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Chosen no: R-364 b, from: 1882 Year. |
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Human Teachers Necessary.
"He gave indeed the Apostles
and the Prophets, and the Evangelists, and Shepherds, and Teachers, for the
complete qualification of the Saints for the work of service; in order to the
building up of the body of the Anointed one; till we all attain to the unity of
the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a full grown man (till the
body is complete)--to the measure of the full stature of the Anointed
one." Eph. 4:11-13.
This teaches us that we may be saints
(consecrated ones) before we have come to full harmony with God's plans, or
reached our full development in knowledge and faith. It also shows us that it
is the will of God that we should not continue babes in Christ but should
"grow in grace and knowledge, growing up (as members) into him in all
things, who is the head of the body, even Christ; (Eph. 4:15,)
striving and aiming continually for the perfection of knowledge and
faith-stature of the anointed pattern, our head. This increase and growth must
not stop until we ALL (the entire body) have been thus schooled "for the
work of service."
To assist us, God has provided helpers--Apostles,
Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers. Those whom God selected for these
positions in the primitive Church, were not selected because of their learning
or worldly wisdom, nor because of their natural gifts; but evidently, largely
because of their entire consecration to his will and service.
In selecting his ministers, Jesus
passed by the "Theological Seminaries" --their "Schools of the
Prophets," and their Doctors of Divinity, and their students too, and
chose unpretentious "Israelites indeed." Among those chosen, being
some rather illiterate fishermen. Thus he has ever chosen the weak things to
confound the mighty. "Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy
sight." It should be remembered too, that God has always provided his
church with ministers and helpers. It may help us also, to remember that Jesus
always gives his ministers their commission, which may be known and read of all
the saints--viz. His spirit of self sacrifice for the sheep, and ability to feed
them by expounding to them the Scriptures harmoniously.
That God does set apart or raise up
teachers for the Church, is not only evident from the Scripture (1 Cor. 12:27-31and 2 Tim. 2:2.) but also
from his dealings. It is a fact that during this Gospel age, it has pleased God
to make use of some men far more than others in the work of teaching and
edifying the body of Christ. Jesus was a teacher sent of God. The disciples
were sent to preach and teach and baptize. And while we believe that every consecrated
member of the body of Christ is a MINISTER in some sense, and all are "anointed
to preach the glad tidings," yet there are various members adapted to different
parts of the work, just as there are different members and offices in the human
body, which Scripturally is used to illustrate the body of Christ--the Church.
The head of the body is gone from
earthly to spiritual conditions. In him centres all the knowledge and wisdom
which must direct the affairs of (his flesh) the members on the earthly plane. This
is accomplished by delegating various qualities of the head to some members of
the body. The highest offices entrusted by our head to members of the body for
the use of the entire body, are the qualities of the Eye, the Ear and the Mouth.
The two former are channels of information, and the latter of expression. These
correspond with certain of the chief offices in the church. First the Eye to
see: John and Paul were two members of the church, who enjoyed more than any
others perhaps, this grand quality of the head. It was a gift in which they
greatly rejoiced. Jesus received a wonderful revelation from the Father
relative to coming events (Rev. 1:1.) and true to his body,
he sent and signified it to John who thus stood as the eye of the Church and
through him we can see as fast as due, the unfoldings of that revelation. Paul
too, had this gift or office in a remarkable [R365 : page
7] degree, being in visions and revelations of the Lord more abundant than they
all. (2 Cor. 12:2-4. Gal. 1:12; 2:2.)
Paul is the clearest eye the Church
has ever had. Though he was not permitted to make known what he so clearly saw,
(2 Cor. 12:4) yet it is evident that the things seen, so
deepened and widened his own knowledge of God's plan and love as related to the
past, present, and "ages to come," that his writings have a rich
depth, fullness, and golden coloring, possessed by no other New Testament
writer. He seems to come to the very verge of those glorious revelations while
explaining Rom. 11:25-33, concerning the plan of God
relative to the casting off of fleshly Israel and their future restoration
to his favor through the agency of the church--when the church is complete
--when they shall obtain mercy through your mercy. How anxious he seems to tell
plainly all about those future dealings--what was not due to be clearly known
until now. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God."
Note again the value of the sights
shown to that celebrated eye of the church--concerning the development of the
body of Christ and its future work in coming ages--Eph.
2:6,7 and 3:3-6. Yes looking through those Apostolic eyes of the body (church)
we can see wonderful things.
But several "gifts" were
bestowed upon some of the Apostles: The ear quality was another gift less
honorable than the eye, yet very desirable. This gift was possessed to some
extent by nearly all the Apostles, and by some of the members of the body
throughout this age. It is the gift or quality of understanding and
appreciating the Word and plan of God. It was by the exercise of this gift that
Paul, Peter and the others were able to point out the fulfillment of
Prophecies, and to have understanding of the deep things of God.
