The Mormons, along with many other "1atter-day revelation" groups, contend that a "living prophet" of some kind is necessary to end the state of religious confusion found in the world today. We wish to show that first, the lack of a "living prophet" was not the cause of division; and, second, that having one today is no cure for it.
We agree with our Mormon friends that a "falling away" of the church was predicted in the New Testament. But the cause of this apostasy was, as we learn from 1 Timothy 4:1, a departure from "the faith" and not the death of the apostles and prophets, as the Mormons claim. As long as man was obeying the faith (Act 6:7) continuing in it (Colossians 1:23), and contending for it (Jude 3), there was unity There will be religious unity today by the same means. We have the same "faith" or gospel that they had then. If we obey it, continue in it, and contend for it, as they did, we will be united. But It we "depart" from it, there is religious division. The function of the apostles and prophets was to "deliver" the faith. It was up to those who received it to keep the faith and maintain unity. So the absence of a living prophet is not the cause of division.
The presence of a living prophet is no guarantee of religious unity. There was religious division in the first century while more than one apostle and prophet was living. See 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, and notice the division then in existence. In the 12th chapter of this book, we learn that there were "prophets" among the Corinthians. But there was still division in spite of "living prophets." Since 1830, when the Book of Mormon was first published, there have been over a hundred distinct religious groups spring into existence, each claiming to believe the Book of Mormon. Nearly all of these groups claimed miraculous divine guidance of one kind or the other. More than half of them claimed specific revelation from a "living prophet" to the effect that they were right and all the others wrong! These facts lead irresistibly to the conclusion that a living prophet is not the answer to religious division.
In addition to the divided Mormon groups, Seventh-Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and many others have claimed "living prophets," "testimonies of the Spirit," and the other paraphernalia of latter-day revelation. Yet all of these groups are divided from one another. Such systems are not only not the cure for religious division, but they are clearly one of the leading causes of it! -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, May, 1996
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In the last two issues of the Milpitas Messenger, we have listed the scriptures which answer the questions, "What Is Baptism?", and "Who Should Be Baptized?" Following the same procedure, we wish to list some passages which tell us what was the purpose of baptism.
Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
If the above passage had said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be enriched with $1000," it is doubtful if anyone would have a problem understanding the importance of baptism - if they wanted their $1000! But to affirm that belief and baptism are necessary for salvation is to be consigned to religious heresy in some quarters today. Why can't we just accept and affirm exactly what Jesus said and let the theological chips fall where they will?
Acts 2:37-38 - Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Both repentance and baptism are "for the remission of sins." That same phrase is found in Matthew 26:28 where Jesus said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." No one has much trouble figuring out the importance of the blood of our Lord from this text. Why, then, do so many look at Acts 2:38 and fail to see the importance of baptism? Do you suppose some pre-conceived ideas might be hindering them?
Galatians 3:26-27 - For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
This plain passage answers the question, "How do we become the children of God by faith?" It also answers another one, "How many have put on Christ?" Go ahead - ask the questions and see if the passage doesn't give you an answer.
1 Peter 3:20-21 - Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Were the eight souls really saved by the water which destroyed the rest of the world? Of course! The answer's easy, isn't it, because that's what the text says? Are we really saved by baptism? Well, what does the text say? Wouldn't understanding the purpose of baptism be simple if we didn't feel obligated to pay homage to some man-made theology which restricts us from the obvious meaning of the text? -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, May, 1996
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Yes, indeed! If worship were only like fishing, there would never be any problem in getting me out to the services of the church. Every time the weather's nice, I'm ready to go after that big one. There isn't anything that-could be more important to me than that ol' fishing hole. Wild horses couldn't keep me away. Too bad worship isn't-like that. If it were, why, you'd see me at every service-and hear me complain because there are too few opportunities to assemble with my brethren.
Why, of course, if worship were like fishing, I'd be-one or the most zealous Christians you ever saw. I never go on a fishing trip that I don't learn something or find something to tell my friends about. I hardly talk about anything else! But worship, the church, it's not like that. If it was anything like fishing, that's all I'd ever talk about. There wouldn't be any of my friends with whom I had not talked about the church, and encouraged them to attend.
If worship were like fishing, I'd rarely ever be "too tired" to attend. Why, I can go the entire night without a wink and then go fishing the next day. It just has so much interest for me that It overcomes all such considerations. Now, if I were as much or a Christian as I am a fisherman, you would seldom hear that as an excuse for my absence.
