SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS
The Lords church functions in only two capacities:
as individuals and collectively as a body. We may accomplish things as
individuals which we cannot as a collective body: eat common meals, rear and
discipline children, work at a secular employment, operate our own business. As
a collective body we function in areas different from that as an individual:
refrain from common meals, partake of the Lords supper
on the first day of the week, women must be silent in the assembly, and men
must speak one by one to an undivided assembly.
As a collective body it is only through the CHURCH
that our EVERY activity is to be done. We are citizens of Gods kingdom and none
other. This is why we dont have Sunday schools. This is why we dont have
institutions of human origin like Boy Scouts, Missionary societies, Old
persons homes, orphan homes, charitable organizations (such as Save the
Children, The Eye of the Child, UNICEF, NACP, and many, many others. This is
why we dont have organizations which sponsor or are affiliated with
denominational churches, or societies which promote womens rights or schools
and nurseries or any movement other than the LORDS CHURCH.
In the Bible, for example, we never read of: Phebe doing her work through an organization but
rather she served individually as a servant of the CHURCH (Rom. 16:1);
Paul working through a missionary society when he went on a missionary
journey (Acts 13:1-3) rather he worked individually with Barnabas through the
CHURCH at Antioch; the twelve establishing an old-peoples society to
take care of the neglected Grecian widows (Acts 6:1-6) rather seven men from
the congregation attended to the need; or older women teaching a Sunday
School class but rather as individual members of the church they taught in
their daily lives those who were younger (Titus 2:3-5).
The early church ALWAYS functioned either as an
ASSEMBLY or as INDIVIDUAL members of the CHURCH never through another agency,
institution, or organization. This is the Lords PATTERN, and those who wish to
please Him must follow His way. In referring to Moses following Gods will in
such passages as Exodus 25:9, 40, Exodus 25:40, Exodus 26:30, and Numbers 8:4,
note the words of New Testament writers.
Stephen: Our fathers had the tabernacle of
witness in the wilderness, as he had appoint, speaking unto Moses, that he
should make it ACCORDING TO THE FASHION which he had seen (Acts
The writer of Hebrews: Who serve unto the
example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he
was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he,
that thou make ALL THINGS according to the PATTERN shewed
to thee in the mount (Hebrews 8:5)
Contrary to the way sectarian denominations work, it
is our belief and principle that the Lords church of today must do things as
they were done by the early church. Inspired men were present among those early
disciples and instructed them as to Gods will. We today have their words and
examples of their practices in the New Testament and this is the pattern
which serves as our guide.
With this in view, therefore, we are not authorized
to function through any organization except the CHURCH and we cannot support
any work other than that done as the Lords church. We are encouraged as an
individual Christian to help and influence any with whom we come in contact,
but we cannot support or function through any organization other than the
church of our Lord.
As it has happened in
HARRY
COBB
THROUGH OUR SINGING
Im quite sure that we would all agree that one
purpose of singing is to praise God. This is what is meant by the word hymn,
which comes from the Greek word humnos, meaning a
song in praise of. There is another purpose of singing that we want to focus
on, and that is teaching and admonishing through our singing.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col. 3:16)
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Eph.
Our singing is not just directed toward God.
Certainly, many songs are, but many songs are directed to each other. Thats
because many songs are designed to TEACH one another teaching and admonishing
us to live properly, to enjoy the blessings of the Christian life. It might
even be said that congregational singing is congregational teaching! Thus
singing is a way that we can encourage our brethren and ourselves as well!
Lets make it a point when we sing to direct our
attention to the words of the songs. And if a song is intended to TEACH or to
ADMONISH us (e.g., To the Work, Yield Not to Temptation, Well Work Till Jesus
Comes, etc., etc.), lets take the words to heart and let them have their full
effect.
Remember, one purpose of singing IS to praise God!
Still, there are some songs that have a different purpose, and we can gain much
strength from their teachings.
919
Pine Cliff
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TO
THOSE WHO OBEY HIS WILL, GOD PROMISED A SAFE LANDING (Matt.
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SOME
THINGS YOU WILL SEE AT THE JUDGMENT:
1.
The greatest crowd ever assembled (2 Cor.
2.
The greatest judge that ever sat in judgment (2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 22:12)
3.
The greatest judgment books that were ever opened (Rev. 20:12)
4.
The most precise judgment ever made (Matt.
5.
The greatest separation ever known (Matt. 25:33, 48)
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FOUNDED UPON CHRIST
The New Testament church was built upon a foundation that
included the prophets, apostles and Jesus Christ (Eph.
There can be no foundation laid by mankind. Christ is
the ONLY sure, reliable foundation.
For other foundation can no man lay that that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 3:11).
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
1. Timothys mother was a Jewess. What nationality
was his father?
2. Zedekiah released Jeremiah from prison but restricted
him to what area?
3. According to Judges chapter
2, after God gave the people judges, did they turn and worship God?
4. According to Revelation, the
5. What was King Uzziahs
great love?
ANSWERS
NEXT MONTH . . .
and remember last months
questions?
1. About what two people was it written, The elder
shall serve the younger? JACOB AND
ESAU (Rom.
2. What giant was from
3. According to John 14, what are in the Fathers
house? MANY MANSIONS (John 14:2)
4. What side was Ezekiel to lie
on to represent the iniquity of the house of
5. Which of Sauls daughters was in love with David?
MICHAL, THE YOUNGER (1 Sam.
GOSPEL
MEETINGS
DATES PLACE & TIME SPEAKER
October
2 5 near
October Laurel Church James McDonald
6 10
October Marrowbone, KY Wilbur Bass
9 12
(
October
10 12 near
October New
10 12 Cullman, AL (
October
13 17 near
October Valley,
24 26
(
Oct. 31 -
- Nov. 2
THE HARVESTER is a monthly publication intended to encourage all men everywhere to become laborers into Gods harvest (Luke 10:2). This paper is mailed free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. Please submit name, address, and all correspondence to:
Ray McManus
Phone: (256) 449-9221
Email: