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Pastor’s Blog, April 2008
2007:
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RESPOND
Warring for What?
Progress digitizing Faith Assembly recorded
sermons: May 17, 1995 (Wednesday)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Through Psalm 75
4:35 p.m.
Just a quick update before I head home. Psalm 68 is one of my favorites. If you
ever are feeling “down,” read Psalm 68. If that can’t lift you up, I don’t know
what can!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Through Psalm 72
7:45 p.m.
In this blog, I want to balance some of the things I wrote in my Wednesday,
April 23, blog, about where Faith Assembly is at the present time. Let me start
by saying I am well aware that people who once were part of Faith Assembly have
widely varying ideas of who or what Faith Assembly is now. I respect you,
whatever your view may be. I will not try to argue or debate the issue. What I
am talking about is a group that continued to meet in the old Faith Assembly
building from January 1994 up through mid-1998, after the majority of the body
moved away. This is not meant in a critical way, but in their own words, they
wanted to start a new history, leave the past behind, escape the stigma of the
name of Hobart Freeman and of the negative things that had happened in the past,
move to the city, and start a new history, where they could have an outreach,
and become more involved with other groups.
Since I was already operating Faith Ministries at the time,
it was made known to me that this would involve closing down Faith Ministries
completely. Again, they certainly had to do what they believed they should do,
but we also had to do what we believed we should do, which meant that when they
left, a group stayed behind, continuing the ministry and the work of Faith
Assembly and Faith Ministries. In 1998, we were given notice leave the building,
and God led us to our present location, where we have been meeting now for the
last ten years.
In the Wednesday blog, I wrote: “We do not equate the body of Christ with any human
leader,” and also, “the body of Christ is the people God has gathered, not
the human leaders God uses to gather them.” This was not quite complete. It is
also the Biblical doctrine and message that identifies a particular group. In
other words, if the body in terms of people decides to move in a different
direction than the identifying message and doctrine, it is no longer the same
body spiritually. And at that point, if part of the body determines to hold to
the original doctrine, then the composition of the body is determined by those
who hold to the original doctrine, rather than those who “leave the past
behind, and start a new history.” Again, this is not meant to be criticism,
but only to state the simple basis on which I’m identifying Faith Assembly. If
others want to debate this issue, they are welcome. But this is where we stand.
Furthermore, in what I said concerning the present day
prophetic move, I intended to make it clear that we still do believe in the five
ministry offices of Ephesians 4:11, only we believe God raises up the offices as
it pleases Him within a local body, and to serve the needs of the local body, as
opposed to church leaders being raised up external to the local body by
institutions, which I described as “man made” because they are not seen in
the church in the New Testament. Since the Bible says the offices of ministry
are gifts given by God, then they cannot be careers pursued by receiving
training, be that in a seminary, or college, or “school of prophets,” or
Bible School, or what have you, and ultimately through assignment and ordination
by men.
I also stated our continuing position on the holidays, rock
music and entertainment, women’s roles and adornment, and divine healing, for
information purposes. Coming to a Scriptural position on such issues requires
time for spiritual growth and maturing. It is for this reason that I must make
it clear that total agreement on these positions is not a condition for being
part of Faith Assembly.
I would like to make a statement
here that might require some serious thought for you to grasp the meaning. One
of the oft quoted, but grossly oversimplified, statements of Christianity is
that all Christians ought to be able to find unity one with another. That
is a real mouthful! First of all, what defines a Christian? Let’s assume what
defines us as Christians is common acknowledgment of the atoning death of
Christ, and that we must each individually come to Christ by faith to receive
forgiveness of sins. Just that much: that all true Christians share that much in
common. All right. So this means we do not dare question anyone’s salvation
who professes that relationship with Christ. But, among the multitudes who share
that profession, there are wide differences that divide them into different
doctrinal groups. To say that all Christians should be able to find unity is
tantamount to saying the doctrinal differences do not matter. This just will not
do! Ultimately, unity means nothing if you dispense with doctrinal agreement.
