Gary Holloway World Convention Disciples of Christ
by Gary Holloway
September, 2012
In some mysterious way God always provides a way of escape: a warning as a forced confession of those "strongly deluded" MARKING themselves with Lying Wonders defined absolutely as religious operations featuring all of the performing artists whom Christ defined as hypocrites.
Gary Holloway's enlistment follows the other patterns of picking of men whom they think has influence within Churches of Christ. There have been many such movements and all have been destructive.
Did the "World Convention of the Disciples of Christ" with a few from Churches of Christ to deceive really intend to teach that their ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT extend outside of the Stone-Campbell Movement lie. Did it intend to elevate a preacher who MARKS the World Convention of the Disciples of Christ with the following?
Gary Holloway Ecumenical: First, [ecumenical] is biblical. “Ecumenical” is from the Greek word oikoumena, which is used 15 times in the New Testament for “the entire inhabited world.” The most interesting passage that relates to the modern meaning is Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
INHABITED: Late Latin oecumenicus ; from Classical Greek oikoumenikos, of or from the whole world ; from oikoumenē (gē), the inhabited (world) ; from oikein, to dwell, inhabit ; from oikos:
Oik-ēma A .dwelling-place. esp. bed-chamber, temple, shrine, brothel, the kosmos .
Oioik-eō “diōkēsamēn” keep house: hence, generally, control, manage, administer, manage after one's own will and pleasure, managing to make such iniquitous profits, act collusively with ton kosmon” Id.Phdr.246c;
kosmos , ho, A. order, kata kosmon in order, duly, shamefully, generally, of things, natural order, ornament, decoration, esp. of women, metaph., of ornaments of speech, such as epithets, to sing sweet songs of praise, world-order, universe, first in Pythagoras, of earth, as opp. heaven, 3. in later Gr., = oikoumenē, the known or inhabited world, 5. houtos ho k. this present world, i.e. earth, OPPOSITE. heaven, Ev.Jo.13.1; regarded as the kingdom of evil, ho arkhōn tou k. toutou ib.12.31.
Kosmo-krator epith. of ouranos, Orph.H.4.3; “Zeus Mitras Hēlios k.
Dam.Pr.131; hoi k. tou skotous toutou the cosmic rulers of this sinful world, dentified with Apollon.
Ep.Eph.6.12; “hoi k. hoi ta hupo selēnēn stoikheia dioikountes”
Britannica: The ancient Middle East constituted an ecumene. The term ecumene comes from the Greek word oikoumene, which means the inhabited world and designates a distinct cultural-historical community.
"The ancient Middle East made a place for homosexuality and bestiality in its myths and rites. In the Asherah cult the qedeshim priests had a reputation for homosexual practices, even as the qedeshot priestesses for prostitution. Israel eventually banned both the qedeshim and qedeshot, while in Ugarit the and kohanim were priestly guilds in equally good standing. Baal is portrayed in Ugaritic mythology as impregnating a heifer to sire the young bull god. The biblical book of Leviticus (18:22--27) bans homosexuality and bestiality expressly because the Canaanite population had been practicing those rites, which the Hebrews rejected as abominations.
BEYOND THE STONE-CAMPBELL MOVEMENT? -Gary Holloway
Since Gary Holloway has been made the head of the World Convention, he is not working for "unity" AMONG believers but an ECUMENICAL JOINING OF EVERYONE WHO "CLAIMS" TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
Gary Holloway: "Why does World Convention limit itself to unity within the Stone Campbell Movement?"First, the Stone-Campbell Movement is a lie perpetuated by the Disciples of Christ for whom Gary is now working. There was noting in common between Stone and Campbell. Campbell denied that there COULD be a UNION which would be a new sect. There was no formal UNION in 1932. The agreement between a few men was based on the views of Campbell and historic Restorers such as John Calvin. See John Smith's Conditional statement.
"But an amalgamation of sects is not such a union as Christ prayed for and God enjoins. To agree to be one upon any system of human inventions would be contrary to his will, and could never be a blessing to the church or the world; therefore, the only union practicable or desirable must be based on the word of God as the only rule of faith and practice... about which there is a contrariety of opinion and sensitiveness of feeling, speak of them in the words of the Scripture, and no offense will be given and no pride of doctrine will be encouraged. We may even come, in the end, by thus speaking the same things, to think the same things.Stone denied that he could accept union with Campbell's view of baptism and Campbell denied after the hand shaking that there WAS or could be any Stone-Campbell Movement. This is a new scheme to restore--in these end-times--the World or Kosmos or oikoumena religion of the Principalities and powers in high places.
Gary Holloway Ecumenical: "Our young people do not care about unity among Disciples, Christian Churches, and Churches of Christ. They care about unity with all Christians."That's why local churches under local elders to "teach that which had been taught" is not ruled by the youth. Perhaps the youth of the Disciples Sect would like to fellowship Churches of Christ. However, the YOUTH did not begin the heresy of the Stone-Campbell movement which denounces as legalistic patternists those who continue to read, understand and follow the Word of God.
Gary Holloway Ecumenical: In fact, our mission statement says World Convention exists "to provide a means of relating the global family to the whole Church of Jesus Christ." If that is true, then why does World Convention work to connect those in the Stone-Campbell Movement worldwide?God made Jesus of Nazareth both Lord and Christ to train and SEND OUT evangelists to Seek and Save the Lost Spirits which are IN the World but not OF the World. If MANY are called but FEW are chosen or became part of the ekklesia why would one want union with the MANY instead of choosing to "go outside the gates (camp, organized) and suffer reproach with Jesus whom the masses reproached (exposed his nakedness) as the MARK of the Kosmos [oikoumena], a Pythagoras dogma silenced in Romans 14.
"...this sect crowned the image of Jesus along with those of Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle. Further, there were impostors of all varieties: magicians, soothsayers, jugglers, deceivers and hypocrites, 'who appeared using mighty words with a host of unintelligible formulae and taking up with scandalous ceremonies in order to rob men of their money." (Int. Std. Bible Ency., Gnosticism, p. 1246).
