Why Go To Church, Part 7a.

8a. To teach/train my kids. Church is most certainly a God-ordained institution to teach/train. The other, and main, institution is the home. There is a third institution that God ordained, but He did not ordain it to teach/train, He ordained it to protect (not read provide), that is the government. The government does at times teach/train, but that is after the parent has failed – not the church, but the parent only, sorry parents – and the government has to penalize, jail, or even kill as necessity dictates.No parent wants the government then to ultimately teach a child under these circumstances. From the remaining two choices, which one has precedence? Unequivocally the parent, so let’s look at the home first, and then as an outgrowth the church will fall into proper place.

The home was established immediately after it was created to raise children. Understandably, the objection would be that Adam, Eve, and children were all that populated the earth, so there were no work conflicts, and no time conflicts. This argument is a straw man, because God established that Adam and Eve raised their own children. When other institutions arose, God did not commute His ordered command from the parents to anything or anyone else, therefore, the fact remains that Parents raise their own Children. What does the Bible further say concerning this issue?

Ephesians 6:1-4

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

6:2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

No one other than the parent can properly fulfill verse 4. I taught, and did love my students, but I certainly did not love them the same way I love my own child. Further, I will teach my child more than any teacher can hope to teach. This is an outgrowth of the fact that I love my child, and because I love him, I will do all that I can to ensure he succeeds in life, but more importantly with Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:11

2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

Implicit in this verse is how a child is raise by his father, exhorted and comforted. It was understood that the parent does this, and was doing it.

I Timothy 3:4-6, 12

3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Both passages deal with “men of God”, of which we are all, but do notice that these “offices” could only be held if the family was ruled and taught well. I add taught, because it is one of the functions that the church does, and how could a pastor be a pastor if he cannot teach his own children? He cannot be a novice, and must know the Bible. (Sadly, how many pastors know very little of the Bible, or know only a few pet issues? How can they be relied upon to teach/train?)

I Timothy 5:10, 14

5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. These commands are to women, so do not think that men have the only responsibility. Women are involved in guiding the house and bringing up children. The most successful children will have a double dose of teaching from father and mother. God planned it that way back in the Garden of Eden.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. This whole passage deals with teaching God’s greatest command, to love Him. The family teaches this to the child, there is no mention of school, church, government or anything else even implied in this passage. Further, the house was even to be used as a message board for teaching God’s truths! The Jews did, and many still do practice putting scripture on walls and doorways today in accordance with these verses. This was such a vital command that it was again restated in Deuteronomy 11:19-20. Don’t miss it when God says it more than once!

Deuteronomy 31:12-13

31:12 Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

31:13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

Notice that training children may at times also spill over to those who are nearby? Regardless, the Fear of the Lord is taught by the fathers, as it was commanded. Another from Deuteronomy for emphasis:

Deuteronomy 32:46

32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. This was part of Moses’ final words before he died, therefore, it must be particularly special, and must be heeded.

Joshua 4:21-22

4:21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?

4:22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

This is just one of many instances where a memorial is set up before God in the Old Testament. Children would ask their fathers of the memorial’s significance, and the fathers were responsible to teach history to the questioning child.

Psalm 78:1-7

78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

What an amazing section! Notice what is to be taught, and who is to teach it? God’s words, and the fathers respectively. This holds perpetually, as fathers teach children, and children teach children. Again, no mention of any other institution. If these truths are forgotten, then the child will not know God’s words. The Book of Proverbs was an instruction manual given by a father, Solomon, to his son, Rehoboam. Consider some examples:

Proverbs 4:1-2

4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Solomon gives instruction in Chapters 5-7 concerning the forward man, and the harlot. He commands children to listen throughout.

Proverbs 31:26-28

31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. The woman disseminates wisdom as well. She cares for her children as she does this, and will earn praise from those children that walk after God.

Isaiah 38:19

38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The father makes truth known to his child.

Jeremiah illustrates what happens to those generations who do not teach God’s Word to their children. They become foolish, and only understand evil. Based upon the well accepted statistic that 85%, stated in every Christian Educator conference I attended, of Christian school kids go into the world, this verse illuminates that truth profoundly.

