Schism

schism

John 7:43

So there was a division among the people because of him. 

John 9:16

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 

John 10:19

There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 

1 Corinthians 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 Corinthians 11:18

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 

1 Corinthians 12:25

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 

SCHISM

SCHISM

The Greek word schisma literally denotes a rent, or cleft (cf. Matt. 9:16; Mark 2:21); hence metaphorically, discord or division (John 7:43; 9:16; 10:19). This is its meaning in 1 Cor. 1:10; 11:18; 12:25.

1 Corinthians 12:25 is vital to a proper understanding of a schism: “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” Thus, schism is a rending of the body of Christ. It is a sin that exhibits a carelessness about the welfare of the body in general and its other members in particular. It is a sin against charity, a selfish introduction of dissention and division where there ought to be mutual tolerance and love.

This distinguishes schism from scriptural separation.* Scripturally, heretics (see Heresy) must be rejected (Titus 3:10) for they are schismatics from the body of true believers, having followed a self-willed opinion in preference to God’s revealed truth. Thus, separation from a communion on the grounds of the purity of fundamental Christian doctrine is not schism. For example, Calvin argued that the scriptural marks of a true church are the preaching of the pure gospel and the valid administration of the sacraments. Rome did not maintain these basic marks of a true church. Therefore, in separating from her the Reformers were not guilty of schism. Rome was the party, or sect, guilty of schism, for she had departed from the faith of the gospel.

The same argument holds good today. In an age when ecumenism is rampant, those who stand for Biblical separation are denounced as schismatics and are frequently likened to such sects as the Donatists.* But no Christian can deny that the ecumenical movement progresses by compromising the essentials of the gospel. Christians should therefore separate from ecumenical churches. The same goes for churches where modernism* and liberalism* dominate.

It is not right to remain in such fellowships merely because they nominally retain their ancient confessional standards. The argument is frequently put, for example, that while a Presbyterian church retains the Westminster Standards, it would be schism to separate from it. However, when the Reformers separated from Rome, she avowed her acceptance of the ancient creeds of the church. But that did not make her a pure church. It merely denoted the fact that lying and falsehood were added to her other impurities. Calvin said, “If the Church is ‘the pillar and ground of truth’ (1 Tim. 3:15), it is certain that there is no church where lying and falsehood have usurped the ascendancy.” If that was true of Rome with her professed acceptance of the ancient creeds of the church, it is no less true of those once Protestant churches that are seeking reunion with an unrepentant Rome, or are open to all great doctrinal impurity.

To sum up: schism is an expression of self-will or of heresy that leads to the setting up of sects—any group that is built on heresy is a schism from the body of Christ. Separation is on Biblical grounds, is commanded by the Lord (Eph. 5:11; 2 Cor. 6:14–18; 1 Tim. 6:3–5), and aims at maintaining essential Christian doctrine and practice.

Alan Cairns, Dictionary of Theological Terms (Belfast; Greenville, SC: Ambassador Emerald International, 2002), 404–405.

Flee Schism

Calvin, who saw that the Devil's chief device was disunity and division and who preached that there should be friendly fellowship for all ministers of Christ, made a similar point in a letter to a trusted colleague: "Among Christians there ought to be so great a dislike of schism, as that they may always avoid it so fast as lies in their power. That there ought to prevail among them such a reverence for the ministry of the word and the sacraments that wherever they perceive these things to be, there they must consider the church to exist...nor need it be of any hindrance that some points of doctrine are not quite so pure, seeing that there is scarcely any church which has not retained some remnants of former ignorance." 

Charles W. Colson, The Body, 1992, Word Publishing, p. 107-108.

Unity

Unity of body

The Greek word schismata (English, “schism”) is used. There were factions within the church. Paul is calling for harmony.

Unity of mindset

                                                    

They were told to think the same attitude and opinion; to have the mind of Christ (Phil 2:3-8). The word katartizo, “to join together,” was used by the Greeks for “the setting of broken bones and for reconciling political factions.” [Robert G. Gromacki, Called to be Saints (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977), 10.]. In Matt 4:21, it is used for the mending of fishing nets.

Far Eastern Bible College/Lecture Notes/1 Corinthians/Dr Jeffrey Khoo

1 Co 12:25

Paul said these words regarding divisions in Corinthian Church.

"For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 


(1 Co 2:2)


"That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." 

(1 Co 12:25)

"There is such a thing as sinful schism. Schism, as defined by Calvin, is sin ... But to separate because of established apostasy is lawful and honoring to Christ."

(Mcintire)

     

The Sword is the Word of God

Ephesians 6:10–17 NKJV

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Transformed

Daily Help

DOST thou think, O Christian, that thou canst measure the love of Christ? Think of what His love has brought thee—justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life! The riches of His goodness are unsearchable! Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ! Shall such a love as this have half our hearts? Shall Jesus’ marvellous loving-kindness and tender care meet with but faint response and tardy acknowledgment? O my soul, tune thy heart to a glad song of thanksgiving! Go through the day rejoicing, for thou art no desolate wanderer, but a beloved child, watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by thy Lord.