"The Orphic creeds were the basis of the Pythagorean brotherhood, which flourished in southern Italy beginning in the 6th century bc. The Pythagoreans were aristocratic fraternities that sometimes had a political scope. Their main achievements, however, lay in the fields of music, geometry, and astronomy. They discovered that these subjects could be explained by numbers and ratios. Combining Orphic eschatology (the study of the last things, especially death and afterlife) with their discoveries, they invested music, geometry, and astronomy with religious values. According to their doctrine, the original home of the soul was in the stars. From there ... (100 of 10,561 words)
"In cultic action music was used in preparation for prophecy. Julius Firmicus Maternus refers to this fact in his remarks on an African cult.
- With the air full of flute music,
- the priests would put on women's clothing and
- then call on the goddess so that,
- filled with a wicked spirit, they might
- predict the future to foolish men.
"In considering this cultic background it is necessary to understand the
- view of music as dispositive to divination,
- a view which derives from pagan philosophy.
This opinion resided in the old Pythagorean school, as Cicero notes. The Stoa also recognized the employment of music in the service of divination. According to Stoic teaching, ascesis and listen to music were preparations for the ecstasy which, along with purity of heart and a relationship with God, was considered to be the most favorable condition for prophesying.
The notion which was basic to this conception was closely connected wiht belief in the purifying power of music. In both instances there was a question of eleminating tensions and obstacles in man which could stand in the way of the infusion of the divine and its revelation. (Quasten, Johannes, pg. 40)
THE GREAT COMMISSION DOES NOT FELLOWSHIP WITH THE WORLD
Jesus Whom God made to be both Lord and Christ to make the prophecies more certain.
The Spirit OF Christ speaking through the PROPHETS and APOSTLES but not through kings or Levites.
Matthew 13:38 The field is the world;
the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil;
the harvest is the end of the world;
and the reapers are the angels.
Matthew 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered
and burned in the fire;
so shall it be in the end of this world.
Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world:
the angels shall come forth,
and sever the wicked from among the just,
This is the baptism in WIND and FIRE.
And his breath [SPIRIT], as rushing water in a valley, reach reach as far as the neck, and be divided, to confound the nations for their vain error; error also shall pursue them and overtake them. Isaiah 30:28 LXX
Must ye always rejoice, and go into my holy places continually, as they that keep a feast? and must ye go with a pipe, as those that rejoice into the mountain of the Lord, to the God of Israel Isaiah 30:29 LXX
and the Lord shall make his glorious voice to be heard and the wrath of his arm, to make a display with wrath and anger and devouring flame: he shall lighten terribly, and his wrath shall be as water and violent hail. Isaiah 30:30 LXX
For by the voice of the Lord the Assyrians shall be overcome, even by the stroke where with he shall smite them. Isaiah 30:31 LXX
And it shall happen to him from every side, that they from whom their hope of assistance was, in which he trusted, themselves shall war against him in turn with drums and with harp. Isaiah 30:32 LXX
For thou shalt be required before thy time: has it been prepared for thee also to reign? nay, God has prepared for thee a deep trench, wood piled fire and much wood: the wrath of the Lord shall be as a trench kindled with sulphur. Isaiah 30:33 LXX
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited,
if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Jesus Whom God made to be both Lord and Christ to make the prophecies more certain.
The Spirit OF Christ speaking through the PROPHETS and APOSTLES but not through kings or Levites.
Matthew 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways,
and as many as ye shall find, bid [ka^leō] to the marriage.
Matthew 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways,
and gathered together all as many as they found,
both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matthew 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: Mark 16:16 He that believeth [complieth] and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth [will not comply] not shall be damned.
Matthew 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?
And he was speechless.
WHAT? FOR ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26
BECAUSE FOR [lwhat I mean is] as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [been CLOTHED with Christ] Gal 3:27
[27] quicumque enim in Christo baptizati estis Christum induistis
quīcumque (or -cunque ), quaecumque, quodcumque (also separately:
Enim why because, for, for instance, namely, that is to say, I mean, in fact I. To corroborate a preceding assertion, yes indeed, yes truly, of a truth, to be sure, certainly, indeed: A. To prove or show the grounds of a preceding assertion
Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants,
Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mark 16:16... but he that believeth [will not comply] not shall be damned.
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [OUT of the Oikoumen- not INTO]
Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
JESUS WARNED US NOT TO UNITE WITH THE WORLD'S HYPOCRITES. Christ warned about the lying pen of the Scribes and the WORLD uses them for their worship pattern.
Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.Gary Holloway ask Is 'Ecumenical' a Bad Word?
Matthew 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians,
saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth,
neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Gary Holloway Ecumenical: First of all, we are not working toward a slightly larger sectarianism, thinking that "our" churches are the only ones. Instead we are affirming our heritage of Christian unity. Indeed, from the beginning our movement thought its only reason to exist was to promote unity among all Christians.
A Christian (uppercase) was a person who had been baptized into Christ and was therefore in the body of Christ: if they were IN the Sects (Disciples to Campbell) he called on them to "come out of Babylon."
A Restoration of the Ancient Order of ThingsIn the Sacrificial systems (never commanded by God) the loud instrument players were called Soothsayers with instruments. Because they ate from the flesh and blood lust they were called PARASITES.
But creeds of human contrivance keep up these establishments; nay, they are declared by some sects to be their very constitution.--These create, and foster, and mature that state of things which operates against the letter and spirit of the Saviour's prayer.
The disciples cannot be united while these are recognized;
and while these are not one, the world cannot be converted.
So far from being the bond of union, or the means of uniting the saints, they are the bones of controversy, the seeds of discord, the cause as well as the effect of division. As reasonably might we expect the articles of confederation that league the "Holy Alliance" to be the constitution of a republic, as that the Westminster or any other creed should become a means of uniting christians. It may for a time hold together a worldly establishment, and be of the same service as an act of incorporation to a Presbyterian congregation, which enables it to make the unwilling willing to pay their stipends, but by and by it becomes a scorpion even among themselves.