The mouth (utterance) is another
quality belonging to the head which is delegated to members, for the benefit of
the body. This gift though possessed by perhaps all of the Apostles, was
specially notable in Peter and James. Paul, though a great reasoner and
possessed of the eye and ear qualities was inferior to Appollos and some others
in oratory. (See 1 Cor. 14:3; Acts 18:24;
2 Cor. 11:6.)
These qualities belonging to the head,
are still in and with the true members of the true body of Christ. God is still
pleased to use some such channels through whom the whole body is to be blessed
and edified; yet we should always remember that their honor consists in doing
greater service for the body and head than other members. Now, as in Paul's
day, "to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit, for the benefit of
ALL," (1 Cor. 12:7) and not alone for themselves
individually. And, as even Paul, who possessed the chiefest gifts in chief
measure, guarded himself, lest after having preached to others, he himself
should be a "castaway" from the high calling; so now, it is no
positive assurance of our final victory, that we have been used as ministers of
the body.
But there are other good positions
with honor, in the body of Christ. There are members which belong properly to the
body and not to the head, viz: the hands and the feet etc. The feet make
progress and represent the mission work of Evangelists. The hands care for,
protect, assist, and feed the body, and thus answer to the work of Pastors;
then the trunk of a human body represents the mass of the church. The working
together of the whole system is to build itself up and to strengthen the
laborers--the hands and feet, and to prepare the entire body for the doing of
the will of the head. So the entire body of Christ builds itself up and grows
strong by the use of the spiritual food; and it imparts its force and strength
to those members which minister to it--viz: Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists,
and Pastors.
This Scriptural insight into the
proper condition and active office of the various members of the body of
Christ, forces the conclusion that the real members of the real body are very
few. That it was the design of our Father that the body should be formed of such
real members, and that every member should contribute to the upbuilding of all,
is very clear. And it is none the less clear, that all the real members are
thus performing their part, as fast as they perceive their ability and
privilege.
God is not merely expressing how he
would like to have the body grow, but how it must grow, and is growing up to
the full stature of the anointed one. It behooves us each then, to examine
ourselves, and thus see if we are abiding in the anointed body, and as active
living members, contributing to the general health and activity of the body.
The great worldly organizations,
claiming the name of Christ, yet refusing his headship, leading and control,
and the teachings of his word, has nothing in common with the real followers in
Jesus' footsteps. They have their heads and prophets and pastors, but not the
true (Isa. 9:15; 29:9-13 and Jer.
23:16-32.) They have large flocks but they are not all sheep. They have their
teachers, but the time has come when these great flocks of nominal sheep will
not endure sound doctrine; but after their own desires, they gather to
themselves teachers having itching ears (for the world's applause) and they
turn away their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables. (2 Tim. 4:3-4.) But let us watch that we be not deceived by all
their form of Godliness, lacking the power, (2 Tim. 3:5)
which if possible would deceive the very elect. But let us faithfully endure
afflictions and fully accomplish our service.
The true body of Christ is indeed a mystery
from the world's standpoint --a visible company with no visible head; a company
bound and cemented to each other by no visible bond or interest, but by the
invisible spirit (mind) of their head, which unites them in a labor of
self-sacrifice, each member doing according to his ability to bless and benefit
the body and honor the invisible head.
In this body are still to be found
the representative qualities of the head. They have eyes, for they look through
the eyes of the Apostles at the plans and works of God, and have not left these
for the traditions of men. The true church has ears; it is still being blessed
with members specially used to unfold to it the prophecies and dark-sayings,
and to direct it to the "meat in due season." It still has those who
esteem it a privilege to serve, and feed, and care for the body as pastors. And
it still has faithful ones (and equally members of the body and beloved of the
head) who, though not thus special workers, are nevertheless, strengthening the
hands and the knees and glorifying the head by supporting these by their means
and by their prayers, and by their influence.
Oh that each might fully value his
privilege and opportunities as body members. All cannot be the eye, nor all the
ear, nor all hands nor feet. Some are honored with one service, and some with
another; (1 Cor. 12:14-20.) yet let us each remember to seek
earnestly the best gifts, but rather that we may prophecy--expound the Word. (1 Cor. 14:3.)
Let us remember that the basis of
all promotion from a lesser to a higher opportunity of work in the body, will
be the faithfulness with which we use our present abilities. Again let none
despise his office of Steward of this world's goods. If this is your
opportunity use well your office, and perhaps you will be promoted by our head
and become a dispenser of spiritual things. [We commend the plan suggested by
Paul to all, even the very poorest; those who have never learned to give, have
failed to rightly appreciate one of our choice privileges and pleasures. Read 1 Cor. 16:2, and 2 Cor. 8:1-8; and 9:1-9.]
W.T. R-364 b : page 7 –
1882 r.