Keeping The Church Of God Pure

Let the elders that rule will be

counted worthy of double honour,

especially they who labour in the 

word and doctrines. For the Scripture

saith, Thou shalt not muzzel the ox

that treadeth out the corn. 

 And, The labourer is worthy of his

reward. Against an elder receive not

an accusations, but before two or

three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke

before all, that others also may fear.

I charge thee before God, and the

Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels,

that thou observe these things

without preferring one before another,

doing nothing by partiality.

1Timothy 5:17-21

     In God's dispensation His economy is toward His people, the call-out ones, (the Church), and by His economy God has arranged the Church to be led by elders. The Greek word for elder is: Πρεσβύτερος (Presbyter): in the Christian Church those who being raised up and qualified by the work of the Holy Spirit, were appointed to have the spiritual care of, and to exercise oversight over, the Churches. To this term ε˘πισκο˘πος (Bishop), or overseers, is applied (Acts 20:17; Titus 1:5). This is the divine arrangement for the Church. In today's Churches we find three modes of oversight: 1. Congregational; that is the congregation makes the major decisions. 2. Bishops, as in the Anglican Church whereby the Bishop makes the major decisions, and 3. Presbyterian, whereby the elders make the major decisions, and mostly in all cases the congregation has some input. No matter the mode, the overseer must be vetted, this to ensure that the one to oversee has the qualifications to be an overseer according to Scripture. And as overseers they have a right to expect some remuneration for their work. As Jesus admonished that if there is something against another there is a rubric to follow to settle the issue, the same is true for an overseer, that it requires witnesses, two or three, all before this person should be addressed to settle a complaint against him. This rebuke is before God, Jesus Christ, and as is done the Greek word for messenger: άγγελος, is translated in English, angel, and could refer to those heavenly beings that did not fall when Satan fell, or, as the word elect more often than not refers to those God has called and believed upon Jesus Christ, the translation should be "messengers." In other words, before all, God, Jesus Christ and all Christians who are called to be a messenger of God, and of Jesus Christ. 

     Here is a fault within most Churches, at least those that I have ever attended or know about: little is done before the congregation to rebuke anyone, especially an overseer. How many people or times have you seen a person be excommunicated from the Church? This economy for the Church of God is to keep the Church pure even though as sinners we sin, we are not, and should not be accusing people without proof, and when proof is present do something according to Scripture to rectify the situation, this then means that we must be on our knees praying for forgiveness daily for we sin and we must do all to keep ourselves pure as we keep the Church pure. This not being done has led to doctrines that are anti-Scriptural, even heretical, and this liberality within the Church has brought disdain upon it, and to be accused of just another religion. The Gospel is not forwarded when we shirk our duty toward the Church, that is, those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. No gossip, no partiality, nothing more than the truth will do if the Church is to be an arm of God so that the Church is pure and the Gospel set out among people without making cause for accusation that has no cause. 

     Think upon this: you are an angel, a messenger for God, one who is to live and manifest the Gospel. You who have everlasting life, cannot be taken from the hand of Jesus Christ, you salvation assured. Does this not drive you to live according to Scripture and to love God, Jesus Christ and to allow the Holy Spirit to have His way with you? I think yes!

But truly I am full of power

     by the spirit of the LORD,

and of judgment, and of might,

     to declare unto Jacob his

transgression, and to Israel his sin.

                   Micah 3:8

Intercession: Our work in prayer

Richard L. Crumb