Harrell Davidson
Many years ago, the late brother G.K. Wallace and his good wife Lillian were guests in our home. We were honored with their presence in every way. They invited us to their home in Florida, but we seemed to never have the time to go. One such occasion he told us of going to preach in a Gospel meeting at which time a lady came up to him and said, “brother Wallace, we have a kitchen in our church.” He replied, “who baptized it?” Brother Wallace was making the point that there was nothing wrong with eating in the building where the saints gathered to worship.
Some today still need this kind of lesson. No, it is not about eating in the building, but what some have brought over into the Lord’s church or at least have tried. No faithful congregation would permit such things as we have today. There are many congregations who are having every kind of seminar that one could imagine. We have noticed that some are having financial seminars. Among some of the speakers that we have noticed is Dave Ramsey. I do not know Mr. Ramsey. I have never met him. I have not been to one of these seminars, but I know this; there is no Scripture to justify such! Basketball courts, walking tracks, and physical fitness centers seem to be popular among many. The list is almost endless with more being thought of almost daily. All these trappings are “feel good” type of things—totally subjective. The idea being that if it feels good do it! Yes, these are feel good religionists and their number is increasing. Gymnastics for Christ, yea, yea!
Read with me Hebrews 8:2: “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Compare the old tabernacle under the Law of Moses to the new. Note, in doing so, that God ordered what should be in the tabernacle of old. So, it is that He has also ordered for the new. “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Heb. 8:5).
There was an attempt by the Judaizers to put circumcision in the church (cf. Acts 15). It was not needed nor authorized and thus refused by Inspiration. There was no authority for such. What God put in the church is totally sufficient.
He put Himself along with Christ and the Holy Spirit (Mat. 28:18-20). All of which play a prominent role in the church to this very day. It is God’s Word that the Son spoke and has been handed down to us through the agency of the Holy Spirit.
This is Inspiration. Redeemed, forgiven souls were placed in the church. The saved were added (Acts 2:47). The church, you see, is the temple that the family of God is born into (John 3:5). Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:5).
The church is a holy nation in which citizens are naturalized (2:9; Eph. 2:19). We are lost sheep, found and restored to the fold (John 10:16; 1 Pet. 2:25). We are slaves that are brought into the house as sons (Gal. 4:4-7).
The Lord put elders to rule and deacons to serve in the church not out of the church (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-11). God put a Book to be used and it is thoroughly sufficient for all that we need in life and godliness (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3).
The Lord, not man, put His table in the church. It is a memorial to the cruel death that our Savior suffered in our stead and His pure blood that was shed for us to have the remission of sins as well as to purchase the church with His blood (1 Cor. 11:23-25; 10:16, 21; Acts 20:28). It is a communion that requires examination, separation, consecration, meditation, and confession (1 John 1:9). The table is one of anticipation. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Cor. 11:26). For the alien sinner our Lord has put in the church a glorious invitation. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17).
Now, what was it that you want to put in the church?
