What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 7 / No. 5”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VII - No. 5 / July 14, 2024
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH ORGANIZATION
There is a simplicity about the church in the New Testament, as simple as the greeting in the letter to the Philippian church: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi with the bishops and deacons” (1:1). Bishops (also called elders, overseers and shepherds) lead the congregation. Deacons served the congregation. And they and all the rest of the congregation were saints, a term referring to their holy way of life. Elders and deacons with the saints: that is it.
There were to be “elders in every church” (Acts 14:23), indicating both a plurality of them and a need for them in each congregation. They were to “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28), showing their work was limited to their own congregation. I Peter 5:2 also says, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers.” Elders and deacons were chosen by the congregation using qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, which is how the Holy Spirit, as He revealed God’s truth, still makes men elders and deacons today.
This simple organization gave way to men’s ideas over several centuries following the days in which the New Testament was written. Individual, self-governing congregations became part of larger groups and organizations. Historians tell us it happened along these lines...
By 175-200AD one man was now distinguished from the elders and ruled over them: a Bishop.
By 275-300AD there came to be a bishop over all of the bishops of a province: a Metropolitan.
By 325AD three men ruled from the larger centers at Rome, Antioch and Alexandria, each as a Patriarch.
By 606AD there was one Patriarch or Father at Rome who was now ruling over all, who was called the Pope.
It took 500 years, but finally a point was reached where individual, autonomous congregations weren’t even a distant memory. All now were a part of the universal (the meaning of the word Catholic) church, as directed by one man, the Pope. It is not a plurality of men leading each congregation. It is one man ruling all, the man-appointed head of man’s organization, comprised of all the congregations.
Surely the devil is pleased any time the New Testament is set aside and left behind. And he is patient, willing to wait 500 years or longer. But when did this error take place? It happened the first time a single congregation appointed a head elder to break tie votes and make things more efficient. Leave the Bible behind and the New Testament church will eventually evolve into the Catholic Church. But if we hold to the Bible as Divine Wisdom, we will be joyfully content in its beauty, no matter how inefficient it may seem to the worldly. —Robert Hines
IS THE BIBLE ALL SUFFICIENT?
Some people believe church creeds, church manuals, and traditions are on the same par with the Bible but have we ever stopped to consider the fact that the Bible was here long before they were?
There are many arguments offered against the all-sufficiency of the Bible. Some contend the church as the right to make and change laws to keep in step with the times. How can this be true when we are not able to read anything in the Scriptures about the church ever having any such power? What we do read is that “all power” belongs to Christ (Matthew 28:18). Others argue traditions are just as binding as any command in the Bible. Once I wrote an article in a local newspaper on the subject of ‘Reverend’ in which I showed the only time the word was used in the Bible was in Psalms 11:9. The purpose of the article was to show men/women should not wear the title ‘Reverend’ since it was God’s name. A lady, upon reading the article, said, “Well, I’ve heard men being referred to as Reverend ever since I was a little girl”. Obviously she was justifying the practice based on a long standing tradition but does that make it right?
There are others who place denominational creeds and manuals on equal plane with the Holy Scriptures. They say the creeds or manuals are stating nothing more than what is in the Bible. If that’s the case then why not just do away with the creeds/manuals and use only the Bible? The truth in the matter is that creeds and manuals ADD TO and TAKE FROM what the Scriptures teach. God has never, at any time, permitted such to take place. Deuteronomy 12:32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” Revelation 22:18-19 “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Friends, the Bible along is all-sufficient! It is sufficient to cause one to believe. John 20:30-31 says, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” The Bible also completely furnishes/equips us: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible, God’s word, also “…has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,…” (2 Peter 1:3).
Jesus said that “…the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48). Yes, we will be judged by the word of God; not by some decree handed down by the church, a human tradition, or what might be stated in some denominational creed or manual. This being the case, we should be content with the Scriptures and reject all others things that are humanly devised. —E.R. Hall, Jr.
NOTHING TO LIVE FOR
Somebody once said, "Many people have everything to live with and nothing to live for." How true that is. Many wealthy people live hollow, meaningless lives. They have more than enough possessions to make life comfortable, but they have little purpose in life to make it meaningful. It takes decades before some people eventually realize that life lived for mere self-indulgence is ultimately an empty life. Jesus stated, “…’Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’” (Luke 12:15) A time can come, however, when even the shiniest new car, or the biggest house, or the flashiest jewelry can't mask the hollowness of a life without high purpose.
The Bible doesn't condemn all wealth, and new cars and nice houses are not wrong. But lasting satisfaction doesn't come from mere things or self-indulgence. On the other hand, people with little to live with may have much to live for. For example, Jesus' apostles were not wealthy (Acts 3:6), but their lives had real purpose.
The Scriptures assure us that God can bring purpose into our lives, too. He can give us something to live for that is missing from the lives of people whose lives are hollow and without purpose. It has been said that “a man who has not lost himself in a cause bigger than himself, has missed one of life's mountaintop experience that can last the rest of your life -- it can ultimately take you to be with God. —David Watts
SENTENCE SERMONS
"In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." (Proverbs 14:23)
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Man's noblest aim is not to 'make a living' but to 'make a life’.
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When you help someone up a hill you find yourself closer to the top.
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
