James Street Church of Christ

So Also Is Christ

By Scott Klaft

Looking to stem the tide of religious ignorance and division, the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about the miraculous gifts around which they had been dividing:

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1st Corinthians 12:12)

Expanding on the parallels, Paul makes the point that each body part is important, fulfilling its function, even when it seems that some body parts are more vulnerable, less attractive, or not openly honored. God has designed, and positioned “the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (12:18 ).

The absurd notion that each body part could be an eye, and maintain the useful function of being a body (12:19), is so ridiculous so as not to require explanation. It is unfortunate that the parallel is not clearly understood that “so also is [the body of] Christ”. We cannot all be the “apostles… prophets… evangelists… pastors… [or] teachers”; which is why “some” were given shortly after the Lord ascended to His throne (cf. Ephesians 4:8-11), while others may have been something else to the body of Christ (cf. 1st Corinthians 12:28-30).

That notwithstanding, each body part must perform its function, or it begins to wither and die. There was a purpose for those miraculous gifts, and there was a purpose to those miraculous functions.

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:14, 15)

Each part working together allows the body to perform its function healthfully, and growing up, developing into spiritual maturity (cf. 1st Corinthians 13:11). But this only works when all body parts are working in the good works God has designed the body to accomplish:

“...which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15, 16)

Are we to say that because we are not the ‘preacher’, we have nothing to contribute to the advancement of the cause of the body? Are we to say that because what we do is less glamorous, we are not going to do anything at all?

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1st Corinthians 12:27). There is much work to be done, and few enough members of the body to do it. Every last seemingly insignificant thing you can contribute is absolutely necessary, appreciated, and encouraging to every other body part that is trying so hard to get the job done.

What are you contributing? What function do you provide? What would you do if a member of your body just stopped doing anything your head told it to do? Be careful that the Great Physician does not find a need to become the Great Surgeon in order to remove your part of the body lest it infect the other parts (cf. Mark 9:43-48 ).

But what if you are not yet a part of the body? Fear not, friends; He is able to “graft” us in as if we had always been there (cf. Romans 11:24). All we have to do is come to Him on His terms (cf. Acts 2:38 ), and find your function in the body, being obedient to the Head (cf. Hebrews 5:8, 9, Colossians 1:18 ). Then, let’s be about our Father’s business; “for so also is Christ.”

Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

By Scott Klaft

There is no doubt, Cain’s rather snotty and certainly contemptuous reply to God was filled with disrespect. Above whatever else we might notice, it was attached to a lie; he knew good and well where his brother, Able, was. Supposing he might get away with trying to hide his murderous heart from the Creator of all things, Cain sneered out this question as if to say, “Now you are going to oppress me with this expectation, that I must know the whereabouts of Able at all times?!”

The attitude of Cain’s heart in the rashness of the moment was on display as plain as the dirt on the ground. Yet, it was not the question itself that contained wickedness, but rather the subtext attached to it. The question is really rather interesting. The answer is neither yes, nor no; it is both yes, and no - which is why Jehovah did not take the time to parse it out for Cain’s education. Cain’s responsibilities toward Able, and God’s expectations, were not at issue at the time. The Lord has every right to bind or loose whatever responsibilities upon us that He deems is right and just, regardless of what Cain thought of it. Such a thing is not up for debate. It was what Cain took, forcibly took, from Able, from the human family, and ultimately from God that was of the main concern.

There is, of course, a sense in which we are all accountable for one another. We are to “[l]ook not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). “...if a man be overtaken in a fault” those who consider themselves “spiritual” are to “restore such an one” because to “[b]ear ...one another's burdens” is to “fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1, 2). Am I to be my brother’s keeper? Yes.

On the other hand, however, there is also a sense in which no one else will be, or even can be, accountable for me. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2nd Corinthians 5:10). In the judgment, we shall all face our deeds alone. I cannot answer for another person’s deeds. Am I to be my brother’s keeper? No.

But there is another sense in which some people are their brother’s keeper, and should not be. The word “keep”, as it is found in Acts 5:2 comes from the Greek word, nosphizo, and carries the idea “to set apart for one’s self.” Ananias and Sapphira “kept back” for themselves, attached their wickedness to a lie, and gained a sentence of death.

The same word is used in Titus, where Paul admonishes the preacher to “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again” (2:9); and he continues with the contrast, “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (2:10). “Purloining” is the same word, nosphizo, which, in this context has the idea of keeping a part of that which their ‘masters’ had entrusted to them. Whether it is from a First Century-perspective of master/ servant, or from the modern employer/ employee relationship, it is the opposite of adorning “the doctrine of God” to take that which does not belong to us. Whether grand larceny extortion, or taking office products for private use, it is an abuse of privileges, and it is stealing.