So, in order to avoid questioning the salvation of anyone who professes faith in
Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins, then I believe we are left with only one
choice: we just cannot expect to be in unity with all other Christians. There is
no reason or motive to seek unity with all other Christians, if we cannot
question either their claim of faith in Christ, or their doctrinal position.
That leaves us with being friends, at best; but mere friendship is a long, long
way from true unity of the Spirit. Scripture does not give us permission to
judge others. Since we dare not judge, then we must allow that not all
Christians can come to full unity of the Spirit. If we believe that all
Christians should be able to find unity of the Spirit, then we are left with
saying that many who claim to be Christians really are not Christians (although
we cannot personally judge anyone), and that doctrine ultimately must be
included in defining who is a Christian. You have to choose: No judging, no
unity. Or, unity of the Spirit, with doctrinal agreement.
I cannot expect the whole world to
believe the same things as Faith Assembly. I can’t even expect a fraction of
those who were once part of Faith Assembly to continue to believe the same
things we believe. Neither can I judge who is saved or who is not. If we want to
find unity, we must find those who share the same doctrinal beliefs, and that is
not going to include all other Christians. So, I do not pine away for everyone
who used to be part of Faith Assembly to come back to Faith Assembly.
In fact, I know there are many who are substantially holding
to the original message of Faith Assembly, who are meeting in groups here and
there, not all in one place as a single body. This is not a problem. God uses
separate groups, with different leaders, to carry the banner forward wherever we
are, and we can be united in the Spirit, if we are in agreement doctrinally,
without being a denomination. Restoration is more than a restoration of one work
or one body. I am encouraged seeing how God is moving in many locations to
revive and restore the end-time faith message. Being stationed at a pivotal
point, where I receive communication from all over the country, even from all
over the world, I have what is perhaps an especially clear view of this.
The things I said in the Wednesday blog are not by any means
an “official” view or position of anything. The faith bodies are not a
denomination, nor is Faith Ministries or Faith Assembly the headquarters of
anything. I speak for only one body, one very small body, in one location. Among
the bodies who identify with essentially the same end-time faith message, there
are some variations in emphasis. We do not compete. It is our purpose to love,
support, and encourage these bodies however we can. We are so blessed by the
unity in the Spirit that has been manifested more and more just over the past
year. All glory to Jesus!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Through Psalm 66
2:20 p.m.
You have my wife, Rene, to thank for the limited line length of the blogs.
Eventually, I will go back and change all of them.
I realize that in saying what I said in the previous post, I
risk offending some people. Of course, that was not my purpose, but I see no
point in hiding where we stand on the various issues I mentioned. Some of these
are actually the very points that drew people to Faith Assembly years ago, so,
it is rather interesting to me that anyone would now be offended who were
enthusiastic members of Faith Assembly years ago. Of course, what I added having
to do with social structure and elitism, and avoiding peer pressure, might not
meet with everyone’s approval, but, sorry, we just are not going to repeat
things that caused problems in the body in the past. God is no respecter of
persons, and we shall try our best not to be respecters of persons either.
Well, this is all I really have time to write today. I pray
that God will grant people who have hearts for His will to be done on earth as
it is in heaven to hear and understand the importance of the things I have
shared.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Through Psalm 51
9:50 a.m.
As the days to go by, I am aware more and more how those who have lost touch
with Faith Assembly over the years have some serious catching up to do, just to
know who we are today. Faith Assembly is a living organism, and, as is true for
any living thing (with the single exception of God, who never changes), life
itself means changes are taking place continually. In many cases, people rightly
anticipate that changes have taken place, but they sometimes miscalculate which
direction those changes have taken us. In fact, because Faith Assembly is rooted
in the unchanging Word of God, we have probably not changed as much as people
might expect. So, for the benefit of those who may wonder, I would like to give
a brief run-down of points where we have not changed, and also of points where
we are changing. And, since this is based on my own perception of things, I’m
well aware that others may have a different perception, so take what I say for
what it’s worth.
1. We have not gone along with the “prophetic move” of the
greater part of the charismatic world. We do not believe the Biblical pattern
supports ministry being raised up external to the local assembly by man-made
organizations. So, we do not recognize the ministries of free lance apostles and
prophets who sell their services to whoever will invite them in.