C. H. Spurgeon, Daily Help (Baltimore: R. H. Woodward & Company, 1892), 272.

September 25th

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Matthew 5:41)

The summing up of Our Lord’s teaching is that the relationship which He demands is an impossible one unless He has done a supernatural work in us. Jesus Christ demands that there be not the slightest trace of resentment even suppressed in the head of a disciple when he meets with tyranny and injustice. No enthusiasm will ever stand the strain that Jesus Christ will put upon His worker, only one thing will, and that is a personal relationship to Himself which has gone through the mill of His spring-cleaning until there is only one purpose left—‘I am here for God to send me where He will.’ Every other thing may get fogged, but this relationship to Jesus Christ must never be.

The Sermon on the Mount is not an ideal, it is a statement of what will happen in me when Jesus Christ has altered my disposition and put in a disposition like His own. Jesus Christ is the only One Who can fulfil the Sermon on the Mount.

If we are to be disciples of Jesus, we must be made disciples supernaturally; as long as we have the dead-set purpose of being disciples we may be sure we are not. “I have chosen you.” That is the way the grace of God begins. It is a constraint we cannot get away from; we can disobey it, but we cannot generate it. The drawing is done by the supernatural grace of God, and we never can trace where His work begins. Our Lord’s making of a disciple is supernatural. He does not build on any natural capacity at all. God does not ask us to do the things that are easy to us naturally; He only asks us to do the things we are perfectly fitted to do by His grace, and the cross will come along that line always.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).

Some quotations from CLEMENT OF ROME, First Epistle

Every sedition and every schism was abominable to you. Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors: ye judged their

shortcomings to be your own.

Let us therefore be lowly minded, brethren, laying aside all arrogance and conceit and folly and anger, and let us do that which is written. For the Holy Ghost saith, Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong in his strength, neither the rich in his riches; but he that boasteth let him boast in the Lord, that he may seek Him out, and do judgment and righteousness most of all remembering the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching forbearance and long-suffering:

Therefore it is right and proper, brethren, that we should be obedient unto God, rather than follow those who in arrogance and unruliness have set themselves up as leaders in abominable jealousy.

For He saith in a certain place This people honoreth Me with their 

lips, but their heart is far from Me, and again, they blessed with their mouth, but they cursed with their heart.

For Christ is with them that are lowly of mind, not with them that exalt themselves over the flock.

We all went astray like sheep, each man went astray in his own

path:

Wherefore are there strifes and wraths and factions and divisions and war among you?

In love were all the elect of God made perfect; without love nothing is well pleasing to God:

Who therefore is noble among you? Who is compassionate? Who is

fulfilled with love? Let him say; If by reason of me there be faction and strife and divisions, I retire, I depart, whither ye will, and I do that which is ordered by the people: only let the flock of Christ be at peace with its duly appointed presbyters.

Learn to submit yourselves, laying aside the arrogant and proud stubbornness of your tongue. For it is better for you to be found little in the flock of Christ and to have your name on God's roll, than to be had in exceeding honor and yet be cast out from the hope of Him.

We beseech Thee, Lord and Master, to be our help and succor. Save those among us who are in tribulation; have mercy on the lowly; lift up the fallen; show Thyself unto the needy; heal the ungodly; convert the wanderers of Thy people; feed the hungry; release our prisoners; raise up the weak; comfort the fainthearted. Let all the Gentiles know that Thou art the God alone, and Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture.

Finally may the All seeing God and Master of spirits and Lord of all flesh, who chose the Lord Jesus Christ, and us through Him for a peculiar people, grant unto every soul that is called after His excellent and holy Name faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, temperance, chastity and soberness, that they may be well pleasing unto His Name through our High priest and Guardian Jesus Christ, through whom unto Him be glory and majesty, might and honor, both now and for ever and ever. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all men in

all places who have been called by God and through Him, through whom be glory and honor, power and greatness and eternal dominion, unto Him, from the ages past and forever and ever. Amen.

"BPC, BPC, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat"

Luke 22:31 (SBLGNT)

Σίμων Σίμων, ἰδοὺ ὁ Σατανᾶς ἐξῃτήσατο ὑμᾶς τοῦ σινιάσαι ὡς τὸν σῖτον· 

King James Version

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 

Believers Should Remember That God Providentially Uses Satan for Disciplining. 

We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual armies, (Eph. 6:12.) 

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat."

Satan asks that he may test and try the apostles. 

"BPC, BPC, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat",‘to put-to-the-test you, as a woman sifts kernels of corn’

Context

The third part of Jesus’ farewell discourse begins with his statement that Satan, whose activity has intensified since 22:3, had sought to separate the disciples (the “you” in 22:31 is plural) from Jesus.

Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. The meaning of this verse is uncertain. Its interpretation is further complicated by the fact that the word translated “asked” (NIV) or “demanded” (RSV) is found nowhere else in the NT or LXX. The nearest analogy is found in Job 1–2, where Satan is permitted to test Job. This and the vocabulary in Amos 9:9 suggests the following interpretation: “Satan is seeking [a dramatic aorist] to shake you disciples violently as one sifts wheat and to cause you to fall.” The metaphor of sifting wheat should not be pressed in order to determine what is “wheat” and what is “chaff,” for this contrast is not mentioned. The use of this metaphor is simply intended to indicate the coming time of testing (cf. Luke 3:17; Amos 9:9). One should not interpret this as God’s granting a request by Satan for permission to test the disciples as in Job 1–2. The saying speaks primarily of Satan’s trying to unsettle the disciples and cause them to become unfaithful. Although Luke tended to avoid emphasizing the disciples’ failures (note his omission of Mark 8:32–33; 14:27–28, 50), he was aware of their faults and was not averse to mentioning them. The “you” here (hymas) is plural and refers to Peter and the other disciples (not Peter and Judas). By mentioning the role of Satan in Peter’s denial, Luke may have been seeking to increase his readers’ empathy toward the apostle.[1]

Sifting was a process of (1) shaking grain through a strainer to remove dirt and small stones and other impurities before preparing it to eat or (2) separating the grain from the chaff by winnowing. Here it is metaphorical of a time of testing.[2] 

σινιάζω (siniazō) sift

The kernels of wheat, still lodged in the heads and attached to the straw, would be beaten on the threshing floor and tossed in the air so the wind could blow away the chaff, leaving the wheat. Satan planned to shake Peter’s life and separate him from his faith.[3] Even to shake all the ministers in BPC!

...for we know that Satan desires our destruction, and with great skill and assiduity seizes on every method of injuring us. And when we come to the conflict, let us know that all temptations, from whatever quarter they come, were forged in the workshop of that enemy.[4] Many staff workers in BPC have been injured! Satan is like a roaring lion ‘seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). Insinuating as “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev 12:10)

Satan received permission to put all of the disciples to the test in order to separate the good (or faithful) from the bad (or unfaithful), to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff’[5] (Many unfaithful BPC members were tested and some had fallen away! They were treated like strawy stuff, burned by FEBC and BPC!) Though there may be many failings in the faith of true believers, yet there shall not be a total and final failure of their faith.

The idiom “sift (someone) like wheat” is similar to the English idiom “to pick (someone) apart.”[6] (Verbal Plenary Preservation VPP has split BPC in divisions)

The possibilities of evil and of ruin are manifold. We may fall by error and unbelief, by pride, by selfishness, by worldliness and vanity, by intemperance or impurity, by departure in spirit from the fear and love of God. There is room, there is reason, for vigilance on the part of him who believes himself well on the way toward or even nearing the gates of the celestial city.[7]

What need have we to be ever on our guard!

Perhaps at this moment Satan may be desiring to sift us. And what if God should give us up into his hands? If suffered to exert his strength, he could soon dissipate whatever is good in us; nor should our past zeal in God’s service remove our apprehensions; that would rather provoke Satan to more activity against us. Let us then “not be high-minded, but fear.” Let us follow the salutary advice which our Lord has given usd Let us plead with fervour those important petitionse—At the same time let us “put on the whole armour of God,” and prepare, as God has taught us, for the assaults of our enemyf.[8]

Some suggest that Satan demanded leave to sift them as their punishment for striving who should be greatest, in which contest Peter perhaps was very warm: “Leave them to me, to sift them for it.” [9] Jeffrey and Charles, who is greater?

Which is worse: to drop three cups while carrying them to the kitchen to be washed, or to get mad and throw a cup and break it?To stumble and bump into a brother or sister and hurt them, or to hit them on purpose and hurt them? [10] FEBC and BPC they are biting one another!

Peter’s self-confident boasting is a warning to us that none of us really knows his own heart (Jer. 17:9) and that we can fail in the point of our greatest strength. Abraham’s greatest strength was his faith, and yet his faith failed him when he went down to Egypt and lied about Sarah (Gen. 12:10–13:4). Moses’ strength was in his meekness (Num. 12:3), yet he lost his temper, spoke rashly with his lips, and was not allowed to enter Canaan (Num. 20). Peter was a brave man, but his courage failed him and he denied his Lord three times. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12, NKJV).[11] Are you over confident with your personal view of the Bible?

You can see by the case of Judas how low a man can fall who despises warnings and resists the inspirations of grace. By degrees he becomes so hardened and indifferent, that he is capable of any sin. Examine yourself! Do you take good advice to heart, and act on it? or do you prefer listening to the suggestions of bad companions rather than to the inspirations of the Holy Ghost, and the advice of those set over you? Do not harden your heart and follow the example of Judas![12]

What happened to St. Peter ought to make you guard very carefully against over-confidence in yourself, and make you pray fervently: “Lead us not into temptation!”

Let us look into BPC closely:

B-P Constitution. Article 6 – Principle and Practice of Biblical Separation

   6.1 The doctrine of separation from sin unto God is a fundamental principle of the Bible, one grievously ignored in the church today. Are FEBC and BPC both sinning against the Lord in the lawsuit?

Timothy Tow gave his warning: "Beware young leaders of the B-P Church. Your zeal for some minor point of doctrine can cause sad divisions between members unlimited." [13] Beware! Young leaders like Jeffrey, Suan Yew, Koshy, Charles, Collin...Beware!

Verbal Plenary Preservation is a minor point of doctrine!

Footnotes:

[1] Robert H. Stein, Luke, vol. 24, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 552.

[2] Robert James Utley, The Gospel according to Luke, vol. Volume 3A, Study Guide Commentary Series (Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International, 2004), Lk 22:31.

