ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONGREGATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TOWARDS EVANGELISM

Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead - Luke 16:27-31

KEY THOUGHT:

There are echoes from Great Beyond. In these echoes, those who have passed on into eternity are longing for those who would share the saving message with their loved ones who are alive on planet earth. Nobody from the death is qualified to come from the land of the dead to tell us to repent and embrace Jesus and the Truth of God’s Word through Him. Angels are not permitted to publish this message. It is only those who are saved by faith in Jesus who are allowed to share this message. These are those “father Abraham” referred to as, “Moses and the Prophets.” You and I are the Moses and prophets of our time. It is our individual and corporate responsibilities to evangelize our neighbourhoods and our generation. Are we going to be responsive and proactive or are we going to stand aloof and keep our hands akimbo? “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion!” (Amos 6:1) and “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel” (I Corinthians 9:16).    

EXORDIUM                                                                                   

        It was Charles T. Dudd who wrote, “Some want to live within the sound of church and chapel bell; I want to run a rescue mission shop within a yard of hell.” Dudd’s remarks bespeaks of the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ greatest commission to His Church is, “GO, PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE….” This is a profound Commission. It is the sum totality of what Jesus stood for: what He came for, what He died for and what He longs for.

        Having the vision to accomplish the mission of the Great Commission is an idea that the Lord has given to His disciples from first century until now. In the days of the Apostles, they did the much they could. They were so evangelistic that unbelievers testified concerning their zeal for the Lord in the proclamation of His Gospel, “…These men who have turned the world upside down have come here today” (Acts 17:6). Apostle Paul described the power behind such movement thus, “For the love of Christ constraineth (compels) us….” (II Corinthians 5:14).

       One of the greatest responsibilities our Lord gave to His Church is evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20). When the Church fails to do what she is supposed to be doing, she would start doing what she is not supposed to be doing. This was the case with Jerusalem Church. She was commanded to witness for Jesus in her environment and beyond (Acts 1:8). Rather than do this, she bottled the Gospel. This led to complaints and back-biting amongst Brethren (Acts 6:1-4). It took Saul’s persecution against the Church to wake her up to her responsibility, a situation which led to the Church being scattered leading to Congregations of the Lord’s Church being planted as God’s Kingdom was enlarged in the hearts and communities of men (Acts 8: 4-5, 14).

       We must not wait for any persecution in the similitude of Jerusalem Congregation to wake us up to our individual and corporate responsibilities of evangelism using every platform that we can deploy to accomplish the mission of the Great Commission.

       It is our duty to enlarge borders of God’s Kingdom in hearts and communities of men. By preaching the Gospel, we reduce population of Hell and increase population of Heaven. Consequent upon this, we will also succeed in having the Lord’s Church planted in every nook and cranny of our communities.

      When God designed the Church, He intended that each local congregation should be autonomous and evangelize her immediate environment and by extension join hands in evangelization of other localities. Congregations can respond to call for help by others in this regard (cf. Acts 16:9). We are all Christians without borders. What concerns one Congregation should concern every Christian. Like Apostle Paul, we should be moved by what moves any Congregation (II Corinthians 11:28). We should become pregnant with the Lord’s vision for a world won to the Father and to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Evangelism should be the care and responsibility of all Christians everywhere.

MOTIVATIONS TOWARDS EVANGELIZATION

       Christians and Congregations of the Lord’s Church of today would not engage in aggressive evangelization unless we realize that:

         Gospel Is For Sharing and Church Is For Planting

         If a scientist discovers the cure for cancer or HIV/AIDS, we would expect the discovery to be shared with the world. Basic ethics require that good news should not be kept secret. 

         When Syrian king laid siege to the city of Samaria, food supply to the city was cut off. Four leprous men who decided it would be preferable to die at the hands of the enemy (Syrians) than to starve to death went to surrender to the enemy. However, when they came to the enemy’s camp, they found it deserted. The army had fled in the night while food and valuables lay everywhere. The four men stuffed themselves and were tempted to remain silent over their discovery - the Good News of the availability of food and valuables! Then the memory of Samaria with its famished inhabitants came back to them with such a force that they said, “We are not doing right” (II Kings 7:9). So, they became evangelists - bearers of Good News: they went into the city and told others!

        Ultimately, Soul-Winning boils down to this: one who discovers a solution to human a need telling those in need where to have their need met. Christians (especially those of the Restoration Heritage) have discovered the “Salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:10). It is, therefore, a breakdown of basic integrity to keep the Truth to ourselves. If we have found the Food of Life, cure for guilty conscience, etcetera we are obliged to share it with others.

         Evangelism would naturally lead to Church planting. Church planting is simply the act of replicating the Body of Christ where she is not present and seeing that she is strengthened to maturity. The more Congregations we plant and mature, the more we expand the Kingdom of God on earth. 

         Souls are of Great Value

        What is Soul? Many people have not come to agree on what a soul is. However, consensus among Bible scholars is that a soul is the very essence of God in man (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7). Man is a triune being, possessing Body, Soul and Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23). SOUL WINNING, therefore, means to attract people (Souls) to the Lord’s side (Colossians 1:13).

        The basic principle of soul winning is the value placed upon a soul in the light of eternity. What then is the value of a soul? The value of a soul cannot be quantified materially and in time. A soul is worth more than the entire material universe put together (Matthew 16:26). 

        A soul is more than precious, so precious that God had to allow His Son come to earth to seek and save the lost (John 3:16; Luke 19:10); so precious that the conversion of a soul on earth causes great celebration in Heaven (Luke 15:10) - so precious that the lost of one soul keeps Heaven in mourning mood (Ezekiel 18:23).

        There is a great responsibility attached to soul winning, so much so that a great punishment awaits those who refuse to get involved. Bible says, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (I Corinthians 9:16). 

          Every One of Us Would Become Pregnant With Visions of Soul Winning When We Become Aware That on A Daily Basis Thousands of Souls Are on Their Way To Hell.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SOUL WINNING? 

         The benefits attached to Soul Winning are numerous: not only are we setting people free from errors of their ways (James 5:19-20), we expose them to Truth that are able to set them free from self, sin and Satan; religious as well as moral sins (Romans 10:1-4; John 8:32; II John 9-11), but it goes a long way in rescuing people from Satan (II Timothy 2:25-26) and snatching them away from fire of eternal condemnation (Jude 22-23).  

          Personal benefits accruing to a soul winner are:

1.    Wisdom is gained (Proverbs 11:30).

2.    Evangelizers book their places in God’s Great Hall of Fame (Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43).

3.    Ensures fruitfulness (John 15:2, 8).

4.    Debts are paid (Romans 1:14, 15; cf. S.O.C 663 - “But You Never Mentioned Him To Me”).

5.    It beautifies our paths (Romans 10:15). 

a.    The “Lord gave the Word and many are those who publish the Good News” (Psalms 68:11) because “…in the days of His battle His army shall be volunteers” (Psalms 110:3).                                                                                                          

ROLES OF CONGREGATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN EVANGELISM

     The Church is a conglomeration of individuals. As the community of saved persons, what individuals do amount to what the Church does. As individuals go, so goes the Church in every nook and cranny of the world. 

