The Church No. 2
The Church No. 2 THE CHURCH—No. 2
G. C. Brewer
It has just been announced that the subjects selected for the lectures this year have to do with the bulwarks of society: the home, the Bible, and the Church. I have endeavored to discuss the subject of the Church in such a way as to bring out this phase of the work of the Church. Just ten years ago I delivered three lectures from this platform on the subject of the Church. They are now found in the volume of the Abilene Christian College Lectures for 1934. The lessons this year on the same subject are therefore handled in a very different way. This morning we considered the Church as founded upon a rock. The sermon was largely an expository lesson based upon Matthew 16:13-20. The fact that the Church is founded upon a rock is within itself proof that the Church is to stand through the storms and tempests of time. The forces of evil will never prevail against it.
Those who say that the antecedent of the pronoun “it” is found in the verb “will build,” think that if we make the noun “Church” the antecedent of the pronoun, we espouse the doctrine of perpetuity, and they think that the forces of evil did prevail against the Church during the dark ages. Ifn the sermon this morning, we tried to point out the fallacy of this reasoning, but we wish to say tonight that those who make this explanation of the passage do not gain anything by their construction of the sentence, for there are other scriptures which clearly teach that the Church cannot be destroyed but that it will stand forever.
We remind you of Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the
sovereignty shall not be left to another people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” We all believe that the kingdom here forseen by Daniel is the kingdom in which Christ now reigns. It is the kingdom that was set up on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). This kingdom is to stand forever. Instead of being destroyed, it was to break in pieces and consume those other kingdoms represented in the image of Daniel’s vision. It becomes the aggressor in this conflict and it is to be victor in the end. Again, let us be reminded of what Paul says in Hebrews 12:28, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” This passage shows that these Hebrew Christians were then in possession of the kingdom and that this kingdom is never to be shaken; that it is immovable.
It was because these Hebrew Christians were in the enjoyment of this kingdom which could never be des-troyed that they were called upon to worship God with reverence and awe. And we, in this age, can easily see how such a consideration would be conducive to worship in that spirit, for in the midst of revolutions, wars and upheavals we are reminded that the kingdoms of this earth must all pass away. We see them falling around us and we see death, dilapidation and decay written upon everything that belongs to time and earth. How inspirational, then, it is to realize that we are citizens of a kingdom that can never be moved! As a corollary proposition we must see, too, that this point forever refutes the idea tjiat Christ is yet to set up another kingdom, for if the present kingdom, which is immovable, must be taken out of the way in order to give place for that imaginary kingdom that some men think is yet to come, we are forced to the absurd conclusion that the kingdom which cannot be moved will have to he moved out of the way and the other kingdom set up, or else this kingdom will remain and the other kingdom exist with it and therefore we will have two kingdoms of different natures both existing at the same time. Such a view cannot be accepted and it is unworthy of a serious Bible student.
Having added this point to the conclusion we reach ed this morning that the Church has never been destroyed and will never be destroyed, we are now ready to consider some advanced thoughts for the sermon tonight We may see what the work of the Church is by considering the figures of speech under which it is presented It is called:
1. A House—Even the Apostle Peter, who never used the word Church at all, tells that we as living stones are built up a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:5) We compose the house which is built of living stones. The writer of Hebrews says that Moses was faithful in his house as a servant but that Christ is Lord over his house, whose house we are (Hebrews 3:6). Here again, we see that Christians compose the house of God over which Christ as Son and Lord presides, but we are told definitely that this house is the. Church (1 Timothy 3:15), “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” The Church being the house of God, we should think of what a house is for. A house is a dwelling place; it is a place of residence. That is just what the Church is. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the. chief corner stone; in whom. all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in w'hom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit’’ (Ephesians 2:19-22). Here we are plainly told that we are. builded together for a habitation of God. God through the Spirit dwells in his house which is his Church. When he entered the earth, God left it and he has never lived on this earth since that time except in hallowed places or sanctified temples. Back in the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, there were certain appointed places where these men worshipped God. When Jacob, the wanderer, had awakened from his night of dreaming, he said, “Surely this is none other than the house of God and the very gate of heaven.” He set up a stone and called it “Bethel.” The Hebrew word “Beth” means house and “El” means God, hence “Bethel” was the house of God. This was in an open field but it became a sanctified spot and there men worshipped God.
