Prior to His arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord prayed for the unity of all believers (John 17:20-21). Paul echoes the same sentiment when he admonished the church at Corinth that we should all speak the same things and be of the same mind (1 Corinthians 1:10). With such an expectation, it is discouraging to see the division which exists in today’s religious world.
A number of things might explain the division which exists. A failure to rightly divide the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15); seeking to keep a law which is not ours to keep (Galatians 5:4), obeying the teaching of man rather than the teaching of God (Matthew 15:3, 9) – all of these have contributed to the lack of unity among believers in Jesus. In addition to these, or maybe part and parcel with these, is the fact that some have redefined some Bible terms, resulting in a number of false teachings and practices, and thus religious division.
Law Of God
Sabbath advocates distinguish between Moses’ law (the ceremonial law) and the law of God (the moral law). This is a distinction the Bible does not make. Nehemiah 8:1 tells us that the people of Israel were in the open square, where Ezra read the “book of the law of Moses” to them. It is also referred to as “the book of the law” (v 3), “the law of God” (v 8, 18).
Nehemiah did not make a distinction between a law of Moses and a law of God – they are one and the same. But, to sustain the idea that the Sabbath should be kept today, a division must be made, because the law was abolished (Ephesians 2:15), nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14) and was made obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). If we seek to keep one part of the law, we are a debtor to keep it all, and alienate ourselves from Christ (Galatians 5:3-4).
The Law plainly reveals that the Sabbath was for the children of Israel, and not unto all people (Exodus 31:14-17).
Women Bishops?
It was 17 years ago yesterday that Victoria Matthews was ordained as the first woman bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada. The ordination of women as bishops is a relatively new thing, apparently beginning in 1980 with the United Methodist Church.1
Ordination, as it is used in the religious world today is foreign to the Bible. The KJV uses the term “ordained” about 20 times, but fails to be consistent in translation of the Greek words so rendered. The idea of being chosen, selected or appointed is in the texts, but not once is it used with the term for bishops. In Acts 13:48, the KJV says “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Such indicates that all believers are ordained!
Never are bishops set over a region or nation in the Bible. They are spiritual leaders in the local church, also called overseers, shepherds, elders or pastors (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-2). The Bible pattern is a plurality of bishops serving together in the local congregation.
Can a woman serve in the office of a bishop? The qualifications for a bishop are listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The second item listed is “husband of one wife.” That excludes unmarried men, and also excludes women from serving as bishops. If it is OK to ignore this qualification, what else can we strike from Paul’s instruction?
Young Elders?
Perhaps you’ve had two good looking young men stop by your home, with name tags identifying them as “Elders.” It doesn’t take a diligent Bible student to realize that something is amiss. The word “elder” refers to one who is “an aged person.”2 1 Timothy 5:1-2 uses the word elder in contrast with younger, as does 1 Peter 5:5. How do these boys who knock on your door in hope you’ll study the book of Mormon fit that description?
Years ago I was told that they are not elders like those spoken of in the Bible, but that the LDS church set up a different office (by the same name) in which their young men serve. I appreciate the honest admission that they are not elders in the Bible sense of the word, but it baffles me why they would go along with such blatant disregard for God’s word. Maybe they could have called these boys “youngers” rather than “elders” (though as an office of the church it would still be without scriptural support). But instead, they have taken a Bible term and redefined it to suit their own liking. A boy who barely needs to shave is no more an elder than a newborn colt is a workhorse.
Friend, it is not ok for us to make up our own religious laws, nor to redefine what God has given. Such has resulted in manifold division. Let us do and say as God reveals, not adding to, taking from, or redefining things.
1 religioustolerance.org; wikipedia.org
2 merriam-webster.com
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