Subject: Give Me a Church in Peace and Harmony!

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In this prophetic end time, is it possible to find a church in absolute peace and harmony?  This was a question posed to me the other day at the Web Site Office.  This humble member lamented to me that as he looked about the entire Body of Christ, all he could see was a further splintering and scattering of the brethren.  All he could see was problems among the brethren.  He stated that he could no longer take the bitterness, backbiting, gossip and mud throwing. He could no longer endure the “petty politics and infighting”.  He described how he was seeing this between churches and between brothers and sisters in local congregations.  He admitted to me that his heart was full of sorrow, as he witnessed best friends being separated by hate and what he described as “rock throwing."  He confessed that he could no longer stand by, watching local congregations being torn apart.  He asked to be removed from the mailing list, so that he could separate himself to “walk with God."

What does God’s word have to say about the condition of the churches in the end time?  Does God promise peace and harmony in the Body of Christ in the end time?  What does our church doctrine have to say; should members of the church separate themselves when they witness trouble and turmoil?  Should one flee when his brother smites or betrays him?  What does God’s Word have to say about “enduring until the end”?

First, let us look at a number of familiar verses that describe conditions in the churches in the end time.

ONE:    THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET

Matt 22:1-14

22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The question is often asked, “what is the difference between the “called” and the “chosen” in verse 14?

CALLED AND CHOSEN

Called and Chosen:  Matthew 22:14 (Read verses 1-14) and Matthew 20:16

Called:  People who have their minds open to the truth and who God leads to repentance, baptism, and to the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Chosen:  Called ones who remain steadfast to the end.  Just because one is called does not mean they will respond to the call or stay with the call (the Salvation Process).

Notice verse 6:  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.  This is a description of brother against brother.  Verse 8 says that they are not worthy of the Kingdom and verse 7 says that they will be destroyed.  We know what happens to those called that turn away from that calling.  Verse 13 is absolutely clear.

TWO:  THE PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS

Matt 25:1-13

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Notice that the wise and the unwise virgins (representing called firstfruits) are TOGETHER right up until the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) comes.

Prior to giving the parable of the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins, as part of the answer about the end time, Jesus states it in plain talk in Matthew 24:45-51.  My Hebrew-Greek Study Bible has sub-headings over portions of the scripture.  Above verse 45, it has the sub-heading:

“The Faithful And The Unfaithful Servants”

Matt 24:45-51

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

How can anyone read the parable of the 10 virgins and then read the above scriptures and not see they are talking about the same thing?  Now notice something very key to this description of the Body of Christ in the end time.  Verse 49 clearly states that members of the body will begin to smite their fellowservants!!  This will include:

1) unfaithful servants gossiping about the righteous.

2) unfaithful servants spreading discord among the brethren and attempting to separate the righteous from their friends.

3) unfaithful servants seeking to unseat the righteous from their duties or positions in the church.

4) unfaithful servants seeking to put down and continually criticize the ministry.

5) unfaithful servants, who are jealous, hateful and bitter regarding their brothers and sisters in the church.

6) unfaithful servants, who seek to disfellowship the righteous from the congregation.

7) unfaithful servants, who will depart from the doctrine of the church and the church’s own constitution, by-laws and guidelines.

These situations will include lay member against lay member and minister against minister.  Lay members will smite their ministers and ministers will smite lay members.  Both will smite their leaders.

THREE:  MEMBERS  SHALL BETRAY BROTHERS AND SHALL HATE THEM

Notice some key verses in Matthew 24.  After Jesus warned of wars and rumors of wars, pestilences and famines, He states, beginning in verse 10…

Matt 24:10-14

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

These verses refer to both the world and the Body of Christ.  Many members will be offended and shall betray one another.  They shall hate one another.  False prophets, some of whom will be in the Body of Christ, will deceive many.  Because of all this iniquity, many will see their love wax cold.  They will seek to flee the congregation and even the Body of Christ.  But notice verse 13…

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

There is nothing here admonishing or instructing the member to flee the congregation or to go it alone until Christ returns.  Verse 14 shows that there is a Work to be done and that we must perform it.  We must endure the smiting of our brothers and ourselves.  We must endure those doing the smiting.

