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| Volume 25 Number 2 February 2023 |
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| Volume 25 Number 2 February 2023 |
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Louis Rushmore, Editor
There were two categories of Jewish sects anciently: religious and political (McClintock and Strong). Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes were examples of Jewish, religious sects, whereas Zealots and Herodians were examples of Jewish, political sects. All together, “there were 24 sects in Israel” (qtd. by Weiss). It is no wonder that early on the Roman Empire mistakenly viewed Christianity as a Jewish sect (number 25) when Jews and Christians were expelled from Rome (Acts 18:2), and even the Jewish sects supposed that Christianity was the newest Jewish sect (Acts 24:5; 28:22). Incidentally, the Greek word translated “sect” is often translated “heresy” (Acts 24:14; 1 Corinthians 11:19; Galatians 5:20; 2 Peter 2:1), owing to the meaning of the word, “division.”
The sectarian or divisive mentality characteristic of first century Judaism likewise infected early Christianity, too (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). Sadly, the divisive attitude characteristic of Judaism at the time of our Lord’s ministry and later common during the time of the apostle Paul’s ministry is rampant among both denominational people (or sectarians) and God’s people today as well. The multiple sects or divisions within the churches of Christ in modern times is hardly a secret from any informed person, non-Christian or Christian.
My point is this. Passages in the New Testament that criticize sectarianism apply to God’s people or Christians first and before they apply to any other groups. Yes, Scripture that condemns sectarianism applies in principle to denominational churches, too, but those verses were spoken originally to God’s people. Therefore, they apply to God’s people today also, and by extension, they apply to non-Christians as well.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees, for instance, had made unauthorized alterations to God-given Judaism to correspond to their opinions. The seriousness of this sectarianism is evident in the context of one of our Lord’s discourses. “But in vain they do worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men… Every plant, which My heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up” (Matthew 15:9, 13 NKJV). Do those words apply to denominations? Yes, they do. However, they apply to the churches of Christ first!
Christianity is difficult enough without anyone, irrespective of how sincerely, making any unauthorized alterations of this God-given religion (Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19). Unable to practice sinlessly and perfectly every precept of Christianity, nevertheless, we must obey the Gospel or the Faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26; Hebrews 5:8-9) and continue to obey the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Then, God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8) and mercy (Titus 3:5) will make up the difference between our imperfect obedience and the righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) we need to be greeted kindly at the Judgment (Matthew 25:21).
Works Cited
McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia. Electronic Database. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2000.
Weiss, R. A. Jewish Sects of the New Testament Era. Electronic Database. Cedar Hill, Texas: Cross Talk, 1994.
Success or Failure?
Rodney Nulph
How is success in life measured? Different endeavors usually have different standards for obtaining and calculating success. For example, a hunter is usually thought of as successful if he harvests the animal that he seeks. Materially, a person is deemed successful if he has a good salary, a nice house and many nice things. A sports figure is successful if he or she has many wins and leads the pack in his or her given game. A “church” is usually seen as successful if the parking lot is full, the building is inundated with people at every service and activities are always going on. While I can certainly understand the draw to gauge success in the above-mentioned ways, there is more to the story than meets the eye. For example, a hunter who relishes nature may be successful by simply seeing a distinctive animal track or hearing a unique animal sound. Materially, a person who loves what he does for a living, who is quite content with the place where he lives and who is thankful to have a few things in this life may be more successful than a millionaire. You see, success and failure are not always easy to define. This is especially true in the realm of religion. What may seem successful to man may actually be deemed failure from God’s viewpoint. So, then, what makes a congregation of God’s people successful in His eyes?
Congregationally, success is not seen in people but in a Person. If Jesus is not lifted up and exalted in the church, a full building with influential members and loads of activities means nothing! Like the Greeks in the first century, we should desire to see only Jesus (John 12:20-21). The only lasting drawing power religiously is Him. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32 NKJV). Sadly, this fact is easily forgotten today in some congregations. Paul reminded that Christ is the Head of the church and that Jesus must have the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18). “Preeminence” comes from a Greek root word meaning “first.” Since Jesus is the first in rank (i.e., the Captain, Hebrews 2:10), He also should have the first or the best place in the church. There is but one Person of real significance in the church, and that is Jesus our Lord. Successful congregations recognize the main Person.
Congregationally, success is not seen in a program but in passion. Passion is burning zeal that characterizes each endeavor. About what are we truly passionate? What is the number one desire and effort of a successful congregation? For Jesus, His passion, His entire focus, was clear, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). It is easy to become passionate about everything except for the main thing. For a congregation, the main thing must always be to do the Father’s will. Just prior to His ascension back to the throne room, Jesus delineated the passion that was to characterize His people. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). There is no other true passion for a successful congregation!
Congregationally, success is not seen in the popular but in the preserved. Many times, “religion” has been reduced to what feels good instead of what is good. The preserved Word of God is what must be honored and preached if a congregation is to be successful in the eyes of the Almighty. There is a seemingly dangerous trend in some congregations to steer away from doctrine and lean more on motivational discourses. Many have simply forgotten that God’s power to save comes from the pure Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). Watering down what God has preserved to be more appealing to mankind is to become repulsive to God. “Thus says the Lord” must be what guides and leads a successful congregation. I am certain that the majority of people will not like the preserved Word of God (Matthew 7:21-23). In their eyes, preaching and teaching the unadulterated truth is just not what leads to success. Yet, nothing could be farther from the truth. A congregation that is viewed as successful in God’s eyes is not concerned with what is popular but rather with what has been preserved!
It is not the biggest building, it is not the most active associates, and neither is it a plethora of programs that deems a congregation of God’s people a success. Success is a result of understanding the church is all about a Person – the Savior, the church is all about a passion for souls, and the church is all about respecting what has been preserved – the Scriptures. Success or Failure? Let God answer!