A Question

1
A Question

• What would be your reaction if a person told you
  that, given a choice between two congregations to
  attend, a doctrinally incorrect church that loves
  and a doctrinally correct church that does not
  love, he would choose the doctrinally incorrect
  church?

2
I Must We Be Part Of A Local Church? Yes

• 1 Co.1271427, body (14-26)
• Body does not say anything about their
  relationship w. other churches
• The body of Christ is NOT composed of churches
  
• Church universal is composed of individuals
  (Christians)
• As the church universal can be com-pared to a
  body, so can a local church
• 1 Co.619-20 / Ep.221-22

3
What is Paul saying?

• Not the body (as if Cor. is the whole)
• Not a body (as if one among many)
• But body that each of you composes
• 21, head (not Christ illustration)
• 27, body (an illustration)
• Each Corinthian is to this local body what
  each member is to the physical body

4
Application

• Members applies to all individuals who compose
  the congregation at Corinth
• Individually expresses the diversity of each
  member in the congregation
• Whatever gift each has is used for the good of
  the body
• A severed limb dies
• Hb.1024-25, implies a known group

5

• I Must We Be Part Of A Local Church?
• II Does The Lord Care About The Church I
  Fellowship?
• Mt.166, 12, does doctrine matter?
• Gal. . . . 57, influence me?
• 2 Jn.9-11, influence others?
• May I encourage others in error?
• May I encourage others to attend where
  error is preached?

6

• I Must We Be Part Of A Local Church?
• II Does The Lord Care About The Church I
  Fellowship?
• III Answers To The Introductory Questions
• Doctrinally incorrect w. love, or
• Doctrinally correct w/o love

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1. False dilemma

• Must choose between accurate church w/o love and
  inaccurate one w. love
• Not the only possible choices
• One can choose a church that is doctrinally
  correct but w/o love and not jointly
  participate in the sin
• Sardis, Rv.31-5 Philippi  
• One can choose a sound church w. Love
  (Rv.28-10)
• One can encourage repentance
• Ephesus Rv.21-5

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2. False definitions

• True love obeys (Jn.1415)
• Absolute commands are either obeyed are they are
  not. (Baptism)
• Directional (relative) commands are obeyed in
  degrees. (Love, Mt.548 1 Th.49-10)
• There is no such thing as a perfect church
  (directionally)
• This is not the same as rebellious church

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Question

• How are we different from unsound churches?
  Our people are not perfect
• No church is perfect (people)
• A church can avoid unauthorized activities

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3. False Fellowship

• A man who joins church that is doctrinally
  incorrect . . .
• Participates with (endorses) the church's
  sinful activities (Ep.511)
• Encourages people to be a member, which means
  that they also will share in the unauthorized
  activities
• Has no stopping place
• A loving Baptist church / Catholic

11
4. False charges

• Preachers reject doctrinal lessons
• Reason they cause division
• Blame those who demand authority, not . . .
  who introduce innovations
• 2 Tim.217
• M. Music and Miss. Soc. divisions
• Blame those who sought NT authority?
• Those who push innovations over the consciences
  of those who cannot participate, cause division

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Attitudes And Issues

• I insist on mech. music in worship
• Forbids your singing
• I insist on misuse of church funds
• Forbids your giving
• Foods, days Ro.14 Ga.49-11
• Lean toward premillennialism do not teach it
  willing to study
• Contrast Tit.310-11

13

• I Must We Be Part Of A Local Church?
• II Does The Lord Care About The Church I
  Fellowship?
• III Answers To Introductory Questions
• IV How Some Choose A Church

14
Some choose a church because of . . .

1. Its building, or the size of its attendance
2. Popularity or reputation alone. Rv.31
3. Tradition (what they have always believed or
   done)
4. Morals alone
5. Personal preferences / pleasure

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Personal Preferences

• Preacher speaks only 20 minutes
• Church demands light, non- controversial,
  all-positive lessons
• Non-traditional practices
• New traditions