THE MUTUAL FAITH
The Apostle Paul writes, “That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Rom. 1:12). Where has that mutual faith gone? Do you remember there was a time when you may be visiting another member of the church or look up information about a congregation, and we all had a mutual faith? The worship was the same, the terminology was the same and you could discuss the work of the Lord in a very uplifting way. It is very sad that today you can speak with members of the church whom you have known for years and things are different.
There were always different things about congregations, but they were non-doctrinal things just different methods of carrying out the work of the Lord. Three things took place within a week that brought this to my attention.
A member of the church, with whom I was talking, was over joyed that she was trying out for the praise team for their congregation. Another way to put it is, they have a choir and she is trying out for it. The Bible teaches that we all are to sing. Paul writes, “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). Oh, they may respond, “Everybody sings, the praise team is just there to help them along.” Well, then you have women leading singing which is forbidden in first Corinthians fourteen (see also 1 Tim. 2:9-15).
Another member of the church was telling me about the congregation where he attends and they had a youth day recently, in which both young men and young women participated in leading the worship. Again, this would be covered by the above passages. Where is the eldership that has the responsibility to oversee the flock? Paul warned the Ephesians elders, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). The eldership has relinquished their leadership to a youth director who is schooled in more modern denominational techniques.
In searching for information about a congregation it described their preacher and his wife with this terminology, “His dominant spiritual gifts are teaching, serving and pastor/shepherding.” With the same terminology to describe his wife. It just always seemed to me that those words would be used to describe an elder and neither of those individuals are elders according to their website. Paul wrote, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). Is the word “pastor” a synonym for “bishop” or “elder?” If that is the case then the church has designated his wife as one of the elders. What about Peter’s words when referring to himself as an elder and then used the term “chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:1-4). Does the preacher’s wife “shepherd” the flock? Does she “pastor” the flock?
Why can’t we just do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names. I guess I’m just getting old.
Larry