11/30/17 REALLY IMPORTANT INFO HERE

11/30/17 REALLY IMPORTANT INFO HERE

Ephesians 4:1-7
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Have you ever noticed that cults and false religions don't usually have "splits" on the local level? That is because they are so authoritarian that there is no allowance for disagreement. If you don't submit to their rule, you are out. PERIOD. People who follow false religions or cults submit to beliefs and behavior requirements, which defy reason. It is either because of social or spiritual bullying or they are simply submitting to keep their neck off of the chopping block, literally.

Think about it... cults and false religions do not have have local splits that divide and scatter their members into several small and ineffective groups, unlike Christian congregations.

Christian based "churches," on the other hand, will split over the slightest disagreements, concerning the least important things (especially in the west). The western mind is so independent that the average church goer will not tolerate any kind of leadership or authority, except in the case of those who follow false religions and cults. (GO FIGURE).

Though these two responses of religious people to spiritual leadership seem to be at odds with one another, they are actually two manifestations of the same problem. THEY DON'T WANT TO COME UNDER THE RULE OF GOD, HIS WORD OR HIS ANOINTED AND APPOINTED MINISTRY.

This is not a call to blind followshiip or mindless submission to pastors or church elders, (which eventuates in false religions and cults). It is a call to Biblical unity and love of God, His word and His Church.
Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for a split in a local congregation, but often times it is just an easy way to avoid truth, grace, unity, love, humility.
Sometimes there are very good things that are the result of a "church split," but usually it simply fosters selfish and temporal purposes.

Nothing can be done to undo destructive splits. But Christians need to humble themselves and come under Biblical and loving authority, rather than storm off when they are called to humble submission and selfless unity.

Satan has always sought to divide and conquer the people of God, whether in families or churches. God has designed the home and the church with assigned leadership. This leadership is not at liberty to use its position of authority to abuse or mislead others. The Biblical position is for leaders to rule by love and truth and grace and the congregation is to follow and submit (to leaders and one another) in humility and trust and love.

Biblical churchmanship does not necessarily lead to super large churches. There comes a time when a growing church should "hive off" a new body of believers in order to reach and minister to an even larger number of people, of diverse backgrounds in adjoining communities. Sadly, the divisions that put different churches on every corner do not reach the masses of society. In fact, the infighting and selfish sectarianism that causes most splits causes the unsaved community to be less responsive to the call of God. This in turn plays into the hands of the false religions and cults.

According to God's word, all Christians ought to agree on the revealed word of God, and ultimately we will. But of course, we don't always agree at this time. However, most splits take place because of bruised egos or strong personalities that will not yield to leadership or the local body of believers. While there are people arguing about church decor, ministry endeavors, family status and personal "rights," the lost community is turning to Satan's shackles of authoritarian and unBiblical religion that leads them to hell.

As it turns out, those who get miffed over insignificant issues eventually lose themselves or their descendants to the false "gospel," or false "Jesus," or false "Spirit" of the false prophets and false religions that are eagerly waiting to draw people into their darkness.