     As the Body of Christ, Church of Christ is God’s Divine Orientation Agency on earth (Ephesians 3:9-10). It is on the shoulder on the Church that our Lord depends on to reach out to lost souls. It is not the responsibilities of angels of preach the Gospel because, “The Treasure is in earthen vessels” (II Corinthians 4:7). It, therefore, stands that in the Body of Christ every member is a minister (Ephesians 4:7-12). If individuals are not involved in or are not supporting evangelism, then the Church is not; but, if individuals are involved in evangelism and are supporting evangelism using their time and resources (financial, theological, spiritual, hardware and software, etcetera), then the Church is involved in evangelism. In other words, we cannot safely separate activities of individuals with that of Congregations. The dividing line is very thin. 

PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNING

     1. The Love and Obedience to Christ

        a). The Love of Christ Constrains us (II Corinthians 5:14).

             The Love of Christ Constraineth us

     To save a world from hell,

     To preach and reach the uttermost,

     And each lost sinner tell” - Brandth

    2. The Principle of Each One Reach One 

This is seen from the vision of multiplication. Suppose we develop one truly 'multiplying Christian' each year, which is not an unreasonable goal. If each year a “multiplying Christian” develops one more 'multiplying Christian': 

         a. In two years there would be 4

         b. In five years there would be 32

         c. In ten years there would be 1,024

         d. In twenty years there would be 1,048,576

    3. The Principle of Setting the Church Ablaze To Set the 

        Community Ablaze With the Gospel:

        Sampson employed this principle in his dealings with Philistines               (Judges 15:4-5). Thessalonian Jews recognized this of the early disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 17:6). 

        This principle can comfortably be replicated using Bus Ministry, Tract Distribution Ministry and the like. These can serve as rabble-rousers (an advance army) for the real soul hunters and harvesters who would come in with heavy artilleries to rout the enemy and take home prized souls into the Barn of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.    

SPONSORSHIP OF EVANGELISTIC ACTIVITIES

A number of things make Ministry work. Next to the God-factor are men and materials. The catalyst remains material resources. Without material resources, Ministry would not only be drudgery but also weak - thriving only on imaginations and wishful thinking, full of dreams but no action.

        The place of money in Ministry cannot be overemphasized. It remains to a great extent the pivot upon which Ministry rotates. What can we really accomplish without money? We need money for evangelism, edification and benevolence. It costs us nothing to become beneficiaries of the grace that Jesus brought down to us. However, it cost those who brought it to us and will equally cost us great resources to have it published so that others will become beneficiaries also. For Ministry, the Biblical Statement that, “Money answers all things” is very apt (Ecclesiastes 10:19c).                

Have we really taken time to consider the tremendous amount of resources our religious friends invest in their ministries of “Zeal without knowledge” (cf. Romans 10:3)? These guys deploy hundreds of millions of Naira yearly to propagate their gospel of materialism, miracles, signs and wonders which never come to be. They deploy heavy hardware, they take lots of media space, they make so much noise with their attendant media hype. Communication theory of status conferral has come to be associated with their activities. They have become believable and for these, people are flocking to them in their millions! It was “Pastor” Sam. Adeyemi of DayStar Christian Centre, Lagos who said, “When you pray angels would come, but when you advertise men will come.” So, they are busy advertising and advertising only God knows….    

Brethren, we need these five letter-word: MONEY! To be effective evangelizers. Angels will not come down to fund the work for us, we must do the funding ourselves. Heaven will not reward us for the things we enjoyed but for the things we sacrificed. What then are we sacrificing for the Gospel? King David at one point in his life took a critical look at his life, his commitment to the things of God after considering the goodness of God upon his life. He called Prophet Nathan to his house and the following dialogue ensued,

And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee (II Samuel 7:1-3).

       Can we all take a look at our beautiful houses, state-of-the art automobiles, etcetera in comparison with the state of the Lord’s Vineyard in our various communities?

       One of the principles of funding Church work is to grow the local congregation. The more membership increases, the more collection grows and Brethren are taught the need to give. The Ministry of Jesus teaches us that the best funding options is internal revenue generation (Luke 8:1-3). 

        Of course, the Church is both a spiritual body but it is also social in composition. The socio-spiritual nature of the Church makes it imperative that money matters should concern her. She needs money to execute virtually all her activities such as Ministers’ welfare, evangelism, edification, benevolence, equipping of Saints, acquisition of land for building and construction purposes; media outreaches. The list is long and often very intimidating. Stated simply, the Church cannot do without money. Money issues are serious issues that have given various congregations of the Lord lots of headache.

        In my private reflections, I have come to appreciate why this is so, namely:

1.    The Church is not a fund-raising agency.

2.    The Church is not a secular organization where money is the chief concern of the Founder.

3.    The Church does not have materially-satisfying products for sale that would in turn generate money.

4.    The Nigerian Churches of Christ’s foundation with regard to giving have not been very encouraging.

        Funding will not be much of a problem if are able to sensitize the BROTHERHOOD, make people believe in this project, set aside personal funds on a daily or weekly basis for sponsoring God’s work.

We must appreciate the fact that God has never allowed the Church to get into any kind of competition with anyone. We were not called to erect the tallest buildings and imposing cathedrals. Our major work is to win souls. We are called to build men and women. The people the Church raises will in turn raise the Church (Galatians 6:6).

        The best possible means of fund-raising for specific needs and projects of the Church is to impress it upon the minds of Christians that giving actually adds up to their own benefits (Philippians 4:17). When Brethren learn to domesticate evangelistic needs, it would go along way to meeting the immediate evangelism needs where such needs exist.  

       Poverty is not an excuse for not participating in funding God’s Work (II Corinthians 8:1-5; cf. Luke 21:1-2). Materially well-to-do Brethren must take active interest in sponsoring evangelism (I Timothy 6:17-19). When every Christian, irrespective of academic, social, and economic status possesses Kingdom Investment Mentality (KIM), we would have fewer challenges planting Congregations and Sponsoring Church growth. When we all do what we are supposed to do, we will have more than enough to do the work we are called upon to do (cf. II Corinthians 8:13-15). We must learn to lay our treasures in Heaven by doing the work of God on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).

        When need arose in Jerusalem Church, the Brethren gave liberally so much so that real estate investors took part in sponsorship of God’s work (Acts 4:32-37). When congregations were in need, other congregations far and near took part in funding of those congregations (Acts 11:28-30).

        We must realize that the well-being of Gospel is our well-being and that the challenges confronting effective proclamation of the Gospel in our clime are equally our challenge. Let us take active interests in God’s work everywhere because our active participations will not only have their impacts here but will go a long way to add value to our rewards hereafter (Hebrews 6:10; cf. I Corinthians 15:58).    

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL IN AN ERA OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs)

We must acknowledge the fact that we live in a great era – the era of great revolutions in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). To whom, therefore, much is given, much is also expected (cf. Luke 12:48).

Brethren, we have a great message - the Gospel of Christ. We have the greatest instrument – the mass media. Without the Gospel, the world is lost, forever lost. The Gospel is the power that God employs in bringing salvation to the lost world. The Gospel is so important that He had to give out His only Begotten Son for a lost and dying world. This today remains the only hope of the world.

