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It's Up to You . . .

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God’s Church is a wonder in this world. This small group of dedicated believers professes the highest ideals and dedication to God’s way of life. The conditions seem ideal for a continuation of a close relationship with God. Paul passionately wrote about wondrous miracles, a Savior, protection from Satan, promises of eternal life and an inheritance beyond our comprehension (Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15). God dwelt with men in the flesh and taught about a direct, personal relationship with our Eternal Father. And yet, during the lifetime of God’s chosen apostles, seeds of destruction, weakness and folly were already growing. Paul and Peter both strongly wrote to encourage the brethren to hold fast to God’s ideals. Paul wept over some who had become “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:17-18). Paul and Peter saw the seeds of self-destruction in every church, it seems (2 Peter 2:1-3).

It seems we humans are not good at passing on the hard lessons of life to the next generation. Generation after generation has to learn all over again the great lessons of life and the values that promote happiness, contentment and peace. One of the prime examples of that is the life of King David and the hard lessons that he learned about walking with God. Not even two generations passed before so much was lost. David lost sight of God for a while, and it almost cost him everything he had. His son, Solomon, started strongly but fell so far. And the attitude of his grandson, Rehoboam, guaranteed the end of Israel. One of the sad observations we can make is that destruction came from within. It was self-destruction that tore Israel from God.

God revealed a little of what would befall His people—the saints—to Daniel. Daniel was told that it was not for him to understand, but he did see enough to know that just before the end time, the power of God’s people would be completely shattered—and then all these things shall be finished (Daniel 12:7-10). The attacks of Satan will intensify before and during the Great Tribulation, including the final attack against the two witnesses. The “power” spoken of can include the ability of the Church to preach and be organized.

Could it be possible that the shattering of the power of the holy people is caused from within? Are the divisions we’ve seen in the last decades fragmenting the Body of Christ? Each fragment is weaker than the whole. Could it be that following in the footsteps of so many before us, we are our own greatest enemies?

 There was a great American statesman who once proclaimed that the United States was safe from foreign invasion, and if defeat was to be her destiny, it would have to come from with her own borders.

That seems to be what we are witnessing as the divisions result in more and more fragments of the Church. Each group seems to be working at odds with the others. Each little fragment that leaves become less able to preach the gospel strongly, and power certainly is lost. Is that part of the shattering/scattering that is foreseen? But God didpromise Daniel that some would be purified and that the wise would understand (Daniel 12:10).

My membership in God’s Church began about 50 years ago when I began attending the Worldwide Church of God (then the Radio Church of God). During the first 25 years, up until 1987, that church had problems, but was mostly unified, very dynamic in preaching the gospel, spreading the word of truth around the world and existing in a positive frame of mind. There were about 170,000 people actually attending services and the circulation of its publications numbered in the millions, with an income of over $500 million a year (adjusted for today’s dollars). The seeds of self-destruction existed but were not watered often.

In the last 25 years, I have observed the Church change to the point that the former association no longer exists and the fragments left over that still strive to preserve the truth have a combined attendance of no more than 40,000 people. In almost every case, the splits, divisions and troubles came from within. Many ministers and members alike seem to have lost the powerful desire to be united and at peace. Paul’s words that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and a measure of grace are words that do not fit what we see today (Ephesians 4:4-6). There are more than 300 splinter groups that believe they make up part or all of the Body of Christ. There is no logical way that we can reason that all of them are the Body of Christ when one group considers the others enemies or antagonists. One can only imagine where we would be today if the ministry and members who are entrusted with the truth could have remained together in one organization. How many saints would there be? What impact would the Church have on the population of the world?  

God’s direction and will is for the Church to be strengthened. God will not shatter the power of the Church—it has to come from Satan or from within ourselves. Converted people are expected to examine themselves often to be sure they are pleasing to God. They are to know they are “children of God” (1 John 3:1). Their destiny is to be like Him (1 John 3:2). They are to realize that not loving your brother in Christ is an attitude that originates with Satan (1 John 3:10, 16). They are to struggle for one another and love one another (1 John 3:23). When we are surrounded by people we love and whom we love in return, and when we have a great God-given purpose for living, there ought to be no room for seeds of self-destruction. If we are witnessing the shattering of the power of the Church as Daniel wrote—let it come from without and not from within.  

 

Edit 8/24/2012, 10:43 a.m. EDT Updated wording in sentence 5, paragraph 1 for clarity—Editor

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Comments

  • KARS

    I has come to mind that the churches of God are kind of like the churches mentioned in the New Testament. Like history is repeating itself. Each church with their own spiritual issues yet still the Church of God. Still the Apostles visited each one bring the Gospel of the Kingdom to each and correcting bad behavior that was present at the time. In the end Jesus Christ will have the wheat seperate from the tares. In the meantime we need to get along and stop acting like children. There are many of us that should be seasoned already and set the good example for we that are fairly new to the church.
    We came out of the confusion of this worlds false religions. So stop making it hard for us. We need guidance not spiritual sibling reviler between the teachers and leaders of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

  • Mavis Stucci

    Quick comment re Larry Hardison's argument – if nobody followed such leaders, there would be no splinter churches; ergo, unity IS 'up to us'.

