#seeking_fellowship
#seeking_membership
A kind soul wrote:
I rarely quote scriptures because, firstly I’m
not gifted in bible interpretation like the brothers; secondly, I don’t want to
come across as trying to teach or usurp (1Tim2:12). I’m just a “troublesome”
student trying my best to learn. In reply to Pastor’s questions, I’ll quote
what I’ve learned from the men (not bro Jonathan );
Paul, being already baptized, assayed to join
the Jerusalem church but they did not agree to receive him at first (Acts
9:26).
Receiving members from a local church
requires the church's action (Acts 9:26-28).
Excluding members from a local church requires
the church's action (1Cor 5:4-5,11-13; 2Thes 3:14-15).
Reasoning from logic and common sense which
God graciously gifted everyone...
========
A response:
Let me leave a few comments:
First, you don’t come across as a student,
but as a proponent of a certain view that you are hung up on.
You can quote from anyone you like, whether Jonathan Crosby or Calvinists, Gillites or Fullerites – all will be subjected to the
same scrutiny of the Scriptures with no exception.
Second, it’s never wise to argue for a point
using a specific case (involving an apostle) that ends up contradicting the
plain command of Christ and the clear Apostolic examples. The Scriptures do not
contradict themselves; careless students of God’s word often do.
Third, there are logic and common sense that
are guided by preconceived ideas, and there are logic and common sense guided
by the texts of the Scriptures; the former blinds men to the truth; the latter
enlightens men to learn the truth. The former is eisegesis; the latter is
exegesis.
The Apostle Paul's trip to Jerusalem was not to
seek membership with the Jerusalem church; this notion is misguided by the common
sense and logic of the preconceived notion that baptism and membership are
separate, an idea that militates against Christ's plain command in Mt 28:19-20.
Apostle Paul went to Jerusalem to seek the
fellowship of the Apostles in the church in Jerusalem. Having the fellowship of
the Apostles in Jerusalem was so vital to his usefulness in his future work
among the diaspora Jews.
- That he joined the membership with the
church at Jerusalem is at best a fiction; at worst, such an idea contradicts
the plain texts of Scriptures elsewhere.
- Seeking fellowship with the Apostles to the
Jews in Jerusalem and seeking to be a member of a church in Jerusalem are not
the same.
Fourth, some biblical facts:
- Ananias, a disciple of Damascus, baptized
Saul; there were believers among the Jews in the synagogues there, and that was
why Saul went there to persecute them. Acts 9:2.
- After Paul was baptized, he stayed in
Damascus for a considerable length of time (three years) until his life was
threatened by the Jews. Acts 9:23. Then he visited Jerusalem.
- Acts 9:26 speaks of an event THREE YEARS
later. Read Gal 1:17-18 “Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were
apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him
fifteen days.”
(The Arabia mentioned here is Syrian Arabia).
- His specific purpose is stated, "...
to them which were apostles... to see Peter..."
- His brief time in Jerusalem was cut short
by the Grecians {Hellenistic Jews) who wanted him dead; he was escorted to
safety and brought to Tarsus (Acts 9:29,30).
- A little later it was said, “And Barnabas
and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and
took with them John, whose surname was Mark.” Act 12:25. “... Saul RETURNED
FROM JERUSALEM.” Note the preposition 'from'.
- Returned from Jerusalem to where? To their
home church in Antioch, no longer with Damascus at that point in time. (Antioch
was the 3rd largest city in the vast Roman empire at the time.)
Lastly...
Putting the pieces together, the most
probable picture was like this:
- Saul was baptized and added to the church
represented by Ananias in Damascus; from there he was taught and ministered for
three years.
- Then he visited Jerusalem, desiring to have
fellowship with the Apostles; Barnabas vouched for Saul to the Apostles in
Jerusalem. But his time there was cut short because the Grecian Jews wanted him
dead; the Apostle Paul was too eloquent for them, converting some of them.
- He was escorted safely out of Jerusalem and
sent on to Tarsus, his hometown. He couldn't return to Damascus because the
Jews there were thirsting for his blood too.
- Later, Barnabas of Antioch (he was
originally from Cyprus, lived in Jerusalem, and then went on to the Antioch
church) urgently sought Saul in Tarsus and brought him to assist the flourishing
church in Antioch, (Acts 11:25).
- Sometime later they visited Jerusalem
together for relief work, Acts 12:25.
- It was the church in Antioch that later
laid hands on Apostle Paul and sent him out for extensive mission work. Acts
13:2-3; it was the same church to which Apostle Paul returned, and gave the reports of his
mission ministry.
There is a world of difference between logic
and common sense guided by preconceived ideas, and logic and common sense
guided by the sacred texts of the Scriptures; the gulf is as wide as the gulf
that separates Lazarus from the rich man during the intermediate state.
Please correct the "men" who
misguided you.
THANK YOU. I’m patient with a student wanting
to learn; someone with an axe to grind is wearisome.
2Ti 2:7 KJT "Consider what I say; and
the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
--------
Sing
Someone made this observation privately:
"One thing I noticed is that it appears
like there might be those who are influenced by the teachings of other
church(es) / preachers and then try to read into the Scriptures, instead of
reading out of it; and in doing so, claim that they're following Scriptures
when in fact they're actually following the teachings of others."
====
This happens not too infrequently;
"Scriptures alone" is just a pious religious shibboleth.
May the Lord have mercy upon each one of us,
I included.