Later in the history of God’s people, the tabernacle was erected and this was the place where the people met God. The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. There the High Priest went to atone for their sins and there God’s presence was manifested by the Glory that filled the sanctuary. The Holy Shekina abode in that place. Later on, when the Israelites had come into the Land of Promise and had possessed it, they built a Temple in Jerusalem and this was the place where God recorded his name and where the people had to come to offer worship unto Jehovah. From all parts of the then known world, the Jews journeyed to Jerusalem at least three times each year to worship God. In this age of the world, God has no specified spot to which men must go for wrorship, but he nevertheless has a house in which he dwells and through which worship must be offered to him. This house is built of spiritual stones and is therefore a spiritual building. The worship is also a spiritual worship. “But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24) And (Philip- pians 3:3) : ‘‘For we are the circumcision, which worship God :n the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” God dw’ells in this spiritual house and those who come into union with him must enter this house in order to enjoy this union and fellowship. If God lives on the earth at all in th's age, he lives in his Church. If God is in Abilene, he is here in his Church. Those who would find him and enjoy him must enter into this house, this family, or this Church. From this consideration we must surely see that influence the Church would have in any community or upon any society. To have God dwelling in our midst should be a certain guarantee that righteousness reigns and that holiness is apparent in that place. Thus, as we saw this morning that evil cannot prevail against the Church, we see now that the church becomes the aggressor and that evil is defeated and driven out by the very presence of God’s Church in a community. In writing to the seven Churches of Asia, the. Lord, spoke of some of those places as the location of a syna-gogue of Satan or as a place where Satan’s throne is. “I know thy works, and tribulation and poverty (but thou aH rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9 and Revelation 2:13). “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” The fact that Satan had a dwelling at these cities proved that the places were excessively evil and that the opposition to the people of God was bitter and determined, but these churches, some of them, were praised for holding fast under such a situation. Christ was there with his churches which are represented as lamp stands and as long as he was present, their light could not be extinguished. All of this speaks volumes for the church as a bulwark of society. In the fact that Satan dwelt in a place proved that it was wicked, conversely if God lives in a place it must be a holy place.
2. The Pillar and Grovnd of the Truth.
In the passage which has already been cited (1 Timothy 3:16) Paul tells us that the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth. It should be observed that this word is not pillow—something on which men may go to sleep—but is pillar, which means the foundation upon which the truth rests. The Church must stand under and uphold the truth and we have the language of Jesus to the effect that the truth will make men free (John 8:32). The Church must, therefore, support that truth that will make men free (John 8:32). The Church must, therefore, support that truth that will enlighten the heart of men and lead, them out of the bondage of sin. It must stand immovable in its position on every question of decency or civic righteousness. The forces of law and order in any city or community must know that they can rely, without question, upon the Church as supporting their efforts. The pulpit of any Church that rings with an uncertain sound on any question of morality needs a change of preachers. The Gospel preacher must cry aloud and spare not; he must condemn sin in high places and low places. No Gospel preachers should become involved in politics but when politicians include moral issues in their platforms, they must count on the support of every preacher or other Christian in these points. If politicians advocate that which is immoral and destructive of decency, then they must count on every Gospel preacher in the world as a foe that will fight them to the death. Gospel preachers must not compromise a principle or evade an issue because some men who are interested in party politics may condemn the preacher for his stand. The truth for which he stands was here before any such politicians were born and it will continue to be here when all “crooked” politicians have gone to perdition. With a Church supporting and upholding a plain, positive message of truth divine, it is easy to see what a bulwark for decent society such a Church is. The work of the Church is presented even without a figure of speech in the inspired word—it is taught in plain language. Hear this: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God, acording to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:8-11) And again: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abun-dantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21). From these quotations we learn that the manifold wisdom of God is to be made known through the Church even unto the principalities-and powers. The Church is God’s missionary society and the only one that God recognizes or will own. He has ordained that through his Church men must see the manifold— many kinds of wisdom of God. The establishing of the Church in the earth is a manifestation of the wisdom of God, and then it is the mission of the Church to proclaim and declare the wisdom of God. “Wisdom” does not mean merely “commandments.” To preach the Gospel, therefore, is not merely to announce exactions which God makes upon men: not just to lay down laws and demand obedience: not to enumerate duties and impose obligations and threaten damnation if men do not hearken and by dent of will-power and perseverance force themselves to fit the pattern: There can be no Gospel—as glad tidings—in that sort of message. God’s wisdom and God’s love must be declared and emphasized: God’s wisdom in leaving men in darkness and allowing them to try to find him by searching only to discover that such efforts are futile (Job 11:7; 1 Corinthians 1:21), and then to manifest himself through inspired preaching that men may walk by faith: God’s wisdom in allowing men to try to save themselves by law that they might know by experience that all such efforts result in failure (Romans 7; Galatians 3; Hebrews 8), and then see themselves in need of divine mercy. Then God in grace and mercy steps into the breach and saves man through the death of his own Son, that man may never boast or claim any credit for himself or his own efforts. These are the points in the Divine wisdom in which we are most concerned, but that wisdom is manifold and the reverent student may be continually learning things new and marvelous and preaching them to men.
