Orthodox Christianty

"Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of Heaven."  (Matt. 5:19)

Introduction

God sets a very high standard for True Christian Orthodoxy, because He desires complete obedience, even from the heart, from the Church and from believers.  A Church which calls itself Christian, when it decides, for whatever reason, to depart from God's Word, and adopt teachings and/or practices which go against His will, such a Church must be considered a "sect," or even a "cult."  As James says:  "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it."  (James 2:10)  With God, it is all or nothing.  Heaven can be compared to a pearl.  If that pearl has the least blemish or nick, it cannot be considered a very valuable pearl.  So it is with the Church.  God wants and seeks a Perfect Church.

A church, or any Christian, who departs from the Word, knowingly and in a substantial way, may be saved, but will not have a great glory in Heaven, as St. Paul says:  "Each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fie, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."  (1 Cor. 2:13-15)  And also Christ Himself declared this judgment on such people:  "Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of God."  (Matt. 5:19)  Luther interpreted this passage to mean that such people would be condemned and go to the worst part of Hell.  I, however, interpret this passage in light of 1 Cor. 2:13-15, (i.e., that these people would indeed get into Heaven on account of their faith, but that they would be called "least."

Naturally, since the Church is made up of human beings, it will always have shortcomings, but we as Christians need to continue seeking perfection in the Church, and God will overlook the rest, and by His grace He will make it Perfect.  If we cannot achieve that perfection, as Soren Kierkegaard said, we should at least maintain the ideals of Christianity, and God will forgive the rest.  But if we as Christians cease to try, God may not be so lenient.

Through the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has diverted from the Word at many times and in many significant ways.  The latest horrific scandal of pedophiles in the church, is just the latest episode in the long, sordid history of the Roman Catholic Church.  When a church wishes no longer to be obedient to God's Word, God deserts that church, and Satan begins to take over.  As the Bible abundantly shows, this is true even of whole cities and whole nations.  The Jewish nation should have learned this long ago, but due the "hardening" that has come upon them, they cannot see it.  In the United States of America, if we also turn away from the Word, then God will turn away from us and leave us to Satan's control, when all sorts of horrors and abominations will come about.  We see this happening more and more in our day and ag.

In God's church, what could be more horrible than the plague that has lately come upon the Roman Catholic Church, the pedophilia by priests who are entrusted with the care of children?  It is a sad and inevitable fact that this church is not only a sect, but close to becoming a cult.  But, it is not surprising.  The Roman Catholic Catechism since Vatican II endorses the religion of Islam and the Jewish religion, and teaches that both of these are valid ways of faith that satisfy God, when nothing could be further from the Truth.  Christ said:  "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by me."  (John 14:5)  There are other ways that this church deviates from the Word, which we will investigate later.

In Protestantism there are also major deviations from the Word.  The Baptists for example, and other Protestant religions, do not believe in the Real Presence in Communion, and reject infant baptism.  I have to give credit where credit is due, and the Roman Catholic Church, to its credit has always retained both of these essential beliefs.  But the Protestant churches which deviated from this practice must be categorized as "sects."

A sect is a church which calls itself Christian, but deviates from Christian Orthodoxy in some important and substantial way.  Because such a church still retains the essential teachings of faith in Christ for salvation, a person can be saved in this church.  A cult however, whether or not it calls itself Christian, rejects faith in Christ for salvation.

Examples of sects are the Roman Catholic Church and the Baptist religion. Examples of cults are the Mormon Church in the U.S. and Scientology.  In these latter churches, a person cannot be saved, because cults reject the prime elements of Salvation.

An example of a True Orthodox Church would be any church that abides by the teachings of the Book of Concord of the Lutheran church, although a shortcoming of that book concerns the election doctrine, which we investigate at: www.holywordofgod.org/electiondoctrine. 

 

Question:  What are the three Elements of a Truly Orthodox Christian Church?

Answer:  The Word, Baptism, and Communion.

Question: Where do we find these three essential requirements?

Answer: There are Three Witnesses to the Holy Christian Faith:  The Spirit, The Water and The Blood:  "This he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.  And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.  there are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree."  (1 John 5:6-8)

THE SPIRIT, (OR THE WORD)

Question:  What is the "Spirit" that St. John is alluding to?