Under the Old Testament Law, a violation of “thou shalt not steal” brought an equal punishment. What Cain took for himself bought a life of misery and rejection. What Ananias and Sapphira kept back for themselves bought the removal of life entirely. Now, really… are those sticky notes and pens really worth it? When it comes to someone else’s things, don’t be your brother’s “keeper.”

-Scott Klaft

(231) 425-6564

sklaft@jamesstcoc.com

When Jesus came to this earth there were many religions already here. Jesus came to establish not just another religion, rather He came to establish the correct religion. Jesus debated and disputed everyday and almost with everybody, in fac...t we can read where many of His followers deserted Him because they did not like what He was saying (JN 6:66-67). Jesus also instructed His disciples to do likewise (teach the truth without compromise) and as we read the New Testament we can find where indeed His apostles and disciples would argue and debate, so much so that they would end up paying for it with their lives (Acts 7). In fact all of the apostles we can read about engaged everyone and everywhere in like manner. When needed they too would debate, dispute and argue. Here are a couple verses to illustrate the disputing and arguments (Acts 15, Acts 19:9, Gal 2:11-14, etc) *Notice in (Gal 2:11-14) it is the great apostle Peter which was publicly rebuked and exposed, Paul did not want what Peter was doing to be conceived by everyone else as an acceptable way, therefore he exposed the false way before them all.

Here is a religion that argued and disputed daily and regularly, in fact whenever they found anyone teaching anything that is false they would indeed stand and teach, dispute, argue and debate the cause of their religion. What was their religion…Christian! This is the religion of the New Testament. In fact we are taught, even commanded to dispute, argue, teach, expose and even contend for “The Faith” (Jude 3, 2Tim 4:1-5, etc).

What we have today in our society with all the differing churches is nothing even close to the original church which Jesus founded. Today we have a bunch of religious division…That is why we have so many different names and faiths…Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Jehovah’s Witness, etc, etc. Every different name means they have a different faith, one believes this way and another believes it a different way, hence we have divided differing religions, but remember Jesus came to establish the correct religion not a hodge-podge of differing religions all “claiming” to be Christian. When the truth is being taught and practiced then and only then, we will have peace and no disputing or debating.

Yet we know Jesus prayed and taught that we should not be divided (JN 17, 1Cor 1:10, etc). There are many religions that teach, you do not need to be baptized to go to heaven, some teach you must be baptized or you cannot go to heaven. Because of this differing opinion religious division occurs, one group says yes, another group says no, so they divide and create their own religion and call it a different name to depict their different beliefs, BUT all the while there is a truth taught about this subject in the Bible, and if everyone one would take some time to study and read about it, they could see what Jesus taught about it and even what He commanded about it. This would bring religious unity, not division. Going back to the Bible and honestly applying what it teaches would result in the RIGHT religion, the church of Christ (Rom 16:16). Going to the Bible which only teaches ONE way (Eph4:4-6) and not all of these differing ways of denominations, all claiming Christianity, but in truth they are divided and teaching differing doctrines and faith.

The Bible teaches there is ONE FIATH, ONE BAPTISM, and even ONE CHURCH (EPH 4;4-6). Not many faiths, baptisms and churches…Just ONE. This is why I and the true church we read about in the Bible address other religions, to show the difference between what they are teaching and practicing verses what the Bible (Jesus) taught us to teach and practice. No one would ever change if they thought they were right. Why change if you are right? But, if you realize there may be a problem and your religion may be wrong, then you may consider changing. If you are wrong, change you must! God condemns every false way (PSLM 119:104, MT 7:13, etc). No one will change until they see the difference between what they are doing compared to what the Bible teaches.

This is the plea of the church of Christ (notice the church of Christ, not some denominational name, notice you will never find any other “Christian religion” in the Bible, no Catholic, Baptist, Mormon,etc ), our plea is the same plea as Jesus, that we all may be one through the truth (Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; Joh 17:21 That they all may be one). Through the word (Bible) we can and should be ONE not many! This is why I address other religions, because I care enough to let folks know what the Bible truly does say. Just a mere mental accent of belief in Jesus is not enough, nor does this by itself save anyone, it is what we teach, practice, and live that makes us a Christian (John 17:17, John 8:31:32).

Ah, you ask what if I am wrong, what if I am teaching something in error. That is the whole beauty of being who I am, a TRUE Christian, I will change and get right. It is a win, win situation for me, if I am wrong I get right, if I am right I help others to get right and fulfill my obligations as a faithful member of Jesus church! Either way the Lord wins! I want all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth (1Tim 2:4).

If the religion you are a part of is the true ONE church, it should be doing the same thing the church of the Bible was doing, which is what the church of Christ does. Not arguing and debating for no reason, or just too argue and debate, to do so just to be contentious would be wrong (Rom 1:29). I want to help folks see what the Bible actually does teach about the One Church, One Faith and One Baptism because it is so ultimately important. There cannot be many churches, faiths and baptisms and this be right when the Bible there is only ONE.

