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ARE SERMONS BIBLICAL?

Why is it that Church of God Sabbath assemblies, or ‘services’, so closely resemble Protestant Church services? Did the Protestant reformers follow in the footsteps of the apostle’s protocol? Did the Churches of God lead or follow them in regard to this? Herbert Armstrong abandoned the “altar calls”, common among many Protestant churches, but why did he originally include them at all, unless he was only improving on what he had been brought up with? It should be evident that much knowledge has been lost in the last nearly 2000 years, but by comparing our every belief and practice with scripture, we can again approach the faith that was once delivered to the early church. There is still much room for improvement!     

Life is so much simpler when we sincerely ask the right questions. Would it concern you if you were to learn from scripture that the worship “services” that you attend each Sabbath do not conform to the scriptural format? Would you even care? If the ‘service’ were to be different from the way we are accustomed to, would it make a difference in your life? Could there be a better way than the way we hold “services” now? 

The underlying premise of this article is that “sermons” are not scriptural! The word ‘sermon’ is not mentioned in your Bible! Believe it or not, sermons, as they are carried out today, actually thwart true spiritual Christian growth. Furthermore, they probably have prevented you from forming a closer connection to your Creator God, as well as to your brothers and sisters in Christ. The problem extends far beyond the Latin origin of the term “sermon”. While I favor eradicating the borrowed terminology of “mainstream” churches when we assemble together, the problem is far more than one of semantics. Sermons form the core of a religious “service” that allows one person to “pontificate” (to use another Latin term) for perhaps an hour, after which people are quickly dismissed. This format has enabled various churches including Catholic, Protestant, and Churches of God to each maintain iron fisted holds over their own congregations, by only allowing ‘their’ doctrines to be preached the way they want them to be preached. This is precisely the totalitarian way. If it is scriptural, then great, so be it. But is it scriptural? In truth, it is absolutely contrary to scripture!  

Are Services Scriptural?

The traditional religious use of the word “service” illustrates the exclusive stranglehold that the clergy holds over a flock by enforcing the set in concrete formats that have evolved. My Living Webster Dictionary defines “service”, under the heading of religious application, as follows: “public religious worship according to prescribed form and order; a ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion; as the marriage service; the serving of God by obedience or piety; a musical setting of those portions of a liturgy which are sung”. The exclusive demands of formality completely stifle an educational environment while substituting the backbone of brainwashing, namely repetition.

The Biblical way promotes solid understanding and awareness of Scriptural teachings by each individual. The Biblical way actually tends to ‘prevent’ false doctrine from entering into the congregation, except for when the majority of the congregation wants it, but even then, using the Biblical method, everyone knows where the others stand on any position, good or bad, right or wrong. Knowing that there are differences should cause a concerned person to search even more carefully for the truth.

How did so much heresy creep into the Worldwide Church of God after the death of its founder in 1986? Was it not first taught from the ‘pulpits’? Was the congregation asked for their opinion or input? No! Weren’t we always taught to ‘trust’ in the church? Yes, undoubtedly! The WCG taught that Christ was the ‘Head’ of ‘His’ Church and that Christ had put doctrine into His church through an apostle, who was a man. It taught that God always worked through one man at a time. Questioning any teaching coming from headquarters was dangerous; and persistence would bring on the threat of banishment from the corporate ‘body’. (Yet, no man can banish you from the Body of Christ, if you are in it!) Such were the dangers that many of us have lived thru. Since false doctrines undeniably entered the church from the top, then what is to prevent that from happening in your current church organization (if you are in one)? Furthermore, the former method of ‘preserving unity’ not only didn’t prevent division; on the contrary, it fostered and promoted the malignant subterfuge, enabling it to eventually permeate the entire organization. So wouldn’t it be vitally important to employ a Biblical format that would prevent this kind of subtle deception from ensnaring you? This single understanding alone could determine whether or not you ‘endure’ to the end! 

The apostle Paul described the problems that the Corinthian church was having with its Sabbath assembles; and he specified the only Biblical solution. This totally forsaken admonition is ‘hidden’ in the “Tongues Chapter”, a chapter sure to be ignored except by the energetic “Pentecostal” churches. While I do expect that the “spiritual gifts”, which include speaking in tongues during Sabbath services, will make a come back as the end time approaches, that is not the topic at this time and much of the tongues commentary has been omitted from the following quotation.  

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy*. (NKJV unless noted)         

Note: “Desire”…“that you may prophesy!” Who was the letter to the Corinthians addressed to anyway? Was it to ‘the minister’ of the Church of God? Actually, it was to the congregation! 