In the act of naturalization which was then performed by means of water, he abjured or renounced spiritual allegiance to any other prince, potentate, pontiff, or prophet, than Jesus the Lord.--He was then treated by the citizens as a fellow citizen of the saints, and invited to the religious festivals of the brotherhood. And whether he went to Rome, Antioch, or Ephesus, he was received and treated by all the subjects of the Great King as a brother and fellow citizen. If he ever exhibited any instances of disloyalty, he was affectionately reprimanded;
but if he was guilty of treason against the king,
he was simply excluded from the kingdom.
But we are now speaking of the constitutional admission of citizens into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and not of any thing subsequent thereto. The declaration of the belief of one fact, expressed in one plain proposition, and the one act of naturalization, constituted a free citizen of this kingdom. Such was the ancient order of things, as all must confess. Why, then, should we adopt a new plan, of our own devising, which, too, is as irrational as unconstitutional.Let me here ask the only people in our land who seem to understand the constitution of our kingdom and the laws of our King in these respects, Why do you, my Baptist brethren, in receiving applicants into the kingdom, ask them so many questions about matters and things which the apostles never dreamed of, before you will permit them to be naturalized? Although you do not, like some others, present a book for their acknowledgment, you do that which is quite as unauthorized and as unconstitutional
The Heretic (sectarian) was the slaughter priest: while the musicians made the lambs dumb before the slaughter, the priest "lifted them up to cut their throats."
A heretic or sectarian is ALWAYS the one who ADDS or IMPOSE something not commanded or required to conduct a school of Christ. If people continue to NOT do what they had never done in recorded history from Abraham onward it would be a lie to call them SECTARIANS because they refuse to bow (as did Jesus) bow to the MEN performing as CHILDREN, piping to cause the initiates to sing or lament and dance. That was the "initiation into the gay brotherhood."
Exodus 15:[20] sumpsit ergo Maria prophetis soror Aaron tympanum in manu egressaeque sunt omnes mulieres post eam cum tympanis et chorisMaybe Stone but the Campbell's had no interest in UNION as a new sect. Being Bible readers they came to understand that religious rituals as ceremonial legalism is not remotely connected to the Qahal, Synagogue or Church of Christ which they defined like Christ as A School of Christ.
Also identifying the Levites commanded to EXECUTE any godly person who came near or into any "holy" place
Prophe-ta I. a foreteller, SOOTHSAYER prophet... oraculorumque interpretes, sacerdotes Aegyptiorum, quos prophetas vocant, [Priestess of Egpt prophetess call out] Aegyptius, propheta primarius
PHRASE: Aegyptius, propheta primarius 1. Aegyptius,
2. Prophetai
3. Primarius I. one of the first, of the first rank, chief, principal, excellent, remarkable,
primarius parasitus,
Plaut 2.1.73 PERIPLECOMENUS You are a simpleton. For, if you lay anything out on a bad wife and upon an enemy, that is an expense; that which is laid out on a deserving guest and a friend is gain; as that, which is expended upon sacred rites, is a profit to the wise man. By the blessing of the Gods, I have enough, with which to receive you with hospitality in my house. Eat, drink, indulge your tastes with me, and surfeit yourself with enjoyments; my house is at your service, myself likewise do I wish to be at your service. For, through the blessing of the Gods, I may say that, by reason of my wealth, I could have married a dowered wife of the best family; but I don't choose to introduce an everlasting female barker at me into my house.Părăsītus , i, m., = parasitos, lit. one who eats with another; hence, I. In gen., a guest (pure Lat. conviva): parasiti Jovis, the gods, Hence, parasitus Phoebi, a PLAYER. actor, II. In partic., in a bad sense, one who, by flattery and buffoonery, manages to live at another's expense, a sponger, toad-eater, parasite -Comically, of a whip: ne ulmos parasitos faciat, that he will make his elm-twigs stick to me like parasites, i. e. give me a sound flogging, he tutelar deity of parasites was Hercules, Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 79.
Notes from 2 Maccabees defining the Abomination of Desolation
The tensions which led to the Jewish revolt were exacerbated when the Jewish high priest, a Hellenist himself, offered a sacrifice to Heracles (Hercules) who was a Greek symbol of homosexuality.
Gary Holloway Ecumenical: For many evangelical Bible-believing Christians, “ecumenical” had become a bad word. They think the ecumenical movement is only for liberal Christians. They think ecumenical means compromising essential beliefs for the sake of a tenuous unity. They think that ecumenical organizations support radical violent causes throughout the world.A Restoration of the Ancient Order of Things--No. III. by Alexander Campbell, pp. 139-142.
I have no idea of seeing, nor one wish to see, the sects unite in one grand army.
But creeds of human contrivance keep up these establishments; nay, they are declared by some sects to be their very constitution.--These create, and foster, and mature that state of things which operates against the letter and spirit of the Saviour's prayer.
This would be dangerous to our liberties and laws.
For this the Saviour did not pray.
It is only the disciples of Christ dispersed among them,
that reason and benevolence would call out of them.
Let them unite who love the Lord,
and then we shall soon see the hireling priesthood
and their worldly establishments prostrate in the dust.
The disciples cannot be united while these are recognized;
and while these are not one, the world cannot be converted.
So far from being the bond of union, or the means of uniting the saints,
they are the bones of controversy, the seeds of discord,
the cause as well as the effect of division.
A Misunderstood Word
These are all serious misunderstandings of the ecumenical movement.
While churches and Christians who describe themselves as “liberal” have been and are part of the ecumenical movement, those who describe themselves as evangelical are also a part. I attended the Global Christian Forum in 2011 where Christians from 65 different countries gathered to pray, study the Bible, and promote Christian unity. In this ecumenical gathering were many evangelical, Pentecostal, and “Bible” Christians, including representatives of the World Evangelical Alliance. The ecumenical movement is not a “liberal” project but includes Christians from a variety of theological positions.
Campbell 4. Again, speaking of purity of speech in order to the union of Christians, we say,
"None of you [Christians] have ever yet attempted to show how Christians can be united on your principles.
You have often showed how they may be divided, and how each party may hold its own, but while you pray for the visible unity of the disciples, and advocate their visible disunity, we cannot understand you." March, 1827, vol. 4.
