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Which Church Is Right? |
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Author: E. M. Zinn |
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In Matt. 16:18 Jesus said, "I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
"My church" indicates sole possession. The thought which
naturally comes to mind is, what church did He mean, or which
did He build? Was it a church comparable to the rest of the
churches? Or is it a separate, distinct body in which all its
members have salvation?
The fact that Jesus said, "I will build my church," definitely
shows that He was the builder and organizer.
One popular opinion is that the Church of God is a church among
the rest-on par with them and like them in formality and
association.
Jesus said in St. John 10:9, 10, "I am the door: by me if any
man enter in he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find
pasture." We go through the door (Christ), which is the only
process by which we obtain salvation and membership in His
church.
Different bodies call themselves churches of God. Some have had
light and in reality were a member of Christ's body or Church,
but have departed from the truths that made them the Church of
God. Some have substituted man's ideas, and are now a church
among the rest, with the Biblical name only as a marked
difference to designate them. It is as the Prophet Isaiah said.
"In that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We
will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be
called by thy name to take away our reproach." Isa. 4:1.
The Church of God name has become common to many Bible students,
but to see the exclusive body is quite another thing. Some have
the idea that all sects or denominations comprise the Church
that Jesus built. But Jesus never built a sect. He is the Head
of His Church, His Body. Men are the heads of the churches they
build. For instance, the Lutheran Church was founded on the
teaching of Martin Luther; John Wesley's teaching became the
Methodist Church from the methods he taught.
Sectarian churches individually teach some truth, but omit much
truth. Any joinable church has both good and bad in its
membership. But God's true church contains only saved men and
women. The Psalmist declared, "Of Zion it shall be said, This
and that man was born in her; and the highest himself shall
establish her." Psa. 87 :5, 6. She carries the true nature of
God, being born of His Spirit, having His divine nature. Her
members are raised up and made to sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. Paul described this church as glorious
and without spot or wrinkle-that it should be holy, and without
blemish. Ephesians 5:27.
Jesus also prayed in St. John 17:22, "And the glory which thou
gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one even as we
are one." .Jesus had great joy in seeing His children one. The
most glorious church is where the members see eye to eye and
flow together. There the fellowship runs from heart to heart.
The Psalmist declared Mt. Zion (the Church of God), beautiful
for situation (Psa. 48:2), the joy of the whole earth. When the
Holy Spirit is in each heart and divine love flows toward each
other, why wouldn't it be a place of divine satisfaction?
No joy can equal the sublime, glorious unity brought about by
the Spirit of God. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory. One
divine taste forever spoils one for the darkness of the
denominational world. My heart aches when I think of the
condition of souls groping in denominational darkness; perhaps
honest, but not knowing that God has a pure church, a city set
on a hill illuminated with the light from heaven with no
darkness in her. There the true character of Jesus is reflected
through men and women whose hearts are filled with His divine
nature (love), walking in light, each having fellowship with God
and with each other-sublime and heavenly!
Is the Church of God organized? Yes, most surely so. Jesus said
He would build His Church and furnish it with "apostles; and
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and
teachers." Eph. 4:11. As these work under divine inspiration
there is unity among believers.
Sectarian churches are often organized through human wisdom;
therefore none are alike because human wisdom without the Holy
Spirit can never come to the unity Jesus prayed for.
I have set before you some Biblical truths so that you may
measure them to churches in existence today. Jesus has a church
that comes up to the Bible standard, which you can find as you
keep an honest heart before God and diligently seek for His
truth.
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Printed By: Faith Publishing House,
P.O. Box 518, Guthrie, OK 73044 |
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