Churches In Crisis: What Happened To Unity?
The Bible teaches that Christians ought to practice a single
faith. It reads: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye
are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one
baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). Yet, today,
every man does what is right in his own eyes. What's the
solution? Pastors and elders must set the church in order.
The apostles did not lay down different worship patterns at the
various churches they established, as the following apostolic
warning indicates: "If anyone wants to be contentious about
this, we have no other practice -- nor do the churches of God"
(1 Cor. 11:16). Likewise, God had told Moses, "See to it that
you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the
mount." Just so, after correcting many deviations from the
God-given pattern, Paul the apostle told the Corinthians "The
rest I will set in order when I come" (1 Cor. 11:34).
Moreover, those who care to look into it will find that the
phrase "set in order" represents a technical, liturgical term
found three times at the end of Exodus as a summary for the
refrain, "just as the Lord had commanded Moses." Exodus 39-40
uses the phrase "set in order" specifically of those three
symbols most prominently regarding the Church and its holy
jurisdiction -- the table of showbread (representing the Lord's
Supper), the lampstands or candlesticks (portraying the churches
themselves in Revelation 1-3) and the altar (symbolizing the
prayers and praise of the saints in the New Testament).
This order whereby the apostles and prophets laid the foundation
of the Church (Eph. 2:20) does not refer to "order in general"
(where orderliness sits opposed to chaotic worship), as many
commentators have falsely surmised. Rather, it has in mind the
priestly order assigned to care for the worship of God so that
it proceeds precisely as God has commanded, without deviation or
exception. Liturgical care and precise obedience to the biblical
pattern of worship form the basis of the Holy Spirit's applause
given to both the prophet (and priest), Samuel, and to King
Josiah, in these words:
"And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover
at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. And
there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days
of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep
such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the
Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of
Josiah was this passover kept" (2 Chronicles 35: 17-19).
If one heeds the tone carefully here, he might note that this
compliment comprises as much an indictment against Israel as a
lauding of the fidelity in worship displayed by the prophet and
king favorably named in the passage. It also tells us that God
takes note when His people deviate in the least from, or conform
exactly to, His own established worship pattern. He cares.
In the New Testament, "order" in the churches refers to the
priestly order of Melchizedek. Hence the saying of Paul, "Follow
me as I follow Christ." The context tells us here that Paul was
making a point about the pattern of worship (liturgy), meaning
"Following the apostolic pattern, as we have delivered to you
the teachings of Christ." The apostolic duty requires Paul to
perform the liturgy of the churches just as Christ -- the head
of the Church as High Priest forever after the order of
Melchizedek -- dictated by his words and deeds. The Lord Jesus
sets the pattern. Here the saying applies, "My House, My rules."
Christians -- pastors and elders -- must not deviate from this
pattern. For the one Lord commands it, the one faith requires
it, and the one baptism we shares promises this obedience in
worship.
Conclusion: The extraordinary diversity in worship patterns
among religious groups today -- which many applaud as "blessed
diversity" -- shows that our churches and nations are filled
with all manner of idolatrous fancy and man-made innovation in
worship. This shows a disdain for the commandments of God, and a
hostility toward His word. And that is precisely how He regards
it. The Bible itself insultingly calls this "will worship,"
meaning worshipping God by the doctrines of men, rather than by
the acceptable divine pattern found in the commandments of God.
Col. 2:22-23 reads, "...Which all are to perish with the using)
after the commandments and doctrines of men ... Which things
have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and
neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of
the flesh."
Let the reader recall that diversity in Israel's liturgy among
its kings came only through REBELLION without exception,
starting with Solomon's idolatry. Rather, the Bible commands
that we must have "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." And this
ONE faith which God commmands has a name in the Bible. It is
called "The faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:12). It is this faith alone
we must practice in the churches. And if anyone wants to be
contentious about this, the apostles and prophets had no other
practice -- nor did the churches of God.