Wayne's House 偉恩的家

Basically there are three major types of church government. (There is a fourth, but it is NONgovernment.)
The first kind is rule by a class called “clergy” who are professional church leaders educated and set in a hierarchy that rules from the top down.
The “laity” or common congregants have no say in church operations or decisions. The second emphasizes the importance of spiritually mature men called “elders” who have sole authority to run the church. The third and most popular type of church government is “congregational” in which local congregations govern their own affairs.
Typically, in a congregational form of polity the membership does the following: (1) select, appoint, and, if necessary, remove church leaders; (2) guard pure doctrine; (3) exercise church discipline and decide on church membership; (4) participate in major decisions affecting the entire congregation (Dever, Display of God’s Glory, 31–43).
Usually, the congregation operates in a democratic fashion--each member has an equal voice and vote, or by consensus—general agreement or concord. They appoint an elder or elders who, having the spiritual health of the church at heart, make recommendations to the church for their approval.
Formal membership and commitment to a covenant is important and essential to a congregational method of church government. Paul says this is how churches grow. He wrote the Ephesians to tell them when every part is “joined and knit together” effectively doing their share the body increases. That is why every Christian, to live out their faith, must join a local assembly of believers striving together to accomplish the desires of Jesus Christ, the Head of his Body.

Usually when we speak about discipline we don't have nice comfortable feelings.
We think of acting according to rules such as military discipline. Or, we might think of being disciplined to rise early and read our Bible, a regimen to improve spiritual skills.
When we are being disciplined or we discipline our children it generally means one is being punished due to unacceptable behavior which means correction and re-training are necessary. When we speak of “church discipline” that usually means “excommunication” or being put out of the fellowship of a group of worshipers due to behavior deemed to be unbiblical and unacceptable.
However, and this is important, though this kind of discipline has negative connotations it should not. Please note that the purpose of confronting an erring fellow-believer is for the purpose of restoration, not excommunication. It isn't looking for a way to expunge the wrong-doer. Rather it the final result of concerted effort to restore an erring brother or sister to full fellowship in the body. Because, sin in the life of the believer fellowshipping in a body of believers is extremely dangerous which, if ignored or “glossed over” is far worse than a virus.
If not aggressively attacked it will infect the whole body resulting in death. So, again, why join a church? We need the care and accountability that comes from a committed relationship to a community of fellow Christians who will love us and look out for us. It while we are in a covenant relationship with one another that we are able to help one another to see ourselves as we are and see Jesus as we ought. A committed relationship to a body of believers has advantages not available to a casual connections without commitment.
Thinking it over . . .

Donald Whitney in his book Spiritual Disciplines Within
the Church tells the following story.
Eightyseven year old Giles Pellerin recently attended his 750th consecutive USC
football game.
He has not missed a Trojan game—home or away—in 69 years! One year he had an
appendectomy just five days before a game. Still hospitalized on Saturday, he
told the nurses he was going for a walk and instead went to the stadium.
Why make such sacrifices to identify with an athletic team? “That's just all
part of being a fan!” Pellerin replied. Fan is short for fanatic. For millions
of people their actions prove that “being a fan” is to openly demonstrate your
dedication. But if you ask many Christians to publicly identify themselves with
the Son of God in an unusual way they will think it strange, cult-like, or only
for radical religionists.. Others might feel self-conscious about such public
displays of devotion.
Many Christians respond to baptism this way. Even some who truly love Jesus
consider baptism insignificant or something to think about doing later. How
important is it? Why should anyone seek baptism in a local church? On the other
hand, why would anyone who has come to know Jesus Christ and received his
eternal life refuse to identify with Him in the manner he prescribed?
If others will proudly wear clothing announcing their loyalty to a sports team,
if Giles Pellerin will travel the country for sixty-nine years to express his
devotion to the USC football team, can believers in Jesus Christ remain
unwilling to identify themselves with their Savior and God through baptism?
Today we answer the question: “Why be baptized?”

Maybe be you have one, or had one, or were one — a
child that constantly asks, “Why?” to everything you say, or do, or tell them
to do.
I have had six of them who tried my patience and intelligence with one
three-letter word followed by a question mark.
Sometimes wearied from hearing “the word” I struggled to find ways to get away
from it, but to no avail. Instead, I diligently tried to give a good answer to
every pesky inquiry. I had this idea that one day someone would ask my child, “Why?”
and their reply would be, “Ask my daddy. He knows everything!” You would think
after enduring that word for 20 some years I would be less likely to use it myself.
However, that is not the case. In fact, I sometimes think I don't use it
enough, especially regarding the mundane that daily passes us by without a hint
of curiosity. For example, why do we come to church? Why do we meet on Sundays?
Why do we sing, pray, have a sermon, drink some coffee and then go home only to
come back again next week?
For many, that's all “church” is and so ask, “Why bother?” That's a good
question! Why bother to make the effort every Sunday to come to church? Can't
you be just as good a Christian and enjoy a late breakfast and read the paper
on Sunday? Or, take the family to the beach for some fun together? Isn't that
just as important? Does God require that I go to church to be a follower? Why? Let's
put that three letter word to our Father in heaven and see what his answer
is...

The first of over 30
references to salt in the Bible is found in the Book of Job, recorded about
2,250 BC.
The most famous reference is when Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt.
Jesus also uses salt as an illustration when he says, “You are the salt of the earth?”
He is referring to the characteristics we will exhibit as his followers on
earth. In many cultures salt plays a vital part in religious ritual,
symbolizing purity.