"The Church is a glorious Church” (Ephesians 5:27) and its glory comes from Christ and it must in turn give glory unto God through Christ. Any religious activities and works of benevolence that are not done in and through the Church may bless humanity in some ways but they do not give glory to God through the Church. Therefore those who do such works must look to men and not to God for their reward. Such works of altruism and benevolence when done in the name of Christ, through his Church, both bless humanity and glorify God, and those who do them receive the gratitude of men and the blessing of God.
3. A Lighthouse—Jesus told his disciples that they were the light of the world and the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13-16).
We know that salt is used for the purpose of preserving and saving things from decay. As salt, Christians are to be saving power in the earth. Their presence may preserve a city or a nation from destruction and their influence may save men from evil and even save them for eternity. As a light, Christians are to dispel, through their lives and their teaching, the darkness of error, superstition and sin. They are, therefore, to let their light shine in order, that men may see their good works. When we report the work that we hope to do in matters of missions in the post war world and when we tell of the plans that we are now trying to put through for such an effort, we are sometimes accused of boasting. But, such an accusation should not discourage earnest Christians. If, by letting their light shine in this manner, they are causing men to see their own good works, they are doing exactly what our Savior teaches us to do. If we call attention to our works and our plans for the purpose of getting the praise of men for ourselves, then of course, we have a sinful motive and we deserve to be condemned. But, if our purpose is to let men see our good works in order that they may glorify God, then we are scriptural and right in this so-called “boasting” and we should pay no attention whatever to any criticism that may be made against us.
Paul says that we not only shine as lights, but that we hold forth the ivord of life. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world: holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that If have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” (Philip- pians 2:12-16)). Here the apostle contemplates Christians as dwelling among such evil people as that the light is gone and darkness broods over the earth, but in this darkness, Christians will shine as lights that men may see their way by the light that radiates from the Christians in their community. He also visualizes Christians as torch bearers holding aloft a light by which men may see. This light is the word of life which must be held high by Christians. We may think, too, of these torches standing on the shore of the ocean of life. Men who are lost in the great deep, when the darkness is so great that no star appears by which they may navigate the seas, may eventually sight the light on the shore and be guided to safety.
In the sweet long ago, when I was a student at Kimberlin Heights, Tennessee, under Ashley S. Johnson, we used to sing a song that was a great favorite with Brother Johnson. He called for it at every Prayer Meeting Service. The refrain of that song, as I recall it, said:
“The lights along the shore That never grow dim,
Never, never grow dim,
Are the souls that are aflame With the love of Jesus’ name.
And they guide us, yes they guide us unto him.”
If all the Churches of the land were genuine in their faith and in their lives, what a power for good they would be in these dark days of sin and war. If all Christians were aflame with the love of Jesus’ name and were pressing the battle against sin, we could conquer even in our own generation. If we could cease fighting each other and free our hearts from jealousy and envy and be filled with the spirit of God, the cause of righteousness would flow on like a mighty river across the world to eternity. If we would unite our forces, we should have an invincible army for truth and for salvation. If we would touch elbows and form a circuit for the regenerating power of the Gospel, we would all, ourselves, feel a thrill of joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. There are enough Churches in Texas and enough wealth in those Churches to envangelize the world in this generation. If we would purify our hearts and consecrate our wealth to the honor of God, and to the use of his Churches, we could send he Gospel like a belt of golden glory ’round the earth. May the Lord help us to catch the vision and to make the effort, Amen.