tempted to throw up their hands in despair. Others will find that it all strikes a chord and that they share the same deep instincts.
Some may now feel thay have to do something, perhaps make changes in their own Church. Through enlightenment, you may even find the situation untenable and feel you have to leave and others may even wish to join you in setting up a new position.
Whilst not discouraging you, may I counsel caution. You must firstly be sure that the ground of your gathering is approved by scripture and that you make no claim as to your new position. As soon as you make any claim along the lines of holding the only right position, I believe you forfeit that same position. It will also, not be long before this new company of Christians is tested as to how to maintain that new position and how to avoid the infiltration of those characteristics which mark systematized error. So humility and dependence upon God is 'the order of the day'. The ground of any such gathering must also include the willingness to take issue with and resolve matters resulting from unjudged conduct or doctrine which is clearly contrary to scripture.
As to how any new gathering should proceed when met together, it would not be for me to prescribe (that is exactly what we are trying to get away from) but there is plenty of help in the first epistle to the Corinthians, especially from chapter ten onwards. Feel your way.
Finally, in whatever you do, take care not to be deliberately divisive, or hurt good souls who have been faithful to the Lord in their own way over many years but do not see things as you do. In your enthusiasm to act, do not, even unwittingly, become a stumbling block to young believers, feeling their way in the Truth. Work with the leaders if you can and not behind their back. Do not form a party or a 'Church within a Church' and be big enough to allow into your mind, the thought that you may, by being patient, have much to learn about yourself and how God works both individually and collectively.
Take care to "Hold the Truth in love, growing up to him in all things" (Ephesians 4. v 15) and pray a lot.
Remember, we are also exhorted to remember our leaders. Those who, often with the best of motives, may feel themselves entrapped in habits of a lifetime, in orders of service and outward forms and appearances which they may sense, deep down, fall short of the vibrancy that should characterise Christ's Church, yet have not the faith nor courage to step out of the mould and to trust themselves, their Services and their congregations to the Spirit's leading. Love them and pray for them. Unaware to you, they too may be very exercised. They will normally also be faced with serious practical and financial considerations, posing a very difficult dilemma for any genuinely exercised Minister.
I have experienced the initial thrill of being a Christian, subsequent disappointment with myself, a barren period wandering in the wilderness and, having been restored through God's grace, I now experience a growing sense of despair in relation to the systematized error which I see marks Christendom with its tentacles reaching into almost every Church.
But I see something else now and that is that the Lord and these great men of Scripture, Paul, John, Peter, James, Jude, John and others, anticipated the breakdown and fragmentation of the Church and whilst holding fast, as they did to the 'Truth' revealed to them, they did not expect the continuance or revival of a perfect practical expression of the Church on earth as at the beginning. They knew that awaited the direct the intervention of the Lord again, beginning with the moment of his return (often referred to as 'The Rapture')
They teach us that this period from the ascension of Christ to his coming again is not the time of great display. That day will come.
This present period is given over to the 'Prince of this World', the Devil, who opposes all that is dear to the heart of Christ and will continue to do so until he is bound for a period and then finally dealt with for ever.
The world is going on to judgement. It has cast out God's personal representative, murdered his Son, and it's moral case is closed. Only its actual judgement is awaited as God in his mercy prolongs the day of grace and appeals to men everywhere, through the gospel, to “Repent and believe in the Glad Tidings" ( Mark 1. v 15) and through faith in Jesus, escape that judgement.
Those who have accepted that appeal, living or dead, form part of the Church. They are sealed by the Holy Spirit, awaiting the resurrection, transformation and ascension of their bodies to join with the Lord in the air as the first glorious step in the fulfillment of Gods eternal plans, involving everlasting life for us and a companion and bride for Christ.
Those plans, (speaking very reverently) were not makeshift or contingency plans conceived “on the hoof”. They were conceived in a past eternity, reaching their fulfillment through the 'Counsels of God' and “pulled off” in the very place of sin and under the nose of God's greatest adversary, Satan, and actually within his domain on earth.
The Church, therefore, was never conceived as an earthly vessel belonging to earth. It is heavenly both in origin and in destiny. It is in the world but not of it. When it is displayed, it will “Come down out of heaven having the glory of God and as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21. v 2). Those who think that Christianity or the Church may one day save this poor world or change its essential character are mistaken. Both can be an influence for good but neither we, if we are saved, nor the Church of which we are part, really belong here at all. We are just visiting, so to speak.