I hope and pray this helps!

Steve Baisden, 231-425-6044

Make it plain upon the tables (Hab 2:2)

As Many As I Love

By Scott Klaft

During our offerings of song in worship, not just a few grins find their way to Christian faces when little ones put their energetic enthusiasm behind the words to the song, “Jesus Loves Me.” In fact, we all love those songs, and lessons, and biblical passages that remind us of God’s love. “Jesus loves me. This I know; for the Bible tells me so.” God’s word, the Bible, is the only reliable source of learning how God expresses His love, and whom He loves.

It is no accident that the most quoted and recognized passage in the Bible is an expression of God’s love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Jesus taught that God loves the entire world to the extent that He would send His Only Begotten to save it from perishing, and offer it everlasting life. It is God’s desire that every last person be saved (cf. 1Timothy 2:3, 4); and yet, the same Bible that expresses God’s matchless love also tells us that not all will be saved (cf. Matt. 7:21; 25:46; 2Pet 2; Jude, et. al.)

It is not a popular idea, but God has placed conditions upon that grace offered through His Only Begotten even though it has “appeared unto all men” (Titus 1:10). It is His desire that all be saved, but they must first come to repentance (cf. 2Peter 3:9). Biblical repentance involves a deeply felt sorrow for sin - Grk: metamalomai - as well as an intentional, deeply motivated change of thinking that would lead to change in lifestyle and behavior - Grk: metanioa - as both words are used and translated “repent” and “repentance” in 2nd Corinthians 7:10. These words not only indicate the motivation (the preaching and belief of the Gospel - Romans 1:16), but also that there must be a point of beginning for this change, this “newness of life”, which is baptism (Romans 6:4).

Does God love the whole world? Yes. Is it the case that God will save the world? No. Does God hold those who have fulfilled His conditions in a different love than the rest of the world? There is no doubt, when we consider that “...the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1Peter 3:12).

How is it that so many want to tell all about how Jesus loves them, but when the authority of Christ is against them, and it is brought to their attention, the man doing the work of a prophet is somehow “unloving”, “unkind”, and “un-Christ-like”? Maybe people do not really want Jesus’ love when it comes in the form of rebuke and chastisement. Maybe they have their own ideas about what love is, what love does, or how love is expressed. Maybe they have a different idea of who Jesus is, but the Bible, that shows Jesus loves me, also tells that He said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

Can You Bear It?

By Scott Klaft

“Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders” (Numbers 7:7 - 9).

Aside from being the specific reason why Uzzah would be struck dead when placing his hand on the toppling Ark of the Covenant (see 2Samuel 6:1-8 ), there is another lesson we should heed from the above passage. While others seem to be enjoying a bit of ease in their blessings of God, some of those given the preistly responsibilities of maintaining and caring for the sanctuary and all of its furnishings are bearing the burden upon thier shoulders.

Under the New Testament’s authority, however, there is no difference among God’s people; they are all not only priests but also part of the structure: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5). As the living stones of this spiritual house, each of us have a function and a solemn duty to perform it.

An interesting play on words, Paul juxtiposed the duties of serving in the New Testament’s sanctuary. In Galations 6:1, 2, the duty of “ye which are spiritual” is that of restoring those who are “overtaken in a fault”, because bearing “one another’s burdens” is fulfilling the “law of Christ.” In Galatians 6:3-5, he changes the focus off those who have been overtaken, and he places it squarly on those who are “spiritual”, telling us to “let every man prove his own work” and that “...every man shall bear his own burden.”

The burden placed upon the shoulders of the Christian is plainly given in the New Testament scriptures, and violations of its specific commands is as serious as it was for the sons of Kohath in the limited days of Uzzah. We need not think the Kohathites were unduly burdened, however, for such a service toward God was a great privilege. They were no longer under the unreasonable taskmasters in Egypt. They were free from that oppressive burden. What they were to bear upon their shoulders was a gift from God.

Such was a shadow of the good things to come in the New Testament, as through Christ, we become freed from an even greater burden, that of sin and death (cf. Romans 6:23). Casting off those bonds, and taking up the cross of Christ as our burden (cf. Luke 14:27) is a privilege and a great joy:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29, 30).

The burden of the cross to the Christian is the same as his Lord’s: “to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10), by providing them with the truth that sets us free (cf. John 8:32). The specifics are easily discovered in scripture, despite the hindrances of those who divide and denominate themselves.

