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In this chapter I would like to cover a number of miscellaneous matters pertaining to the Body. The first concerns doctrine.
Doctrine is not necessarily a negative thing, for the Bible is composed of doctrine. However, we need to differentiate between the two classifications of doctrine. The first class contains those doctrines that are not divisive, whereas the second class includes the doctrines that are divisive. Certain doctrines, those which constitute our faith, are basic. However, there are many other doctrines that are not basic.
Our faith is constituted with certain basic doctrines. First, we all must believe that God is one yet triune—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Anyone who does not believe that God is uniquely one yet triune is in error. This doctrine of God is not divisive; rather, it is basic, and all Christians must believe it. Second, we all must believe that our God became incarnated in the Son. This means that the Son of God became incarnated as a man. Anyone who does not believe this cannot be saved. Third, we all must believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnated as a man, lived on earth and died on the cross for our sins to secure our redemption. On the third day He was resurrected from the dead both physically and spiritually, and today He is our Savior, our Lord in resurrection, and our life. If we believe in Him, our sins are forgiven, He comes into us as our life, and we are regenerated. All the regenerated ones are the unique church. In whatever locality they reside, they are the local expression of the universal church. Finally, all the saints in the churches are waiting for the Lord Jesus to come back to receive them to Himself. These are the basic doctrines, the doctrines that constitute the saving faith, the doctrines we must believe in order to be saved. Because every sound, genuine believer holds these basic doctrines, they are called the common faith (Titus 1:4). There is hardly any argument among saints regarding them.
In addition to these basic doctrines, the Bible contains many other doctrines. Although these other doctrines are necessary and important, they are not the basic doctrines that constitute the faith. From the time of the Reformation until today, a great many divisions have come into being. Nearly all these divisions have been caused by different doctrines. Not one division was created by a basic doctrine, for none of the basic doctrines divides the saints. The divisions have been caused by the various divisive doctrines. Thus, we must be careful regarding this. We in the Lord’s recovery insist upon the basic doctrines that constitute the faith. If anyone does not hold to these basic doctrines, he is not a genuine believer, and he is not saved. However, apart from the basic doctrines, we do not insist on any other doctrines. Are things such as speaking in tongues, pray-reading, foot-washing, and calling on the name of the Lord basic doctrines? Certainly not. None of these doctrines constitutes the faith. Whether or not you practice speaking in tongues, pray-reading, or calling on the name of the Lord does not affect your salvation. As long as you believe that God is one yet triune, that the Son of God was incarnated as a man, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, that He was resurrected on the third day, and that He is coming again, you are saved and you are a member of the church. Someone may never pray-read or speak in tongues; yet if he has the common faith, he is saved. But if you do not believe the basic doctrines, you are not saved, even if your feet have been washed a thousand times.
To take another example, the doctrine of the kingdom is not a basic doctrine in the Bible. Some Brethren teachers say that the kingdom has been suspended, but the Bible reveals that the kingdom is here today. The young people must be warned not to go out and teach this particular view of the kingdom as a local church doctrine. Furthermore, the matter of exercising the spirit is not a basic doctrine. I am concerned that some of the young ones may insist that others believe that the kingdom is here today and that all others must pray-read, call on the name of the Lord, and exercise their spirit. If the young people do this, they will be sectarian. We should not insist on any of these things.
Recently, a brother told me that a few saints are concerned that the churches using the Life-study messages may become Life-study message sects. We have no intention of forcing the churches to use the Life-study messages. If they do not have the appetite for these messages, they should not use them. Using them, however, does not make the churches a sect any more than eating chicken or drinking milk makes us sectarian. We eat and drink when we are hungry. It should be the same with respect to the Life-study messages. Any church that does not use the Life-study messages is still a church.
It is the same with pray-reading or calling on the name of the Lord. If you do not feel the need to pray-read, then do not try to do it. No one will exclude you because you do not care to pray-read.
Likewise, if a church is very sleepy and sloppy, it is still the church. If those in a particular church believe that all Christians will be raptured at the same time, they are still the church. But others, including me, believe that the overcomers will be raptured first, whereas the defeated ones will pass through the great tribulation. However, those who believe that all Christians will be raptured at the same time and those who believe that the overcomers will be raptured first are both part of the church. It is not the case that those who believe in the early rapture of the overcomers are the church and that those who believe in the simultaneous rapture of all Christians are not the church. Whether a church is sober or sloppy, it is still the church.