Having the two most powerful tools in our kitty, to wit, mass media on one hand and the Gospel of Christ on the other hand are what the Christian community needs to achieve mass evangelism. Because the world has the mass media, we need what the world has so that we will be able to reach the world. We need the Word to reach the world!

The era in which we live is a critical one: it is likened to the first century era when a miniaturized and primitive form of ‘globalization’ was in the offing - “Pax Romania”! This opened up the then world, affording people the rare opportunity of easy access to across borders. The Gospel, as was preached by our Lord Jesus Christ received a great boost and consequently penetrated hitherto into areas that were not accessible to people before. This scenario is being replayed in this era. Everyone who is conscious of doing the Will of God in the propagation of the Gospel has to grab this opportunity with both hands, deploying both human and material resources to see that the Gospel is preached and effectively, too.

Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:14 that the end would not come until the Gospel is preached to all the nooks and crannies of the world would only be realized using the instrumentality of the electronic media.   

UNIVERSE OF THE MASS MEDIA

The mass media are all the instruments used in gathering, processing and dissemination of information at faster, billionth of a second speed to a mass audience. These are all encompassing phenomena. It covers such areas as cable/satellite and Internet technologies; television and radio; Print and Global System of Mobile (GSM) technologies.

In the early days of the emergence of electronic media, many believers considered them as enemies, shunning them as one would run away from a leper, saying that they were evil. At that time, people spoke against television and also the Internet. Many said that they were enemies of the Gospel of Christ and tools of Satan for the destabilization of Christianity. Many encouraged their members to stay away from them. However, today many have come to see that they are tools, important vehicles for the propagation of the saving message of Christ, which must be exploited to reach a global audience.

Today many Christians are preaching the Gospel of Christ to anonymous and heterogeneous audiences; people they have not known and will not come across face-to-face in their life time, using the platform provided by mass media.  

ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND THE GOSPEL

The role of the electronic media, also known as the Broadcast media with its three organs, namely, Television, Radio, and lately Internet in mass mobilization and information dissemination across the length and breadth of climes (local and international) cannot be overemphasized. This genre of the mass media with its specialized characteristics of combining sights and sounds with its on-the-spot delivery of information is a powerful force to reckon with in our quest towards reaching a world lost in sin and religious errors.

The much touted globalization and creation of a global village (championed by a Canadian communication scholar, Marshal McLuhan in the 1960s) was made possible by combined efforts of the electronic media and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The electronic media has the potential of unleashing the Word of God upon a confused and dying world. 

There are many good ways to evangelize...a. Public preaching and teaching, private studies and conversations, TV, radio, the Internet.

CHURCHES OF CHRIST AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA EVANGELISM

Late Brother J. C. Choate, writing on the editorial of Voice of Truth International Vol. 51 captioned, Preaching the Gospel by Radio and Television observed,

Jesus commanded us to take the gospel of the entire world (Mark 16:15, 16). That can be done in many ways. Since we now have radio and TV to reach the masses, wouldn’t it be wise to take advantage of these tools to speed up this process? As a young man I personally heard the Gospel first by radio. On becoming a Christian, I decided to preach the Gospel, and almost from the beginning I had the opportunity to use radio in that work.

After preaching for years in U.S.A., in the pulpit as well as on radio and TV, my family and I moved to Karachi, Pakistan to preach that same Gospel and to begin the Lord’s Church. Several congregations were established in the Muslim city during those years of work. Not only have we been able, personally, to use these mass media tools to give millions of people the opportunity to hear the truth, but many other brethren have also used radio and TV throughout the world.

The Herald of Truth program was on radio first and then on TV. White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, LA has used radio to bring the Gospel to countries throughout the world for many years. “In Search for the Lord’s Way”, with Mack Lyon as the speaker, is heard on radio and seen on TV throughout the States and in some foreign countries. Timothy Sparks of Ardmore, OK also has radio and TV programs that reach large numbers of people.

Brother V. E. Howard had numerous radio programs, and even after his passing, those programs have continued through the efforts of Winford Claiborne in Lawrenceburg, TN.

Brother Joe W. Gray of Altamont, TN has a series of programs on short-wave radio that can be heard around the world. Also, Don McWhorter has had his radio and TV work going for more than 40 years, reaching most of North America.

Brother Germaine Lockwood developed a network of programs reaching into Russia, Africa and Asia, including much of the Muslim world. Since his death, his son has involved others in doing that. The programs are aired eleven times each week throughout the world.

Roy Beasley and others working with Restoration Radio Network have multiple broadcasts for America, Africa, Asia and the globe.

Recently, Gospel Broadcasting Network announced that they are working now to cover North America with the Gospel, around the clock, seven days a week, with the goal of reaching the entire world through satellite cable TV. Their telecasts can also be seen online, twenty-four hours a day.

Roy Beasley of the Restoration Radio Network fame in his article, “Evangelism Through Restoration Radio Network” (Vol. 51:101) wrote,

A friend whom I had not seen for years recently told me about going with a group on a mission trip to Africa. There he met some people who came to be baptized. They said, “We already know about the Church of Christ. We listen to Roy Beasley on the radio!”

Radio can be a powerful tool for evangelism. I cannot think of another way of reaching more people in less time and with less expense than radio. It may indeed be the evangelistic angel of Revelation 14:6, 7.

                Worldwide, radio is more popular now than ever before. Clarence Jones, a pioneer religious broadcaster, called radio waves “highways in the skyways”. More people, by far, listen to radio than watch TV or play with the PC, even in our own country. In Third World countries there was far more radios than TVs. There, radio is today what it was in the United States in the 1930s: “the golden era of radio”. People depend upon radio for entertainment, information, and spiritual sustenance. Radio waves reach to the far corners of the earth. There are few places where there are no radio signals. They are instantaneous, and they present a wonderful opportunity to preach the Gospel to all the world.

When I started Restoration Radio Network International in 1973, I was in a mission area in Southeastern Indiana. I was concerned about finding the most effective way of getting started. Most of the people there had never heard of the Church of Christ. So, I decided to start a daily five-minute radio program three times a day during the week and a thirty-minute weekly program on Sundays.          

I found that most people in small towns give preference to listening to their local radio stations-not the big, powerful stations, not even TV, as you might expect. They listen to the local news, the obituaries, and what people have for sale, as they go about their daily affairs. They want to know what is going on in their communities. So, we placed our programs at drive-time in the morning and afternoons and at noon-time right after the news. It was a hit from the start! It seems that almost everyone in that whole country and the surrounding areas listened to our programs. One day, the station manager said to me, “Roy, your program is an asset to our station.”

Our format was not devotional but evangelistic. I strove to present the whole Gospel in an easy, pleasing manner, and soon it began to pay off. More and more visitors came to our services. This led to baptisms and restorations. The radio announcer and his wife were converted. Former church affiliates were identified. I am convinced that what happened there in that small mid-western community can be duplicated in other places. It’s just a matter of hard work and making better use of our God-given tools of evangelism, such as radio.