Why Use “Ecumenical?”
But if “ecumenical” is a misunderstood and controversial word, why use it? Would we not be better off simply talking about Christian unity?
Of course, Christian unity is what the ecumenical movement is all about, but there are good reasons to keep the word
A member of the Oikoumen- is a member of the Kingdom of the Kosmos: their leader is the Kosmokrator. The Kosmos is specificially that defined by Phythagoras and outlawed by Paul in Romans 14. These are the natural citizens of the kingdom of the Devil and Jesus marked the sons of the devil as those who "speak on their own." They are marked even as the "singing and harp playing prostitute" in the Garden of Eden who WHOLLY SEDUCED Eve in a sexual sense according to Paul and the Cainites are OF that Wicked One. Jesus was ordained to seek and save the LOST SPIRITS and take them OUT of the World order and "translate their spirits into a heavenly kingdom." You cannot SEE that kingdom and it does not come with observation: that means that the kingdom WILL NOT COME to religious services.
First, it is biblical. “Ecumenical” is from the Greek word oikoumena, which is used 15 times in the New Testament for “the entire inhabited world.” The most interesting passage that relates to the modern meaning is Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Jesus called the FEW OUT of the World or Oikoumena or Kosmos. The World is the kingdom of Satan and he still controls the kingdoms of the World. To keep His Disciples safe Jesus told us that the Kingdom is WITHIN us and we should NOT go out when any INSTITUTION calls us to join Satan's World. John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
LOOK AT WHAT A CHURCH OF CHRIST DOES INCLUSIVELY AND EXCLUSIVELY
Romans 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.LOOK AGAIN AT WHAT THE WORLD CONVENTION IS PROMOTING WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THEY DO?
Please in terms of SELF-pleasure is the Greek Areskos or Greek Placeo. This outlaws all of the performing arts and crafts so that the assembly can "use one mind and one mouth to speak that which is written for our learning." Believers are edified by being EDUCATED and the Textbook is the Word of God.
Oikodom-eō build a house : generally, build,
epoikodom-eō , 3. metaph., build up, edify, IEp.Cor.8.1, 10.23, etc. ; oi. eis ton hena IEp.Thess.5.11 :
“phusei mathēmata”
Math-ēma A. that which is learnt, lesson, 2. learning, knowledge
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
1Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder,
I have laid the foundation,
and another buildeth [“heautous tē pistei”] thereon.
But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfortRomans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
Aedĭfĭcātĭo
II. Fig., building up, instructing, edification.(a). Absol.: “loquitur ad aedificationem,” Vulg. 1 Cor. 14, 3; 14, 26.—
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Oikoumen-2 (sc. gē), hē, A. inhabited region, v. oikeo A. 1 ; then the Greek world, opp. barbarian lands, The inhabited world, “hēThe Cosmos the World Convention wants to restore is the rule of the Principalities and powers in High Places.
A. philia B. perikhoreuei tēn oi.
Latin: Saecŭlum to sift; Lat. sero, satus; whence Saturnus
I. a race, breed, generation, the shades of the infernal regions, Stat. Th. 11, 592.
C. Like the biblical , aiōn, the world, worldliness (eccl. Lat.): The quality of being worldly; familiarity with the ways of the world.
D. Heathenism (eccl. Lat.): “saeculi exempla,” female mŭlĭĕbris
3. The spirit of the age or times: nemo illic vitia ridet; “nec corrumpere et corrumpi saeculum vocatur,” Tac. G. 19.—
the female sex, women, Lucr. 4, 1223; so, “muliebre,”
Gal. 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins,
that he might deliver us from this present evil world, [Saecŭlum]
according to the will of God and our Father:Tac. Ger. 19 Thus with their virtue protected they live uncorrupted by the allurements of public shows or the stimulant of feastings. No one in Germany laughs at vice, nor do they call it the fashion to corrupt and to be corrupted
To limit the number of their children or to destroy any of their subsequent offspring is accounted infamous, and good habits are here more effectual than good laws elsewhere.
Spectācŭlum a show, sight, spectacle, “spectaclum ipsa sedens,” i. e. exposed to public view, in the sight of all, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 21Mŭlĭĕbris B. In a reproachful sense, womanish, effeminate, unmanly: parce muliebri supellectili
A. Lit., in the theatre, circus, etc., a public sight or show, a stageplay, spectacle (cf.: “munus, ludi, fabula):
scenae,” “ludorum,
B. Transf., the place whence plays are witnessed, the seats of the spectators, seats, places in the theatre, the amphitheatre: “spectacula plausu
“resonant spectacula plausu, [ad nervos resonant in cantibus,” carmina resonantia chordis Romanis, to the strings,
C. A wonder, miracle: spectacula septem, the seven wonders of the world:
fēmĭna , “inter quas Danai femina turba senis,” Prop. 2, 31 (3, 29), 4.—Applied as a term of reproach to effeminate men,
feminine (opp. virilis): “vocabulum,” Varr. L. L. 9, § 40 sq. Müll.—
A. pu denda muliebria, Tac. A. 14, 60: “muliebria pati,” to let one's self be used as a woman,
ē-nervo i. e. unmanned, to enervate, weaken, render effeminateONLY BY RESTRICTING WOMEN IN THE ASSEMBLY PAUL ALSO INTENDED TO PROHIBIT THE EMASCULATED. The Spirit of the Age seems to have reversed it.
“animos (citharae), the music of the cithara, or, in gen., of a stringed instrument, the art of playing on the cithara
“orationem compositione verborum,
“corpus orationis,
unnerved, weakened, effeminate, weakly, unmanly: “
"Awed by the mysteries of his own spirit no less than by those of nature, primitive man was likely to attribute to divine influence any abnormal emotional state, whether above or below the usual level. Medicine men customarily went into states of trance in which they were believed to be in communication with the gods, and many tribes supposed lunatics and sexual deviants to be divinely possessed. (H. Bamfort Parkes, Of Gods and Men, p. 29).