[3] Ken Heer, Luke: A Commentary for Bible Students (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2007), 288.

[4]  John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 3, 217.

[5]  Richard C. Blight, An Exegetical Summary of Luke 12–24, 2nd ed. (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2008), 435.

[6] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Lk 22:31.

[7] H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., St Luke, vol. 2, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 220.

[8]  Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae: Luke XVII to John XII, vol. 13 (London: Holdsworth and Ball, 1833), 105.

[9]  Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1903.

[10] Larry Richards and Lawrence O. Richards, The Teacher’s Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987), 697.

[11]  Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 267.

[12]  Frederick Justus Knecht, A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture (London; St. Louis, MO: B. Herder, 1910), 640.

[13]  Timothy Tow, BP Faith, 107

SCHISM AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

SCHISM AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

MICHAEL G. BROWN

Although the Great Schism occurred in the eleventh century, dealing with schismatic people in the local church has been a problem since the days of the apostles. Writing to the church at Corinth around AD 55, Paul said, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported … that there is quarreling among you, my brothers” (1 Cor. 1:10–11). The word the apostle used for “divisions” is the Greek word schisma, from which we get our English word schism.

Schism is a division within or split from a church. It occurs in a congregation or denomination when a faction is formed on the basis of something other than the faith once for all delivered to the saints. It is distinguished from heresy, which is false teaching about doctrine. While heresies can (and often do) lead to schisms, most schisms in the local church do not involve heresy. They usually erupt from some “quarrel over opinions” (Rom. 14:1) in matters not essential to the faith.

Although Christians have liberty to differ in their opinions about things such as, say, the age of the earth, healthcare, and the best school for their children, any attempt to base Christian unity upon such opinions is illegitimate and schismatic. Our consumer preferences, cultural practices, or political convictions do not unite us in the church, and we have no right to divide over them. To do so is an attack upon the unity that the Spirit has given us.

What are the problems caused by schismatic people in the church?

First, schismatic behavior causes unnecessary tension in the local church. In the case of the Corinthians, their personal preferences for particular teachers led to quarreling and brought division to the congregation (1 Cor. 1:12–13). Instead of rejoicing in the one faith that Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ all taught, the Corinthians were splitting up into factions on the basis of their consumer choices.

Second, schismatic behavior gives unnecessary offense. In Corinth, some members allowed their cultural practices to take precedence at the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:17–22). They were doing at the Table what they were accustomed to doing in the world, namely, eating and drinking for personal satisfaction without regarding others. Consequently, the poor members of the church were offended. The sacrament that was given to manifest the church’s unity had become the occasion of division between those who had much and those who had little.

Third, schismatic behavior in the church is a poor witness to the world. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). But how can we manifest that love if we divide over the same things that divide the world into factions: our consumer preferences and cultural practices?

How do we admonish those who are schismatic?

Those who engage in schismatic behavior must be reminded that God commands us to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). If the schismatic person persists, the elders must get involved. Paul told Pastor Titus: “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:10–11). Schismatic behavior warrants church discipline, and church discipline is the responsibility of the elders.

Of course, this highlights the importance of the historic creeds and confessions. They not only protect the church against heresy, they also help to preserve the church’s unity by summarizing the faith once for all delivered to the saints. This is why many Reformed churches call their confessions the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort). They keep us “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27b). Without them, the elders have no clear boundaries of Christian unity to which they can point the schismatic person. But when a church is confessional, that is, when it subscribes to the ecumenical creeds and Reformed confessions (for example), the elders can admonish the schismatic member for his attempt to make his personal opinion an article of the Christian faith.

How do we guide those having to deal with such behavior?

Because the church consists of sinful people, the reality is that we will be faced with the challenge of dealing with schismatic behavior from time to time. While it is usually an unpleasant experience, we should not despair. By being vigilant in our confession of faith and “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2), we can protect the unity that the Spirit has given us.

And we must remember that we will not always be the church militant, whom the world sees “by schisms rent asunder, by heresies, distressed,” as Samuel Stone said in his hymn “The Church’s One Foundation.” We can take comfort in Christ’s promise that He will preserve His church until His return, and that “soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.” X

Rev. Michael G. Brown is pastor of Christ United Reformed Church in Santee, Calif., and editor of Called to Serve: Essays for Elders and Deacons.

Michael G. Brown, “Pastor’s Perspective: Schism and the Local Church,” Tabletalk Magazine, May 2011: The 11th Century: Conflict, Crusades, and the New Christendom (Lake Mary, FL: Ligonier Ministries, 2011), 24–25.

Bible Presbyterian continue to exist and born of Schisms!

Marks and Signs

Marks and Signs

The identity of the church as the people of God and the mystical Body of Christ is hidden in the forms and rituals of the church’s life. Even so, theologians through the ages have insisted that there are outward signs that attest the authenticity of any particular church Body, and these continue to be a subject of dispute in academic theology.