We should not insist on any doctrines apart from the doctrines that constitute the faith. However, we still need to know the pure Word and walk according to it. We do not want to be sloppy or loose or remain under the influence prevailing among today’s Christians. I hope that we all can differentiate between these two categories of doctrines. The local church is built upon the oneness according to the Spirit and according to the locality. It is absolutely not built on doctrines, such as the doctrines concerning the kingdom of the heavens, pray-reading, or the exercise of the spirit.
Now I wish to say a word concerning the leadership in the local churches. Among us there is no self-assumed authority. It is a shame for anyone among us to assume authority or to desire to be a leader. In Matthew 20:25-27 the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you shall be your slave.” Anyone who desires to be great should serve the saints as a slave. The church is different from the world. In the world the kings rule over the people, but in the church the highest ones must be slaves. All the elders must be the servants of the churches. If anyone desires to assume authority or to have a certain rank or position, that is a shame. The most shameful thing is the seeking of rank, position, or title. This is a shame not only to the person seeking it but to the whole recovery. Our spirit must reject and condemn this seeking for position. Paul may be considered the greatest apostle, but he was one who labored as a slave to serve the churches and to take care of them. According to the New Testament, the elders are not those who assume authority for themselves; on the contrary, they are the serving ones, the laboring ones. We all must be clear that among us we do not agree with the seeking of rank, position, or title. Rather, we must forsake this shameful practice.
We have seen one aspect of the matter of authority, and now we must consider another aspect. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey the ones leading you and submit to them.” Three times in Hebrews 13 there are references to the leading ones (vv. 7, 17, 24). We thank the Lord that in His recovery He has given us a number of leading ones. The elders are leading ones, those who take the lead. The elders must take the lead in everything, including the cleaning of the restrooms in the meeting hall. An elder should not give orders and expect the saints to work as slaves in cleaning the meeting hall. If one of the elders feels that the restroom needs to be cleaned, he should take the lead to clean it. When the saints see what the elders are doing, they should follow them. To obey is to follow, to submit to the one leading. However, this definitely does not mean that the elders are rulers and that all the saints are subjects submitting to them. This concept is utterly wrong. Rather, the elders, the leading ones in the church, should take the lead. But once the lead has been established, there is no need for the elders to continue doing that particular thing. Some elders enjoy giving orders to others without doing anything themselves. Other elders like to do everything themselves. Even if they clean a restroom, they prefer to do it alone, not allowing others to share in this task. Thus, the elders may either give orders and do nothing, or they may do everything themselves. Instead of either of these extremes, the brothers should set an example, establish the lead, and then leave the matter to the saints and allow them to do it. In item after item the elders need to do this.
When the elders are taking a proper lead, the saints should not merely say, “Praise the Lord for the diligent elders who do everything for us! They sweep the yard, vacuum the carpet, and clean the restrooms. There is nothing left for us to do but enjoy the Lord.” Sometimes the saints may even criticize or condemn the elders. Certain saints do not want to do anything. They prefer to let the elders do everything. This is abnormal. The elders should take the lead humbly and set an example, and all the saints should follow them. If the elders clean the meeting hall or mow the lawn, the saints should do the same. This is what the Bible means when it says for us to obey the leading ones and to submit to them. If the elders set an example and establish the lead and the saints follow them, the Lord’s testimony will spread, and all the saints will be brought into function. This is the correct understanding of leadership in the New Testament.
According to the New Testament, there are no rulers and subjects in the church. Rather, we all are brothers (Matt. 23:8). In the New Testament to rule means to take the lead, and to be under the rule means to follow the lead and submit to the lead. This is the kingdom of the heavens on earth today. It is vastly different from any earthly empire or administration. In the practice of the church life, some take the lead and set an example and then the saints follow. Among us, there is no hierarchy.
