The Green Pastures
By Carlos M. Aguilar

In Gen 19:12-16 we find the familiar OT story of the delivery of Lot and some of his family from the wicked city of Sodom. We find in many ways the deliverance of Lot and his family from Sodom is very closely related to our deliverance from the world today. Let us now go directly into the question raised by these messengers of God who came to Lot. We notice, first of all in verse 12, that they gave this admonition to him: "Have you anyone else here?” That was one of the things in which the messengers were interested. "Do you have anyone else here"? I believe it is a good question for every one to consider. Do you have any here in Oroville beside yourself? Do you have sons or daughters? Do you have fathers or mothers, friends or loved ones or relatives in whose souls you are interested? Certainly every one of us should be interested in the souls of our loved ones and we certainly are interested in seeing that our loved ones are saved. Who can be closer to us than our own sons and daughters? Who can be closer to us than our own sons-in-law and daughters-in-law? Yet, so often it is pathetically true that many members of the Lord's church will let an opportunity such as the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, when we come to worship God, to seek a rest from this old world, pass by without inviting those you care for; so that they can hear the preaching of the gospel of Christ which is the power of salvation. There are some, which look at their family situations, and their kids are struggling, or maybe they are old enough to have left the home and have not obeyed the gospel and if one looks at their life, their attendance is sporadic, their service to God is marginal, yet, they still ask..."Why is it my sons and daughters have not obeyed the gospel of Christ?" "Why is it that my friends and neighbors, why is it that my loved ones, why is it that my husband or wife, my in-laws, my father, or my mother, why is it that these have not obeyed the gospel of the Lord? Often times this question can be answered in that we have not been pursuing the Christian life before them as faithfully as we should.

Notice again the conversation between these messengers and Lot. They not only raised this question, "Have you anyone else here,” but they also told Lot to escape for his life (vs 17). Our plea to the world should be exactly the same plea. We should tell people in the world they must get out of the world, for this world is going to be destroyed. Of course, before we can do that, it becomes necessary for members of the Lord's church to become separated from the world. Heb 10:25 speaks of our obligation to attend the services of the church. Members of the Lord's church certainly need to realize that it is good, that it is profitable, that it is an obligation, that it is a command of the Lord, and all of this should add up to a privilege to every child of God. We ought to know that God knew and intended that ever so often we separate ourselves from the affairs of this world and the material things of life. How better can this be accomplished than in the assembly? Here kindred hearts meet together as one to sing songs of praises unto God, to pray together and to study the word of God. Certainly as members of the Lord's church every one can see the advantage of our coming out from the things of the world and being associated together in spiritual things to glorify our God in heaven. It is necessary that we do this if we are to bring anyone else out of the world. If we have slipped into the world, in that we are living and participating in the things that are ungodly, participating in the things that are wrong consistently---wrong because they are morally wrong, or wrong because God has said they are wrong, then we need to come out of the world in the sense that Paul was speaking in 2Cor 6:17-18. He writes, “Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” As we realize we must escape from the world; then our invitation to those who are in the world, to those who are lost, is this: "Come out of the world, for this world is going to be destroyed” (2 Pet 3:9-13).

How was it that Lot found himself in such a terrible condition?

When Lot and Abraham were together, there arose strife between Lot's herdsmen and Abraham's herdsmen (Gen 13:5-12). Abraham, being the generous person that he was, gave Lot the choice of going right or left and Abraham would go in the opposite direction. Lot cast his tent toward Sodom. He didn't get there overnight, he didn't get there in just one move; it was a gradual process, but finally he ended up in Sodom. Certainly Lot did not count the cost. We read in 1Cor 10:6 and Rom 15:4---that the OT scriptures are written for our learning as an example to us. Certainly we can learn a good lesson from Lot and that lesson is that we need to be careful about our circle of influence; about those round about us. Sometimes we find fathers and mothers, a more interested in the material things of life than they are in the spiritual things of life. Lot was more interested in the green pastures then he was in being associated with the faithful Abraham, where his children could have had good companionship. Because of his interest in the green pastures, he sold the souls of his sons and daughters, and many fathers and mothers today are selling the souls of their sons and daughters because they have a greater interest in the material things of life than in the things, which are spiritual. Our sons and daughters are not dumb and they can soon tell when we as fathers and mothers are not interested in the spiritual things of life, but in the material things of life. If we rear them by word of mouth, saying the spiritual things are more important, but by our way of life leave the impression that material things are more important, we can rest assured we have pitched our tent toward Sodom.

We will continue next week . . . 

CHURCH HISTORY: A BIBLICAL VIEW
Part II No. 10 Compiled and written by Gary Eubanks

Definitions:
There has long been a tendency on the part of religious adherents to make fundamental distinctions between the professional and common members in their ranks. In so-called Christendom this is often referred to as the clergy/laity distinction. "Clergy" is derived from the Greek word, "kleros," meaning "lot," which originally denoted the object cast by way of selecting someone to occupy an office but which eventually came to refer to the office, and then the office-holder himself. "Laity," on the other hand, is derived from the Greek term, "laos," meaning "people." Hence, "clergy" refers to the elite class which is specially selected, trained, and supported to instruct and lead the laity in those things in which they are supposedly deficient or indisposed to do themselves. The "laity" is the much larger class of unskilled, common rank and file.