2. We do not participate in outreach programs. We do not
minister in coöperation with ministries and groups who do not share our position
on vital doctrinal issues. We continue to follow the Ephesians 4:11–16
principles, that leadership in the body is to prepare members of the body for
their ministry, and that outreach is not a church program, but simply disciples
reaching out wherever God has placed them.
3. We have not followed the movement toward contemporary rock
music in worship, worship teams, and the leadership controlling the charismatic
body ministry, including more and more restriction of ministry to the leader
group only.
4. We have not followed the direction of the abandonment of
the wearing of headcoverings, and returning to the world’s styles of dress,
including pants, by the sisters. We have not encouraged more and more sisters to
become involved in ministries of various kinds. Faith Assembly holds to the New
Testament principle that leadership is the responsibility of the men, for which
God has equipped the men, and which is outside the purpose and call of women.
While we do not restrict women from participation in meetings (including the
body ministry) on the basis of either dress or the headcovering, we still do
recognize and teach these principles. Women do not serve as ministers in Faith
Assembly, nor do ministers seek the counsel of women for direction of the church
(which was actually beginning to happen at one time).
5. Faith Assembly continues to teach that divine healing is
supernatural, without medical science, but declining medical help is not a
condition for being part of the body.
6. Faith Assembly does not participate in holidays adopted
from pagan celebrations. whether religious in nature, such as Christmas and
Easter, or obviously pagan, such as Hallowe’en and Mardi Gras. Nor do we
participate in patriotic holidays.
7. Faith Assembly teaches separation from the world, based on
II Corinthians 6, I John 2, and James 4. To us, this means that worldly
entertainment, as provided by television, Hollywood, worldly music, and sports,
are contrary to Christian discipleship.
8. The basis of our existence is spiritual first of all;
therefore, any social life in the body should embrace everyone alike. We have
recognized a past tendency for the body to be more based on social structure
than on spiritual relationships. So, we resist any re-establishment of a social
structure independent of being knit together spiritually as one living organism.
9. We do not equate the body of Christ with any human leader.
While we continue in the same doctrines, we go to great lengths to show the
Biblical basis, not simply appealing to, “This is how it was taught in the
past.” We re-affirm that the body of Christ is the people God has gathered, not
the human leaders God uses to gather them.
10. We avoid making laws or rules of past teachings. We
believe it is vital that every individual sees the principles in the Word
personally. We seek to avoid “peer pressure” that produces mere outward
conformity, apart from a personal inward conviction. We strive to be
understanding of those who have not yet seen for themselves the principles we
teach. We invite them to inquire, and we are willing to discuss our convictions,
as long as it does not turn into a debate.
11. We teach principles, not rules. We’ve seen fruit
indicating that some people in the past took principles as rules, and
essentially came to a “salvation by works” position. At the risk of being
accused of compromising, we strive to give people space to come to their
convictions, and we do not to restrict them from participation based on what
they see or do not see, nor pressure them into a forced compliance with our
views.
12. These are our desires, yet we remain committed to
preaching the same principles of the Word as clearly as possible.
We welcome honest seekers, and those
who believe God is leading them to return to Faith Assembly. But we will not
open a door to people who want to steer Faith Assembly their own direction, or
restore Faith Assembly based on a structure of social connections. I have tried
in this blog to explain directions we have not taken, so people will not
unrealistically think they will find us moving certain directions God has
clearly led us not to move. I do not consider this to be the final word on the
subject, but I did want to make it clear that those who haven’t had contact with
us for many years may not really know where we stand, and to sketch out a few
points on that subject.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Through Psalm 42
11:30 a.m.
I just want to say, in light of the April 10 post (which I have edited a
little), that by no means do I feel defeated by any of these circumstances. No,
the battle is just beginning. It is a battle in the spiritual realm, not carnal
warfare. Perhaps some of the battle will be in the physical realm — not with
guns and bombs, but of the “we must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom
of God” kind. In any case, I know that God will watch over Faith Assembly, and
give us wisdom and direction to know how to respond to people with love and
compassion, at the same time as we stand firm on the scriptural principles, and
war in the spirit against the enemy’s devices to pollute, pervert, subvert, or
overlay God’s truth with man’s ideas.
