The Requirement Of Boldness And The Mystery Of The Faith

Likewise must the deacons be grave, 

not doubletongued, not given to

much wine, not greedy of filthy

lucre; holding the mystery of 

the faith in a pure conscience,

and let these also first be proved;

the let them uses the office of a

deacon, being found blameless.

evens so must their wives be grave,

not slandereres, sober, faithful

in all things. Let the deacons be 

the husbands of one wife, and ruling

their own houses well. For they

that have used the office of a 

deacon well purchase to themselves

a good degree, and great boldness

in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1Timothy 3:8-13

     Paul has outlined the order of the Church in regards to its governing body. Paul has covered the responsibility of husbands, wives, children, overseers, deacons, and we call this the economy of the Church the rubric for governing the Church for thrifty management, frugality in the dispensing  of expenditures, or the consumption of money. Furthermore this economy is intended for the dispensing or regulating the parts of the Church keeping it an organized system according to Scripture. I wonder how this is excused when we have so-called ministers of a church that flaunt their wealth, to live as kings, in luxury while at the same time asking people to give as much as they can to the Church, and/or missions. It is not that they do not give, many do, but this is a guise, for they live as some Monarch in castles while the people that need this money go wanting. This is not governing the Church economically.

     In the book of Acts we find deacons being appointed to aid the Church: "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). Deacons were appointed to distribute the charity of the Church, and to manage its secular concerns. We find even pastors and evangelists among those who are to tend to the business of the Church. Paul outlined the requirements a person must meet before being and after having been chosen to be a deacon. In (vs. 9) Paul gives this important requirement: they must be proven to be such as required. Last blog I used the word "vetted," as this is a more common term in this era, but they must be tested for how else could they show that they meet the requirements? Deacons as well as any other leader of the Church must hod to the mystery of the faith. If we can fully understand the truth about God then there is no mystery, but in faith assured through His written word we can and they must also hold fast to the mystery of the faith. One such aspect of this is and it is the most important aspect of the mystery of the faith: God came to earth to die, not the Godhead, but God in flesh through His wisdom clothed in flesh, to live as a man sinless, and then die to pay the debt owed to Himself and then by this paid debt God could now apply to those He calls and enables to have eternal life. In pure conscience a person can hold fast to this mystery of God. Deacons, and all Authentic Christians are to be bold, especially those governing the Church. To be bold requires action and exercise of boldness. Not to come to Church, sit in the pew, hear a sermon and then go home and live as though you never heard or came to Church. Boldness requires a person to be bold and that boldness is to live a holy life, to take the message of this mystery of God to the world, your world, and beyond in ways that you are able. The trust given to deacons is that they would lead in ways and areas by which the Church can intentionally take this message of God to others, they are to be proven to be able to do so, and to participate in this exercise. Deacons and overseers, elders, must be leaders in more than repairing the Church, to the cleaning of the Church, to the management of finances of the Church, they are to be leaders who are bold taking this message, leading others to take this message of truth to others. 

     Wives, what a privilege you have, to be a helpmate for you husband as he leads the family, the Church. Wives have a deep responsibility to not be slanderers, gossipers, carrying stories that are not proven to be true to those who really are not participants. If a wive, or husband, or any other Christian has a grievance against another Jesus laid out the way to handle the problem (Matthew 18). 

     Husbands are to have one wife! Does this mean that a deacon must be married? No! But if a deacon wants to be married he must marry one woman. What if a man is divorced? If he remarries is is disqualified to be a deacon? Possibly, for he is to be proven to be a man who holds the truth and has not given reason to be disqualified due to divorce. If he remarries and is proven trustworthy, then the rule is: One wife! Husbands are to rule the house and have their children in control, and children are to obey their parent(s). 

     All this so that the office of deacon is faithfully discharged. A deacon who meets and exercises his office faithfully will not be cause for others to have facts or truth to slander him or the Church. Deacons are to have courage as they boldly, officiate the Church holding fast to the mystery of the faith.

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they 

     should rejoice over me: when my foot

slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

                                    Psalm 38:16

Hold fast to the Mystery of God

Richard L. Crumb

Keeping The Church Pure And Undefiled

...not a novice, lest being lifted up

with pride he fall into the 

condemnation of the devil.

moreover he must have a good

report of hem which are without; 

lest he fall into reproach and 

the snare of the devil.