The clergy/laity distinction serves the desires of both parties. (1) Emulation of Jewish and heathen practices. Both Jews and heathen, from whose ranks Christians came, had priestly castes which were distinct from the common people. As it has ever been the desire of men to be like those around them to enhance their standing, so it was with the growing "Catholic church." (2) Desire for proxy religion. Whether it was out of a genuine feeling of unworthiness to approach God humanly unaided, or a base desire to be relieved of personal religious responsibilities, the common people wanted special men to do for them what they could, or would, not do for themselves. (3) Desire for authority figures and professional "church managers." This point is similar to the preceding one except that, while that one had to do with substitution in one's relations and obligations to God, this one has especially to do with one's everyday life and relations with his fellowman. The lay person wants someone to learn and interpret the rules for him — to define the faith and identify heretics. He wants someone to tell him what to do and a leader to represent and defend his faith. He also wants someone to manage the organization and maintain its good discipline. The clergy fell into these roles. (4) Human pride and greed. Man's nature calls for recognition of his achievements. Most organizations have systems of rank or hierarchy which, aside from the practical considerations, give prestige, honor, and recognition to the achievers. It was not long before those who considered themselves more righteous or diligent within the church sought the worldly recognition to which they felt entitled. This desire to be ranked above the under-achievers, combined with the laity's desire for "proxy religion," fueled the growth of the clergy/laity distinction. Furthermore, it was not long before clerical offices became lucrative, as well as prestigious.

Official ordination

No official, formal ordination procedure for church leaders is prescribed in the Scriptures. Men who met the prescribed qualifications (I Tim. 3; Tit. 1) were appointed by the evangelist as overseers of the flock of which they were members (Acts 14:23; 20: 28; Tit. 1:5). Perhaps the closest approach to a formality was the laying on of hands (I Tim. 5:22) which was a visible recognition of their appointment to the office. However, as clerical offices became more prestigious and worldly-important, the appointments to such offices were considered too important to be left to the evangelists and laity. Bishops began to be nominated and approved by other bishops who were members of other congregations. They were then ratified or elected by the congregations they were to serve, although congregational elections became more and more token. Then, presbyters and deacons began to be ordained by the bishops.

The stratified ranks of the clergy were composed of two orders.

(1) Major. (a) Bishops - the heads of churches, and eventually the heads of all churches in a city or district. In addition to the means mentioned in previous lessons, bishops continued to consolidate their prestige and authority by encouraging the ideas that they alone were the possessors of the miraculous gifts and they alone were qualified to lead in worship (which led to the beginning of a special priesthood). (b) Presbyters - initially identifiable with bishops but eventually fell into a subordinate and advisory role. A presbyter was sometimes placed over a church in a city which had multiple churches, but he was still amenable to the bishop of the city. (c) Deacons - men who assisted in the care of the needy. Because they answered to the bishop directly they eventually acquired influence beyond what their official station would seem to have indicated.

(2) Minor. (a) Sub-deacons - performed in the role of the deacons but were subordinate to them. (b) Readers - read the Scriptures publicly and had charge of the church's literature. (c) Acolytes - served the bishops in their official duties and processions. (d) Exorcists - had the work of casting out evil spirits. (e) Precentors were for the musical portions of a service. (f) janitors (sextons) took care of the church's buildings and yards (g) Catechists and interpreters - gave instruction and interpretation. (h) Deaconesses assisted the poor and sick, especially those of their own gender.

Ed. Note: As we read the sad account above, we must keep in mind that the distinctions of office man began to devise throughout the years were never intended to exist. God provided His perfect plan for the church and its leadership. As this chapter of history shows it was through the greed and ambition of some and the laziness and complacency of others that such changes, read that corruptions, of God’s glorious plan came into being. We must take great care that we are not counted among those who simply want to be told what to do by other men in an attempt to salve our consciences and are not willing to “search the scriptures to see whether these things are so”. Likewise we must never let our own ambitions and desires drive us to accept any form of corruption in God’s perfect plan. “Let God be true and every man a liar”. If we must choose, and we must, let’s choose God’s way! RDT,sr

"SIGNS" OF THE END (?)
Clarence R. Johnson

It seems strange that though Jesus Himself did not know the time of the end (Mark 13:22), many modern preachers are claiming to read "signs of the times" which supposedly "prove" that the end of the world is at our doorstep. IT MIGHT well be that the end is near. But again, it might not be. No man knows the day nor the hour, Matt. 25:13.

Many sincere students have overlooked a primary rule of Bible study: examine every statement in the light of its context. The chapters which contain the bulk of the material many are using to "prove" that the return of Christ is imminent are Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. A careful examination of these parallel chapters will clear up much misunderstanding. In Matt. 24:1, the disciples call attention to the temple. Jesus tells them, regarding that temple, "There shall not be one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (vs. 2). This prophecy prompted them to ask two questions: "(1) When shall these things (destruction of the temple, etc.) be, and (2) What shall be the sign of thy coming and the end of the world?

Jesus’ answer to their first question is found in plain language in vs. 4-28. It is answered again in symbolic language in vs. 29-31. For similar prophetic language, see Isa. 13:9-10; Ezek. 32:7-8; Joel 2:1-2, 10-11, etc.

Finally, in vs. 32-35, that question is answered once more in the form of a parable.

Then in vs. 36 through chapter 25, Jesus gives attention to their second question. If a person will read these chapters, bearing in mind the difference between "these things" (vs. 3, 6, 8, 34) referring to the destruction of Jerusalem, and "that day" (vs. 36), referring to the end of the world, he will not be misled by modern religious teachers’ application of Jesus’ words to events taking place in our times. There are no signs to tell us WHEN Christ’s second coming will occur. "Therefore be ye ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh" (vs. 44).

“A man may go to heaven without health, wealth, fame, a famous name, education, culture, beauty, friends and ten thousand other things the world may consider essential to a good life, but he can never go to heaven without Christ.” “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” Phil 3:7-9