THE APOSTLE'S TEACHING

"GOVERNMENT"

Part I

What did Mr. Armstrong teach us about government in God's Church? What is it's purpose and function? What is the proper form? What form of government will Jesus Christ administer in the World Tomorrow? Is the leader of your group following God's form of government? Can a splinter group have the proper form of government and still not have Jesus Christ as it's head?

These are all pertinent questions we in God's Church need to ask ourselves.

If all these various splinter groups were following Christ's teachings, as they claim, should they not be together? Is Christ leading all these groups? Is He leading any of them? Paul asks "Is Christ divided?" in I Corinthians 1:13. Jesus Christ said in Mark 3:25; "And if a house be divided against itself that house cannot stand."

In Daniel 12:7 we read that the power of the holy people was prophesied to be scattered. The Church today has been divided. Not one group is doing a significant work with real power as was done under Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.

What is the main cause contributing to this division? Division is an effect, so there must be a cause. The main reason why the Church is divided is because of doctrinal differences, especially that of government, which will be addressed here in this ad.

On page 249, in Mystery of the Ages, we read what the apostle, Mr. Armstrong, wrote: "In I Corinthians 1, the apostle Paul was inspired to command that all in the Church "SPEAK THE SAME THING." There must be no division in what is believed, taught or preached" (emphasis mine). The various splinter Church groups do not all speak the same things as the apostle, including the teaching on government, therefore there is no unity.

PROPER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

Mystery of the Ages, page 242: "The Roman Catholic Church is organized on the hierarchical system ........ The Presbyterian Church is organized with the presbyters or ministers in control. The Congregational Church delegates top authority to the congregation--"government by the consent of the governed.  .......The churches of this world of Satan are organized according to humanly devised patterns. But the Bible gives explicit directions in regard to Church government. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. God's form of government is, indeed, hierarchical. God the Father is head over Christ--the sole Lawgiver and supreme authority."

Page 249: "Yet none is truly the Church OF GOD, unless it is GOD'S CHURCH, continuing in doctrine, practice, organization, in all ways on the original biblical pattern...."

Page 256: "And THAT IS WHY God has placed HIS GOVERNMENT in His Church. That is WHY God's Church government is theocratic instead of democratic. That is why God has set ranks of government in his Church, apostles, evangelists, pastors, elders, both preaching and nonpreaching, "till we [in the Church] all come in the unity of the faith, .......(Eph. 4:13). .... That is WHY it is hierarchical in form--government from GOD at the top on down, not from the bottom up. Otherwise those at the bottom would be ruling GOD! ...It is the SAME government by which Christ shall rule all nations......."

Page 325: "It will be divine government......... God ruling over humans. It will not be government from the bottom up. The people will have no votes. ..... It will be government from the top (God Almighty) down. It will be hierarchy in form."

Page 335: "We know it will be government from the top down. There is to be a definite chain of authority. No one will be elected by the people."

Finally on page 350: "One thing there will not be in the millennial Headquarters Church is a doctrinal committee of intellectual "scholars" to decide whether Christ's teachings are true doctrines. ...All teaching came from Christ through the apostles--and a few times Christ communicated to apostles via the prophets (of which there are none in God's Church today since the Bible for our time is complete). God's Church today, as in the first century, receives its teachings from the living Christ, through an apostle, just as in A.D. 31."

How many groups or leaders do you see today in agreement with what the apostle taught us? Every minister had better look at what he is teaching on this matter of government if he claims to be part of God's true Church.

It's obvious that if all leaders were teaching and following what the apostle taught about government, we all would be together in one organization. We are instructed to continue in the apostle's doctrine (see Acts 2:42, II Peter 3:1-2).  The Church being divided is absolute proof that what he taught is not being properly followed.

Mr. Armstrong's leadership was approved by Jesus Christ; "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Rev 3:8). The fruits were there as proof positive. He taught government as it will be administered in the Kingdom of God.

THE CHURCH IS OUR SCHOOL

We're called now and placed into the Church for training in how to rule with Christ and to teach in the World Tomorrow. That is the purpose for the firstfruit harvest.

Mystery of the Ages, page 201: "Those called into the Church were called not merely for salvation and eternal life, but to learn the way of God's government and develop the divine character during this mortal life in the Church age."

Page 270: "The kingdom of God will be the GOD FAMILY--a superbly and highly trained and organized family of GOD BEINGS. The Church is God's special school for training those he has selected and called to be trained in his Church--to be kings and priests, to rule and to teach--for their part in that kingdom. Only those so trained in the Church will be kings and priests in the kingdom of God."

Page 271: "The Church is ORGANIZED on GOD'S pattern of mutual teamwork and cooperation to function perfectly together. They shall become the GOD FAMILY as it shall exist at the time of Christ's Second Coming...."

If we will get government right and follow it properly, as Mr. Armstrong taught us, the other doctrines in the Church would more readily fall into line. The hierarchical form of government was practiced and taught to us during the Philadelphia era of the Church. But there is more to proper government than just having this right form.

We just read earlier from Mr. Armstrong's quote where he stated that the Catholic Church has a hierarchical form of government, but it certainly isn't God's Church, His government. Jesus Christ is the head of God's government under the Father.

AN IMPORTANT FACTOR

Besides doctrine, there is another dimension we must consider, even when a hierarchical form of government is practiced, if Christ is to be the head. That dimension is Godly love. God loves mercy and justice. He is very compassionate. God's government is one of love, of outgoing concern for it subjects. That's God's way of life.

