THE APOSTLE'S TEACHING

"GOVERNMENT"

Part II

Last time we explained government in God's Church, the purpose of it. The form is to be hierarchical. We also covered the principle of ruling in Godly love. We are to Hold Fast to these things as taught to us by the apostle (Rev. 3:11).

A voting government, whether by the whole congregation or the ministry only, is not proper governance for God's Church (HWA, Mystery of the Ages, pages 242, 249, 325, etc.).

Doctrine is determined and put into the Church by Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, through apostles only, and not through a committee, or those of lower rank (page 350).

" THERE WAS NO DOCTRINAL BOARD! The teachings of the Church did not come from a COUNCIL of ministers and/or lay members, who voted on what to believe" (HWA, G.N. Nov 20, 1978).

At this point, we need to understand God's purpose and function of the human family structure, for He designed it to be a pattern of His own family. Who is the head of the human family? The husband, of course.

Who is second in charge under the husband's direction? The mother is in charge, especially when the husband is away at work, traveling, etc. She must operate within the guidelines given from the husband as long as those directives agree with the instructions from the head of the man, Jesus Christ.

The wife is to rule as if the husband were right there directing everything himself. The husband and father is to rule as if Jesus Christ was right there in person directing him. It is a government of outgoing love and concern for the welfare of the whole family. That's how God's government is to be administered in the home.

The same principle of government is to be applied within the Church of God . The Church is our mother, contrary to what some may tell you, and that can be proven from your Bible as the apostle taught us.

Many ministers and members disagree with the way God set up governance for His Church in the home. Governance in the home comes under the direction of God through His Word, the Bible. Those principles are to be taught to the Church by His ministry. There is a definite order of authority in government.

The husband is the head of the family, the wife rules with her husband, but under his supervision. The children are to be submissive to both. That is the ideal way, God's way, a home is to be conducted. This is the same principle God uses to rule in His Church. It's God's love in action.

So many have left or forgotten what Mr. Armstrong taught us about governance in our homes and in the Church. What is the result? Confusion! Confusion is not God's way. I Cor. 14:33: " For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints . Verse 40: " Let all things be done decently and in order." " Order" means chain of command.

Since the Church has been divided, something is chronically wrong. Government, as taught by the apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong, is not being followed today by most in the Church.

Alternate forms and methods of governance, in some cases none, are being used today. Some groups may have the right form, but are not ruling in love or have, without authority, changed doctrines. Usually they are guilty of both.

Governance is given to the Church to bring unity, not division. If the ministers are not speaking the same things, teaching the same doctrines, how can there possibly be unity? " Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you ; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10). Are all these groups speaking the same things? NO!

Ephesians 4:11-15; "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

LIBERALISM CAUSES DIVISION

An apostle, the first on the list in Ephesians 4, gave instructions to us from Jesus Christ. Are the ministers following these today? Take a look. Here are some quotes and excerpts from Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong:

WWN June 25, 1985 ; " Why has God's Church in this Philadelphia era gone through a period of friction, controversy within the Church and split-offs....even a certain amount of division in our midst---?

Why did Christ call the Church---? They were called as students. The Bible calls them disciples. The word disciple means student or learner. The Church was like at school, and Jesus was the original teacher. He called out of the world His 12 disciples, or students, for the very purpose of educating them to become teachers, and also rulers with and under Christ... .

The Church is actually a school teaching students to become teachers and rulers in God's Kingdom.

---there had been little contention or opposition within the Church. But the wily Satan was not to allow this growth in harmony and peace and unity to continue without opposition.--- Satan seeks to destroy God's one and only true Church .

Now how did these controversies, troubles or divisions occur? It's time our members knew the truth.--much of what was going on---the direction the Church was actually traveling into controversy, liberalism and either Protestantism or total secularism.--- this effort---of the liberals increased---when I was absent from---headquarters---changes were being gradually made in --- Church doctrines .