Theology tends to divide on the question of whether the Spirit or the Word constitutes the basic evidence for the apostolicity and catholicity of the church. Irenaeus seemed to endorse a pneumatocentric theology when he declared, “Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church, and every kind of grace.”43 At the same time, he also contended that the Word and the Spirit are the two hands of the Father working together in an indissoluble unity. Moltmann is closer to a pneumatocentric perspective in his claim that “the church is present wherever ‘the manifestation of the Spirit’ takes place.”44 The Reformers and the tradition of Protestant orthodoxy were prone to uphold a logocentric theology in which the church receives its identity and mission from the Word. Calvin asserted, “God begets and multiplies his Church only by means of his word. … It is by the preaching of the grace of God alone that the Church is kept from perishing.”45 Wolfhart Pannenberg, on the other hand, avers that “the Reformation view of the church as a creation of the Word … stands in danger of a one-sided christological constriction” resulting in “a theocracy of proclamation.”46 The Reformation at its best stressed the dialectical inseparability of Word and Spirit, and Pannenberg acknowledges that the fuller Reformation perspective can be retrieved by stressing “the relation of Word to Spirit no less than that of Spirit to Word.”47

Theologians from all communions generally endorse the classical marks of the church as contained in the Nicene Creed—oneness, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity. Contemporary theology, however, is not in agreement on the meaning of these marks. Does oneness refer to the church as an institution or to the invisible fellowship of the saints on earth and in heaven? Does apostolicity signify that the ministers of the church are linked to the apostles through a special rite of laying on of hands by bishops in an unbroken historical succession, or does it not refer to a continuity in the message of faith that was first articulated by the apostles? Nathaniel Micklem voices the concerns of many Protestants in his criticism of the Catholic conception of apostolic succession: “Our protest is not against that which episcopacy represents, but only against that view which would make Word and Sacrament contingent upon the office, not the office on the Word.”48

Roman Catholic theologians are presently rethinking the marks of the church especially in the light of Vatican Council II. For Avery Dulles the unity or oneness that we attribute to the true church is not “the external unity” of a visible institution but rather “the interior unity of mutual charity leading to a communion of friends.”49 On catholicity Dulles maintains that what is most important is “not the accomplished fact of having many members or a wide geographical distribution, but rather the dynamic catholicity of a love reaching out to all and excluding none.”50 Walter Kasper articulates the vision of the church in the new Catholicism:

  The unity and catholicity of the Church are always and in every case still in fieri; they will always remain a task. The solution cannot lie either in mutual absorption or in simple integration of individual ecclesiastical communities, but only in the constant conversion of all—i.e., in the readiness to let the event of unity, already anticipated in grace and sign, occur ever and again in obedience to the one gospel as the final norm in and over the Church.51

The magisterial Reformation was inclined to define the church in terms of the right preaching of the Word and the right administration of the sacraments. Questions that forced themselves to the center of discussion in post-Reformation Protestantism include the extent of the efficacy of Word and sacraments in situations where faith is rare or nonexistent. Moreover, are there other marks besides the Word and sacraments that should be given special attention today?52

In the light of the Pentecostal awakening, the role of signs and wonders as attestations of the gospel has become a major theological issue. Is the message of the church validated by miraculous signs, including physical healings, or is the inward illumination of the Holy Spirit sufficient to make the message persuasive and authentic? P. T. Forsyth mirrors the Reformed distrust of dependence on signs and wonders: “They are tests of nature and not of faith, tests of feeling rather than insight, tests of empirical experience instead of soul experience, of success rather than of devotion.”53 Christoph Blumhardt by contrast is convinced that people on various stages of faith’s journey need signs and wonders: “Even now, during this time when we must have patience and until the time when signs and wonders will be seen everywhere, until all the wretched are truly helped—in this time of battle, we need signs and wonders.”54 It is possible to argue on biblical grounds that signs and wonders may strengthen faith, but they do not demarcate the boundaries of the true church, since they are found in non-Christian religions as well.

Orthodox theologian Paul Evdokimov expresses a welcome reserve in delimiting the boundaries of the church so that the great host of humanity is summarily excluded: “We know where the Church is, but it is not for us to judge and to say where the Church is not.”55 The missionary proclamation must go out to the whole world, but we dare not presume on where or how the Spirit of God may work, nor should we deny that the hidden Christ may be at work in the most unexpected places in preparing people for the new dispensation of grace.

Donald G. Bloesch, The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 39–41.

James chapter 5 with VPP

James 5:1, Unsaved rich men, who do not put their trust in God, there are troubles ahead! Repent! They have mistreated the poor! And they can smile and be merry, and they continue to collect money and tolls from the poor to put into their pocket, they are greedy, and they are the kings and leaders on earth, God’s judgment will fall on each one of them. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Look, where is justice in our society? Even some believers, said there is no justice on earth, so do not look for this justice on earth! Not even in the church. They said do not cry for or pray for justice, keep quiet, and suffer and serve the Lord! Are the Christians not called to show the poor what is God’s love? Is there any misery among the poor? But we show favoritism!

