Musick-al Note # 175
Just suppose Paul, Peter or a group of the apostles entered our community as the ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Just suppose they preached with all their old-time power and authority, and condemned divisions, factions and schisms as they did in the first century of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:16, 4:4, 5:23). Just suppose in condemning the divisions, they then exhorted all believers to be of the same mind and the same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Would you then stand up with them and “thank” God that we have so many churches so each may have the church of his choice?” Would you argue that there is ONE head but the head had many spiritual bodies? And would you contend that other bodies will be saved, even if Christ saves only His own (Ephesians 5:23-27)? Or would you become a member of the spiritual body of the Lord, and live in obedience to the Head, who is Christ?
Just suppose Jesus Christ came into our area and promised: “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). Would you be willing to get up on the same platform with Him and declare that “baptism is non-essential? You can be saved just a well without it.” Just suppose Jesus preached, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” before your family and friends, would you exclaim, “He that believes and is saved should be baptized”? Would you then be willing to say to them, “But there are various ways to interpret that”? Would you look Jesus Christ in the eye and say that statement couldn’t be understood by all who wanted to be saved?
Or suppose an apostle came among us and preached that you must not “forsake the assembly” (Hebrews 10:25); that attending every service of the church will help your spiritual growth and development. Would you deny their preaching while they were among you? Would you say that it is a matter of personal conviction and it is nobody’s business whether you attend or not? Would you teach your wife and children you don’t have to attend every meeting of the church? Would you? Aren’t the apostles still teaching the same things now through the Bible as they did when they lived on the earth? What you do determines whether you follow their teaching or that you disregard it. What will you do?
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 