Did you know in old Japanese theaters, salt was sprinkled on the stage before
each performance to prevent evil spirits from casting a spell on the actors? A
similar practice of sprinkling salt continues in sumo wrestling pre-fight
ceremonies. Salt was also used as currency. Ethiopia, for example, used one
pound salt bars as their standard currency.

In ancient Greece slaves were traded for salt, hence the phrase: “Not worth his
salt” which means “not worth the price.” Maybe Christ meant we were to permeate
the world like salt permeates the body. Did you know every cell in your body
contains salt? An adult human body contains about 250 grams of salt to maintain
the normal volume of blood and digest food. For human consumption good quality
sea salt contains essential minerals for the body such as magnesium. Because
the chemical industry needs pure sodium and chloride, vital magnesium is taken out
to make it flow smoother making it suitable for the chemical market. Natural
ocean salt alone possesses the power to restore wholeness to human internal
body fluids. Salt is critical to life. Is your life critical to the health of
this world?
Thinking it over . . .

What is it we really want
out of life? Most people would say some amount of comfort and success. No one
would say they are seeking to suffer or fail.
Isn't it odd that success almost always requires suffering to some degree and
being a failure is often connected to the love of comfort? Yet, we all strive to
maximize the easy life and minimize any discomfort and pain. Throughout history
philosophers and theologians have discussed and pondered why humans suffer and
how can it be overcome.

One of the favorite ploys of politicians and religionists is to offer solutions
to poverty and suffering that will usher in a future utopia. In his book The
Merits of Suffering author Heili Lee writes, “there is great merit in going through
Christian suffering, we need not be afraid of it. Those who have learned the
secret of embracing suffering and living with it will find great joy and spiritual
satisfaction.”

As we look at the life of Jesus suffering was such an integral part of his
existence. Imagine what it meant for the Creator of the universe to limit
himself to human flesh and the pains and weaknesses that are part of humanity.
And if that wasn't enough he suffered a most painful death taking into his
sinless being the sin of the whole world. On top of that he suffered the deep hurt
of rejection and loneliness when his Father turned his face from him. Jesus
knows about suffering.

Yet, we who call ourselves followers of Jesus know so little about it and go to
great lengths to avoid suffering. Look again at Jesus. Let his life teach us
that suffering can be beneficial!
Thinking it over . . .
How was Jesus' life
difficult? What were some of the things he suffered for being Jesus?

In the next two weeks we will bring our series on the Life of Christ to a close.
As I looked back on the different subjects we touched on regarding Jesus' life I was greatly impressed with how little we covered.
Not that we haven't learned a lot, but in comparison to all the questions I still have it seems like we just began. Ah yes, and that's the point. We can never learn all there is to know about Jesus. I've been married to the same woman for 33 years and still learn new things about her. Surely, we will be learning more about Jesus throughout eternity.
Indeed, as I was reflecting on Jesus' purpose for coming to earth many more questions came to mind. Why didn't Jesus correct the social and political ills of the Jews and Romans? Slavery was everywhere. It was heartily embraced as a way of life. Yet, there was no moral outcry against a person owning another human as common property like he would a piece of furniture.
Why didn't Jesus abolish slavery or at least say something against it? Why didn't he fight poverty and injustice? Why didn't he campaign against the intolerance of the religionists and their blatant racism? Though corruption was rampant (even expected from tax collectors) why doesn't Jesus preach a sermon against it? Instead, we see him going to dinner and visiting with Zaccheus at his home!
I believe the answer is found in under-standing Jesus' mission on earth. Why did Jesus come here in the first place? Jesus believed that completing his God-given mission would solve all other problems. Do you believe fulfilling our Lord's commission will do the same? Are we about our Master's work? Have we gotten side-tracked on other issues that keep us from the “main thing”?
Thinking it over . . .

About a year ago I was given a book highly recommended by my oldest daughter titled The Shack by William Young.
My interest was piqued by comments made on the back cover. Evangelical recording artist Michael W. Smith states, “The Shack will leave you craving for the presence of God.”
Author Eugene Peterson believes “this book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!” Well, in my opinion, The Shack misses the mark by a long shot! The plot is developed around the abduction and murder of six year old Missy, beloved daughter of nominal Christian Mackenzie Philips (Mack). This tragedy shaped the lives of Mack and his family in horrific ways.
Living under “The Great Sadness” Mack receives an invitation from God dropped in his mail box that invites him to the isolated shack where Missy was murdered four years ago. Skeptical, Mack takes a chance that God might really show up and heads alone to the shack. There, God, in the form of all three members of the Trinity, meets with him giving Mack new insight about God and his relationship within the Trinity. At the end of the weekend Mack goes home a new man. I wish it were that easy! I wonder, though, what was/is Jesus relationship to his Father? (The book was NOT a help in that area!) Our best understanding comes from interaction with our earthly father and being one.
The gospels record 61 times Jesus referred to God as, “My Father.” We can learn from Jesus relationship to his Father what God desires in our relationship with him. What do you call God when you talk to him? How often do we speak with our Father in heaven? Take a look at Jesus' example.

Thinking it over . . .
What claims does Jesus make about himself? Compare this passage with John 10:22-30. How does Jesus answer the question as to whether he is the Christ?
How does Jesus honor his Father? How do you honor Father God?
Is Jesus right about who he claims to be? How?
If Jesus is right about who he claims to be, what have you done about it or what should you do about it?
What is it about the relationship between the Father and Son that catches your attention?
What is your relationship like with your earthly father?
If you are a father how are things between you and your children?
You are the best illustration to them of God the Father.
How can your relationship to your heavenly Father be improved? What are specific things you can do to bring you closer to your Father?