Discrimination! We lived in luxury! We have fattened our heart with money and food! Did we know that the glory of God had left us long before after we covet money more than suffering for the Lord! We cannot serve two masters! We have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing us! We have all stumble in many ways! Richness is not a merry making thing! James denounces utter destruction to the wicked and profane rich men, and such as is drowned in their riotousness, mocking their foolish confidence when there is nothing indeed vainer than such things. 5:4, but the Lord of Sabaoth, God see the injustice! 5:7, we who put our trust in the Lord, if we are living under the wicked men, we must patiently wait for the Lord, wait and pray until He come to help us, like a farmer waiting and waiting until the harvest. Do not be double minded! Be single minded! Why we judge the poor and the weak among us? Every one of us is living like a vapor! Gone like a wind, like a grass wither. Do not live like a viper! 5:9, The Lord is coming soon, He is at the door, and there is judgment ahead! Why in the time of prayer and waiting for His return, we Bible Presbyterian Church quarrel and fight among ourselves? We are waiting for Him like the ten virgin. Mt 25:1, then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Mt 25:2, and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Mt 25:3, they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: Do not be a fool virgin! We must prepare “oil,” what is that word “oil” mean? We can argue with anyone about the word “oil,” we may argue about the purity of the oil, we can argue with any one what type of this oil is, olive oil, animal oil, palm oil, grape seed oil, and so on, and we can argue about the meaning of the word “oil” until no end, and then split our fellowship, we profit no one, unless I wanted to open an oil company, so much so I have to study only this word “oil” no other word! But the church need to know what is the whole picture of this parable given to us? And at last, what happened, if we continue to argue and fight over the word “oil,” we do not know the meaning of the whole parable of 10 virgins, forgot how to wait upon the Lord for his returning is imminent, we must know the meaning of the word, “oil” “bridegroom,” “fool,” “wise……..” Do not just argue without end about the word “oil,” you also must understand the whole picture. Why the virgin must prepare “oil.” It is because they need light! The lamp is for the light, not just oil. Why they need light, because it is in darkness night the Lord will returned! Application is Christian is to be light of this darkness world and be prepared to meet our God. See what the fool virgins had said in Matthew 25:8 “And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” This shows the consternation of those who are not ready to meet Christ at his coming. It is not safe to rely on outward professions as evidence of piety, nor upon any thing which does not imply supreme love to God and real good-will to men. All had made some preparation, but that of the foolish five had been insufficient. Their glory began to depart, and their light waned into darkness at the approach of the bridegroom. The parable of the ten virgin is to remind us to be prepared for the coming of the Lord, it does not encourage us to fight over a few words! Hear what the Lord declared in Matthew 4:4, But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Not just a few words here and there in Psalm 12:1-7. This psalm also must be studied correctly. Do not just study only these few words here and there in Westminster Confession! Westminster Confession is not God’s Word; you should not take this Westminster Confession highly until to be same level with CUV, KJV, and NKJV! Westminster Confession is a good confession, but it is not God’s Word! This is a very serious mistake done, in making the confession as God’s Word! The Bible is without errors, in the first hand writing, in the original languages in their autograph, those copy mistakes we find are not the errors, they are the copies mistakes made by human when they were copying the scriptures! The Bible is authentically preserved to us, so that we can firmly lift up our Bible and say, “I believe in God, and also believe the Bible is sacred, and the Bible is without error, and in the Bible I come to believe the Lord Jesus. May God forgive those who had done the copy mistakes unintentionally, Amen.” But the theologians who taught VPP have misinterpreted Matthew 4:4! And here we are fighting over the meaning a few “words” and “a personal view,” quoting the Psalm 12 and Westminster Confession. And we fight until the BPC congregation split because of our tongue and wisdom! We needed the wisdom from above. All these arguments are going to pass away. (Matthew 7:1) God’s Word will not pass away! Those endure to the end will be saved. The Lord Jesus said no just a few words we have to study, but every word! The whole picture is more important than these few verses. We want all of the Bible verses to be understood, not just one or two, here and there! But we must try to understand the truth in totality, preach the whole counsel of God, especially those crucial doctrines! Who is he, and he said this words, Acts 20:27 for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. What is this whole counsel of God? It means here the will or purpose of God, as revealed in regard to the salvation of men. Paul had made a full statement of that plan--of the guilt of men, of the claims of the law, of the need of a Savior, of the provisions of mercy, and of the state of future rewards and punishments. Ministers ought to declare all that counsel, because God commands it; because it is needful for the salvation of men; and because the message is not theirs, but God's, and they have no right to change, to disguise, or to withhold it. And if it is the duty of ministers to declare that counsel, it is the duty of a people to listen to it with respect and candour, and with a desire to know the truth, and to be saved by it. Declaring the counsel of God will do no good, unless it is received into honest and humble hearts, and with a disposition to know what God has revealed for salvation. The doctrine of the apostles is most perfect and absolute. Do you see, CUV and NKJV have all the counsel of God? How can you say they are corrupted! 5:10, James said rather learn to be persevered the suffering, be patient, some of the prophets were killed. 5:11, in the trials and difficulties, faith is increased, His grace is sufficient for us, until the day of the Lord. 5:12 do not swear falsely! (Matthew 5:33-37) Do not use God’s name in swearing for a personal view! (Exodus 20:7) We will be judged strictly. Do not boast about your earthly wisdom! If yes say yes, of no say no. Do not be many masters. Let others to be our master! 5:14, Praying by faith, it is God, who heals! 5:15, Historical evidence confirms the facts that God does heal people miraculously, but Paul was praying for his healing, but sometimes it is not God’s will to heal Paul. Healing is not promise to everyone, we only can say “if God is willing.” And Timothy was advice to drink some wine. And sometimes, oil was applied on the wound for the Samaritan. The medical science in 21st century is good enough; do we need prayer, oil and wine? Think about this with clear mind. Yahweh-Rapha. 5:16, confessing our sin has good therapeutic potential. The prodigal son confesses: I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father; I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. 5:17, Elijah prayed, 3 years there will be no rain! A sign to encourage us to continue in prayer. Nothing lies beyond the power of God to change, and prayer is the divinely ordained method. Even Jesus Christ prayed, and he said, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 5:19, there are brothers, wander from the truth, these are those who fall in errors and sins. Heals the sick and also leads those who are broken hearted, those who are falling, those who are cold hearted, we must lead them back to one hold, this is our responsibility, and then they will be saved from condemnation. 