Heredotus explains how Cyrus was told how to neuter captives:
Grant, then, forgiveness to the Lydians, and to make sure of their never rebelling against thee, or alarming thee more,
send and forbid them to keep any weapons of war, command them to wear tunics under their cloaks, and to put buskins upon their legs, and make them bring up their sons to cithern-playing (Kitharizein), singing (psallein), and shop-keeping (Hucksterism).
So wilt thou soon see them become women instead of men,
and there will be no more fear of their revolting from thee."
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The Ecumenical World also includes dancing as an act of worship.
Hebrews 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
The World Convention creating discord with Musical Noise is NOT an Angel of light.
The "Musical Worship Team" created by the instrumental sects CLAIM that they can "bring you into the presence of God." Some claim that they bring God DOWN to rest on the performing team Jesus called hypocrites. They CLAIM to be standing in a holy place of church architecture and they CLAIM that they can MEDIATE with performance rhetoricians, singers and instrument players. John in Revelation 18 calls them SORCERERS who had once deceived the whole world making merchandise.
1Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
La^l-eō , Mark of the LocustsIn 1 Corinthians 13 we know that Paul speaks of laleo as meaning inarticulate speaking which is equated to the sounds of musical instruments which have no value other than entertainment and "making the lambs dumb before the slaughter." In Hebrews 2:5 he is not speaking of this present KOSMOS or realm of Satan and his angels but the Spiritual World.
II. chatter, Opposite. articulate speech, as of locusts, chirp, Theoc.5.34; mesēmbrias lalein tettix (sc. eimi), a very grasshopper to chirp at midday,III. of musical sounds, “aulō [flute] laleō” Theoc.20.29; of trees, v.supr.1.2; “di'aulou [flute] ē salpiggos l.”[trumpet] Arist. Aud.801a29; of Echo, magadin lalein sound the magadis, [double flute]
It is important to understand that the word LOGOS is the opposite of poetry or music so that we can identify the angels or messengers of Satan whom the Bible and all traditions proves taught men how to use music to SILENCE the mouth of God.
Aggelos , of a loquacious person 2. generally, one that announces or tells, e.g. of birds of augury, Il.24.292,296; Mousōn aggelos, of a poet, aggelon glōssan logōn” E.Supp.203; “aisthēsis hēmin a.” Plot.5.3.3; neut. pl., “aggela nikēs” Nonn.D.34.226.
A. aisth-ēsis A. sense-perception, sensation, of the several senses,
II. in object. sense, impressions of sense, Arist.Metaph.980a22;
stage-effects, Po. 1454b16; aisthēseis theōn
visible appearances of the gods, Pl.Phd.111b.
2. display of feeling, Arist.Rh.1386a32 (v.l.)
B. nik-ēi_, hē, II. pr. n., Nike, the goddess of victory, Hes.Th.384, cf. Pi.I.2.26, etc.;
“Nikē Athana Polias” S.Ph.134, cf. E. Ion457 (lyr.), 1529.
Nike is also portrayed erecting a trophy, or, frequently, hovering with outspread wings over the victor in a competition; for her functions referred to success not only in war but in all other undertakings. Indeed, Nike gradually came to be recognized as a sort of mediator of success between gods and men.
Even youth would have heard the stories and understood the symbolic language used to warn then and now:
Nike (or Nicé) was the winged goddess or spirit (daimon) of victory [at Ephesus], both in struggle and peaceful competitors. When Zeus was gathering allies at the start of the Titan War, Styx brought her four children, Nike (Victory), Zelos (Rivalry), Kratos (Strength) and Bia (Force) into the service of the god.
"From Nakao, to conquer and Laos, the people or laity. There is however, no ancient authority for a sect of Nicolaitans. If the word is symbolic, it refers to the earliest form of the notion of a priestly order, or clergy, which later divided an equal brotherhood into priests and laity. What in Ephesus were deeds (Rev. 2:6) had become in Pergamos a doctrine (Rev. 2:15)."
In Greek mythology, Nike is represented as the Goddess of Victory whose function was to proselytize or evangelize for Zeus, the Greek deity, and ascribe to him all the honor and glory of all the other gods, and thus displace them that he might be worshipped in their stead.
Nike was represented in ancient Greek vase protecting with a variety of attributes incorporating a wreath or sash to overhead a victor, an oinochoe and phiale (bowl and cup) for libations, a thymiaterion (incense burner), an altar, and a lyre for the celebration of victory in song.
A. philia B. perikhoreuei tēn oi.
A. phi^li-a “hē ph. tou kosmou ekhthra tou theou estin” Ep.Jac.4.4Dioik-eō “diōkēsamēn” keep house: hence, generally, control, manage, administer, manage after one's own will and pleasure, managing to make such iniquitous profits, act collusively with ton kosmon” Id.Phdr.246c;
3. later, of lovers, fondness,LXXPr.5.19, 5. the natural force which unites discordant elements and movements, opp. neikos,Emp.18, al., Isoc.15.268. strifeJames 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.B. perikhor-euo , A. dance round, [ekeise kai to deuro] E.Ph.316(lyr.); tinaLuc.DMar.15.3 ; “ton bomon” Id.Salt.24: metaph., “he philia p. tēn oikoumenen”
Luc. Salt. 24 orkhoumenas tas Mousas,
kosmos , ho, A. order, kata kosmon in order, duly, shamefully, generally, of things, natural order, ornament, decoration, esp. of women, metaph., of ornaments of speech, such as epithets, to sing sweet songs of praise, world-order, universe, first in Pythagoras, of earth, as opp. heaven, 3. in later Gr., = oikoumenē, the known or inhabited world, 5. houtos ho k. this present world, i.e. earth, OPPOSITE. heaven, Ev.Jo.13.1; regarded as the kingdom of evil, ho arkhōn tou k. toutou ib.12.31.
Pind. O. 11 My tongue wants to foster such themes; [10] but it is by the gift of a god that a man flourishes with a skillful mind, as with anything else. For the present rest assured, Hagesidamus son of Archestratus: for the sake of your boxing victory,
I shall loudly sing a sweet song, an adornment for your garland of golden olive,
[15] while I honor the race of the Western Locrians.