Radio is an effective tool in evangelizing the world. Over the years, over 47,000 conversions have been reported, and more than a thousand congregations started as a direct result of Restoration Radio’s efforts.

It is impossible to go into the world in person, but the Gospel can be taken into all the world by the use of the technology available for mass communication.

ADVANTAGES OF VARIOUS MEDIA FOR EVANGELISM

I would like us to look at advantages of the various medium of mass media.

TELEVISION

1.    Television is a powerful electronic broadcast medium because of its ability to combine sight and sound.

2.    Because television combines the elements of motion, sound and vision in information presentation, it has ability to recreate real-life situations, which people readily identify with. The viewer is fully engaged in the communication process, and, consequently, understanding of messages is faster and easier.

3.    Television presents the message immediately to a wide, diverse audience.

4.    Colour production makes learning situations very lively.                          

RADIO

1.    Many people can be reached by radio.

2.    Radio sets have portable transistor sizes which are unaffected by electricity power failure.

3.    Radio sets are relatively cheap, easy to afford and can be readily serviced in cases of damage.

4.    Radio used a personal/tell-a-friend style of conversation in teaching and re-enforcing learning.

PRINT (USE OF TRACTS)

1.    One of the advantages of print medium, especially tracts is that they are cheaper to produced.

2.    They contain short messages and are therefore message-directed.

3.    They are permanent. 

4.    Tracts can be thrown away by a recipient but may be more useful to another who picks it up.

WHAT ARE REQUIRED FROM US IN PRESENTING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TO A CONFUSED WORLD

        We should realize that we are not into mass media evangelism to entertain as it is the case with denominations, Pentecostals, advertisers, etcetera but that we are there solely to inform and educate. We must create an atmosphere wherein people are brought back to their Bibles, lead them to the Old Paths, teach them New Testament Christianity, Point them to the Cross, help them appreciate the Doctrines of Christ, lead them to Build According to the Pattern Shown on the Mount. We must help people differentiate between being zealously religious and truly serving God with the proper knowledge of Him (cf. Romans 10:1-3). We must help them know the One Church of the Bible; the need to watch over their lives and doctrines (I Timothy 4:16). Above all, we must help them come to obedience of the Gospel.

          The electronic media evangelism must accomplish two things: bring the lost to obedient faith and encourage the saved to be faithful to the Lord and to His Doctrines to the very end of their lives. We are not going to be on the electronic media with the purpose of preaching “social Gospel,” teach Social Psychology with the prevailing How-To-Do-it messages that have become the vogue today.

Although, we have a challenge on our hands – challenge to proclaim the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ, yet, the world may not tolerate presentations that are drudgery on either television or radio. We must find a way to present the Gospel in interesting manners without compromising the message. Charismatic, well-versed and Biblically sound preachers should be recruited, groomed and dedicated for this work. They should not look hungry and run-off-the mill but sound, attractive and convincing.

A group of core professionals should be consulted for the packaging and editing of presentations so that they will become professionally handled and treated. We have the best message and must do everything we should to present it effectively and attractively.                            

CONCLUSION

        Brethren, the “… the King's commandment” is “urgent” (Daniel 3:22). All hands must be on deck whether as individual Christians and as Congregations. We have no reason not to engage in personal and group evangelism using whatever platform we can and should - mass media, bus (mobile) evangelism, tracts distribution, personal invitations, Gospel Meetings, Seminars, advertorials in mass media,  magazine and newspaper articles, etcetera. Evangelism is an individual as well as Congregational responsibilities. The best time to act is, NOW!  

Thank you for your time and attention. May God richly bless us all in Jesus’ most precious name!

                                

                                HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH

                                TOWNSHIP/CAMPUS CHURCH OF CHRIST,

                                14, AGBUGWU LANE, OFF, UNIVERSITY MARKET

                                ROAD, P. O. BOX 351, NSUKKA – 410002,

                                ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA.

                                GSM:+234-08039596919;

                                        +234-08182820677;+234-08054890845.

                                E-MAIL:hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com;

                                           hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com

BIBLICAL PATTERN OF PRAISE (TEXT: ACTS 16:14-26)

By 

 Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah (Evangelist)

EXORDIUM

        Praise is beautiful (Psalms 33:1). Praise is a powerful means of communicating to God. It has been said that when prayer fails, one should switch over to praise. The importance of praise cannot be over emphasized in the lives of God’s people. When God’s people immerse themselves in praise of their God, He in turn “inhabits” their praises (Psalms 22:3). When God is happy, the joy of the Lord will in turn translate to the strength of His people (Nehemiah 8:10).         

        “Praise” is thanksgiving. Bible teaches that it is God’s ultimate will in Christ for us to praise Him in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in (cf. I Thessalonians 5:18). In other words, praise is a Christian’s lifestyle.

        When we (made in the Image of God) refuse to praise God, elementary objects will do just that (cf. Luke 19:37-40). This explains why a popular singer, Ron Kenoly sang, “Nothing can out praise me…!”

There is absolute and overwhelming power in praise. The glory that emanates when God’s people praise Him were exemplified by:

1.    Israelites during dedication of the temple at Jerusalem II Chronicles 5:12-14. The result was God’s glory filled the temple. The same can be our experience when we constantly praise the Lord as His glory will fill our environments. 

2.    Early church, shortly after the establishment and induction of the new membership engaged in spirited praises (Acts 2:47). The results were:

(a). People around held them in high esteem (Acts 2:47^b).

(b). The church grew daily (Acts 2:47^c).

3.    Surrounded by enemies and threatened to extinction, Israelites sought the face of God and were instructed to praise Him (II Chronicles 20:1-26).

4.    Paul and Silas were locked up in prison but because they engaged 

    in spirited praises, God became involved in their circumstance, 

    sent angels who opened the prison gates (Acts 16: 25-26).

Praise God in your tough times and expect Divine intervention. When you are up to your neck in hot water be like a tea pot and start to sing! Singing is an outward expression of an inward sense of praise.

        In Scriptures when we read of saints in worship sessions, we see them rendering thunderous praise to God in humble adoration and in Joyous celebration of His eternal mercies unto them. Examples abound: 

1.    When the LORD led the Israelites through the Red sea (Ex.15:1-11^f).

2.    In heaven the Living Beings and the 24 elders (Revelations 4:8-11).

3.    When the LAMB of God, Jesus received the sealed book from the hand of God (Revelations 5:8-14).

4.    The blood-bought congregation (Revelations7:9-15).

5.    The four-fold Hallelujahs (Revelations 19:1-7).

        So, when next you come before God in worship, you are not just there to pray, study God’s Word, give of your means, partake in Lord’s Supper but also to engage in sing-spiration (praise songs) in exaltation to the LORD.

        There are two categories of praise: Personal (private) and corporate (public). In personal praises, we give time to exalting the LORD who is the captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10), the High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1), the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

        In praises, question is not, “How much of God do I get? “But”, How much of my praise do I give to God?”

WHAT IS BIBLICAL PRAISE?

        Biblical praise is praise in line with Scriptural principles and injunctions. As Christians, we offer worship and praise to God as He desires not as we desire. We so according to Holy Spirit’s directives and in line with Truth (John 4:24; 17:17; cf. I Corinthians 14:15).

