"Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this." (Acts 15:2)
Back in what has been referred to as the "discipling/shepherding movement," Bob Mumford called the leader of a very large television "ministry" to get together and discuss accusations and misunderstandings. That television "ministry" CEO flatly refused. In fact, he wouldn't return Bob's calls and order Bob's tapes to be discarded. Paul, Barnabas, Peter, John, James, et. al., could have done something similar. Don't "counsel," just burn the others' tapes. Thank our Lord Jesus Christ for true apostolic servants.
Our text yesterday concerned authority in what 1 Timothy calls, "the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth." This does not mean First Baptist or Second Methodist, or Pentecostal Highway of Holiness Waiting for the Return of the Lord Church. Each protestant Church has some form of "councils," but only within their particular denomination, or, within those isolated independent congregations. Protestantism has no "council" to cover all Protestant churches as does Roman Catholicism, or, as the "Early Church."
The Timothy reference above calls the Church of Jesus Christ, "the pillar and ground of the Truth." The world has been asking, "Whose truth?!?" Go down the street to First Baptist and you will get a "truth." Cross the street to the Methodist building and you get another, or at least an "addition" to the truth. But the most "spiritual" are those independent congregations who believe that their worship and songs are superior, preaching deeper, meetings more "relevant." The world is quite amused, and, not impressed.
Every city, town, village should have a "council at...." There would be less control of the, "I'm my own church," people and the opportunity at least for the Truth of the, "God-Breathed," Word to powerfully impact the community. The call for you and me today is: Don't be a "lone ranger." This does not mean that people who are "committed" members of a local church cannot still be lone rangers. What I call a "council mentality" is a heart attitude. When I speak of "council mentality," I am thinking of the attitude of Snoopy when asked about the book on theology he was writing. "I hope you have a good title." To which Snoopy replied, "I have the perfect title: 'Has it ever occurred to you that you may be wrong?'"
I ask that you pray with me for an awakening of a "council mentality," and practice, in every city, town, village--------------- throughout the earth!
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for a greater "council mentality." Amen.
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Conference Call, January 16, 18:00 (6)
Phone Number: 712-770-5505
Code: 889721#
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