Furthermore, in the church life we all need to learn not to teach differently (1 Tim. 6:3-5). Anything that causes dissension or division or creates differing opinions must be avoided. We need to go on according to the healthy teaching and not be sick about “questionings and contentions of words” (v. 4). Because we are all for the recovery, we should not teach differently. We are not for doctrines that may stir up opinions about things such as the rapture or the kingdom. Although I teach regarding these things, I do not encourage you to argue with others about them. If anyone wants to argue, you should simply say, “Brother, you just believe according to your way. That is not a problem to me. However, I have a different belief about the rapture.” There is no need to argue with anyone. Be at peace with others, and do not create an atmosphere that leads to debate or controversy regarding doctrine.
As we have pointed out, we should not insist on pray-reading or calling on the name of the Lord. Some may come who love the church and have seen something concerning the church, but who may not feel positively about pray-reading or calling on the Lord’s name. Therefore, you should not force them to do this. Wait until they feel the need for it. For example, I may have a gold watch, and someone else, a toy watch. My grandchildren may prefer a toy watch to a gold watch. If I take their toy watch away from them, they will be very unhappy and cry. I have learned to wait until they grow. Eventually, when they have grown, they will appreciate my gold watch. Do not argue with others. Instead, wait, keep quiet, and let them grow. Let them play with their “toy watch” until they are ready for a different kind of watch.
There is no need for unification in the churches. Perhaps one church may practice pray-reading, and another church may not. Do not endeavor to make the churches the same. The church life is not like an army or school; it is like a family. Some churches may be like the children in the family. But there is no need to argue with a childish church. Rather, we should treasure such a church, for it is so new and so fresh, yet so childish. Do not try to make other churches the same as yours. To do that is to pluck up a tender sprout and cause it to die. Leave the sprout in the earth and let it grow. Perhaps the church in your locality has been growing for a number of years and has reached a high standard. However, another church may not have come to that standard. Other churches may be rather sickly. However, whatever the case, do not uproot it. Instead, you should nourish it. Any attempt to unify the churches is wrong.
Furthermore, in any particular church we should not try to unify the saints. If you do this, you will get into difficulty. The fleshly mentality wants everyone and everything the same. It does not like to see the naughty young ones jumping and making noise. But a healthy family is a noisy family. In a normal family the children are playing and making noise. Some of the children may be crying, and some of the naughty boys may even be fighting with each other. This is a normal, healthy situation. A number of times in the churches certain ones came to me and accused each other in my presence. However, I justified everyone and said, “I justify you because you are at the age for fighting. If you do not fight, then you must be sick.” I have learned this lesson from my grandchildren. If they are not naughty, it must be that they are ill. Whenever they are too quiet, I wonder what is wrong with them. The elders need to learn not to take sides. Instead, they should justify all those who are fighting and leave them alone. The more they fight, the more they will eat; the more they eat, the more they will grow; and the more they grow, the more they will fight. This is a cycle. The fighting helps the eating, the eating helps the growing, and the growing in turn helps the fighting. All the young ones grow in this way. This may frighten some of the older ones, but this is the way the young people grow.
This does not mean, however, that any should be dissenting. Although you may fight with someone, you should still love him because you are both in the same church. We love one another because we are in the same recovery, in the same testimony. Quite often I have surprised the elders in certain churches by telling them that there is no need for them to condemn certain things. Do not try to unify the church and make everyone the same. The old people are the old people, the young people are the young people, and the naughty ones are the naughty ones. No matter how hard you try, you can never make the girls into boys or the boys, girls. All boys will be naughty, and all girls under the age of ten will be nice. The nicest children are girls under ten, and the naughtiest are boys under ten. But both the nice girls and the naughty boys are lovely. This is the beauty of a family. In the church life we must recognize the fact that we have the nice sisters and the naughty brothers. This is the beauty of the church life. As long as we maintain our oneness, we shall be harmonious and see the beauty, even when we are fighting. Although we are fighting, we are still harmonious. This may sound like a strange word, but it nonetheless is true. There is fighting but no dissenting. We are for the one recovery, for the one testimony. No matter how much we fight, our fighting is for the good of the recovery.
I would also like to say a word regarding dealing with those who oppose us. Do not consider any opposer a hopeless case. Rather, we should treat opposition as a golden opportunity. Every opposer is a good “fish.” Because of this, we need to change our concept concerning the opposers.