        To do this, we follow strictly what Bible says (I Peters 4:11), not introducing any foreign practices (Leviticus 10:1-2). To bring in what is not authorized makes our worship and praise to be in vain (Matthew 15:8-9).

        As Christians we follow the teachings of our Saviour and Lord (John 8:24) as well as examples of the Apostles (Ephesians 2:20; Acts 2:42).

        We must guard against doing things contrary to God’s original patterns (Hebrews 8:5).

It is one thing to be zealous for God while it is another to be zealous for God in accordance with knowledge (Romans 10:1-3). Serving God is not doing what we think is right, but doing what God says we should do, irrespective of how popular or unpopular they are.

Assumption is a sin with grave consequence. We must be sure that we are sure. There must be a Bible book, chapter and verse authorization of what we do. The key word, therefore, is PATTERN. Missing Biblical pattern is missing the mark. When we miss the mark, we end up dissipating energy in that which is of no value.

Pattern is one concept that says it all – whether you are in manufacturing, building and construction, shoe-making, fashion designing, etcetera. If men and women, fickle as we are know the strategic importance of maintaining pattern, we should begin to see that God places high premium.

Calling and commissioning Moses to build a Tabernacle, God told him matter-of-factly, “…See, that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you on the mount” (Hebrews 8:5). Capitalizing on this landmark instruction, Holy Spirit applied this instruction and testified that certain things, “… serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things…” (Hebrews 8:5a) In other words, earthly activities of mankind, whether in their general daily comportments or worship should be reflections of how they are done in Heaven. No wonder our Lord while teaching His disciples the modus operandi and vivendi of prayers had said, “…let Thy Will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Keying into or a failure to key into Divine Pattern is make or mar; determining whether one is right or wrong; approved by God or disapproved by Him. Show me a person who sticks to God’s Pattern and I will tell you the name of a person who God is pleased with.    

IMPORTANCE OF PATTERN

In industrial production, every company has a pattern; else, there would be differences in subsequent production. Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) is laden with the responsibility of ensuring that all products produced in Nigeria or imported into Nigeria meet regulatory standards. The same applies to NAFDAC.

God recognized the need for pattern or standard before man and so ensured that His patterns should be adhered to. Few Biblical examples might help in driving this point home:

1. When Noah was to build an ark, God gave him a pattern or specifications (Genesis 6:14-16; 7:5).

2. When Moses was to build a tabernacle for God, he was expressly warned to follow a particular pattern provided for him (Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40).

3. Because God’s Ark Covenant with Israel was not carried according to God’s pattern, God was angry with David and so slew Uzzah (I Chronicles 15:13; cf. I Chronicles 13:7-12) but when they went back to God’s word, the pattern (way and manner which God had instructed that His Ark of Covenant with Israel should be carried) was uncovered and Israelites in King David’s time were able to carry it successfully (I Chronicles 15:14-15; cf. Exodus 25:14).

4. Because Nadab and Abihu did not abide by God’s pattern, God slew them (Leviticus 10:1-2)

GOD’S PATTERN FOR PRAISES

Jesus is our grand pattern (I Peter 2:21).  

Jesus’ pattern of is found in the things He taught and did (Acts 1:1). He had left this patterns with His apostles, which is why they are part of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20). We are, therefore, called upon to follow the examples of Jesus and His apostles. We must follow the examples of those who followed Jesus’ examples (I Corinthians 11:1). Succinctly stated, early disciples followed God’s pattern (Acts 2:42). We must do well to follow that pattern.

What were Jesus’ and apostles examples of praises to God?

1.    Jesus sang an hymn (Matthew 26:30).

2.    Apostles praised God by singing hymns (Acts 16:25).

Become a ‘Patterned’ Christian. Learn to speak where Bible speaks, be silent where Bible is silent, call Bible things by Bible names and do Bible things by Bible ways.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT ON WORSHIP: IS IT BY GOD?

No where in both Old and New Testaments do we find GOD TELLING people to employ the use of musical instrument in His praises or worship. God is actually against its use (Amos 5:23).

What about Psalm 150? Musical instruments in Jewish worship was the handiwork of David. God accused David of “inventing” musical instrumental music into His worship (Amos 6:5; I Chronicles 15:16).

Note: God at Amos 6:5 accused “David of Inventing instruments of music” in His Worship. Was this allegation true? What has David to say to this? At I Chronicles 23:5 and II Chronicles 7:6 David admitted that he was inventor of musical instruments in Old Testament worship (see also Psalms 150).

   Under New Testament (Christian), teachings and use of Christian Music are purely A-cappella (Singing without any accompaniment of mechanical instruments (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; Hebrews 13:15; James 5:13).

No where is the use of instrumental music commanded, taught or used by and among Christians in New Testament. Jesus did not command it. Holy Spirit did not authorize it. Apostles and early Christians did not use it. Since these were so, by what authority then do people use musical instruments in today’s Christian worship?    

WHAT SOME PROMINENT CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS SAID ABOUT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP

Adam Clark, a Methodist Church Minister (Adam Clark’s Commentary, Vol. IV, p. 684) said,

I am an old man and an old minister and I here declare that I never knew them (that is mechanized instruments of music) of being productive of any good in the worship of God and have had reason to believe that they were more productive of evil. Music as a science, I esteem and admire but instruments of music in the House of God, I abominate and I abhor.

Martin Luther, the great Reformer called organ instruments in worship as “An ensign of Baal.”

John Calvin said that “musical instruments in the worship were no more suitable today than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps and the restoration of other shadows of the Law.”

CONCLUSION

        Are a worshiper of God? Do you engage in praises? Are you praising God in accordance with His established principles or according to Davidic injunctions?

        Your obedience and compliance to Biblical patterns of praises are what determines whether you are pleasing to God or not.

        I encourage you today to come back to God’s patterns of praises, repent of your practice and become New Testament Christian, worshipping and praising Him the way He desires.

        Would you give your life to Jesus today? Would want to be baptized to wash away your sins and make peace with God? The earlier this is done, the better. Today, as you hear His voice, do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:7-8). NOW is the acceptable time and today is the day of Salvation (II Corinthians 6:1-2)!

        God bless you.

BY WHAT AUTHORITY?

HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH

 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:23-25)

 INTRODUCTION

“By what authority?” Think on this question. What chord does it strike in your mind? “…By what authority do you do these things…?”

Issues pertaining to authority are weighty in all areas of life but weightier in the realm of Christian doctrine and practice. To determine the authority with which we do the things we do in Christianity, we need to ask, “Is it from Heaven or is it from men?” (Matthew 21:25; cf. James 3:14-17). If it is from Heaven, then it is from God. If it is from God then it is found in God’s Word (Bible). On the other hand, if an authority is from men, then it is not from God and cannot be relied upon. Such must be expunged from our religious practices. In Matthew 15:13, Jesus said,

Every plant, which my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

When we go outside God’s Word, we err (Matthew 22:29), thereby making our worship of God to become vain (Matthew 15:8-9).