Jesus Christ is not missing in CUV! Not missing in NIV! Not missing in NKJV! Not missing in TEV. 

Jesus Christ is mentioned in all these Bible Version!

How come you attack those who read the NIV and NKJV?

Someone among us has slipped into an error VPP, in daily life or doctrine; we are called to restoring those brothers to the truth. 5:20, if we can love one another, we can avoid quarrels, avoid further trials and temptations! May God bless us, so that we may not become like “Only talk no walk!” 

Assignment: 10 pages:

1.What is the meaning “every word” 
2.What is the meaning “full counsel” 
3.Pray without end! 
4.CUV, KJV, NKJV, and the whole counsel of God. 
5.Talk and walk of a Christian

BPC is a reformed church, but sad to say some of their pastors are not transform by the grace of God!

ICCC

Article below is copied from Singapore Christian Forum:

Ecumenical Movement is not new, in Moses’ time, the Israelites united to worship the Golden Calf under the Mount Sinai. At that moment Moses was seeing the face of the Lord on the Mount Sinai, and there he received the ten commandment, God angry of that ecumenical movement. In addition, God punished them in false unity.

Now there are churches standing against the Ecumenical Movement, some say that the Ecumenical movement is uniting all religions together, if this is the case, we should not join this ecumenical movement, in this one world church, one world religion, one modern new area, new world, this is false religion.

We should not join with the modernist, if the modernist does not believe the Word of God, the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and we should not join with erroneous charismatic movement, if they continue to teach that speaking in tongue is a sign of genuine faith in Christ. If they continue to teach that tongue, speaking is a vital and most important doctrine in Christianity, if this is case, they continue to pray in tongue and continue to mislead the flock, and then we should not join them in WCC either! We should not join WCC! If WCC is a fall away from the truth, and if they are the apostate in the end time, we must come out of them!

Even the time of darkest moment in Romans Catholics, God raises up among the Romans catholic, men, like Martin Luther, to be the light and salt on earth. God does preserve his people from prolonged false and wrong.

Not to forget the health and wealth gospels, if they are preaching another gospel, rather than Christ dies for the atonement of sin, then we should not join them together. There are some practices healing and performing miracles, attracting more and more followers now a day, even the devil can perform miracles, so we must be watchful at the end time.

Surely, you want God to bless you with true ecumenical movement between the fundamentalist and orthodox! All the fundamentalists will join in hands together, united as one. Surely, you want God to bless you so that you will not become a modernist to doubt the Word of God! Surely, you want God to bless you when you pray in all kinds of tongue! Chinese, English, and Indian, not only mumbling in ecstasy sounds. Surely, you want God to bless you with health and wealth, in obeying God’s will. In addition, continue to be a channel of blessing to other. Surely, you are resurrected and wash by the blood of Jesus Christ, and renewed by the Holy Spirit, you are then to be purified by fire, and we have joys in trials and tribulations,

You had known from the bible that the Gospel is to be preached until to the end of the world. You had knew that we should not live in sin, God is holy so we must be holy, not by gold or silver, you are predestinated to be saved, you are chosen by God, God’s truth is forever, so take away the bitterness from us!

Surely, you are not ashamed of the gospel, you are holy and people of God. Now you are forgiven, but you know you are only a traveler, you must be a good traveler. Not forget to praise the Lord, to obey the government. You are free, to be a servant, devotedly serving the God, obey the government, to preserve in doing good, silently walk the narrow way, Jesus Christ is your Great priest and shepherd. You are called to love your wife, and same heart, mercy, do well, and bless, do not talk bad but bless. Unite together with those have same faith in doing well, live as a righteous man, hear and fear the Lord. Prepared to answer those who condemn you, even Noah has 120 year to prepare the ark, we must prepare our heart, Christ was suffering us, we should not be idol worshipper any longer, God will judge everyone according to their work, and the end is near, love one another, be a good servant, as preacher preaching Christ.

If there is fire of trials coming to test you, be happy. When you are suffering for the Name of the Lord, give thanks to the Lord, let us begin to be an example, exhort and feed the flock under you, but not for money, be humble, under the power of God, do not worry, be alert, resist the devils, stand and be strong in the Lord, greet one another with love.

You are not member of World Council of Churches, if this is that right path; you should stand and do not shaken by the waves of strange doctrines!