Answer:  Throughout the theology of John, "The Word" and "Spirit" are used almost interchangeably.  The Word is the Agent God uses to bring the Holy Spirit's teachings about Jesus and thus the Spirit of God Who works Salvation in all who believe, by means of Apostles, Prophets, Ministers, Priests, Teachers and all Christians.  All such teachings of the Word must proceed from and be founded or agree with the Bible. Any such teachings which are not in agreement with the Bible cannot be considered the Word of God, and must be rejected. (For a correct understanding of the Bible, please see our web-site page www.holywordofgod.org and our "Introduction to the Bible.")

Furthermore, this proclamation of the Word, must include the entire Bible.  The entire teachings must be taught in an Orthodox Christian Church, and not just certain teachings, because as it says in Psalms, the Word is the "Scepter of Righteousness." (Psalms 45:6-7).  The view that all Scripture is consequential and should be taught straightforwardly and honestly with no evasion was the view of Martin Luther and in part compelled him to write Bondage of the Will, a book which he considered, along with his catechisms, to be his best work. For Luther "Truth and doctrine must be preached always, openly, and constantly, and never accommodated or concealed; for there is no scandal in it, for it is 'the scepter of righteousness' (Ps 45:6-7)."

St. Paul's conscience was clear only because he had taught the entire counsel of God: "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."  (Acts 20:26-27)  The Bible is comprised primarily of Law and Gospel.  The tendency of the modern age is to neglect the teaching of the Law and the Cross of Christ.  When a church, a minister or a priest begins to desire popularity, fame or fortune, he begins to neglect the hard and difficult teachings about the Bible, in favor of those which are easy, primarily the teachings the Grace.  It is quit easy to teach grace, it is much more difficult to teach the Law.

Luther himself, after he had started the Reformation, (which was primarily the re-establishment of the Gospel) was concerned that the main result of the Reformation would lead to "carnal security," because the teaching of "Law" would be neglected.  He feared that, if this happened, it would be worse than anything that had come before.  To a certain extent, this is indeed what happened.  Today, in the Church, we have in many churches, almost primarily Gospel, the Law tends to be neglected, and almost forgotten and this is unfortunate.  Because as it says in the Old Testament:  "This is the man to whom I will look, he who is humble and contrite and trembles at my Word."  (Isaiah 66:2)  This passage is without any doubt a reference to the teaching of God's Law and judgment.  For the Gospel does not work fear, but only forgiveness.

Now when Churches, Ministers and Priests wish to become popular with the people, they often neglect the Law, because many people do not wish to know the Law.  For example, many people of other faiths do not wish to be told that salvation can only come through faith in Jesus Christ, that unless you believe in Jesus Christ you are eternally damned and condemned.  Some people do not want to be told that in order to become a Christian, you must give up everything, and be willing to hate "mother and father" and "sister and brother," and yes, even your own life.  Many people do not want to hear that to be a Christian is to bear a cross in the world.

Some people do not wish to hear that homosexuals who do not repent, cannot be saved.  Or that adulterers who do not repent, cannot be saved, or thieves, etc.  So, in many cases, a church, a minister or priest decides to neglect these teachings, in order to curry favor.  At this point, the Church is not doing its job.  There are many other such examples that we could look at, especially in the modern church.  A person can find a church that will teach almost anything he wants, but a True Christian Church will teach only from the Bible, the ultimate authority for the Christian Church.

Question:  What is the First and Foremost Teaching of a True Church?

Answer:  That Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God Almighty Who Sacrificed Himself for us poor sinners, and  that whoever repents and believes in Him will be saved, whoever does not repent and believe is eternally lost and condemned.  As Christ said:  "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, whoever does not believe will be condemned."  (Mark 16:16)

This is the first and foremost Teaching of the Holy Christian Church.  Any church which teaches contrary to this must be considered a "cult."  Salvation cannot be found in a "cult."

Question:  What is the Witness of Water that John is referring to?

Answer:  Baptisim.  Please see a full explanation of Baptism at: www.holywordofgod.org/infantbaptism.

Question:  What is the Witness of Blood that John is referring to?

Answer:  Holy Communion.  Please see a full explanation of Holy Communion at: www.holywordofgod.org/communion.

Conclusion:  These are the Three Elements that church must have in order to be an Orthodox Christian Church.  Other issues such as the liturgy, art, days of worship can be considered "adiaphorous."

 

 

(TO BE CONTINUED)