Frank's Desk - 10/12/10

 

From The Desk of Min. Frank Coleman  Sunday October 12, 2010 THE EUNUCH CHURCH leman, D.D Buff Scott, Jr. "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza'…And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch…Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture [Isaiah 53:7-8], he told him the good news about Jesus" (Acts 8:26-39). The Eunuch's Conversion & Church When the Ethiopian eunuch heard the good news about Jesus and accepted it, "he went on his way rejoicing" following his being immersed ("baptized") in water. It is alleged that when he arrived back in Ethiopia, he shared the Good News with others of his kin and, as a result, The Church of Eunuchs was founded. A large edifice was then constructed, and over the entryway a large sign, in large letters, read, "THE EUNUCH CHURCH." But then things began to change among the new colony of believers. It was reported there arose quarreling among the various parties within the community of the redeemed. Some were saying, "I follow Philip," or "I follow Paul," or "I follow Matthew," or "I follow Luke," or "I follow Christ," or "I follow God." The founding eunuch insisted that they be called The Eunuch Church or The Church of Eunuchs. No consensus was reached and, as a result, the following churches or religious parties ensued and became part of the partisan landscape: The Eunuch Church The Church of Philip The Pauline Church The First Church of Matthew The Congregation of Luke The A Cappella Church of Christ The Assembly of God Divisiveness And It's Ugliness Thus schism was in full bloom. Even the "Christ" and "God" parties were wrong. They were wrong because they rejected other believers. Each church refused to recognize each other as valid Christians. And each church's doctrinal platform centered around conformity. It is now time to ask: Did our Lord die for all this unsightly mess? Heavens, no! The apostle John wrote that "Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one" (John 11:51-52). Who are scattered among sects and parties and factions? God's children. Now we know why our reformer forefathers sought to "unite the Christians in all the sects." Let us no longer promote the Baptist sect, the Church of Christ sect, the Christian Church sect, the Roman Catholic sect, the Methodist sect, the Presbyterian sect, or any of the others. Let us, instead, proclaim Jesus and Him crucified in an effort "to bring them [God's children] together and make them one." Destroy Our Creations Away with all of our sects and churches and religious parties! They have splintered the one body of believers into multiple factions. We have divided ourselves out of practical existence. Tear down our idols—church edifices—and ground them into powder. Either that or convert them into humanitarian centers for the down-trodden and destitute. We either dismantle our holy icons and sacred parties or the day will come when the world will look upon them—and us—as antiques. Look to Europe. Most of her citizens have lost all interest in modern-day "Churchianity." They see more good out of the church than in church. Unless we reform the whole mess we have created from inside out, we will be no better off than the prodigal son who left home and squandered his inheritance among prostitutes and wound up wallowing and eating with the pigs. The mud holes are looking us straight in the eyes. Destroy or dismantle our idols and set up house meetings in their stead. The early believers found them suitable. So should we. Min. Frank Coleman http://www.pathoflifeministries.org All comments and links in this publication reflect the sole opinion of Frank Coleman