Disciples Digital Library

Contrary to the claims of politicians and some church leaders, Jesus is the only true light in this dark world . According to the Apostle John, life is found in Jesus of Nazareth, and that life is “ the light of men .” This light radiates in the darkness, but “ the darkness cannot comprehend it .” Christ himself declared, “ I am the light of the world .” Every man and woman who follows him has the light of life and therefore no longer walks in darkness – (John 1:1-4, 8:12).

Why do church leaders excuse lying, adultery, extortion, and even worse acts when they are committed by their political allies? Early in my Christian life, I was taught to pursue holiness in every area of life, and as a disciple of Jesus, I must separate myself from the ways and ideologies of this sinful world. Not physically, but spiritually and morally. Holiness before God and conformity to the life and teachings of Jesus are not optional:

The New Testament applies Tabernacle language and imagery from the Hebrew Bible to the Body of Christ, the Habitation of God’s Holy Spirit . Terms from the Tabernacle and the worship rituals of  Leviticus  are applied in the New Testament to the New Covenant community inaugurated by Jesus Christ. What the Tabernacle prefigured has become reality in the Church, which is “ the habitation of God in Spirit .”

The promises, types, and shadows of the Hebrew Bible are fulfilled by the Son of God and Messiah of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth . An accusation commonly heard in popular preaching is  ‘ Replacement Theology.’  This  seemingly dreaded label is hurled against anyone who claims a promise from the Hebrew Bible made to Ancient Israel finds its fulfillment in Jesus and his Church, but this silly exercise in name-calling misses the point – The New Testament focuses on  Fulfillment , not  Separation  or  Replacement .

The term Antichrist is applied in the New Testament to deceivers who work in the Church to “ make merchandise ” of God’s sheep, false teachers who infiltrate the Assembly to distort the Apostolic Tradition and introduce “ doctrines of demons .” The Apostle Paul confronted “ false brethren who  slithered in stealthily  to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might enslave us ,” for example. He did not give so much as an inch to these false teachers.

Church leaders warn us of the dangers posed by groups outside the church in the surrounding society; “liberal” politicians, “Woke” ideology, the “gay agenda,” and the like. Forces that are destroying society, perverting the culture, and undermining the “Judeo-Christian” values on which the United States of America was founded, supposedly.

The Book of Revelation applies several terms to the saints who are under assault from without and within. The men who were redeemed by the “ Lamb ” form a single company that transcends all national, social, and cultural boundaries, and for them, persecution and “ tribulation ” are neither aberrations nor things to be feared. Persevering through trials while bearing witness is what it means to follow the “ Lamb wherever he goes .”

The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Good News of God’s Kingdom to all nations until the moment Jesus arrives  – Matthew 24:14. Jesus commanded his true followers to announce the same message that he preached, which he summarized as the “ Good News of the Kingdom of God .” His Church would spread this message  to all nations without exception  and in unexpected and paradoxical ways. Christ’s sovereignty over humanity must be established! Until his return, we are commanded to proclaim his Gospel to the “ ends of the Earth .”

The Thessalonians received the Gospel of Christ in tribulation yet remained faithful while eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus  – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7. In the first chapter of  First Thessalonians , Paul anticipates the Letter’s main subjects - the tribulation of believers, Christian hope, and “ the arrival ” of Jesus, when he will rescue his people from wrath, resurrect the righteous dead, and “ meet ” his assembled saints as he descends from Heaven. On that day, we will “ obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ .”

Was the Apostle Paul kidding when he wrote that church elders must be above reproach? The public exposure of gross sin among church leaders is all too common, and often church members discover too late that their more egregious faults began even before they entered the ministry. Even worse are the committees that select men for the ministry despite knowing of their proclivities, and the apologists who strive mightily to restore errant pastors and preachers to the ministry as quickly as possible.

The public exposure of gross sin among many church leaders has become all too common today, and often we discover that their more egregious faults existed even before they entered the ministry. Just as bad are the committees and elders who select men and women for the ministry despite knowing about their proclivities before appointing them. Sorry situations of this sort develop when elders, pastors, and ministry boards ignore the clear teachings of Scripture.

Jesus refused the political power of Rome when Satan offered it. So, why do we insist on seeking the very thing our Master rejected? The teachings of Jesus and his Apostles in multiple ways summon Christians not to be “ unequally yoked together ” with this world and its values. What humanity needs is the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the salvation provided by Jesus Christ. Since the “ forms ” of this present age are in the process of “ passing away ,” the Church should not waste its efforts on “ working for the meat that perishes ”?

From start to finish, the Book of Revelation is addressed to the “ seven churches of Asia ,” and they do not fade from the picture after its third chapter. While the Book may include a larger target audience, Revelation is first of all a message intended for those seven first-century assemblies, and the significance of its visions cannot be understood apart from them. And it begins by describing itself as an unveiling of information for the “ servants ” of God.

The New Testament usage of the term “ assembly ” or “ congregation ” is derived from the language and imagery of Israel assembled before Yahweh for worship in front of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The Greek noun rendered “church” in many English translations is ekklésia , and it means “assembly, congregation, convocation.” In secular Greek, it could refer to an “assembly” of citizens gathered to conduct matters of state. However, that is not how the word is used in the Greek New Testament.

Jesus charged his followers to announce his message to all nations, which he summarized as the “ Good News of the Kingdom of God .” Through him and his Assembly, the rule of God would be established but in unexpected ways. He will establish his sovereignty over the Earth and subdue the “ last enemy, death ,” by the time of his appearance “ on the clouds of Heaven .” His disciples must proclaim his Gospel to the “ uttermost parts of the Earth ” until that day.

A charge commonly heard in popular preaching is “replacement theology.” It is usually hurled against anyone who claims a promise from the Hebrew Bible made originally to Israel now finds its fulfillment in the church. But the accusation misses the point. The New Testament teaches neither “replacement theology” nor the idea that God has two distinct covenants and peoples, each with a separate eternal destiny.

The commonly held view that women are by nature “more spiritual” than men is debatable, at least, scripturally speaking. This is the idea that women are more “spiritual” because their emotional nature tends to render them more open to “spiritual things,” “realms,” and the like. Perhaps. But this raises the more important question – Just what do we mean by the term “spiritual”?

What are the marks of a genuine apostle? “Signs and wonder?” Visions and dreams? Eloquent speech and a commanding presence? Such things are wonderful and have their place, but are they criteria by which disciples of Jesus can evaluate claims of apostolic authority?

A popular view often voiced today is that what the church and society need is “revival.” Amen! A little revival would be great. However, there is a twist, for it seems that the heart and focus of this idea is “revival” in the United States of America. If mentioned at all, the other nations of the earth are an afterthought.

The death of Jesus inaugurated the messianic age with consequent changes in the status of God’s people .  In his epistle to the Assembly in Galatia, Paul declares that his apostleship originated from the same God who raised Jesus from the dead, the Messiah of Israel who gave his life to “ deliver us from this evil age .” His declaration anticipates his proposition in the body of the Letter that the arrival of Jesus changed the status of the Law for the people of God, the “ children of Abraham .”