Pleasing in His Sight

Dear Brethren,

The institution of the Roman Catholic Church claims to possess infallible divine authority from God when establishing matters of faith and morals.  Do Church of God organizations possess divine authority from God over its ministers and members?  And, does a Church of God organization possess divine authority to disfellowship ministers who do not recognize that alleged divine authority?   "Nevertheless [even] among the chief rulers also many believed on [Jesus]; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue." (John 12:42)

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.  We all know that.  We all say that Jesus is the head - but what does that mean?  It does not mean that an organization has been given that role to head the Church.  It also does not mean that a man leading an organization is head of the Church.  When Jesus gave us the parable of the pounds showing us how we are to grow spiritually, He equated greater spiritual growth with greater submission to Him as the head of the Church.  Jesus is the head of the Church – It is He who reigns over us.

"[Jesus] said therefore, A certain nobleman [Jesus is the noble man] went into a far country to receive for Himself a Kingdom, and to return.  And He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds [measures of Holy Spirit], and said unto them, Occupy till I come.  But His citizens hated Him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us... But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."  (Luke 19:12-14, 27)  We must learn to be ruled by Christ as the head of the Church before we will be qualified to rule with Him.

We live in a world of growing religious confusion and toleration of wrong beliefs.  Too many people think that God is pleased with every expression of religion no matter where it comes from – including the Pope or Protestant evangelists.  God is not pleased with any false church or teaching.  Even the Church brethren are being tempted to tacitly approve of non-Scriptural doctrine and practices by those in other religions who say they “love the Lord.”  Let’s remember that our God is a jealous God and all who worship Him must do so in sincerity and truth.  “Thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”  (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9)

It has become politically correct to accept every form of religious worship.  It seems that no matter how outlandish a group’s beliefs and practices are, they are quickly and openly embraced by those who wish to demonstrate how open-minded they are.  God is not open-minded when He says, "You shall have no strange Gods before me."  Here in America there seems to be a free-for-all when it comes to Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and every strange god.  The very fabric of our American religious culture is being unraveling due to immigration of non-Christian peoples.  Our founders intended America to be a Christian nation under God.

In the beginning, America was founded as a Christian nation.  But even as a Christian nation we were not of one mind.  There were basically two schools of thought on Christianity.  First: Those men who followed the Pope taught that Christian expression extended, unbroken, from the time of Jesus Christ on earth up to today.  In other words, the Catholics teach that their religion is the religion that Jesus taught – it is not.  They believe that the Pope has the authority from God to make any religious decision he deems necessary.  The Pope and his Roman Catholic Church believe in an institutional / organizational church having the authority of Christ and divine direction to rule without error and infallibly.  Therefore, they believe, because they have a divinely ordained institution, they always judge correctly.  They believe that when it comes to faith or morals, the Catholic Church is infallible, and cannot and should not examine itself – for to do so would reveal a lack of faith.  The Roman Catholic Church necessarily overlooks all the admonitions that warn God’s Church brethren of false ministers, false doctrines, and false Gospels.

The second school of thought on Christianity recognizes that the principles of Jesus Christ have been corrupted and man must endeavor to return to the Christianity of the “original church.”  Protestants fall into this category, but come very short of making a clean break from their mother church.  Protestantism came out of the Catholic Church (Revelation 17:5).  The Protestants declared that their goal was to return to the doctrine of the “Original Church” – and yet they kept most of the Pagan doctrines of the Catholic Church.  The Catholic Church altered every principle, law, and command of Christ and returned to Paganism – that is where they got their beliefs – including the Trinity, Sun-day, Christmas, and Ishtar (Easter) worship.  That system of worship is non-Scriptural – it is nowhere in the Bible.

The true Church of God also falls into this second category – recognizing that the principles of Jesus Christ have been corrupted by this deceived world, and the true saints on earth must endeavor to return to the Christianity of the “original church.” “I exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  (Jude 3)

The true Church of God knows the Scriptural teachings of Jesus Christ and recognizes the obscene corruption of Christianity within the institutional churches of Catholicism and Protestantism.  There is a great dividing line between the institutional corruption of the Catholic Church and the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

WARNING TO THE CHURCH OF GOD

We, as the modern-day Church of God, are no more immune from the dangers of error than was the early Church which was prone to doctrinal error and apostasy.  We must guard the Gospel of Christ with all due diligence – in every way – both in the written Word and especially, in practice.  Much of the early true Church of God fell away from the Truth of God into error and heresy (Galatians 1:6).  God was not pleased with those who left the true faith.

It is interesting that the Church of God today so clearly rejects the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, while parts of the Church of God are falling prey to the same false concept of institutional or organizational divine authority that the Roman Church presumes to possess.  God has never given any organization of men carte blanch – unrestricted authority – over the Church brethren.  Jesus Christ is the head of the Church brethren.  Everyone is to apply the full spiritual meaning of all Christ's words in every decision they make and every action they take.  Even now, it is entirely possible to pervert the Gospel of Christ.  In all ages, especially now, to please God we must diligently seek the spiritual intent of Christ’s teachings, principles, and values – and apply them in our everyday lives.

If it were not possible for the church to pervert the Gospel of Christ, Paul would not have said to the churches of Galatia, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him [God the Father] that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-12) To please God it is necessary that we earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

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Sermon:  "Pleasing in His Sight"

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