I Cor. 1:2-10 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4  I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,5  that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,6  even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,7  so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,8  who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.10  Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Closed Door Policy?

By the time we get to 1 Cor. Chapter 14, we begin to see some very specific instruction for our weekly Sabbath assemblies. 

“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries…12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel…23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, (a Sabbath assembly) and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy*, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.  

These instructions forbid a closed door policy! A look into the scriptures actually reveals that the true Church of God should have what we have come to call, an “open door” policy – and that door should be wide open! Also, consider what is required to be “convinced” and “convicted” “by all”. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. (Have you ever heard of this happening in any of the congregations that you have been a part of? It isn’t even possible under the current ‘format’ that most of us are accustomed to!)  

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, EACH OF YOU has a psalm (special music), has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, (new understanding) has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification…29 Let two or three prophets speak (inspired speaking, not in tongues), and LET THE OTHERS JUDGE** (This is the key missing element in our Sabbath assemblies! There must be interactivity!)

  30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 FOR YOU CAN ALL PROPHESY* (“ALL” should “prophesy” {speak under divine inspiration}, not just the privileged few!) one by one, (again, every man!) that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits (spiritual discernments?) of the prophets are subject to the (other?) prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. 36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. (Haven’t we been ignorant of what the “commandments of the Lord” are relevant to Sabbath assembly protocol?) 39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy*, (This is both the opening and closing thought.) and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.”

And so it continues to ‘you’, the church, verse after verse, and not to a particular individual or minister. If there were a local ‘minister’ in charge of these people, then why would Paul have bothered writing to the ‘church’ at all? These problems would not, and could not have even existed, unless the ‘minister’ was a bad apple. But, if that were the case, then Paul would have either written to the ‘minister’, or replaced him. Thus, there was still no ‘need’ to write to the ‘church’, unless there was no minister at all in Corinth. Now, as a side note, consider what that Corinthian ‘church’ was to do on their own, without a minister to hold their hand. They were to: 

1)  Prophesy (vs.1,24)

2)  Speak in tongues [foreign languages] (vs.2,27)

3)  Interpret these languages (vs.5,28)

4)  Speak by revelation, knowledge, prophesying, or teaching (vs.6,29-31)

5)  Pray (vs.13-16)

6)  Sing psalms (vs.15,26)

7)  Bless with the spirit (v.16)

8)  Teach the uninformed (vs.16, 24)

9)  Give thanks (v.17)

10) Judge the words that were spoken (v.29)

Rather than use a word borrowed from the Catholic Church, I would prefer to use a straight forward term such as ‘teaching’, ‘lecture’ or ‘discourse’ to describe what takes place when a member of the body of Christ elaborates on what he has learned from studying the Holy Scriptures. The “Lecture on the Mount”, of Matthew chapters 5-7 is a good example of this. Jesus did not use the cold and formal approach of religious leaders.

Mat.7:28 “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,29 for He taught them as one having authority, and NOT as the scribes.”

Deep Sleep: Proof of a Sermon?

Acts 20:9 “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching <1256>, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft , and was taken up dead.” (KJV)

Many would emphasize that this is some of the best evidence validating the preaching of sermons, pompously assuming that Paul was giving one. A closer look at the word “preaching”, or ‘dialegomai’ in the Greek, reveals that the word can mean one of two things; and I think that we can readily eliminate the first possible meaning in this instance. The word itself should clue you in to where we got the English word for dialogue. Contrary to popular opinion, this is an example of Paul’s enthusiasm for having long interactive dialogues with his brethren! We have institutions for people who try to hold ‘dialogues’ with themselves.

Dialegomai:

1) to think different things with one’s self, mingle thought with thought

    1a) to ponder, revolve in mind

2) to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss

Harmony or Thought Suppression?

A facade of harmony appears to be present when only a few people are permitted to express their thoughts. Thought suppression easily takes place when speakers on a payroll preach the party line upon the threat of being fired. Likewise, the threat of being “excommunicated” (not for blatant sin - which is Biblical - but for thinking differently) keeps most others from saying anything. Paul clarified the conditions required for putting people out of the assembly and required it in this very epistle to the ministry. . .oops, I mean, to you -“the church”. I thought for years that my fellow churchgoers were all like minded until heresy was introduced and the scattering took place. Today, if you get the boot in one congregation, the group down the road will welcome you. After all, the feeling of most is that your previous group was ‘Laodicean’ anyway. One can never express a truly inspirational thought under the looming threat of an ever-present ax.

