A Beginning Testimony
A FOUNDATION GUIDE FOR THE ASSEMBLY
[Some understanding of the revival of 1827 AD which first met in a home]
By R. DeWitt, 2007
[Some understanding of the revival of 1827 AD which first met in a home]
By R. DeWitt, 2007
[Some Christians are associated with so-called High Churches who have a formal hierarchy of priestly men and many rituals, with their doctrines, rules, and form; some believers are at the other extreme with various independent, casual, and open sects who follow varied innovations to make them more appealing and popular; and many Christian groups are somewhere between these. We need to endeavor to be yielded to God's Word, and that is what the fellowship from circa 1800 is about. A few thoughts are here from other papers to help Christians, who have never heard of the revival of AD 1827, and were not reared within a scriptural assembly.]
The Gathering Place according to the scriptural order for the church, is probably not like anything one has known from the various Christian gatherings they have seen in the world, who often take a name, have a hierarchy of leaders, follow rituals, ceremonies and rules, may embrace worldly ways, have entertainment and activities, programs, innovations, etc. Others form independent gatherings in homes and do whatever they all agree to do in the name of Christianity; yet also may fail to bow to Bible-only like all the man-made religions. While many scriptural assemblies begin in homes until they grow larger, they need to do it in fellowship with the universal Church as God established for some help, rather than independency which is divisive (note 1Cor. 12:25); and certainly not to be exalting certain men among them.
There are various ideas in christendom developed to please man, rather than true to the Word of God. One needs to decide if they want to be a part of a scriptural assembly as a worldwide fellowship in "unity of the faith" as God ordained, and as a local expression of that, or follow traditions and the popular ideas of men. A true believer ought to seek to know church truth, church history, talk with the elders associated with the gathering, be baptized, pray much, and be an observer for a time before asking to be received into that scriptural fellowship, for unity with the revival of 1827. It endeavors to hold to Bible-only for universal unity. Reception is not dependent on knowing all the Scripture, and one should come simply in faith as a learner. One should come with the thought of "one accord" as shown and in truth. Certainly, we do not expect perfection with any saints, but God has preserved the testimony and pathway that He ordained.
The Word Of God should be our only authority for the Christian faith, not rules, creeds, the reasoning of various men and personal preferences. One should study the Word, seek some counsel from sound Bible teachers, and pray earnestly. Bible Truth Publishers, Addison, IL is a sound source of church history and ministry.
The Assembly Life concerns Christian love, happy fellowship, and the various Bible meetings and function as in Acts 2:41-42 and the Epistles, a Godly spirit, and the care and fellowship for all the saints. One should guard against sectarianism and appreciate the truth of expressing the "one body of Christ" as given for the church, rather than independent ways or mergers of various religious sects of men. Mergers are not scriptural.
The Holy And Royal Priesthood (1 Pet. 2) is a precious truth given all saints, and something different than one will find in the various sects and systems, where the liberty and gifts of God's calling and participation is not allowed. One should study this and value the priesthood of the saints. Men are not called to make rules for others. A seeker ought to learn such as the ground of gathering, the history of the gathering, the form of gathering, the functions of the gathering, etc. to know if God is honored, the Bible is truly followed, and there is liberty of spirit.
The Order And Government Of God speaks of the scriptural form of the collective gatherings, unity worldwide, a Godly spirit, correction of waywardness, and honor to God; and God's mind and purposes for His testimony from the beginning of the church. This is by sharing of all the gathered saints and some guidance by elders.
The Honor And Glory Of The Lord ought to be paramount among the saints in the assembly and in our personal life, rather than pleasing men with their religious ideas.
The Collective Worship And Ministry speaks of the Lord's table and the supper as worship in both a collective and personal way; and the ministry shared in Bible studies and in messages delivered among the saints needs to be esteemed. Some small gatherings in homes grow to need a larger building in time for the assembly; and the saints worldwide are essentially of one mind before God.
[It is important to appreciate that in all this it is speaking of God's standards and testimony in the world after His order. There is no such thing in the Holy Scriptures as "a church of your choice", so one ought to seek to find what God intended for the church, rather than look for a popular place of convenience and our preference. One can learn more about such a fellowship at the site: www.biblecounsel.net and ask questions there. One cannot speak for others, and surely each child of God ought to pray earnestly to find God's mind for one's pathway. – RLD: 2007]
