In This Issue

• SO…PILATE…DELIVERED JESUS…TO BE CRUCIFIED

• WHAT THE CHURCH IS NOT

• KEEPING THE CHURCH PURE

• MORE INFORMATION...

SO…PILATE…DELIVERED JESUS…TO BE CRUCIFIED

John’s account of the gospel tells us that after Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was taken immediately to Annas who had recently been the high priest, John 18:12-24. Annas interrogated Jesus, smote Him without just cause, and sent Him on to the current high priest, Caiaphas, who was Annas’ son-in-law. There, He was examined by the priests and the entire Sanhedrin council. Caiaphas asked Jesus if He were the Christ, the Son of God. When Jesus answered in the affirmative, “the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?’ And they all condemned Him to be worthy of death (Mark 14:63-64).

After the Jewish trial ended, Jesus was sent to Pilate, the Roman Governor, but since Pilate would have been unmoved by the Jewish charge of blasphemy, the Jewish council found it necessary to seek to convince Pilate that Jesus was a traitor to Rome – that He intended to overthrow the government and become a rival King to Caesar. Mark records it this way: “Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered and said to him, "It is as you say." And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!" But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled (Mark 15:1-5).

As He interrogated Jesus, Pilate came to realize that the charges against Jesus had no real foundation, so he sought in several ways to avoid passing a sentence of death upon Him. First, learning that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, the ruler in Galilee, hoping that Herod would dispose of the matter, but Jesus remained silent in Herod’s court, and Herod sent Him back to Pilate, Luke 23:6-12.

Next, Pilate hoped that he might be able to release Jesus on the basis of a custom of his to release one notable Jewish prisoner each year at Passover time. “Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!" (Mark 15:6-13).

Finally, Pilate hoped that by scourging Jesus severely, the mob’s thirst for His blood would be satisfied, and He could be released, but that ploy also failed, John 19:1-5.

Seeing his attempts to avoid the crucifixion fail, Pilate took water and symbolically “washed his hands” of the matter, Matt. 27:24. “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified” (Mark 15:15).

–Clarence R. Johnson

WHAT THE CHURCH IS NOT

Awareness of the nature of the church as Jesus designed it is essential. We need to appreciate the local church of Christ as it is revealed in the Bible, be content with it.

A somewhat different task is to raise warning flags from another perspective, regarding what the church is NOT. Because this task is not consistently undertaken, there is confusion in some quarters. We must respect what the church is NOT. The church has primarily spiritual responsibilities. It has the task of causing the gospel to be proclaimed, Acts 13. The church is to edify Christians, Eph. 4:11-13. The responsibility of the church in temporal matters is to tend to the needs of indigent members of the church, as it did in Acts 6. If an activity or work is not legitimately located in one of these three areas, it is not appropriate for the church of Christ. With these considerations before us, consider what the church is NOT.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. Democracy is government “by the people… in which the supreme power is retained by the people.” Democratic governments inspire such sentiments as “one man one vote,” et al. The church, bought and built by Jesus at the price of His blood, is evidently a kingdom. Christ is the king, and His decrees are expressed on the pages of the New Testament, 2 John 9. Our especial concern here, however, is of the church in the local sense, and it is in this realm that some think they find democratic rule. They do not. Doctrinally, the local church is directed by the teaching of Christ. The elders of a local church, those who “are over you in the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:12) are not legislators. They do, however, have the responsibility of leading the flock, of guarding the flock, and this they must diligently do. In connection with this they are to be “not domineering over those in” their charge, 1 Pet. 5:3. Decisions in temporal matters are to be made by the bishops (elders). They may and should consult the members as to their wishes in some particular matters, but when decision time comes they must do what they deem BEST, not most popular. It does not matter if their decision is contrary to the wishes of a few, or of many: it is to One they “will have to give an account” (Heb. 13:12) and they must act in accord with that.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A POLITICAL ENTITY. Questions with moral implications – wet-dry elections, abortion “rights,” et al – occasionally get “on the ballot” and churches (usually, through their preachers) are sorely tempted to weigh in on the side of truth and right. It is appropriate for every Christian to make his/her voice heard in every legitimate way possible, in such matters: but they do this as individuals, not as a collective. It is not the work of the church to bring influence to bear on behalf of this issue or in opposition to that one. This is said in full recollection of candidates holding forth in various pulpits on behalf of their election. It does not matter that many do it – many do many things for which they have no authority – it is WRONG, and that body whose Head is Jesus will shun such.

