Concerning Joining In to the Church

It seemed good, in light of Jason and Eva’s desire, to write a word concerning joining the Lord’s church. This is an anticipated and happy event to say the least.  It is always a blessing when the Lord adds to His church. We are convinced, as hearts are knit together, that there will be mutual benefit to all from this step of faith they are taking.  But my purpose for these words is more in regards to the subject of “joining a church.” Paul attempted to “join himself to the disciples in Jerusalem” while at another time no one “dared join himself to them.” (Acts 5:13; 9:26). We live in a day, brethren, when joining a church formally seems to have fallen by the wayside.  At least it has been relegated to not important status. You can take it or leave it today. Now I must concede two things. At times too much is made out of membership. America is full of people who think church membership makes them a Christian or helps get them to heaven. Hardly. Sitting in a garage doesn’t make a man a mechanic so sitting in a church doesn’t, in any way, make a person a believer. Further, that a formal membership can be proven or demanded that it is commanded would be going a little too far.  We are exhorted to believe on the Lord Jesus. We are told to go and baptize. The net result is the assumption believers will join/be added/be with/continue with the church.  There is no blueprint for how to join or be added or to be with the church. New membership classes, voting them in, or public confessions are not discussed. For years we had no formal membership process, but over time we have moved to a method that we think at least works to establish the believers relationship to the church. We know people joined the Lord’s church (Acts 5:13)- however that was done.  We know some didn’t join it (Acts 5:13).  We know all believers did join with believers (Acts 5:14).  We know this was the desired thing to do (Acts 9:26), and we know it involved specifics:  in Acts 2:41-47 they were saved, baptized faithful to being taught, fellowshipping, remembering the Lord and praying together.  In Acts 5:13, there was a stigma that came with being part of the church; in Acts 9:26 there was willingness, scrutiny and perception.  Read Galatians 2:9 and Acts 16:15 where they perceived the grace of God in the one wanting to join with them and they judged them to have believed the Gospel. So in all this we can see some formality in people joining into the church. They did more than just walk in the door. They were added to them. It could be arguably said this was done via baptism, although I tend to stop a little short of this. They made it plain and it was made plain they were part of them; however this was done. 

Having said all this, let it be a word of exhortation to all and any who believe the Gospel to do likewise. Our method here is simple, yet public, making plain the one being added is joining in with the church.  We try to perceive the grace of God and to judge the matter. Having done that, we have you publicly make your desire known. It is a good thing to join the church. It is a big thing in the Bible to be plainly part of the church. No, it won’t save you nor make you spiritual. Neither will being part of a family make you grown up or mature.  But it is good to be part of a family. So likewise it is good and exemplified to be part of the church. For any who linger in this regard, having made sure you are born again, join in with us.  Take that step of faith. Yes, you will be more accountable, no doubt. But you will also be more blessed and see an increasing life of fruit that remains to the glory of God and His Son Jesus Christ.

How We Are Brought Up

For years there has been a saying circulated around from a mainline denomination.  “Give us a child until they are five, and we will make them a Catholic for life.” I once read that by the time we are five, we learn the majority of what we are going to be. Notice not what we will know, but what we will be.  Outside of the grace of God, there is a lot of truth in this, so it seems. ”Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether is be right.”, Solomon wrote. (Proverbs 20:11) And Solomon, in Proverbs, reveals over and over how much can be learned by observation.  Here he points out the child is decidedly bent one way or another. It is noticeable that even believers have to often struggle with their early upbringing, both practically and doctrinally.  We all know that bad habits formed in youth are often life long struggles. And good habits are life long blessings. The little liar becomes big liar.  The laziness of youth often shows up in adulthood. The saving of money when young results in the same when older. 
The faithfulness to obligations when young result in the same when older. What is true practically is also true doctrinally.  That is what is true in our beliefs. We are all raised believing something. It may be humanistic or Biblical.  Which ever, we will believe some things. There is no vacuum in our minds. This leads me to this thought and observation.  How blessed and thankful ought the man or woman (or child) to be who was raised with the truth in their home! Timothy was reminded by Paul how from a child he had known the Scriptures which were able to make him wise unto salvation.  Brethren, the world tries to turn this on its head. It will rant and rave about not brainwashing children with religion.  It will talk about letting them decide. The whole time they are telling these lies, they will be knowingly or unknowingly being pumping into that little child’s mind and soul life long beliefs so by the time they are five or more, they will be set on that course of belief.  Don’t let the world nor devil fool you in this. All children are raised with beliefs. It is best, therefore, to be raised with the truth.  And if you are raised with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Bible, which is the truth, then praise the Lord for this.  How privileged our children are who are being raised this way! It will stay with them for life. It will cause a soft spot in their hearts if even they are unconverted. It will be what they come back to by God’s grace. It will be, hopefully, what they embrace and live by from the time they are a child into adulthood.  I am so thankful, more and more so as the years past, that from a child the Lord had me in a home that had the truth.  My Dad so many times quoted (and it is the verse I remember him quoting the most)
”You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32) He knew the truth and the truth set him free. And that truth was drummed into me from birth forward.  Is it not better to know what is right from the beginning?! Are we to think it is better to know a lie, then the truth?! I don’t think so. No, we know it is best to be brought up with the truth. May the Lord help us to see what an heritage we are giving our children.  Yes, in many ways, what a child believes by the time he is five will be what he becomes.  And no greater service to our children is done than to raise them, then, from the beginning with the truth.

