Shifting Responsibility
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it will accomplish what I please, and shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." {Isaiah 55:8-11} God made ample provision for the church to accomplish the work He gave it? Sadly, many brethren, some with the best of intentions, have determined that God needs help to accomplish His work.
--TWO THEORIES--
| God's Wisdom | Man's Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Evangelism | Missionary Society |
| Edification | Bible colleges |
| Benevolence | Orphanages and widows' homes |
| Spiritual fellowship | Fellowship halls |
When brethren contend that we need additional institutions to carry out the local church's three-fold work, are they not saying that God's plan is inadequate?
- The Bible clearly states that the church is to preach the gospel. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." {Matthew 28:19,20} Where in the Bible do we find the Missionary Society or the sponsoring church (Herald of Truth, One Nation Under God)?
- Edification is a work of the church. "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." {Acts 20:32} What Bible role does secular education play? Bible study is a worthy pursuit, but where does the Bible authorize the Lord's church to pay for it?
- We are to care for the needy saints. "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need." {Acts 2:44,45} Where are the Bible passages that authorize separate institutions to do this work? (James 1:27 and Galatians 6:10 do not.)
- The members of Christ's body need to spend time together. "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." {Romans 12:10} Where are the passages that authorize building fellowship halls to carry out this work? By the way, the New Testament never uses the word fellowship in the way that some brethren are using it.
It comes down to one simple question -- whose wisdom is best -- God's or man's?