It is not that moral/political questions under consideration are unimportant; it is rather that the matters for which the church is to expend its energy are indefinitely more important.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A SECULAR SCHOOL. The church is to be involved in edification, spiritual building up. This certainly involves the imparting of information; but the information to be imparted is spiritual. It is by the word of God that edification is accomplished, the growth in grace and knowledge of its members. It is no rare thing today to see churches involved in the provision of secular education all the way through high school. There are many things that can be said to commend such arrangements; but the one thing that CANNOT be said is, “this is what Jesus died for.” It is fine for young people to be taught “reading ‘writing and ‘arithmetic;” but that is a responsibility of the family, not of the church. The preeminent concern must be for the wisdom that is eternal, Eph. 5:17, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A REC CENTER. Young folk – and most older ones, too – love recreation. Playing ball, camping, taking field trips, exercising: these are a sampling of good things identified as recreation, and everyone should be participating in them. Parents should make deliberate efforts to provide such for their children, and for themselves. As we have seen in other areas, this is NOT, however, work the church is to be involved in. It is misappropriation for the local church to use its resources in such things. Recreation is a family matter.

CONCLUSION: Many human institutions are created for particular works, and no one THINKS it strange if they do not allow themselves to be diverted. Why can men not have at least equal respect for the purpose of the Head of the church?

-Pat Farish, Abundant Life, Vol. 39, Number 12

 KEEPING THE CHURCH PURE

One of the greatest challenges facing brethren today is keeping the church pure. Try as hard as we may, it always seems that something gets through, and sits right under our noses for periods of time, until someone notices it. I remember a guy down south saying, “Copperheads are the kind of snakes that can sneak into your house and be there for a long time before they get noticed.” What a frightening thought! So is it with sin.

All Christians do sin from time to time. The Bible said so, 1 John 1:8. But what we must be on guard against, are those who are divisive and hide their sins, but still want membership in the local church. Acts 20:28-31. It is incredible to know that some will practice sin, hide it, and still seek refuge in a local church, Acts 5:1-11; 2 Cor. 11:26. As the old saying goes, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?”

The fact of skeletons being in the church is evident by our Lord as He said that He will gather out of His Kingdom that which offends, and cast them into a furnace of fire. Matt 13:41-43.

Yes, right up to the Day the Lord returns, there will be dirt among God’s people, but let us not be discouraged. Let us rather keep trying to expose the wrong. Here are some things we can do.

If you know something is amiss, deal with it! Being afraid of, ignoring it, or hoping that something will go away on its own, is not the answer when dealing with sin among Christians. Remember what God told Joshua after the sin of Achan. He said that it had to be dealt with or Israel would continue to fall before their enemies, Josh. 7:7-13. If it’s not taken care of, it’s still there, John 9:41; Rom 6:12-13; Eph 4:27.

Don’t be hungry for members. It is better to have a church of only six people, than a church of seven hundred and thirty, with most of them practicing sin, Matt 18:20; Deut, 7:7; 1 Sam 14:6; Judg. 7:7; 1 Pet. 3:20; Gen. 18:32. When interest in numbers is higher than interest in truth, brethren will let things slide, or sweep them under the rug, so that the roll book doesn’t decrease because of having to get rid of the sinners, 1 Cor. 5:7; Prov. 22:10. Let us not forget that when the truth is taught and enforced, we won’t have the masses around us, because only a few will be saved. Matt 7:13-14.

Get to know everyone! When brethren don’t invest time with each other; they will never know one another very well. In Acts 2:42-46, we can see that the church spent a lot of time together, and by doing that they got a chance to know one another better. By knowing others’ likes and dislikes, habits and ways, we can know if a Christian is drifting into sin, or living with a sin, Heb 3:12-13.

Teach the whole counsel of God. The word of God is quick and powerful, piercing to ones inner thoughts and intent of the heart, Heb 4:12; Acts 2:37; Acts 24:24-25. With a weapon this powerful in our hands, we need to use it, because it is the only thing that can shed light on man to warn him and point him to correction, 1 Cor. 1:17-21. Paul recognized this because he said that he had not failed to proclaim the whole counsel of God, Acts 20:27. When brethren fail to teach on all that the Lord has said, gaps are left, in which sin will reign and grow. Let us not leave any stone unturned, let us teach the gospel on all subjects, so that men will either conform or do the church a favor, and leave, 1 John 2:19; John 6:64-66; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; Matt 19:16-24.

- James Baker, Philadelphia, PA

“Do you not know that so much reading of the Scripture ruins the Catholic religion?”

- Pope Paul V to the Venetian Ambassador in 1606

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