            When Jewish leaders met Jesus, they sought to know His authority. The authority issue bothered on two things: what Jesus did and what he taught. Jesus went further to clarify issues of authority by highlighting on the source of authority. He asked, “John’s baptism, was it from Heaven or from men?” (Luke 20:3-4). If it was from Heaven, then God was behind it but if it was from men, then it was not worth the stress. Caught in the thicket of their own spin, these religious leaders held consultations to decide on how best to respond to Jesus’ question. Knowing that the odds were against them, they came to Jesus and said, “We do not know.” (Luke 20: 5-7).

            Are you like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who admitted to not knowing where John’s authority for the things he taught and practiced came from? One can be forgiven for not knowing source of John’s authority but MAY not be forgiven if he/she does not know the source of authority for his/her own religious teachings and practices.   

 The question of authority in Christianity is at the very heart of determining what is pleasing to God and what is not. It also goes to show whether we are on the path to glory or on the path to damnation. Christianity is not popularity contest. It has nothing to do with what people think, say or claim. It has nothing to do with popularity of a religious organization or ‘distinguished personalities’ who are identified with it BUT it has everything to do with whether its teachings and activities are in consonance with God’s eternal Will – God’s Authorization.

When one operates outside God’s authorization, that individual or organization is on his/her own. Isaiah 8:20 declares, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Are you speaking and practicing in consonance with law and testimony?  By what authority do you do the things you do in Christianity today?

WHAT IS AUTHORITY?

    Authority is, “The power or right to give command, enforce obedience, take action or make final decision.” The need to have authority in the family, society, institutions, etcetera have long been recognized by our forebears. When there is no authority or standard, confusion results. When people do not obtain proper authorization for the things they aver and practice, the situation would become an all-comers’ affair. God is not identified with confusion (I Corinthians 14:33).

    In governance, you must have authority to lead. No one in his right mind wakes up one morning and claims to be a leader. For you to be married, you must have received the authority to do so. No one in his/her right mind wakes up one morning and claims that a particular man or woman is his wife or her husband. There must be an authority for one to be married. Authority is at the heart of everything we do in life. If you do not have it, you don’t have it. If you have authority, then you have! Do you have authority? Who gave you the authority?   

VARIOUS FALSE BASIS OF AUTHORITY IN CHRISTIANITY

      Human beings in their confusion have been holding on to anything in sight as source of authority in Christianity. Proliferation of authority sources has become order of the day. To some people, their authority in Christianity are:

Church Synods and Annual Conventions

       To be sure, church Synods and conventions are traditions of men, which have become enthroned over and above God’s ordained precepts. Synods and conventions are where religious legislations are made. This was what our Lord Jesus described in Mark 7:7-9, 13:

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men….For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men,….Full well, ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

       Truth is: religious legislation is not a reliable authority in Christianity.

Church Creeds

       Various creeds abound. Men and women subscribe to creeds and hold them as if they are God’s Word. Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, etcetera are not reliable authority. Why? Because, all creeds written by men either contains too little or too much to be the Will of God. We are warned in I Corinthians 4:6, “Not to go beyond that which is written in Scripture.”

Human Headship of Churches

      Archbishop, Primate, Priest, Pastor, General Overseer, etcetera. Jesus remains the only Head of the Church. Thus far, He has not relinquished that authority to any man or woman. Men and women can head their religious organizations which they founded or were founded by their forebears, but Jesus remains Head of His Church. Colossians 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Majority Rule or Voting (Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13)

      To some people, their authority in Christianity lies on what majority have said. This is usually followed by voting for or against. God warns us against following majority (Exodus 23:2)

Visions, dreams and revelations

      Do not trust prophets and prophetesses; dreamers and those who claim to see visions and hear from God. In Jeremiah 23:25-32, God denounced such people:

I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

      Any prophecy, revelation, dream or vision by any angel contrary to revealed Will of God is not acceptable. Galatians 1:6-8 declares,

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Personal Feelings and Conscience (cf. Numbers 15:39).

      Feelings and consciences are not reliable guides (Proverbs 14:12). Your feelings cannot direct your life (Jeremiah 10:23). Saul of Tarsus was one man whose conscience misled him even as he was killing Christians (Acts 23:1; cf. John 16:2).

BE WARNED

      On the last day, you will stand alone before God to answer for yourself (Romans 14:12). No man, Synod, Church Council, Creed, Human Headship: Pastor, G.O, Priest, Bishop, Prophet will answer for you. You will be judged exclusively by the Word of God (John 12:48). 

TRUE BASIS OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY  

All authority in Heaven and on Earth are in Jesus’ hands (Matthew 28:18). It is He who has the final word and remains God’s spokesman for today (Matthew 17:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-3). Our absolute adherence to Jesus’ teachings is what really determines whether we are acting right or wrong (John 8:31). Reliance on Jesus’ doctrine shows whether we are His or not and whether we enjoy God’s pleasure or are abhorred by Him (II John 9-11).

BY WHAT AUTHORITY…?

Having established that all authority are in Jesus and that God’s Word is found only in Bible, we now ask: BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU:

Establish denominations?

     Jesus promised to build His Church (Matthew 16:18). God’s Word condemns in totality proliferations of Christian religious organizations known today as denominations (I Corinthians 1:10-14). God has only One Flock and remains Shepherd of only One Flock  (John 10:16). There is only one Body (Ephesians 4:4). That Body, without controversy, is the Church (Colossians 1:18). So, by what authority do you have in establishing denominations and calling it whatever name that meets your fancy?

Appoint women pastors?

     At I Corinthians 14:34-38, God’s Word speaks unequivocally against appointment of “women pastors” and the like:

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Apostle Paul reiterated God’s word in this regard at I Timothy 2:8, 11-12 as he wrote,

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

      Considering the above Biblical statements, by what authority then do people appoint women pastors? And by what authority does a woman have to refer to herself as “pastor”?

Infant, sprinkling and pouring as baptism?

     Scripturally, baptism is not meant for infants or children but for adults and those who have reached age of accountability. No where in Bible do we find children and infants being baptised, only adults were. Baptism is a burial in watery grave (Romans 6:3-5). It requires going down and coming up out of a body of water (immersion, Acts 8:38-39). Baptism requires “Much water,” not sprinkling or pouring (John 3:23). Baptism is a burial (Colossians 2:12).

Use of musical instrument in Christian worship? (Amos 5:23; Amos 6:5).

     Note: God at Amos 6:5 accused “David of Inventing instruments of music” in His Worship. Was this allegation true? What has David to say to this? At I Chronicles 23:5 and II Chronicles 7:6 David admitted that he was inventor of musical instruments in Old Testament worship (see also Psalms 150). However, under New Testament (Christian), teachings and use of Christian Music are purely A-cappella (Singing without any accompaniment of mechanical instruments (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; Hebrews 13:15; James 5:13).

     No where is the use of instrumental music commanded, taught or used by and among Christians in New Testament. Jesus did not command it. Holy Spirit did not authorize it. Apostles and early Christians did not use it. Since these were so, by what authority then do people use musical instruments in today’s Christian worship?     

Payment of Tithe?