I am looking forward to the days ahead, because the outcome
of the battle is victory, and God will restore His assembly to what He wants it
to be, and to fulfill the mission for which He raised it up.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Through Psalm 38
4:00 p.m.
I have received a real wake-up call. You have heard the term. Life is going
along: not necessarily smoothly, but you have a routine that you can at least
somewhat follow, which serves as a framework for the things you have to deal
with, whether a car problem, cash flow, the sniffles, or even more serious
physical trials — in any case, things you know are part of living a mortal life,
and you have learned to deal with by faith; and then, something comes your way
that opens your eyes to a new or different vista of reality, and you have to
come to some kind of understanding how it is supposed to fit into the rest of an
already “full enough” life. Sometimes it is becoming aware of a problem in your
own life you were not dealing with. It may be a drastic change of circumstances
that vastly alters your whole framework of routine. Or, it could be something
that has the effect of adjusting your road map of life, or at least showing you
places you might be visiting that you had not realized before were even
possibilities as part of your trip, so suddenly you need to be thinking ahead
and preparing just in case you do end up visiting those destinations.
In this case, it has to do with restoration of God’s work.
There are literally hundreds of people still living here in northern Indiana who
once were part of Faith Assembly. These fall into a number of different
categories, which it is not my call to say who fits in what category. But, I
have assumed most of them left the body because they no longer agreed with the
message and walk on which this work was founded. If that is their sentiment, I
am not going to judge or rail on them. In some cases, we have been railed on by
them, but that is part of our lot in life, and I can still leave it to God to
judge between us and them.
But, I have also been aware there are people who sense the
message was right, but they recognize there were problems at Faith Assembly, and
they have ideas how to fix them. I also recognize there were problems, but I am
believing for God to direct me as pastor to address them through the teaching.
In fact, the wake-up call I am talking about had to do with precisely this
issue. It gave me a clearer idea of what some of the specific problems were.
Actually, there were a number of things I had understood by the Spirit, but I
had no proof to support my suspicions. Through recent developments, I now have
evidence on the basis of personal testimony, that the things I suspected
actually were true. God had revealed them to me, even though they went back to
before the time when I became part of Faith Assembly. Social cliques were one of
the greatest issues. Social and spiritual profiling. Exclusivity. Judging. Peer
pressure. Legalism. I do not blame these problems on the message, but on mortals
like me! So, I have been dealing with some of these issues for years, and moving
Faith Assembly, under God’s direction, away from these problems. I will continue
to address further issues in the days ahead.
But, in either case, with either group, the thing I am
missing, the thing I do not sense is the concern of either group, is the central
purpose of the body, to be a holy people unto God, separated and distinct from
this present evil world. Walking by faith is not an end in itself, but is the
enabling means to do God’s work of representing His Kingdom, that is, His will
being done on earth as it is in heaven, which will never happen through
religious and political systems of man, but only within assemblies of true
believers, the true body of Christ. To restore a social group and structure that
does not have the purpose of God and the life of Christ would be a vain and
futile work of man, like the rest of man’s religious Babylon system.
I am concerned that, as God begins moving to restore this
work, we may have to deal with some who try to come back who really do not want
the work to move forward, to be a holy people unto God, but actually want to
take over to steer it another direction. Some might want to steer it back to the
good old days, recovering the body in the sense of the people and the social
group and structure, but not really coming back to the message, and not
addressing the issues that led ultimately to the disintegration of the body.
Others will be so concerned to focus on fixing the problems that by the time you
fix the problems, you don’t have the message any more. And, as I said, I have
just not heard of those who really want, above all, to be a holy and distinct
people of God, as His ambassadors.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Through Psalm 36
3:00 p.m.
I can’t believe it is April 9 and I just realized I have not updated to April
for my blogs. And, I do have some things I want to blog about, but I don’t have
time right now, other than to update all the pages to include links back and
forth with April.
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