1Timothy 3:6-7

     This business of selecting an overseer is not to be taken lightly. An examination, or as is said often today, vetted, he must be vetted to ensure that he is a man of God and not a heretic wrapped in a veil of Christianity. Heretics quote Scripture, they will point back to someone, often an obscure writer who writes vaguely of their own doctrine and then use this to prove their false doctrine. Those who are not familiar with the truth of Scripture will often agree with such heresy as promulgated thinking that this person(s) have found a better, or more "right" way. Heretics use this veil of obscurity, attaching to it the word "Christianity" deluded many people to follow after their teaching. These heretics have no fear of setting before others the poisoned cup of heresy, and due to their godlessness fan the embers and do all to remove or eliminate the memory of those saints who taught the truth of the Gospel, and in doing so attempt to defame Authentic Christians. For an example of heresy being set forth as truth are the Jehovah Witness (for one such group) who from the foundation of this organization use the King James Bible for their teachings, but as time went on their doctrine became more Arian, they needed to have a different Gospel that would align with their doctrines: they found this in the Critical Text, which in fact there is not single Critical Text, that text as set forth by Wescott and Hort, and is used for their New World Translation because the words of that text, even without their many add-ons, and removal of words, it aligns with their doctrine so, in 1950 they wrote their Bible using this text. It was revised in 1961 and is the revision used by them today. This text used by them with their changes in the translation seems to be Christian, is it not the same text used by the NIV, ESV, ASV, NASVB? Yes! Although those texts do not have the changes of the Jehovah Witnesses, that text does not hold Jesus up in a high position. 

     Just because a person says he or she, or some organization is "Christian" does not make them an Authentic Christian. An overseer must meet the doctrine of Scripture set forth by the inspired writers of the Bible. When we do not take action against such disrespectful and heretical teachings then we are acting as did Ham, the son of Noah. Ham failed to cover the nakedness of Noah and even spread what he did to others. Ham had a filial responsibility and did not use it properly and he then deserved punishment. Sin if not irradicated spreads its harmful and heretical teaching to others, especially to those who will come into the future and be taught by them. Ham beget Canaan, who was the father of the Canaanites, who fought vigorously against the Hebrews, were known by the sinful living. Noah's two sons, Shem and Japheth walked into Noah's tent backward and covered Noah. When Noah awoke he cursed Canaan, ad blessed Shem and Japheth (Genesis 9:20-27). 

     We ought, with great fear, to dread the sin of altered and polluted faith, a crime from which we are deterred and by this deterrent, this rush to do what we should not do, we will act as did Ham and forget who we are and who we are to act as Authentic Christians. We will do wrong things and often to our peril, now, and in the coming age. Paul expressly warns us of this problem: "How quickly you are being changed from Him who called you to Christ's grace. to a different glad tidings, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you, and desire to pervert the glad tidings of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-7). Many do this perversion for financial gain, other for the celebrity status it gives them, all in all, it is wrong and the leaders of the Church, even those who not called to be leaders must ensure that the one chosen to oversee, meets the authentic requirements of Scripture. 

    This may be a tough assignment, but it is necessary if one is to remain true to God, keeping His Church pure and not defiled by those dogs who would do so. 

And the LORD looked upon him,  and said,

     "Go in this they might, and thou shalt

save Israel from the hand of the Midianites:

    have not I sent thee?"

                  Judges 6:14

Surely the Lord will be with you

Richard L. Crumb

Church Leadership: Who! What Qualifications!

This is a true saying, if a man desires

the office of a bishop, he desireth

a good work. A bishop then must be 

blameless, the husband of one wife,

vigilant, sober, of good behavior,

given to hospitality, apt to teach;

not given to wine, no striker, not

greedy of filthy lucre; but patient,

not a brawler, not covetous; 

one hat ruleth well his own

house, having his children in

subjection with all gravity; 

(for if a man know not how to rule 

his own house, how shall he

take care of the Church of God)?

