I
want to be the Boss so Bad!
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From Secret Meetings to Men's Meetings, or out of the Frying Pan into the Fire! |
Christians must learn to harmonize the Bible with real life and not seek to mutilate and destroy its sacred teachings. Current affairs remind us of the teachings of the Book of Revelation and the church "in the wilderness" (Rev. 12:6-14).
Individuals who are playing at Christianity and not striving for spiritual growth are in grave danger. It is a constant task for the Christian to improve his/her devotion to God. In actuality it appears that the church in our times is experiencing a religious meltdown. There is a modern mind set in the brotherhood that men's business meetings should replace God's design for church leadership....and God's design is the elder-ship. No where in Scripture can one find information for such nonsense as a men's business meeting. Lethargy, non-compliance and out and out rebellion against the Word of God are really at the root of this current movement and defy such statements as "contend earnestly for the faith" and other New Testament warnings about departing from the truth (II Thess. 2:3; 1st Tim. 41).
One cannot tamper, interfere, or meddle with the Holy Scripture which was created by God (II. Tim. 3:16). To do so is to serve Satan and sin. What a tragedy when brethren get caught up in shallow concepts that put a premium on external show and not spirituality. Sometimes there are those who even applaud such schemes and attempt to justify the trickery not giving a moments thought to the reality that some of the Bible's brightest flashes of glory belong to unsung servants as Barnabas and Andrew while those in the sun are people as Jezebel and Pilate.
As a Christian, we must represent light even while we live in a perverse generation (Phil. 2:15). We need to take seriously the task of living soberly, righteously, and Godly (Titus 2:12). We must pay attention to what the Scripture says as to how people ought to conduct themselves in the "household of God,' which is the church of the living God (1st Tim. 3:15,16). The simple organization of the Lord's church made clear autonomous government. If we adhere to the divine principles of self governing procedures set forth in Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5-6, Acts 20:28, and 1st Peter 5:1-4, we have no need for an earthly headquarters, bureaucracy or hierarchy. In Philippians 1:1 we read of only Elders, Deacons and the saints and not of the men's business meetings. Worship in the first century was to be after the "Spirit of Truth" and that is a goal we must also strive to attain.
What does the future hold concerning church leadership? The message the Pulpiteers seems to be preaching is one of men's business meetings when if fact God has already decided how the church is to be led.
Men's business meetings usually address matters of money or other carnal topics and seldom have the capacity to address spiritual matters. Who's in charge of the meetings will usually determines what good comes from the meetings and often the polished speakers are about self gain. Most often the audience in these meetings are there because they have an agenda and this can hardly be be called fair and unbiased and those involved would rather win an argument than a soul. Men's business meetings are inconsequential as far as eternity is concerned and they most often are a way for men who cannot qualify for an Elder to do the job of an Elder. It is a back door approach and a way to subvert the process.
We ought to all pay heed to 1st Tim. 6:6-17. When one changes what God intends there are serious consequences to be paid. This is a wake-up call. God does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance. I am convinced that we serve a loving and merciful God and judgment will include those qualities of God but___God is also a God of justice and a God of His Word and judgment, then, must be on the basis of what He has already told us which means all will be held accountable.
Dr. Moss Dickerson