This situation is not at all what God intended. We should not put some individuals on a pedestal and consider only their opinions concerning God’s word. This is how “hirelings” and “yes men” are created. Men possessing Godly character will not make the compromises “necessary” to be put into, or keep, jobs requiring them to compromise their convictions, in order to conform to human leadership. Yet these indispensable convictions are all too often labeled as “insubordination”. The scriptural practices of 1 Cor.14, if they are ever implemented in the Churches of God, will certainly contribute to some lively debates! Safeguards of civility and orderliness would, of necessity, have to be implemented, also, as per Paul’s instruction: “40 Let all things be done decently and in order”. However, the principle of freedom of speech is a principle that God Himself established thru the founding fathers of the U.S. Similarly, every man in a congregation should be actively involved in doctrinal discussion. To be certain, heresies will arise, but they will be out in the open rather than being secretly introduced. Opposing viewpoints could quickly expose any slight of hand doctrinal alterations, while “new interpretations” would be given a fair hearing. After all, when iron sharpens iron, friction and heat are invariably involved.  

“For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.19 For there must also be factions (dissentions) among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” (1 Cor.11:18-19) 

It is far better to allow people to be sorted out by their beliefs than to pretend, for whatever reason, that differences do not exist! In this way, those who advocate the truth “may be recognized among you.”

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (2 Pet.2:1-2).  

If even one person were allowed to sound an alarm, in the hearing of the people, that a wolf has entered the flock, the sheep would be on alert!

Once I heard a minister say that the fellowship following “services” was just as important as the formal “service”. That would be a reference to the positive influence that each of us can have on our brethren, the personal encouragement, admonition, and council that the people who know you best can supply. …  

“Prove All Things” or Ask a Committee?

The admonition to “Prove all things” . . . that’s just for doctrinal committees, right? Actually the context of the statement to “prove” or “test” all things is directed specifically to the brethren! That’s right; an apostle said to check up on him in the scriptures.

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness…5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober…12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all…18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thes. 5)

Certainly there should be people employed to support and advance the work of the Church, but there are very specific limitations on these individuals. “Authority” is not something to be exercised except under dire circumstances! True ministers should be our servants, not people who lord it over the body.

The Olivet Prophecy, contained in Mat.24, given just two days before “the Son of Man” was “to be crucified” (Mat.26:2), is not a Biblical example of a sermon, rather, it was the result of a question asked of Christ. It is quite noteworthy that Jesus did not start this dialog until He “went out and departed from the temple” (Mat.24:1). Could this forbode something about the conditions in which learning would take place among His followers after His death? Presumably He could have revealed these astonishing things in the temple itself, since it was a Monday anyway, to add credence to the statements. Instead, He chose to walk away from the edifice that purportedly represented the worship of the Great God, choosing instead to sit on the Mount of Olives (part of His own creation) to reveal His summarization of the events pertaining to the end of this age.

Christ strictly avoided the formality of revealing His truths using accepted religious protocol. He spoke on mountainsides, He spoke on the seaside and He met with His followers in houses. When He was given an opportunity to speak in the synagogue, the brevity of His words spoke as loudly as what He said! Does this have a bearing on what a church is? Most professing Christians think first of buildings and ruling bodies of religious leaders when asked what a church is. Others, partially understanding the meaning of the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ (church), think that a ‘government approved’ and ‘duly incorporated’ body of believers is the church. That is just as much in error as the former error. According to the Online Bible Greek Lexicon, an ‘ekklesia’ - “church” - can mean “any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously”. This more infrequent application of the word stresses the wholly human connotation of the term. The more meaningful application of “church” to Christians is implied when the word precedes the words “of God”. Then the definition “the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth” is clarified. Specifically, it is a reference to the 144,000 commandment keeping saints who have lived since Adam. 

Are You a Priest?

We are a priesthood! Physical Israel was under a priesthood, but Spiritual Israel is a priesthood!

1 Peter 2:5 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…”

It seems as though all of the leading ministers of the Church of God are trying to see who is the “greatest”. Even among Christ’s hand picked men this was initially an issue.

Mark 9:33-35  “Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  

The difference is that the twelve disciples repented!

Matthew 20:25-27 “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.26  "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.27  "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.”

Matthew 23:8-15 "But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.10  "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.11 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.12 "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.15  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves”.

Should We “All Speak The Same Thing”?

Chances are good that the people preaching sermons to you are also telling you to “all speak the same thing” as they do! Does heeding the viewpoints of a minister gain you ‘points’ with God? Is that what it means to “all speak the same thing”? What if your minister’s opinion just happens to be right and your neighbor’s minister just happens to be wrong. Will God some day say to you: “Well done you good and faithful servant, because you just happened to listen to the right man, I will bless you more than your neighbor who just happened to listen to the wrong man?” Is this any different than the parable where the one son told his father: “Yes, I will do as you say”, but then didn’t bother, while the other son said in effect: “I will not obey you”, but after reflection, begrudgingly did follow his father’s instruction? Which prospective Son of God is right in this situation?