God is love, and Jesus Christ rules us in love. That same love must be practiced by all leaders in God's government. They are to be Godly examples to the flock. Christ rules justly, and shows great mercy when we make mistakes. Church leaders are to follow His perfect example. (John 13:15, 34) In turn, they themselves must set the proper example to others.

I Peter 5:1-3 says: "The elders which are among you I exhort, ....Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;... Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."

In I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, we find instructions for ministers to keep the doctrines as they were taught, along with several other attributes they must have, including love. Paul said in I Corinthians 13 that if we don't have love we are nothing. The ministry is to rule in love, not harshly nor unfairly.

Some leaders do practice the same form of government as taught through Mr. Armstrong. Are they right? Is Christ leading them? After all, they do profess to have a hierarchical form of government in their groups. But remember, Christ is not divided, so He can't be leading all these men either, for they are divided and do not all speak the same things. Revelation 3:20 states that He is on the outside knocking.

For Christ to be the head of a group, even one with a hierarchical form of government, it must be keeping all the doctrines as given through the apostle. And, it also must be administering that government with Godly love. It cannot be harsh and judgmental, always condemning.

Since it can be easily proven that all these splinter groups are not teaching all doctrines as given, or their ministers are not leading God’s people with Godly love and compassion, we can easily eliminate them from being led by Christ.

Some groups today have a hierarchical form of government, but practice a "Fear-archichal" government creating tremendous fear and distrust for any leadership. Many have been hurt terribly by these leaders through their harsh rule. Just remember, God sees it all, and their day is coming (see Psalms 37:13). He who deals harshly will be dealt with in the same manner. He who deals with others kindly will receive the same in return (Matt 5:7, 7:2).

We can see then that even leaders who agree with the same form of government as taught by Mr. Armstrong are either not in agreement with what he taught on all doctrines, or they rule with fear and not in Godly love. Some are guilty of both wrongs.

MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE

Who do you think Mr. Armstrong would take to task if he could be brought back to life at this time, and see what has happened to the Church? You ministers know what he would do! He would go straight to the ministry, and he would not spare the rod. There is a time and place for the rod (see I Cor 4:21). Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34 tell us why he would be so upset. He taught us that unity can only be achieved by speaking the same things with proper loving leadership.

There should be shame on the faces of most of today's ministry for what they themselves are doing, or allowing to be done, to God's people and they well know it. They are without excuse for what has happened. They were taught right doctrines, especially about Church government, but have not heeded what the apostle taught. They are without excuse (Romans 1:18-20). They don't even think they are wrong.

   In Mystery of the Ages, on page 262, we read of every minister's responsibility: “It is the duty of Christ's TRUE ministers (and how scarce today) to PROTECT the begotten but yet unborn saints from false doctrines, from false ministers.”

Leaders that practice a form of governance other than hierarchical is wrong and Jesus Christ is not leading them. Having the right form of government but not administering it in Godly Love is wrong. Not keeping the doctrines pure, either by polluting, adding, or taking away from them, is wrong. God will not compromise. His true ministers will not compromise.

Is your minister protecting you from these things? If he is not, then he himself becomes polluted, and Christ no longer leads him. He is not obeying what the apostle, sent by Jesus Christ, taught to us. Your future in the Kingdom of God is at stake here, brethren. Let's get back to all the truth, especially to this doctrine on government.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8).  Much of today's ministry has departed from the apostle's teaching about government. Some are not ruling in love. Jesus Christ is on the outside knocking (Rev. 3:20).  Believe God's Word.

Jesus Christ said if we reject those He sends, we reject Him, and by extension we reject the Father (see Luke 10:16 and Matt 10:40). If we don't believe Mr. Armstrong was sent by Christ, then we are in more trouble than we may think.

HOLD FAST

     We must prove all things and hold fast that which is good (I Thes. 5:21). You see, if Christ is not divided, how could He be leading all these various groups today? Each group makes the claim that Jesus Christ is the head of their work. Your Bible says He isn’t. Matt 7:21-23 says: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven....Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?...And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Doing a work does not fulfill all Christ's requirements for a leader. Having the right form of government does not mean it's God's. Having the doctrines right does not mean God is leading a group. A leader must have all the doctrines right and be ruling in Godly love if Jesus Christ is to lead him.

Some leaders rule harshly and not with Godly love, even when they have the right form of government, even if they do keep all the doctrines. Others have added their own teachings that alters the intended meaning. Some are a combination of all of these. Watch and allow no man to deceive you and take your crown.

   Brethren, it's very important that we keep all the doctrines given to us from Jesus Christ through His end-time apostle. Malachi 1 states very clearly that polluted bread is being served upon HIS ALTAR. Ministers are the ones doing the serving. It also states that they are wrong (verses 6-7, 12-13).  God says they are deceiving the people (verse 14).  Are you being deceived or misled by such men?

From all this we can ascertain that government in the Church is given by God for our benefit. It's function is to bring order and keep the doctrines pure, ruling in Godly love. That's why He used only the top human leaders (apostles) to determine doctrine for the rest of the Church. When anyone does not follow the same line of thought in doctrine and order as the apostles, that man is out of line, whether he be an evangelist, pastor, or layman.

Any person out of line is no longer a legitimate representative of God's government, but that of his own devising. He cannot say that he represents God's way of thinking. That's what the term "you're out of line" means.

Most ministers today are out of line because they are not keeping all the doctrines pure, or the same order of government, or they are not ruling with Godly love. Most are guilty of one or more of these, therefore, we have division that will continue as long as the ministry continues to disobey God. This is the truth of the whole matter about Church Government as taught by the apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong.

1 Cor 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Eph. 2:10: "For we are His workmanship...."

Be sure to watch for the next article in this series on “What the Apostle Taught.”