      Originally, payment of Tithe was commanded by God for the care and wellbeing of Levitical priesthood who did not receive any landed inheritance among Israelites (Numbers 18:20-24). The tithes paid were to feed Levitical priests (Malachi 3:8-10).

       Of all tribes of Israel and nations of the world, it was Levites only who were authorized to accept tithes payments (Hebrews 7:5). However, because Levitical Priesthood was ineffective and imperfect, God changed the Priesthood as well as laws and regulations guiding them, which includes tithing. Hebrews 7:11-12, 18 states:

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ….For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

     There is no Levitical priest anywhere in the world today, which attests to the fact that it has been abolished by God. According to God’s Word, no one has authorization to receive tithes from anybody today. Since this is so, by what authority do people pay and receive tithes today?

Harvest and Bazaars?

     Harvest and Bazaar sales, as instituted by Christendom are no where authorized by Scripture. They are merely avenues concocted by men and women to further rob church members. According to God’s Word, Church premises are not meant for the “buying and selling” which go on in our Christian religious organizations today. When people tried that in Jesus’ era, He became angry and drove them away. Matthew 21:12-13 tells us:

 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Celebration of Christmas and Easter?

     Modern Christianity has become feasting religion of all sorts. In Galatians 4:9-10, God’s Word declares:

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

    There is only one feast or celebration authorized by Jesus in New Testament for His Disciples. Christmas, New Year, Easter and the likes were not part of it. We are only commanded to celebrate the death of Jesus (Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 10:16; I Corinthians 11:23-28), not His birth (Christmas) or His resurrection (Easter). Unfortunately, what Jesus commanded is not being done the way He has instructed that it should done, but what He has not commanded is celebrated to high heavens and with fanfare. At John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” By what authority are people celebrating Christmas, New Year and Easter today?

DETERMINING BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

1. To know whether there is a Biblical authority for a teaching or practice, you need to ask: “Is it according to the Bible? Which book, chapter and verse can it be found?
2. God has always insisted on our being true to His instructions (Hebrews 8:5). True servants of God have always maintained a “Thus saith the Lord” attitude (Exodus 8:27; I Corinthians 4:6). Those who did not remain in God’s instructions suffered great loses when they decided to follow their own initiatives (Leviticus 10:1-2; II Samuel 6:3-7; cf. I Chronicles 15:13-15).
3. If Jesus did not teach it, Apostles did not command or practice it and not even an example of it could be found any where in the teachings of Jesus (New Testament), then it is of men and the best anyone could do is to repent of such teachings and practices.
4. Be like Bereans who checked what they were taught with what was written in God’s Word to see if they agreed (Acts 17:11).
5. Demand for Bible proof (I Thessalonians 5:21). Do not accept anything you are taught line, hook and sinker. Always demand for Bible authority.  

HEED THIS APPEAL

        Dear reader, if a teaching or religious practice is not found in the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), neither in the “things pertaining to life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3) nor in the “Faith once delivered” to Saints (Jude v.3), then it does not enjoy God’s authority. The only way you are sure that you are with God is when you teach and practice by His authorization. Anything short of this is mere waste of time and amounts to “vain worship.” Please, be sure that you are sure.

    There is a group of Christians who are working hard to ensure that what they belief, teach and practice are by God’s authority. They are not interested in fables and story-telling but on the sure Word of God. You are encouraged to study and worship with CHURCH OF CHRIST near you.

God bless you!

PATTERN - A THEMATIC ANALYSIS

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

ANALYST: HILARY JOHNSON CHUKWUMA CHUKWURAH

INTRODUCTION

        Psalmist in Psalm 68:19 testified to God’s goodness, affirming that He “daily loads us with benefits.” Lamentations 3:23 states that on a daily basis, God’s faithfulness is renewed. Because every morning God manifests His unfailing faithfulness, our strengths are renewed like the eagles (cf. Psalms 103:5).

        We are happy to be of the company of those who publish God’s Goodnews. It is a privilege beyond the ordinary, an honour beyond compare.

As privileged people, annually we are invited to renew ourselves because as iron sharpens iron, ministers sharpen the ministerial countenance of themselves (cf. Proverbs 27:17).

To remain relevant in ministerial scheme of things, there is need for us to re-sharpen our theology, re-align our message to meet Biblical standards and approval of Heaven; re-evaluate happenings in our environments and refocus our energies on ensuring that we remain in God’s scheme of things.

It is one thing to be zealous while it is another to be zealous in accordance with knowledge (Romans 10:1-3). Christianity is not grandstanding or playing to the gallery of public opinions and expectations, but remaining true to God’s original foundations. Serving God is not doing what we think is right, but doing what God says we should do, irrespective of how popular or unpopular they are.

Assumption is a sin with grave consequence. We must be sure that we are sure. There must be a Bible book, chapter and verse authorization of what we do. The key word, therefore, is PATTERN. Missing Biblical pattern is missing the mark. When we miss the mark, we end up dissipating energy in that which is of no value.

Pattern is one concept that says it all – whether you are in manufacturing, building and construction, shoe-making, fashion designing, etcetera. If men and women, fickle as we are know the strategic importance of maintaining pattern, we should begin to see that God places high premium.

Calling and commissioning Moses to build a Tabernacle, God told him matter-of-factly, “…See, that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you on the mount” (Hebrews 8:5). Capitalizing on this landmark instruction, Holy Spirit applied this instruction and testified that certain things, “… serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things…” (Hebrews 8:5a) In other words, earthly activities of mankind, whether in their general daily comportments or worship should be reflections of how they are done in Heaven. No wonder our Lord while teaching His disciples the modus operandi and vivendi of prayers had said, “…let Thy Will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Keying into or a failure to key into Divine Pattern is make or mar, determining whether one is right or wrong; approved by God or disapproved by Him. Show me a person who sticks to God’s Pattern and I will tell you the name of a person that God is pleased with.     

CONCEPTUALIZING PATTERN

The word, “Pattern” means, “Standard measurement.” It is a concept that is not foreign to Scripture. In Exodus 25:8-9, God told Moses,  

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

That was God’s desire and it was law. No one dared trifle with this sacred injunction. He had a pattern. He wanted it followed by everyone in Israel. If anyone was to do God’s Will, he/she was to ensure that the Pattern was to be followed.   

When two and half tribes of Israel who were left behind across Jordan entertained fears that in time to come, their children would be denied membership of the Commonwealth of Israel and replicated the Altar, their action was frowned at by the remaining tribes. Consequent upon this, war was imminent. However, when a meeting was held, representatives of the two and half tribes in Joshua 22:28 appealed to pattern and stated as follow:

Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.

Writer of book of Hebrews went to a great length to stress the importance of Pattern when he recalled God’s instruction to Moses thus,

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.

The strategic importance of pattern can be seen in the fact that without pattern or measurement, there are bound to be confusion. Conventionally, a ruler or cup is a pattern used for measurement (cf. Deut. 25:13-15). To use different scales and measurements will only lead to anarchy of sorts. This was what God sought to avoid and so established a Pattern that should be followed by all. Today, people have thrown caution to the wind and have opened doors to all manner of things. This is more pertinent when we look at our religious environments. It is very unfortunate because our religious experiences have become an all-comers’ affair without concern for pattern.  