The Art of Inquiry

There are a variety of methods for learning. Over the years I have reduced them to four main ones. We learn by hearing, by observing, by doing and by inquiring.  The last method allows some comments concerning it. It is a method that is greatly exemplified in the Bible.  The disciples were ever inquiring. How often they would ask the Lord for explanations about what He taught or what was going to happen. Some times questions were piled upon questions.  Remember, concerning His return they ask three in a row!  (Matthew 24:3).  Paul’s method of writing was often to ask questions and answer them. 
In the book of Romans I once counted (someone will check this out and I will be one off, no doubt) 88 questions by the writer, the apostle Paul.  And in every day life it is a great method for learning. Show me someone who wants to know the answer to something, especially for purposes of learning, and I will show you someone who is inquiring.  Show me a person who doesn’t inquire, and I will show you a person who is missing a large and important way to learn. Yes, observe, do and hear, but learn to ask.  Of course, ask someone who has the answers. Ask someone who knows. Ask someone who knows you! The answer will be more useful if you do.  What is it in your life you want to learn? What areas are there where you or I need help? Do you need help with your finances? With your car? With your children? With your marriage?  With your besetting sins? With your depression? With your work? With your attitude? With your temper?! With soul winning? With your own soul? Do you need help?  Well, have you inquired?  Have you asked your parents, dear child or young person? You might be surprised at their answer and how it helps.  Have you asked your husband, dear wife? Have you asked you wife husband!  Have you asked men and women in the church, dear believer? Learn to inquire. Ask that close friend or older person?  Yes, we can figure it out ourselves at times. Of course, remember one of my proverbs. “God meant for us to learn by being taught.”
And the best way to be taught is by people who know you and can help you. Don’t let pride or fear keep you from seeking help by inquiring. Learn the art of inquiry.  It will save you much angst, remove prolonged problems and often give you the answer almost immediately and areas that have been troublesome for years. Yes, ask the Lord first - James 1:5 - ”If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Then, as needed, ”Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations; ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.” (Dueteronomy 32:7).

“Ask, and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you...” (Matthew 7:7)

Yielding to God’s Will

Brethren, we all agree and pray as Jesus did, ”Not my will, but thy will be done.”
But to experience this yieldedness to God’s will in our lives is another thing. Yet it is at this point I see many of us deeply struggling (or needing to).
Take that area of your life that presently is large and a point of decision (or in need of decision). Are you experiencing submission to God’s will at this point? Will you accept having or not having what you so deeply desire? Is there a sense of joy, peace and contentment either way?
I have found that in order to experience this benefit of yielding to God’s way in my life it demands, at times, a deep contest with my will.
Hours and days may pass as the battle rages. At times I must “fall on my knees” several times a day. In the end I give way to His will.
His will may be ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘wait.’ And, I always know when I have truly yielded to His will for me. How so?
It is when I experience no disappointment if I must do or cannot have what I so strongly want. It is when not having my way no longer disappoints me.
Rather I find joy in knowing He has a better plan! Yes, it is most wonderful to experience yieldedness to God’s will.
Go, my brother or sister, often to your knees. Pray and yield until this is your experience. The result is a joy, peace and contentment the world does not have. It is truly to experience joy unspeakable and full of glory! It is a peace that passes all understanding.