Dealing with the opposers will expose our motive. If our intention is simply to convince people and to gain them for our work, our motive is not pure. Our motive must be solely for the living testimony of Jesus. Whether or not a particular opposer will take this way does not matter. Our responsibility is to seize the opportunity to make the Lord’s testimony clear to him. When we contact an opposer, we may have deep within us the intention to capture him. We need to forget about such an intention. We should be motivated not by the desire for the increase of the local churches but by the testimony of Jesus. We are not here for the increase of the local churches; we are for the bright, shining, strong, and aggressive testimony of Jesus. We do not care whether or not people come this way, agree with us, or follow us. We care only for the testimony of Jesus. We would never hide or conceal this testimony, but we would take every opportunity to manifest it to others. Often I hear the saints saying that certain ones are good material and that we should seek to gain them for the church. This exposes our motive. We are not here for this. To repeat, we are here to be a bright and shining testimony of Jesus. We must be able to shine and to present what we are enjoying to others. Whether or not they accept it is up to the Lord.
In dealing with opposers, we need to prepare ourselves by reading the many books we have printed. One brother read a certain book against us and was poisoned by it, but then he read our books and was helped.
The opposers are fond of twisting my words. Yes, in one of my books I said that the church is one with the Triune God. Thus, the Triune God and the church are four-in-one. The Father is in the Son, the Son is in the Spirit, and the Spirit is in the church. This is four-in-one. But the opposers twist this sentence and say that we deify the church and worship it. What a perversion! To understand the one sentence you need to read not only the entire paragraph but also the whole book. It is not fair to isolate a sentence or a phrase. Everything printed by us has been thoroughly considered. Usually it is the result of years of study and experience. We have the full assurance that whatever we put in print is according to the Scriptures.
The Bible is the basis for whatever we say. In its attack upon us, The Mindbenders does not quote from the Bible. The accusations leveled against us in that book are based on historic Christianity, not the Bible. We follow the Bible, not history. If Martin Luther had followed the historic church, there would not have been the recovery of justification by faith.
If possible, read all our books. When you meet an opposer who isolates certain sentences and twists our words, go to the book and read it yourself. Be prepared. Then you will know how to answer others.
First Peter 3:15-16 says, “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, being always ready for a defense to everyone who asks of you an account concerning the hope which is in you, yet with meekness and fear.” In order to give such a defense, you must know what we are standing for and what we are enjoying. Then when the opposers ask certain things, you will be able to make your defense, and you will know how to answer. This cannot be done without preparation. Someone may say to you, “Why do you say that you are the church and that other groups are not the church?” This question requires a long answer; it cannot be answered superficially. In order to answer a question like this, you need to be prepared.
As you face the opposers, do not argue and lose your temper. No matter how much others may accuse and oppose, do not be angry with them, but be pleasant and patient. Do not consider anyone an enemy or a hopeless case. Rather, do your best to help others understand what we are enjoying and leave the results to the Lord.
Let us now summarize the points covered in this chapter. We should insist upon the basic doctrines, those that constitute the faith and are necessary for salvation, but not on any other doctrines. Among us there should be no assuming of authority or desire for rank, position, or title. Also, there should be no obedience or submission according to the worldly way. Instead, we all must learn to walk in the spirit. The elders should take the lead, and the rest should follow. If we do all these things, the Lord’s testimony will spread. Then others, the opposers in particular, need to be helped. We should not consider them as enemies or hopeless cases, but love them and try our best to present to them what we are enjoying of the Lord. By helping others and by presenting what we are enjoying to them, we ourselves shall learn a great deal. Perhaps today you may not know very much. But if you have the heart to present things to others, month after month you will learn more and you will grow not only in life but also in knowledge. This will help the Lord’s recovery to go on. The ones you contact may never turn this way. But through your presentation they will be enlightened and perhaps even convinced and subdued. At least, their opposition will be calmed down, and they will not oppose you so fiercely. No matter how many books are written against us, eventually all the Christians will realize that those in the local churches are holy ones, those who believe in the holy Word, walk in the spirit, and follow the Lord in His way. The consciences even of the opposers will testify to this. Let us go on boldly. Let us love one another as brothers and go on together for the Lord’s testimony. We should also love the outsiders, help them, and present the Lord’s testimony to them. Then the Lord’s presence will be with us, and His blessing will be upon us.