There, Muses, join in the victory-song; I shall pledge my word to you that we will find there a race that does not repel the stranger, or is inexperienced in fine deeds, but one that is wise and WARLIKE too.
Ephesians 6.[12] For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers,
against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
World's rulers of the darkness of this age
Kosmo-krator epith. of ouranos, Orph.H.4.3; “Zeus Mitras Hēlios k. Dam.Pr.131; hoi k. tou skotous toutou the cosmic rulers of this sinful world, Ep.Eph.6.12; “hoi k. hoi ta hupo selēnēn stoikheia dioikountes”
Skotos (“ho”.) N. 4.40 “tai megalai gar alkai skoton polun humnōn ekhonti deomenai” N. 7.13
This has much the same meaning as shadow or SKIA: the Jews had a COVENANT WITH DEATH AND HELL.
Pind. N. 7 If someone is successful in his deeds, he casts a cause for sweet thoughts into the streams of the Muses. For those great acts of prowess dwell in deep darkness, if they lack songs, and we know of only one way to hold a mirror up to fine deeds:
[15] if, by the grace of Mnemosyne with her splendid headdress,
one finds a recompense for toils in glorious song.
Skillful men know the wind that will come on the day after tomorrow, and they do not suffer loss through the love of gain. The rich man and the poor man alike travel together to the boundary of death.
[20] And I expect that the story of Odysseus came to exceed his experiences, through the sweet songs of Homer,
since there is a certain solemnity in his lies and winged artfulness,
and poetic skill deceives, seducing us with stories,
and the heart of the mass of men is blind.
For if [25] they had been able to see the truth, then mighty Aias, in anger over the arms,
would never have planted in his chest the smooth sword.
Hēlios II. as pr. n., Helios, the sun-god, Od.8.271, etc.; nē ton Hē. Men.Sam. 108; hupo Dia Gēn Hēlion, in manumission-formula, [“Hēlios doulous eleutherous poiei” Artem.2.36; identified with Apollo [Abaddon, Apollyon], Carm.Pop.12, E.Fr.781.11; with Dionysus, D.Chr.31.11, etc.2. Hēliou astēr, of the planet Saturn, v.l. in Pl.Epin.987c, cf. D.S.2.30,
Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Poieō , 2. create, bring into existence, “genos anthrōpōn khruseon” Hes.Op.110, cf. Th.161, 579, etc.
4. after Hom., of Poets, compose, write, p. dithurambon, epea, Hdt.1.23, 4.14; “p. theogoniēn Hellēsi” Id.2.53; p. Phaidran, Saturous, Ar.Th.153, 157; p. kōmōdian, tragōdian, etc., Pl.Smp.223d; “palinōdian” Isoc.10.64, Pl.Phdr.243b, etc.; “poiēmata” Id.Phd.60d: abs., write poetry, write as a poet, “orthōs p.” Hdt.3.38; “en toisi epesi p.” Id.4.16, cf. Pl.Ion534b: folld. by a quotation, “epoēsas pote . .” Ar.Th.193; “eis tina” Pl.Phd.61b; “peri theōn” Id.R.383a, etc.b. represent in poetry, “Homēron Akhillea pepoiēkenai ameinō Odusseōs” Pl.Hp.Mi.369c, cf. 364c, Smp.174b; poiēsas ton Akhillea legonta having represented Achilles saying, Plu.2.105b, cf. 25d, Pl. Grg. 525d, 525e, Arist.Po.1453b29.c. describe in verse, “theon en epesin” Pl.R.379a; epoiēsa muthous tous Aisōpou put them into verse, Id.Phd. 61b; “muthon” Lycurg.100.s
p. sabbata observe the Sabbath, LXXEx.31.16
In the heavenly places.
epouranios a^, 3. up to heaven, eptat' epouraniē v.l. in Arat.134. Opposite epigeios , on, A. on or of the earth, terrestrial,1 Corinthians 15.[40] There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial.Oura^nos 2. heaven, as the seat of the gods, outside or above this skyey vault, the portion of Zeus (v. Olumpos), 15.192, cf.Od.1.67
Opposite Meteroro III. [select] metaph., of the mind, buoyed up, in suspense, “Hellas hapasa meteōros ēn” Th.2.8; “meteōrō <tē> polei kinduneuein” Id.6.10; haughty, puffed up, elevation of style, thoughtless, absent-minded, 'distrait', fickle
Alaz-oneuomai , fut. make false pretensions, brag, Ar.Ra.280, Lys.Fr.73; of the Sophists, X.Mem.1.7.5, etc.;
Sophos, ē, on, A. skilled in any handicraft or art, clever Margites Fr.2; but in this sense mostly of poets and musicians Pi.O.1.9, P.1.42, 3.113; en kithara s.
Sophia, music and singing, tekhnē kai s. h.Merc.483, cf. 511; in poetry, in divination, cunning, shrewdness, craft.
trained in speaking all the resources that I have, wisdom overmuch is no wisdom II. of things, cleverly devised, wise, “nomos” [1449a] [1] so is the Margites to our comedies.
III. pr. n., Uranos, son of Erebos and Gaia, Hes. Th.127sq.; but husband of Gaia, parent of Cronos and the Titans (cf. Ouranidēs), ib.106, h.Hom. 30.17, cf. A.Pr.207. (Acc. to Arist.Mu.400a7, from horos and anō, cf. Pl.Cra.396c.
AGAIN PROVES THAT A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST OR STUDENT OF THE WORD CANNOT BE UNIONED WITH INSTRUMENTALISTS:
Ephesians 6.[12] For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers,
against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
G3823 palē pal'-ay From πάλλω pallō (to vibrate; another form for G906 ); wrestling:—+ wrestle.