--- as the liberal element gained control---These liberals wanted complete freedom in the Church--- freedom from tithing , doing away with or modifying Church teachings on healing by direct prayer---complete freedom for women in facial makeup , and even the approval of celebrating birthdays ( never approved in the Bible) and even of voting ---

---more and more friction developed between the liberals and those loyal ministers and members who held to the biblical truths God had placed in His Church . It was a sort of cold war of nerves---meetings had been marred by controversies over doctrinal issues ."

WARNING TO US TODAY

(WWN article continues): "As these liberals began gaining more and more control God removed His blessing. I have often said that God blesses us as we please Him. God brought me back from total heart failure, and directed me in removing these liberals, and putting the Church back on track, He has restored His blessings .

It is now clearly evident that God brought me back for a vital purpose, by CPR, from death by heart failure. Had I remained dead the Church of the living God would have been virtually destroyed by the liberal element that had crept in---During those liberal years, much of what was going on in policy changing and doctrinal liberalization---kept from me---The Church of God was being systematically liberalized---"

While I was away---there were strivings and contentions over policy , doctrines--- on the headquarters campus---in many local churches. A liberal minority of members was causing contention--- liberal ministers --- were causing division in the Church --- the liberals did not want God's government in the Church .

After---years of steady growth---the rate---began to slow, then ceased entirely in some areas---finally, even decreases---These are well-documented facts that cannot be denied.

I want you, brethren, to think about and understand what happened to God's Church in the 1970s "lest history repeat itself!" I want you to see the "fruits" of rebelling against God's way AND God's government. After all, the basic issue all along was that of God's government in the Church .

One who followed one liberal--" We are liberated from --- church government --- we have a loosely knit organization, and that's the way we like it.

Truly this has been a time of trying and testing. We are the first fruits called to be students that we may become kings and priests and rule with Christ (Revelation 5:10 ). We in the Church are students , and we are in the time of final exams .

Jesus said, " I will build my church " (Matt 16:18 ). He did not say---branches or a church divided against itself---He said a house divided against itself cannot stand .

The Church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in Whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy Temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:20-21).-the Church is organized and fitly framed together , not organized with competing and differing branches.

And how did He organize this body? How was it governed? " And he gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith ." (Ephesians 4:11-13) . It is not DISunity or some other type of organization and government.

Paul also said " that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10)."

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

(Continue): "A primary reason---contentions---during the liberal years---in our desire to hold rebellious and liberal ministers and members within our fellowship, we did not rigidly obey the command of Romans 16:17: " Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them .

-- one of the reasons — if not the primary reason — for the conflict caused by the liberal element---a former minister---stated concerning this split-of-church---they have " a completely different administrative structure " - -- they totally differ with the governmental structure of God's Church --- the liberal idea is to disobey God's instruction to disfellowship and avoid those who are contentious and cause division and accept members who believe and live contrary to the teachings of Christ and the Bible .

Most of the dissension of the past in the Church had been over the matter of government. The dissenters believe in a very liberal government — the way of Satan and his world. The whole purpose of the Gospel is to call those chosen by God out of this world and its ways into the ways of God --- remember that part of the responsibility is ours in not strictly heeding the admonition in Romans 16:17 to note those that cause division and avoid them .

Pray that you--loyal members of God's Church, remain dedicated to the Kingdom of God — which is the government of God . The Church is the embryo of the--- Kingdom of God --the family of God . There will be no divisions in that Kingdom . There must be none in the Church."

JESUS CHRIST IS IN CHARGE

(Continue): " For some years now, there have been some, like vultures, waiting for me to die. They would like to come back and take over the leadership or the Church in my stead ---Jesus Christ---the living Head of this Church---will never receive any of those who have gone out to draw a following after themselves to come back and lead God's Church into Satan's liberalism. It would be no longer God's Church .

If Christ should remove me, He will direct the Advisory Council of Elders to select one of them to continue leading you until the coming of Jesus Christ in power and in glory. "