Once faith, repentance, and obedience are obtained, the lightness of Jesus’ burden has been taken. The question then is, will you disregard the specifics, introduce new and shiny carts and end up like Uzzah at the first jostling of the road you trod, or will you shoulder that burden with love for God and determination to overcome all obstacles? Do you appreciate what God has done for you? What is your function here? Can You Bear It?

Various slogans have been employed by people in the past representing the idea of relying upon the truth of the Bible, not only generally, but in the very words we use when discussing religious matters.

 For example, "Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent," refers to the philosophical position that we require of men only what the Bible requires, and leave as a matter of option those things the Bible leaves optional. This position is certainly upheld by the Bible itself. When Jesus projected into the then-near future of how it would be Peter who would reveal the terms of entrance into His Kingdom, the Lord said,

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

What Jesus was referring to was the miraculous inspiration bestowed upon the apostles to flawlessly deliver the words revealed to them, accurately representing what had been declared from the Throne of Heaven. The literal rendering of the Greek words used in this verse is, "...and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall [already] be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall [already] be loosed in heaven."

It is through the pens of the apostles and prophets of the First Century that the knowledge they miraculously received has come to us today.  Looking retrospectively at how people did not know the Divine aim, or scheme for the redemption of mankind, and referring to it as a "mystery", Paul wrote:

"How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)" (Ephesians 3:3, 4)

The knowledge given to Paul is made known to us when we read his writings. As "ambassadors" (2Corinthinas 5:20) for Christ, the King, the apostles made known to us how true worshipers may worship God "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). This worship is revealed by them as containing five particular worshipful acts: 

1.) Praying (cf. 1Timothy 2:1-3)

2.) Singing (cf. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)

3.) Partaking of the Lord's Supper (cf. 1Corinthians 11:23 - 26; Acts 20:7))

4.) Contributing financially toward the work of the church (cf. 1Corinthians 16:1, 2)

5.) Preaching God's Word (cf. Acts 20:7;  2Timothy 4:1, 2)

They made known to us how to receive the "forgiveness of sins" (cf. Acts 2:38 ), the "newness of life' (cf. Romans 6:4), the "answer of a good conscience before God" (2Peter 3:21), and entrance into the body of Christ (cf. Acts 2:47; Galatians 3:27; 1Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22, 23), which is the church (Colossians 1:18 ), of which there is but one (Ephesians 4:4).

They have revealed to us the structure of each individual congregation, having qualified elders (1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) properly appointed in a plural number (cf. Acts 14:23), and having the "rule"among the congregation where they attend (cf. 1Peter :1-4; Hebrews 13:7 & 17). The deacons, preachers, and teachers among them all have their particular work as appointed by, and subordinated to, the leadership of the elders - of which work, we shall not now endeavor to detail here. 

They made known to us the superiority of the spiritual over the physical (cf. Galatians 6:8; 1Timothy 4:8 ), the end of the authority in the Law of Moses (cf. Hebrews [the entire book]; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 3:14); and yet, the value of learning from the Old Testament (cf. Romans 15:4; 1Corinthians 10:6-11).

It is an unfortunate circumstance that, as time passes, a language still in use by a society tends to grow, develop, and change with each successive generation. The English language has been greatly influenced by biblical terms and phrases, but over time people have removed so much from its context, that they have cause the words and phrases to mean something entirely different than what the Bible originally said. This is why slogans pleading for a standard upon which believers may have unity have been used, such as, "Call Bible things by Bible names, and do Bible things in Bible ways."

This is another philosophical position that is upheld by the Bible. God, who is not subject to the limitations of time, foresaw Man's tendency to lose track of the meaning of words in a living language, and by means of unrevealed providence, He engraved the words of scripture into a language that is no longer in use (i.e. a dead language), and preserved it through the ages (cf. Matthew 24:35).

The "common" Greek used in the First Century, when the original manuscripts were penned, is highly specific in its meaning, and highly accurate in its expression. This is why, when determining the truth of the matter, we refer back to the original language to get the most accurate sense. For reasons of brevity, we will not here take the space to explain in detail, but we believe the King James Version/ translation of the Bible is the most reliable English version available. Comparison study, and a thorough examination, however, cannot be replaced by one translation; a translation is the work of human beings, and is therefore subject to mistakes and inaccuracies.

Endeavoring to preserve the truth of God's word in the minds of honest individuals, we insist that we put away colloquial expressions, and accommodative words or phrases that might be in popular use in favor of God's intended meaning for those words as He used them in the scriptures. This is obedience to the command given through Peter:

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1Peter 4:11)

In conclusion, let it be said that this short article cannot begin to represent all of our stances on every subject. We are happy to respond to specific questions, but this was intended to show something different. When we take a stand, reproving a doctrine, rebuking a person, it is not a conflict of individual personalities. We are not saying it of our own authority. It's the Bible, not me.

-Scott Klaft

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-Scott Klaft