Pallô, poise, sway a missile before it is thrown, sway, brandish, she drove it furiously, tripped on the shield-rim, quiver, leap, esp. in fear, II. Pass., swing, dash oneself, Pi.N.5.21; vibrate, of strings, Pl.Phd.94c (psalloito ap. Stob.); leap, bound, quiver, quake, phrena deimati pallôn S.OT153 (lyr.); dash along, of horses, E.El.477 (lyr.).
kosm-ikos , ē, on, (kosmos IV) s.v. Orpheus: Astrol., k. kentra (goad) skhēma
Skhēma 2. appearance, Opposite. the reality, ouden allo plēn . . s. a mere outside, E.Fr.25, cf. 360.27, Pl.R.365c; show, pretence, “ēn de touto . . s. politikon tou logou” Th.8.89; ; “skhēmasi kai khrōmasi mimeisthai” esp. outside show, pomp, to tēs arkhēs s. Pl.Lg.685c;
5. character, role, metabalein to s. Pl.Alc.1.135d; “panta s. poiein” Id.R.576a;
7. a figure in Dancing, Ar.V.1485: mostly in pl., figures, gestures
“skhēmata pros ton aulon orkheisthai” X.Smp.7.5; en . .
X.Smp.7.5 ; en . . mousikē [hēs to kitharizein kai to adein kai to embainein orthōs;] kai skhēmata . . kai melē enesti figures and tunes, Pl.Lg.655a 10. = to aidoion LXXIs.3.17.
Melos THE word for musical melody. B. esp. musical member, phrase: hence, song, strain 2. music to which a song is set, tune 3. melody of an instrument, “phormigx d' au phtheggoith' hieron m. ēde kai aulos”
YOU DON'T GO ECUMENICAL WITH THE WORLD WITHOUT VIOLATING THE WARNING OF JESUS
Matt 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.Jesus preached the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD which is ANTITHETICAL to the KINGDOM OF THE WORLD. The kingdom is:
Matt 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.G458 anomia an-om-ee'-ah From G459 ; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness:iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.
Matt 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the worldG4982 sozp sode'-zo From a primary word ??~? s˙s (contraction for the obsolete ???? saos , "safe"); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Gary Holloway Ecumenical: Ecumenical then refers to more than Christian unity. As Jesus himself prayed. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21). Christian unity is never an end in itself, but is so that the world may believe.basileia basileuō a kingdom, dominion, Hdt.: hereditary monarchy, opp. to turannis,
Opposite to:
tu^rann-is , idos, hē, voc. of the sovereignty of Zeus, “hē Dios t.” A.Pr. 10, al., cf. infr. 11.2:—but more freq.
II. despotic rule, obtained by force or fraud, tyranny, Simon.71, Hdt.3.53,81, Ar.V.417, Th.1.13, etc.; turannida ekhete tēn arkhēn (of the Athenians) Id.3.37;
3. territory or resources of a princeling, Liv.38.14.12.III. fem. of turannos, princess, LXX Es.1.18.
Aesch. Lib. 973 OrestesPaul outlawed this SELF-pleasure in Romans 15. In sacrificial systems the Instrument Players were called PARASITES: religious music made the lambs dumb before the slaughter. The priest was called a HERETIC.
Behold this pair, oppressors of the land, who murdered my father and ransacked my house! They were majestic then, when they sat on their thrones, [975] and are lovers even now, as one may judge by what has happened to them, and their oath holds true to their pledges. Together they vowed a league of death against my unhappy father, and together they vowed to die, and they have kept their promise well.
No, rather it is a net: you might call it a hunting net, or robes to entangle a man's feet.
[1000] This would be the kind of thing a highwayman might posses,
who deceives strangers and earns his living by robbery,
and with this cunning snare [anaireō] he might kill many men [pollous]
and warm his own heart greatly.
Anaireō , A. take up, anelontes apo khthonos having raised the victim from the ground, so as to cut its throat (cf. aueruō), Od.3.453.
2. take up and carry off, bear away, esp. prizes, “ II. make away with, destroy, of men, kill, Hdt.4.66; “pollous anairōn
2. of things, abrogate, annul,
III. appoint, ordain, of oracle's answer to inquiry, “ho theos autois a. paradounai
khrēstērion anelē min basilea einai” Hdt.1.13, etc.: abs., answer, give a response, aneile to khrēstērion ibid.; a. ti peri tinos give an oracle about a thing, Pl.Lg.914a; “manteias a.” D. Ep.1.16
Exairô -lift up, lift off the earth 2. raise in dignity, exalt, magnify, exaggerate it. Rhetoric, treat in elevated style, of music
3. arouse, stir up excites thy wish to die, pervert, make away with, get rid of, to be excited, agitated.
Includes: Choreia [choreuô] a dance, esp. the choral or round dance with its music.
Jesus called out only those lost spirits OUT of the World and ordained the Church or Ekklesia as a SAFE HOUSE to protect the believers from the the LADED BURDENS (songs, performance) and the BURDEN LADERS.
Seeking the Church of Christ UNITED with those condemned from Genesis to Revelation is THOUGHT to have more power than the GOSPEL. The Apostles were to SPEAK THE SAME THINGS they had seen and heard without any deviation. The world would see this as proof that THE APOSTLES had been sent by God. Seeing all of the singers, clappers, instrument players and false preachers UNITED should make the world FLEE FOR IT'S LIFE. The Words of Christ always produce DIVISION and CONFLICT between the Disciples (students) and the religionism of the World.
Alexander Campbell DENOUNCED uniting with the WORLD.
JESUS WOULD NEVER JOIN THE WORLD CONVENTION TO UNIFY THE WORLD THE REAL OF SATAN1. We were solicited by a sister to explain a saying quoted from the current volume of this work, concerning finding "Christians in all Protestant parties." She proposed a list of questions, involving, as she supposed, either insuperable difficulties or strong objections to that saying; and because she well knew what answers I would have given to all her queries, I answered them not: but attended to the difficulty which I imagined she felt in the aforesaid saying.
2. But we had still more urgent reasons than the difficulties of this sister to express such an opinion:--
Now as the Lord says of Babylon, "Come out of her, my people,"
Some of our brethren were too much addicted to denouncing the sects and representing them en masse as wholly aliens from the possibility of salvation--as wholly antichristian and corrupt.