Jeremiah 4:22

4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. No doubt children can readily quote any rock song, movie line, and tv show joke much easier than he can quote John 1:1, 3:16, 3:30, or any other verse.

Our families are failing to toe the line, and do what God commanded, raise your own child! There are hundreds more examples throughout the Bible that illustrate Parental teaching. There are none to be found supporting any other child raising method.

Hosea 4:6

4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

The greatest reason why parents do not train their own children is because they do not know the Bible themselves. This is another illustration of the Christian school’s, and church’s, failure. Most students in Christian Education are products of parents who were also in Christian Education. Their lack of knowledge has created further generations who know even less about the Bible than they did.

Destruction is promised to those who do not have knowledge. Heed this promise parents! Learn what God has commanded for yourself, that way when someone who claims to be a “servant of God” comes along, you can rightly divide the word of truth, and expose error for what it is. It is your responsibility to protect your child from error, no one else’s! You will stand before God and give account for how you raised your child, make sure it is a good account!

Why Go To Church, Part 6

“I go to church because the Pastor says I should.” I really do not want to dignify such a statement with a response, but here goes. I did not know that you served the Pope. Ok, some of you may reply that you’re not Catholic; however, serving or following any person – even in the name of Christ – without Biblical basis is nowhere commanded in Scripture. Consider I Corinthians 1:9-15

1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1:10 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.

1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, allows for no other following than that of Christ. This exclusive followship didn’t even allow for Paul to be followed. Further, I Corinthians 11:1-3

11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

How would anyone know whether or not Paul was following Christ? It’s not because of his position (ie. Pastor, apostle, elder, missionary, etc…) What are the “followers” to do to ensure they are honoring God, and following Christ, instead of a person? Before I answer that question, notice a few other things from these three verses. Paul says to follow him “as he follows Christ.” Only follow that person when you’re certain he’s following Christ. Next, following God-given ordinances is noteworthy. Third, the head of man is Christ. There is no one else in between Christ and man. Though many non-Catholics assent that this is true, they’ve set up an “umbrella” to have Christ, the pastor, the assistant-pastor, youth-pastor, deacons then the man. In far too many “churches” this model is carried out, and a man will not make any Bible-based decision unless the pastor is consulted first. This is wicked, and condemned by Christ as Nicolaitanism in Revelation 2.

Again, for emphasis, there is no one between Christ and the man. Men, you are commanded to take care of and provide for your families (see I Timothy 5:8, don’t be worse than an infidel!!) You are ordained to make the decisions, so be a man, and do it. Now, this is not to say that you can’t receive advice. Solomon declared that in the multitude of counselors there is safety. But make certain that your counselors are Bible based, not just “good men.” Spend that extra talking time rather in prayer and Bible study. God will give wisdom to those who seek it, and He certainly gives that wisdom liberally (James 1:5).

If you find yourself doing anything because a man tells you to do so, especially if such command is not Biblically supportable, repent of this and follow Christ. But you need to know Christ first in order for this to work. If you find yourself still following that man, and feel trapped, then you are in a cult. A cult by definition is any following who gives obedience to one man without question. Far too many pastors demand absolute obedience. No New Testament character demanded such obedience other than Christ. Cults do come in many shapes and sizes. They are not just the Branch Dravidians at Waco, the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Roman Catholics. There are no doubt Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian cults. Leave any such cult.

Returning to the “how would anyone know whether or not Paul (or any person for that matter) was following Christ?” question. The Bible speaks much better than I, so I will step out of the way:

Acts 17:10-12

17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.(Emphasis added).

17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

II Timothy 2:14-19

2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that theystrive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (Emphasis added).

John 5:38-46

5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

5:41 I receive not honour from men.

5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

And countless others. These should suffice, if you still do not believe, then you’re really calloused to the Word of God, and must repent and trust Christ. No one should do anything apart from Christ’s commands or in opposition to those commands.