  • Mitchell Moss

    Mr. Hardison, thanks for your comments. I'm the editor of the United News and took great pains in this article to ensure that Mr. Berendt's intentions were clear. He does not believe, nor do I, nor is UCG's general position, that the ekklesia (also called the Body of Christ) is the same as a corporation. The language in the article is clear on this, from the capitalization used on the word "church" to the articles used to refer to the church. For example, in the 7th paragraph, he refers to the Worldwide Church of God as "that church." Lowercase "c," indefinite article, in keeping with the concept that God may have called some in faraway parts of the world, whom we would have no idea exist, but who God would consider part of His people. Just like what He told Elijah in 1Kings 19:18, as quoted by Paul in Romans 11:2-4.

  • JPatton

    Larry, your analysis is correct and unfortunately the lust for power and position has turned many leaders who may have been sincere at one point in time (many still think they are) in to hirelings. As we know Christ warned about such shepherds who do not love the flock but feed themselves.

    The Church is not a physical organization. Until it is made know we are a spiritual organism not bound by the limitations of corporations with the words "Church of God" in their titles then we as a church and leaders likewise will not be able to produce true brotherly love. Working both together and apart. I have seen some collaboration between groups, much of the time these are smaller congregations or associations gathering together to do a work, to keep the feast days. There is something to be said for local churches preaching the gospel and teaching in their local area, then to the world as they are able. Yes a large organization has more reach in some terms but the internet has changed that in many ways. In the end it is the relationships, the faith of the believers built over months and years that is important.

    I may not have been in the Church for 50 years but I have learned some important things through my childhood and since baptism in my early twenties. I was only seven when my parents left the WCG headquarters in Pasadena California, hoping that they could escape the doctrinal changes in Canada. They were wrong, a few years later the "God Is" booklet came out... there was no working with heresy, the rest is history. As I grew up in the various organizations of the Churches of God I realized one thing, it was not the corporate home offices nor the leaders who made the difference. It was the local brethren, living their lives as an example of Godly service.
    Christ warned of wolves and tears who would creep in looking like sheep and wheat. This has happened all too many times until the fruits of selfish ambition, greed and lust for power have been made manifest and the sheep are scattered. Paul too, likely saw these fruits or the fore-bearers in many of the local churches he visited, and thus he warned against such people.

    So I pose a question to you Robert: has it occurred to you that maybe we, the Ekklesia, are more effective in God's work and resilient to attacks if we are spread to the four winds?
    We are still one in mind and purpose under one Shepherd.

  • Norbert Z

    In my view the following makes for a good comparison. "It's up to you" compared to deflecting blame on someone else.

    There's a fair amount of Church problems being addressed within the NT. From Mark 10:41 "And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John." to "Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence"(3 Jn 1:9). The expression of history repeating itself becomes more real when the same things happen now as they did back then.

    I look at the hard lessons of life from a different angle, they are passed to the next generation. The difference being, the entire circumstances are passed on to succeeding generations, in order to learn the same life lessons. Basically it's one thing to read about them in text, it's another to live through them.

    From my experience, the person I have most influence over to make changes is myself. It's up to me how I conduct my life and express myself.

  • KARS

    Thanks you for the reminder that we are a spiritual family that needs each other despite our differences. If we have the Gospel of the Kingdom in our hearts; then why the division?
    Times are getting tougher everyday. So self examination is vitally important for our daily walk with God our Father through, fasting, praying, Bible Study, mediation on what we read and learn, keep the Ten Commandments, His statues, and practise what we learn through actions of love for God our Father and our fellowman.

  • Suzy Q

    My sister & I was talking about the cog's yesterday. I remember reading in scripture that there are many forms of government but only one body. All who have repented, received the Holy Spirit, keeps His Sabbaths, & obeys Him are the children of God & heirs to the promise. Also the scripture of the talents comes to mind. Each was given 10 talents & used them differently. God will judge the splinter groups according to the use of the talents, much in the same way He judges each individual on how they have used the truth that God has given them. If the cog's would just realize we all belong to Him, & each has used their talents differently. Division is of Satan. We must always remember we are brothers working for the same cause. Each grows at a different rate, according to their faith. But we are all His.

  • Larry Hardison

    First off you are confusing a corporation with the Church of God (Ekklesia). The corporate churches are dividing because of power struggles and other nonChristian attitudes and desires. This too often causes the Ekklesia distress when corporate leaders demand allegiance to themselves and their organization over the allegiance and devotion to Jesus Christ the Living Head and Leader of the Church of God.

    Because corporate leaders cannot reconcile, though we've heard many sermons about reconciliation being a prime directive, friends and families are torn apart to appease the lusts their leaders feed on. What the corporate leaders (of all stripes) need to do is repent of their attitudes and teach the fullness of God's truths. However, the leadership has usurped God's authority in multiple areas. Therefore, it is my belief, that God has allowed the Prince of the Power of the Air i.e. Satan, to attack the corporations and their leadership. The more the corporations fail to preach: repentance from dead works; the commandments and statutes of God in full; faith toward God (rather than the Corp.); and, the resurrection of the dead, the more they will see their powers eroded, the sheep scattered with some having their faith shipwrecked. Which will lie upon the doorway of those "shepherds" who feed themselves rather than the flocks of God (Jer 23:1-3; Ezek 34:1-10).

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