1Timothy 3:1-5

     The previous blogs are either seen as good advice from the Bible or seen as something improper according to the culture we now live in, and make all kinds of reasons for not obeying the simple word of God, plainly written. The final note on this is that when man, the husband, wife, and children are following the word of God, applying that in their lives, life will be good even in its hard times, for they will come and the Bible is the only source in which to find a solution. My dad's theology, and mine: If the Bible says do it: do it! If the Bible say not to do it: Don't do it! How much plainer can this be? People want to add to the Bible according to their own views and those views are not necessarily according to Scripture and are excuses given for reasons why they will not simply do what the Bible says to do. When people hold fast to views outside of Scripture then heresy is the result: history testifies to this fact.

     Paul now turns his attention to Church leaders and give a sound advice as to who should be a Church leader and when a Church leader is not following these inspired words that leader must no longer lead. A man, not a woman, remember they can teach but not to teach in the place of a man, and men this imposes upon you to teach, to do things that are necessary: i.e., go to the mission field, teach Sunday School, and allow the women to aid you in your pursuit to bring the Gospel to others. Women have an important role in this for they bring that which man cannot bring, at least well, and that is a form of motherhood that is so often needed to those in hurtful situations. I remember as a child when I was hurt, I ran to mother, I called out to my mother, rarely did I do this for my father. It was that I did not love my father, I did, but mother's touch is a special touch that only mothers, women have and we need that in the Church, in life. Women are so important in the Church and as a Church leader a place for them to use their motherhood skills, and other womanly skills must be made accessible. 

     Do you desire the office of a bishop? Good! You desire well! The word translated Bishop is English, the Greek 

word: ὲπισκοτηˆς: to look upon, we get the English word to "scope" from  σκοτηˆς, and the meaning is "overseer" and this brings to light the true meaning of a Church leader, he must oversee the Church in all its aspects. Yes, he has help from elders, deacons, deaconesses, and others for he is not to be the only one concerned about the Church. Too many people just show up on Sunday, hear either or both, the sermon or Sunday School lesson, and then sing some songs, say "hi" to some, and then leave until the next Sunday. Well, is this your Church? Do you have a responsibility towards your Church? If so, then be involved, as much as you can, but do not make excuses for not doing something. Too many Christians live this life for success, joy, entertainment, all good if use to bring glory to God, but not to be used as an excuse for not being involved in your Church. 

     Paul then lists the qualifications for an overseer of the Church and that list is in the opening verses. First step for those desiring to be an overseer of the Church starts at home. Paul makes it clear if a person cannot rule, that is, to oversee his own household, then how can that person be able to oversee the Church? He cannot! Judge yourself, are you a drunk? Do you drink too much alcohol, especially in places, bars, etc., where people can see you drink to intoxication, not falling over drunk but are drinking to the point that you are not in total control of yourself? If so, then how can that be a witness for God? It can't! Do you sneek a peek at online pornography, a problem that is large due to its being able to be done in secrecy. How about your children? Do you allow them to look like the world, multi-colored hair like some "hippy" or worldly person? Do you allow them to wander the halls of a shopping mall? Do you give them money that they have not earned, or need? Do you yell at your spouse, and often in the hearing of your children? Or do you live a quiet and peaceable life, overseeing your household in the admonition of the Lord? 

     This is serious business and far too often just because a man has a degree from some Theological Seminary they are appointed to be a Church's overseer and they are not "vetted." Remember: Paul did not say that an overseer must have a theological degree, never mentioned, it is good that they do, but from what Seminary do they have their degree? A liberal Seminary, taught by liberal professors, and then come to your Church with liberal theology? Or should the Church examine each man desiring to be an overseer? Yes! This requires that those doing the examination have themselves studied, prayed, and in the role as one who makes decisions as who will be an overseer they will not allow anyone, just because they desire to be an overseer to be an overseer. 

     Serious? Yes! It will take you to be knowledgeable about the Bible's requirements for an oversee and to see that this is the case for whomever will be your overseer. Your spouse, your children, others in the congregation will be affected by an overseer. This is serious business!

But if the watchman see the sword come,

     and blow not the trumpet, and the

people be not warned: if the sword come,

    and take any person from among them,

he is taken away in his iniquity: but his 

     blood will I require at the watchman's

hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set

    thee a watchman unto the house of 

Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word

    at my mouth, and warn them from me.

                              Ezekiel 33:6-7

Prepare Your Hearts For Worship

Richard L. Crumb