Let me tell you, if worship were like fishing it would be the easiest thing for me to give of my means cheerfully and generously. It's nothing for me to spend eighty, ninety dollars or more on a weekend fishing trip or for equipment. I like the sport so well that I've even sacrificed to get that new reel or rod. If worship affected me and the rest or my brethren like that, there would be no limit to what the church would be able to do.
I'll have to admit, if worship were like fishing, I'd never get tired sitting for a mere hour (or a little longer if the preacher gets long-winded). You all know that I have been known to sit in a boat or on a bank the entire day without complaining. Even when I'm wet, sunburned, dirty, hungry and worn out, I come home and tell everybody what a good time I had! Sure wish worship were like that. But, as it is with me, it's like pulling teeth to sit for an hour at the church building and or it goes five often minutes over - I've had it!
Sure is a tragic thing that worship isn't like fishing. Otherwise I'd attempt to live the life my Lord has out-lined for me in His word. I'd study, I'd attend, I'd teach my friends, I'd......What was that you said???????.........The bass are hitting minnows at the lake?????.......Sorry to cut this article short, friends. You see, there's a very important matter at the lake I must attend to. Now if writing articles were like fishing........But. well, you know how it is with us fishermen. -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, May, 1996
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"A man that is an heretic after the first and second-admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself" - Titus 3:10, 11.
"For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you" - 1 Corinthians 5:19.
The word "heretic" has come to mean, in modern religious vocabulary, one who holds or advocates views which are condemned by human religious authorities. However, in the Bible the word means "a choosing, choice...then, that which is chosen, and hence, an opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the formation of sects." - W. E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
One becomes a heretic when he chooses to exalt his views or opinions, sometimes making a test of fellowship over them, and always seeking to convert others to his views. It is truly a work of the flesh - Galatians 5:20.
There are various kinds of heretics and heresies. There are heresies which consist of doctrinal views which are directly opposed to the teaching of the Bible. Various denominational doctrines which reference their Creeds rather than the Bible are rather outstanding examples of this type of heresy. Ironically, in many such circles, failure to subscribe to the Creeds is itself marked as "heresy."
There are heretics among the churches who choose to make tests of fellowship over matters of judgement. This is admittedly a difficult area, as opinions differ widely as to what constitutes a "matter of judgement." Great care needs to be exercised here. For when brethren pull into opposing groups over what is a matter of judgement, one or both groups can, by definition, become guilty of heresy!
Then there are heretics in local congregations who qualify as such by choosing to dislike the elders, preacher or other members. They seem to make it their career to dig up all the dirt they can, pounce on every new member and unload the entire heap on them. They seem to work day and night to establish their views in the minds of others, thus building a "party" around them. Many a division has been caused by this type of heretic. The tragic thing about these brethren is that they seldom realize that they are, by Bible definition, a heretic.
Consider, neighbor, are you a heretic? Do you hold some religious view not found in the word of God to which you are trying to win others? If so, you are guilty of heresy!
How about it, brother. are your disagreements with your brethren over matters of judgment a constant sore spot with you? Are you ever seeking to turn the enmity of others against them? Does your personal dislike of some member become the topic of your every conversation with other members? If so, then, friend, you are a heretic and the doors of Heaven are forever closed for you until you repent (Galatians 5:21). -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, May, 1996
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Some years ago I listened to a radio broadcast of a talk by Earl Nightingale on "The Intelligence of Germs." He related the findings of some efficiency experts in their studies of absentee problems among employees of large companies.
One way of interpreting the results of their findings was that, apparently, sickness-producing germs were very intelligent! They found, for example, that businesses with very generous sick-pay benefits had a much higher percentage of absenteeism than companies with lesser benefits. No doubt the germs knew not to pick on those poor workers whose company would not provide for them! Those experts also found that there was more sickness among employees on the days just prior to the weekend, and much less sickness on Mondays than at any other time. Conclusion - Those intelligent and beneficent germs knew it was more convenient for workers to be stricken toward weekends! They were also smart enough to leave their victims in time for working hours the following Monday!
I strongly suspect that these brilliant bacteria have been to work on some of us. They seem to judiciously avoid afflicting us until late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Those benevolent bugs know that Sunday is the only day some of us can afford to be laid up. But these venerable viruses invariably fly the coop at the sound of Monday morning's alarm clock!
Of course, someone might be so crude as to suggest that we are just manufacturing excuses for not attending services. But we meet the mere breath of such suspicions with denials and counter-charges of "judging" and "meddling." Therefore, based on the evidence, we must be forced to the conclusion that congregations have been invaded by a strain of highly intelligent germs! Brethren, beware!!! -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, May, 1996
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