By David Campbell

I was just thinking about all of the old quotes that get brought up from time to time. Sayings such as what we call the “Golden Rule” which says “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Some how today that has been turned around to say, “The one with the Gold makes the rules” Not quite the same is it?

Actually what I was thinking about when I sat down to write this article was how so many people bicker back and forth among themselves today, even within the churches of God. No one seems to be able to get along for any length of time especially when it comes to things regarding ones personal understanding of religious topics, even to the point of people having to leave one Church group in search of other people who believe as they do.

It reminded me of a time when I was having a conversation with one of my uncles at a family gathering. This particular Uncle that I refer to had served as a minister in the Baptist Church for more years than I can remember. I don’t recall just what it was that we were talking about at the time but the conversation turned to something about the Baptist and some other denominations not being able to get along or work together. I made the comment that I did not see anything in scripture where Christ said that each domination or Church would have their own separate area in His Kingdom. I went on to say that all that are Christ’s would have to work together and be under Christ as head and that we might as well learn to get along now in this life.

Boy did that draw a response! My Uncle replied with a rather stern voice, “Well that certainly isn’t going to happen”. It made me stop and think about what we are going to need to change in order for that to happen at all.

I’ve written in some of my previous articles that certain recognizable denominations or groups teach that they are the only true church. Some say they are the only way to salvation. Some teach that everyone but their organization is wrong and that they and they alone are doing the work of God.

Is this done out of vanity, control, and greed or something else?

Let’s take a look at what the Bible says as I have grown tired of what man has to say on this subject!

Phil 2:3-4

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Are the Churches of God doing that today?

What is this scripture trying to tell us? What does it mean when Paul says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition”? Look around at how Churches are run today. How are Ministers, Deacons and Elders chosen? Does not the very process that man uses today to select these leaders encourage what Paul is telling us to avoid?

Paul is telling the Philippians to not do things from selfish ambition or for recognition but for the good of the whole body. Paul goes on to tell them to do things in lowliness of mind not to be haughty or proud as many are today.

Look at what Christ told the Church during His ministry here on earth.

Matt 6:2-4

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. (The word “openly” is in italics meaning that it was added later)

And then Paul adds the words “to esteem others better than yourself” and “In lowliness of mind’. Does anyone understand today what was being said in this verse? Today we teach to win at all cost, trash your opponent, rise to the top, win, win, win, go farther, go faster, be better and make sure everyone around you knows it! I don’t see Paul’s words in any of this, do you?

What a different world we would live in today if everyone considered each individual to be of more importance than they do their own self. Or at least equal to!

Of course this did not just start today or even in the last 100 years. The new Testament Church was having the same problems with some saying that I am of Apollos and I am of Paul.

1 Cor 1:12-13

12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Substitute the names in these verses and replace them with the name of the organization or person that you follow. By whom did you have your sins forgiven? Who shed His blood that your sins might be blotted out? In whose name were you baptized?

All of these are very good things to think about when we find ourselves putting down other Churches of God who are teaching basically the same thing but have different administrations. Let’s look at something.

1 Cor 12:4-13

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

You can see from reading 1 Cor 12:4-13 that not all ministers persons or non-ministers persons have the same gifts and not everyone has all of the gifts that are available to be distributed. That is why the scriptures continue on and talks about how we are all joined together. The example uses the human body as an illustration to show how we all need one another and how we should perform together.

1 Cor 12:14-21

14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Just as our physical body needs parts with different function and purpose so does the Spiritual body! Not everyone can lead or be the head, not everyone is a mouth or speaker, not everyone does the work of a hand or a foot and so on and so on.

Notice how the lesser parts are treated or esteemed.

1 Cor 12:22-27

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,

24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,

25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Let’s notice the rest of the chapter.

1 Cor 12:28-30

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Obviously we know the answer to these last questions in verse 30. No, not everyone has all of the gifts that are mentioned. God distributes according to His will, not ours.

I should point out that not everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ actually understands the scriptures correctly.

2 Peter 3:14-18

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

15 and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation–as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

I believe that the answer to mans lack of esteeming others better than himself lies in the scripture that we just read.

What does longsuffering mean? It means to be patient even though it isn’t pleasant. Bearing with someone who is in error is not pleasant but we need to learn to get along with one another in spite of our different understandings right now.

Recently I have spoken with people who have gone off on strange tangents regarding what they call the “Truth of God”. I mentioned earlier that they break off from one Church and go looking for support for their “New” truth and refuse to meet with or work with anyone who does not completely agree with them. I think this is wrong!

I think it is wrong because God does not give each one of us the same understanding at the same time and God is not training all of us for the same job in His kingdom. Each one of us grows and develops at our own pace. We should learn to be more patient with one another.

Luke 21:19

19 By your patience possess your souls.
NKJV

I think God will be more pleased with our work if we don’t offend one another quite so often and learn to bear one another’s burdens!

We need to continue to walk by Faith. We know that we do not have all understanding right now. Daniel did not even have understanding of the words he was told to write at the time he wrote the book of Daniel. Scripture does tell us that Christ will set things in order when He comes.

Acts 3:19-21

19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,

21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Verse 21 should give us hope and patience to continue on with the work that we are called to do and to learn to get along with one another and to learn to esteem others better than our own self.

Notice what is going to be restored.  “All things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began”.

If you know someone who has left a church of God because of difference in doctrinal teaching or disputes, reach out your hand and lift them back up. If you don’t do it, who will?

1 Thess 5:14-18

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
NKJV