Coming back to the teaching of Scripture, we see very early indications of the Devil spoiling the Church and the many ways in which false teaching, false prophets and shepherds infiltrated the Church. The apostles withstood much of this onslaught but when they and Paul were no longer alive, error gained a foothold in many different forms.
Now it is important to understand that none of the above means that the Christian cannot experience a lifetime of happiness in company with Jesus, the assurance of their eternal salvation, freedom from any sense of condemnation, the blessing of the gift of the Holy spirit and the enjoyment of Christian fellowship, but they must not expect 'heaven on earth' or they will be very disappointed and their faith sorely tested.
Perfection will come. We will not always “See through a dark glass obscurely”
(1, Corinthians 13. v 12) and that glory attaching to the Church, largely hidden today, will shine in all its radiance before a wondering universe soon, made up of people like you and me, touched by God's grace, redeemed, reconciled to God and baptised by the Holy Spirit into one body and it will be the wealth of God's work in our souls, gained though life's experiences that will be displayed
“Without spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5. v 27)
So………….We are not to be surprised by what Christendom has become. Disappointed, yes, but not cast down. We live a new life, hid in Christ. We await the fulfillment of all Gods purposes and counsels in his own time and in which we will have a part.
We belong to heaven, that is now our home. We are, so to speak, living away from home for a while and the Holy Spirit has been given to us (also away from home) to be our companion and Comforter and friend until we are all called home.
Still in this world (not now our home) we see the 'Prince of this World', whose time is short, attacking the Church on every front, producing disunity and deluding many by clever imitation of the real thing. We have to find a way through, avoid being deceived, enjoy our heavenly inheritance and await the Lords coming.
How?.......Well, following advice from the great men of scripture will help, but one last word of warning……
I believe there will come a time when a great pretender will appear in the world and offer a solution to it's ills. I believe he and what he portrays will begin to appear before the Lord returns but the full extent of his wickedness will not yet be revealed.
He may well come in Christ's name and will probably have the necessary combination of political and religious power to make things happen and seduce a weary world. Modern media and internet communications will be his tool. Christians, still erroneously believing that a great revival will come and forgetting that the Church is a heavenly vessel, might well be tempted to follow this man, perhaps influenced by the sheer numbers involved plus the attachment of religious and political figures to his following.
Scripture envisages such a phenomena in the last days but it will not be Christian, it will be anti-Christian but not immediately apparent as such.
True believers will sense the dangers and continue in piety and humility, keeping close to the Lord and one another, perhaps in small gatherings, testing everything by Scripture, possibly even suffering persecution for not joining this mass movement, but they will know the Lord's presence among them and they will know that his actual coming is imminent.
John in his epistle speaks about the 'Unction', which abides in us and teaches us "all things". We will need the 'Unction' then. He speaks of it in the context of little children. We will need to be as little children, simple in our faith, trusting in God's word and true to his work in us.
Yet the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal. The Lord knows those that are his; and, let him that names the name of the Lord, withdraw from iniquity.
2, Timothy 2. v 19
.......but be gentle towards all, apt to teach; in meekness setting right those who oppose.......
2, Timothy 2. v 24-25
.........for the time shall be when they will not bear sound teaching, but according to their own lusts will heap up to themselves, teachers, having an itching ear and they will turn their ear away from the Truth and will turn aside to fables.
2, Timothy 4. v 3-4
Now is the judgement of this world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out, and I, if I be lifted up out of the earth, will draw all unto me.
John 12. v 31-32
...and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we, the living, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and thus, we shall be for ever with the Lord.
1, Thessalonians 4. v 16-17
For the city has no need of the Sun or of the Moon that they should shine for it, for the glory of the Lord has enlightened it....
Revelation 21. v 23
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ, according as he has chosen us in Christ before the world's foundation, to be holy and blameless before him in love................wherein he has taken us into favour in the Beloved.................in whom also having believed, ye have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise...............to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1. (whole chapter)
Have your mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth, for ye have died and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3. v 2-3
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits , if they are of God, because many false prohets have gone out into the world..........from this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error
1, John 4. v 1-7
Little children, it is the last hour and according as ye have heard that antichrist comes, even now there have come many antichrists.............He is the antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.........as for you, let that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you............
1, John 2. v 18-29