IMPORTANCE OF PATTERN

In industrial production, every company has a pattern; else, there would be differences in subsequent production. Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) is laden with the responsibility of ensuring that all products produced in Nigeria or imported into Nigeria meet regulatory standards. The same applies to NAFDAC.

God recognized the need for pattern or standard before man and so ensured that His patterns should be adhered to. Few Biblical examples might help in driving this point home:

1. When Noah was to build an ark, God gave him a pattern or specifications (Genesis 6:14-16; 7:5).

2. When Moses was to build a tabernacle for God, he was expressly warned to follow a particular pattern provided for him (Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40).

3. Because God’s Ark Covenant with Israel was not carried according to God’s pattern, God was angry with David and so slew Uzzah (I Chronicles 15:13; cf. I Chronicles 13:7-12) but when they went back to God’s word, the pattern (way and manner which God had instructed that His Ark of Covenant with Israel should be carried) was uncovered and Israelites in King David’s time were able to carry it successfully (I Chronicles 15:14-15; cf. Exodus 25:14).

4. Because Nadab and Abihu did not abide by God’s pattern, God slew them (Leviticus 10:1-2)

GOD’S PATTERN FOR US

Jesus is our grand pattern (I Peter 2:21).

Jesus’ pattern of is found in the things He taught and did (Acts 1:1). He had left this patterns with His apostles, which is why they are part of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20). We are, therefore, called upon to follow the examples of Jesus and His apostles. We must follow the examples of those who followed Jesus’ examples (I Corinthians 11:1). Succinctly stated, early disciples followed God’s pattern (Acts 2:42). We must do well to follow that pattern.

There is a pattern of worship (cf. Exodus 8:27).

Not all worship is acceptable to God (Matthew 15:8-9). For a worship to be acceptable to God, it must be done according to His express commands (cf. John 4:22-24; John 17:17).

There is a pattern of teaching (doctrine) (Romans 6:17; Philippians 3:16-17).

Not all doctrines are good (Hebrews 13:9) because there are doctrines of men (Matthews 15:9), doctrines of demons (I Timothy 4:1) and doctrines of Jesus Christ (II John verse 9-11).

The soul of the “Doctrine of Christ” is found in Ephesians 4:3-6 to the intent that there is, One Body, One Spirit, One Baptism, One Lord, One Faith and One Hope. These are the foundations upon which to build the superstructure of God’s Pattern today.

LOADING THIS YEAR’S WORKSHOP WITH BENEFITS OF PATTERN

        This year’s theme is most interesting. Topics are woven, like tapestry around the concept of Pattern. Seasoned speakers, as always, have been selected to enlighten and to sumptuously feed us with God’s inerrant Word, from the deep springs of their knowledge and wealth of experiences.

        Amongst topics selected are:

·        The Pattern in Fellowship.

·        The Pattern in Worship.      

·        The Pattern in Marriage.

·        The Pattern in Prayer.

·        The Pattern in Evangelism.

·        The Pattern in Giving.

·        The Pattern in Holiness.

·        The Pattern in Cooperation.

·        The Pattern in Doctrine.

        You cannot but agree with me that this year’s Workshop is loaded. The benefits are far-reaching. We are encouraged to relax and savour the Word as our spirits are lifted, and our minds enlightened. There is never going to be a dull moment.

        A brief analysis of these topics would, therefore, suffice:

Fellowship is a time impartation and mutual edification (cf. Romans 1:11-12). There is a pattern in which this is done.

Worship, as conceived by Brother Jim Massey, “Is an outward expression of an inward sense of praise.” There is an incontrovertible Biblical pattern of worship. In Old Testament, Moses summoned it up when he said, “We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us” (Exodus 8:27). In New Testament, our Lord Jesus unequivocally stated, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24).

“Worship” is not the contraptions of men and women but doing what God says we should do.

Marriage is a confluence, a union of two hearts. As one of the most sacred institutions of God on earth, God has ordained patterns for contracting marriages and sustaining it. Marriage is the epicenter of “Home.” Martha McKay in one of her best sellers, Beyond Pardon penned these time-tested words, “Home is a sanctuary, and to invade a sanctuary is sacrilege. Let man or woman who trifles with the most sacred tie on earth remember this.”

Prayer is a solemn activity at private and corporate levels. A powerful spiritual resource, providing us direct access to God’s Throne (Hebrews 4:16). However, this powerful spiritual resource is not only being misunderstood but grossly abused by those who have turned it into what it was not meant to achieve.

Evangelism is a means of reaching out to others (churched and unchurched) with the everlasting message of Jesus Christ. There is a pattern for doing this and getting results.

Giving is fund-raising but not the like that are in practice today by our religious neighbours who engage in levying and its like. Also, not the sort that Brethren in various Congregations engage in. If we conduct giving in line with Biblical patterns, we will have no business with the kinds of lack that have come to define Congregations of our Lord today.   

“Holiness is the beauty of the believer” was a song that we used to delight our souls in time past and to remind ourselves that He who called us is Holy and, therefore, should be holy ourselves. We are gradually loosing grip with holiness, which is a Christian’s most beautiful garment. What are the patterns for holiness?

There is a Pattern for Cooperation. God designed each Congregation to be autonomous but has not asked that autonomy should negate cooperation. In his book, Why I am a Member of Church of Christ, Leroy Brownlow wrote on God’s wisdom of ensuring that each Congregation is autonomous,  

The wisdom of God is seen in such an arrangement for His churches. If one became corrupted in doctrine or affected by evil practices, other churches would not be so affect. If dissension arose in one, it would not spread to the others; if one perished, the others would not be dragged down. If a window is made of one large pane, a break injures the entire pane; but if it be made of several panes, it is not so bad to break one. The independence of the churches is a protection for each one.

 Cooperation leverages on the principles of “power of two” or more. When we cooperate we achieve results (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

Doctrine is the soul of Christianity while Jesus Christ is its power. When doctrine is compromised, Christianity looses its essence. Doctrine is so important that we are charged to, “…charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (I Timothy 1:3). The reason for this is not far-fetched: Apostle Paul charged Titus to,

Hold fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, … whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

(Titus 1:9-11).

CONCLUSION

        Brethren, I have no doubt on my mind that I have taken much of your time. This was not deliberate. It is the offshoot of the importance that this year’s Workshop elicits. If Pattern is established, then a major battle would have been won. So long as Pattern remains not on the religious menu of our time, the battle rages on as confusion will remain one of our greatest challenges.

        Let us relax, soak in the ministrations, and challenged to become apostles of Patterned Christianity. This was and has remained the plea of Restoration Movement: speaking where Bible speaks, being silent where Bible is silent, calling Bible things by Bible names and doing Bible things by Bible ways.

        We thank organizers for coming up with this theme. I want to appeal to the Central Organizing Committee to ensure that the proceedings of this Workshop (papers presented) should be published and made available to a larger audience. If you do not know how to go about this, you can do well to talk with me after this Workshop on how you can have this done.

May God Almighty bless all of us as we engage in this very important exercise!

Township/Campus Church of Christ,

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