Many churches appeal to 1 Corinthians 1:10 for credibility as they require all of their followers to accept their viewpoints. “We must all speak the same thing”, they warn. The “same thing”, presumably being, that the “clergy” or “leader” or “leadership of the church" has the authority to determine for you what is supposed to be “the truth” and what is not “the truth”. Is this the position that God inspired Paul to explain or could this scripture mean something entirely different? Where is the opportunity to grow when you are always told what to do? 

Here is 1 Cor. 1:9-12 as rendered in the traditional KJV. 

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:10 is continually used by many, to defend their enforced tenets and creeds, and to reinforce the assertion that “lay” members are not qualified or even permitted to discuss the Bible among themselves, at least not without having a minister present, and that they should leave such matters to the “clergy”, preferably without questioning. Even in the Church of God (or should we say especially in the Church) such has been the practice.

Now let’s consider the Greek words themselves, ‘to auto lego pas’ (“all speak the same thing”), one by one. The word ‘auto’, does not have any meaning used alone. The word is made understandable by the context. ‘Auto’ primarily means “the same” or “self” but it can also mean “he”, “she” or “it” and related forms of these words. ‘Lego’ means “affirm over, maintain, to teach to exhort, advise, to command, direct”. ‘Pas’ means “all”. That word “thing” in the KJV is not actually present in the Greek. There is nothing to imply “thing” in the original text.

Now, let’s consider the context that “all speak the same thing” is used in. Verses 9 and 10 refer to Jesus and the saints’ relationship with Him. Verse 12 pertains to how some people “associated” with certain other people, rather than literally consulting Jesus own words. In reality, the context explains the exact opposite of what is generally taught! Paul taught that people are not to follow a man but rather that they must follow Jesus. The implication is that we are to follow the instructions of Jesus, rather than use any man as a mediator between Yahweh and ourselves in any sense of the word. With this in mind, verse 10 should be easier to comprehend. The actual meaning of Paul’s admonition was to persuade people to follow “Jesus”, and specifically that they “all” are to speak, or teach, what “Jesus” taught! This is, paradoxically, a prohibition against blindly following a “religious leader”! We can, and certainly should, learn from our brethren, but we are being judged by how we use our understanding of scripture rather than by how loyal we are to adhering to the judgments of others. It is our own judgment that God is primarily evaluating in this life. Your character is ascertained by the decisions you make, that is, what you decide to do in every circumstance in your life, especially in new situations that challenge your conscience.

You can absolutely never be certain that you understand a truth unless you are willing to evaluate other possible explanations of an issue. If you are afraid to consider another person’s beliefs, then you should ask yourself why. Are you afraid that you may become confused? If so, then you are conceding that you are not certain that you are right. Are you subconsciously afraid that another explanation may be the true perspective? What will Jesus have to say to you about that? Are you afraid to learn something new because you don’t feel that any truth that the “true church” does not yet understand could be of any value? The command to “prove all things” is valuable for many reasons; not the least of which is for your own peace of mind! Being taught to “never read dissident literature” is the backbone of religious mind control! The truth can set you free but only when you have proven the truth to be the truth. Fear of discovering that you may be wrong is cowardly and sinful! Notice the very first sin mentioned on this list: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev.21:8)

Undoubtedly, the words (“all speak the same thing”) refer to speaking the same things as “our Lord”. Paul was expounding against the dangerous present reality that people were following “the man of their choice”. This becomes evident if one swallows pre-selected collections of teachings without personally proving, to the very best of one’s ability, every aspect of what is being taught. Again, Paul’s entire point is that “all” must follow the words of “Jesus”. Believers are to look to our heavenly Father and to Jesus, and live by the written word of God. How can we “all speak the same thing” as Jesus if we are not “all” permitted to speak?

In 1 Corinthians 1:9, Paul pointed out that it is into Jesus’ spiritual assembly that believers are called, and not that of a corporation. God’s Assembly, His Church, is not divided into splinter bodies - separated by time and distance; rather the Church is the one true spiritual body of believers who are entirely loyal to their God. Our fellowship with the brethren is solely a result of our personal relationship with God. Never be deceived into thinking that your salvation is somehow assured because you keep good human company in a corporate church! Time and space may some day become irrelevant, but the bonds of kinship that have been developed among the true followers of Jesus Christ will last for eternity. Be sure that you are truly following directly in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.  

Lon Martin,

August 24, 2002  

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