FOUR:  “LET HIM BE UNJUST STILL”

In a sermon, Mr. Armstrong, in speaking to the subject of members of the body now and in the end time, made reference to Revelation and chapter 22…

Rev 22:10-12

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This verse is speaking to people in the church who are bitter, hateful and in the process of falling away, but still attending and causing trouble in the church.  It is clear that this problem will be with the church right up to the end and the return of Christ.

Verse 11 says to the righteous, “Let the righteous be righteous still.”  The righteous MUST endure, within the Body and within the church, TO THE END.

FIVE:  SOME SHALL BE BETRAYED BY BRETHREN

Luke 21:16-19

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

The key is verse 19; we must have patience and stay in the Salvation process.

SIX:  SOME WILL FALSELY ACCUSE THE GOOD CONVERSATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS

1 Peter 3:15-18

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

The righteous will experience times when evildoers will falsely accuse their good conduct in Christ.  God says that it is better to suffer for well doing, than for doing evil.  If it is God’s will, the righteous will suffer this way.  Remember that Jesus Christ experienced the same.  It was He who said…

Luke 6:22-23

22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

SEVEN:  EXAMPLES FROM THE SCRIPTURE

Some in the Body of Christ suffered from this smiting from within.

1) Jesus

Isa 53:3

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

2) Paul

2 Tim 4:14

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

2 Tim 4:16

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Both Jesus and Paul endured to the end.

SO, WHAT ARE WE TO DO IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD?

Begin here:

Matt 5:10-12

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

These verses do not say to run away from the congregation.  We are blessed in place.

Rev 2:10

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Notice what our church doctrine says about fellowship with the brethren

FELLOWSHIP OF THE BRETHREN

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Fellowship is the religious interaction of church members among themselves and with God, a spiritual association through the Holy Spirit, which transcends normal social or business relationships.  Since this fellowship comes through being part of the body of Christ, it requires that one has repented, been baptized and, consequently, has received God's Holy Spirit.  The fellowship of the brethren builds spiritual strength into both the individual and the Church as a whole.  Conversely, the Church may exercise its right to disfellowship one who, by obvious attitude or action, opposes the gospel or causes disruption among the membership.

DOCTRINAL OVERVIEW

It is important that the membership of God's Church meet together for spiritual purposes in order that the fabric of the Church and the spiritual state of the individual may be strengthened.  The Church also encourages social fellowship among the members.  It is a well understood principle that close camaraderie between members of a group enhances both the conviction of the individual and the strength of the entire group.  It is one means of practicing the qualities of love, outgoing concern and Christian harmony among the individual members of the body of Christ.

I Corinthians 12 shows that God deals with His Church as a group in addition to dealing with the individual members separately.  "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:    so also is Christ" (v. 12).  "For the body is not one member, but many" (v. 14).  Likewise, John 15 gives the analogy of Christ being the "true vine," and explains how a branch separated or taken away from the vine cannot bear fruit.  Experience has shown that people who cut themselves off from the Church (which is the body of Christ) tend to lose sight of the goal and purpose of God's Way and wither spiritually.  They stop producing the fruit of God's Spirit, begin to shrivel in spiritual stature and can put themselves in danger of spiritual death.

In the next paragraph of the doctrinal statement it says:

“Likewise, the Church is exhorted not to forsake the "assembling of ourselves together" for religious worship (Heb. 10:25).”

---end quote---

Let me repeat a key sentence from this doctrine:

“Experience has shown that people who cut themselves off from the Church (which is the body of Christ) tend to lose sight of the goal and purpose of God's Way and wither spiritually.  They stop producing the fruit of God's Spirit, begin to shrivel in spiritual stature and can put themselves in danger of spiritual death.”

I would encourage everyone in the Body of Christ to stay connected to the Body.  Even those in isolated areas and who are unable to attend regular services need to stay connected to both the Work of God and to other members in the Body.

Christ is the Head of the church.  He is not about fleeing.  He is about persistence and perseverance.   We must all remain together to the end.  We must do this even if our brothers hate us and smite us.  Our Salvation depends on our enduring to the end.

Matt 24:13

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