However, you can still learn something good from the Methodist in their practice, especially in the earlier stage; Wesley and Charles his brother are good men and devoted believers. We learn the good things from them. All of them had begun well, but some time later their follower fall away! Like Judas fall away among the 12 disciples under the mentorship and leadership of the Lord.

As you know, few years ago, some Methodist not all, as if an Ex-Bishop from Singapore, is openly supporting Homosexual. He said that homo sex is like devoice, well accepted by the church now day! In this, the Methodist went wrong!

Some of the Anglican synods are promoting homosexual in USA. They promoting this false teaching until they ordained a gay, a man married a man, to be a Bishop! So there are some Anglican churches from Africa stand firmly against this homosexual acts. There are some brethren in Methodist and Anglican churches fallen in confusion and tempted to fall away! Nevertheless, there are still some good men and women in Methodist and Anglican, and even Roman Catholic, there are genuine and saved one worshipping in them.

You can still learn something good from the Lutheran, in the simple belief in “justified by faith” Even though some of them are going back to Roman Catholic. You knew they are having dialogue with the Roman Catholic, hoping the RC also may accept this crucial truth, “justified by faith.” Because this is, the doctrine that made Luther wrote the 95 thesis and began the 16th Century Reformation.

Moreover, you believe only Christ saves, no other religions saved, for the case of Charismatic, for example, an elder from a charismatic church, he is a leader of a house church, he openly without shame told every one he knew he is a postmodernist, and he is running an emergent church. He believes every religion can save; he opens his mind for every religion and every belief! He believes in a one-world religion, and he runs a Christian Book Store, can you believe this! The Bookstore sells all kinds of Christian Books! He believes at the end all churches and all religions can be united! He is happy with New World Order, one world religion! He believes there is truth in every religion, a confused elder, but he is well respect by WCC and it members. Every service, he will lay hand on the heads of men and women, and they fell down, they said the spirit slew them, and you knew what spirit is working behind him in laying his hands! He said that revival must come through them, and not the fundamentalist, not another denomination, they had this confident in them, and people support them, look highly on them.

Focus on you, what about VPP? Claiming that only one Bible Text is perfect and other is corrupted, this need guts and proof.

For the example of LXX, Jesus Christ and his disciples did not call the Septuagint LXX corrupted, but why you say that the LXX is corrupted. In addition, John Calvin did not say the Septuagint LXX is corrupted, but you said it is corrupted. Who is right and who is wrong? Judging the LXX as a corrupted text Jerome and Luther did not say LXX is corrupted, but you said it is corrupted. LXX is one example of Alexandrian Text. The early church fathers used Alexandrian text to defend the truth of Trinity, and the Alexandrian MSS are earlier than other MSS. However, you said the Alexandrian Texts are corrupted!

You surely must pray for unity among yourself and continue to uphold the good teachings of God’s Word, and then sound your trumpet when there is danger of fall away, let the people see the truth, and then they will follow you. If not, they will come out from you, and separate from you; you will be alone in ICCC.

Do you think with a perfect underlying text, a perfect TR, and with the KAVA, the ICCC will become better equipped then ever. Did you see that the ICCC more strengthen and united by this VPP? Do you see is that path we must take, before the coming of the LORD? Do you think WCC will change its doctrines because ICCC has the perfect Bible, and they listen to ICCC? Do you think the one world church; one world religion will stop because of this VPP? Do you think that the VPP is the most important doctrine to fight all those false teachings?

Do you not care that the scheme of the devil, when the members of ICCC fight among themselves? They devil has the foothold to attack the ICCC!

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ICCC members are fighting inwardly among themselves!

New Testament Manuscripts

I hope someone send me a Papyri manuscript, and then I will go to see those theologians in FEBC, and we will study together, 40 days and nights without eating and drinking, to search the word of God!

Some people studying the manuscripts and think that they can find life without going to Christ Jesus.

Some are quarreling because of underlying Greek Text!

http://www.erbc.sg/

http://www.febc.edu.sg/v15/

WHAT A SHAME

PRAYER FOR ALCOHOLICS

  Gracious and loving God, we pray that You will extend Your compassionate hand of mercy to every individual struggling with alcohol addiction. Lord, we release Your power to destroy the root of this addiction. We pray that they will have the humility to acknowledge that they have a problem and need Your help. We ask that You give them strength and courage to fight for their lives and their families. Give them the will to reach for You in this crisis and to know that You have given them power to overcome.

  Lord, we pray that You will reveal the moment the door opened to this addictive behavior. By the power of God we close every open door that has fed this bondage. Today in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God, we arrest the desire to run away from life’s problems by drinking. We come against all shame, embarrassment, pride, and every spirit of fear. In the name of Jesus we bind all regret and refusal to forgive for past failures. We bind the strongman of alcoholism that temporarily numbs the pain. We break the dominating power of alcoholism and addiction over the mind, will, and emotions, and we trust You, Lord, for total freedom from alcohol addiction. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Kimberly L Ray, Spiritual Intervention: Powerful Insights for Breakthrough Prayers (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2014).

BPC says cannot drink wine, cannot do this do that, cannot touch this cannot touch that, they are 20 century pharisees?

I hope scholars in Far Eastern Bible College may drink some wine to ease the tension in their brains...