I felt constrained to rebuke them over the shoulders of this inquisitive lady
1. Let me ask, in the first place, what could mean all that we have written upon the union of Christians on apostolic grounds,
had we taught that all Christians in the world were already united in our own community?2. And in the second place, why should we so often have quoted and applied to apostate Christendom what the Spirit saith to saints in Babylon--"Come out of her, my people, that you partake not of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues"--had we imagined that the Lord had no people beyond the pale of our communion!
3. But let him that yet doubts, read the following passages from the Christian Baptist, April, 1825:--
"I have no idea of seeing, nor wish to see, the sects unite in one grand army.
This would be dangerous to our liberties and laws. For this the Saviour did not pray.
It is only the disciples dispersed among them that reason and benevolence would call out of them, "&c. &c. This looks very like our present opinion of Christians among the sects!!! 2d ed. Bethany, p. 85.4. Again, speaking of purity of speech in order to the union of Christians, we say,
"None of you [Christians] have ever yet attempted to show how Christians can be united on your principles.
You have often showed how they may be divided, and how each party may hold its own, but while you pray for the visible unity of the disciples, and advocate their visible disunity, we cannot understand you." March, 1827, vol. 4.5. Various essays and letters on "Christian union" from our correspondents, are given to our readers with our approbation; from one of which we quote these words:--
I have given them THY WORD; and the WORLD hath hated them,
because they are not OF the world, even as I am not OF the world. John 17:14
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the WORLD, but that thou shouldest keep them from the EVIL. John 17:15
They are not OF the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:16
SANCTIFY them through THY TRUTH: thy WORD is TRUTH. John 17:17It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Jn 6:63
As thou hast sent ME into the world, even so have I also SENT them into the world. John 17:18
And for their sakes I SANCTIFY myself, that they also might be SANCTIFIED through the TRUTH. John 17:19And this is what they were to do:
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt 28:19
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt 28:20And he said unto them, Go ye into all the WORLD, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
HOWEVER:
Matthew 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests,
he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Matthew 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants,
Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
Disciples see no need to AFFIRM or UNIT: Disciples are students. Disciples were called Christians in Antioch. Therefore, only baptized believers are Christians or disciples. We--the twos or threes--can meet together for "synagogue" WITHOUT the need to wrestle over denominational dogma and the "pecking order."
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on ME through THEIR WORD; John 17:20
And here is how they were to sanctify others who BELIEVED:
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38YOU CAN SPEAK THE SAME THINGS IF YOU SPEAK THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN. BECAUSE THE WORLD WILL HATE YOU YOU WILL RARELY HEAR THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN EITHER SUNG OR PREACHED.
1 Cor. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing,
and that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined togetherin the same mind and in the same judgment.
Romans 15 which is directly parallel to the "singing" passages in Ephesians and Colossians. Paul did not mention SINGING as an external ritual but ODEING which defines PSALMOS as "cantillation" which fits Pauls black text on white paper to SPEAK and TEACH and ADMONISH:
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Rom 15:4Now the Godof patience and consolationThat ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15: 6
grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Rom 15: 5
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Rom 15: 7That they all may be ONE; as thou, Father, art IN me, and I IN thee,
Thus, a second reason to keep the word ecumenical is that it encompasses unity and mission to the whole world. This is why some in the last century who worked for Christian unity chose the term “ecumenical.” They wanted a word that included unity and evangelism. That is why the World Council of Churches in 1951 defined ecumenical in the light of the original Greek, “to describe everything that relates to the whole task of the whole church to bring the Gospel to the whole world. It therefore covers … both unity and mission in the context of the whole world.”
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21
JESUS SPOKE ONLY WHAT THE FATHER BREATHED (SPIRT) ON HIM WITHOUT METRON
If you want to be united with the Father and Son you can ONLY speak that which is written for our learning. Any body effort to make the Word more powerful is the REAL MEANING OF LEAGALISM.
John 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
John 15:18 If the world [kosmos-oikoumenē] you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evilFor I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me;Should We Join?
and they have received them,
and have known surely that I came out from thee,
and they have believed that thou didst send me. John 17:8
I pray for them: I pray not for the world,
but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. John 17:9I have given them THY WORD; and the world hath hated them,
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:14
Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on ME through THEIR WORD; John 17:20
So if the ecumenical movement is a good thing, should Churches of Christ join in?
Yes!
Why?
Because Jesus wants it. On the night he was betrayed, facing the cross for us, his fervent prayer was that all who believe might be one.
The Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ do NOT speak the same things or there would never have been an Instrumental Sect. They can only appear united IF one of the members does all of the thinking. Gary Holloway wants everyone to UNITY in singing, playing instruments, making "worship" into a performance which calls for women to expose themselves. Gary Holloway does NOT want everyone to REMOVE everything which has not been commanded in its "acts" or worship or organization so that there could be fraternal fellowship. The Church Jesus built and ordained through Moses ordained capable, non-mercinary teachers over as few as ten families. They were UNITED because Moses instructed the sub-elders what to PREACH by READING it each rest day.
Because it is all about evangelism and mission. Jesus wants us to spread the good news to the whole inhabited word, the oikoumena.
No, we have shown that the OIKOUMENA or KOSMOS is the realm of Satan and his fallen angels. Jesus commanded that a tiny FEW be called OUT of the Oikoumena.
Because this is our heritage in Churches of Christ. Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, Walter Scott, and countless others in our churches gave their lives in service to the cause of Christian unity so the world might believe. This is the reason for the existence of our movement and churches.
It's true that Barton W. Stone wanted UNITY without anyone discussing any DOCTRINAL differences. However, he said that there could be no UNION with Campbell who said that the Bible taught that Baptism was the Christ--ordained INSTRUMENTAL MEANS for the remission of sins. Stone, like the World Council had it's OWN conditions for unity. They would NEVER join in a denominational UNION with those who confess Christ on their sign, refuse to use instrumental machines, teach what Scripture teaches about baptism and refuses to expose women to the flock and the flock to women who have always been THE unique source for performance religion.
Because we have much to give to other Christians. We need to share the gifts God has given to Churches of Christ, such as our emphasis on baptism, our weekly practice of the Lord’s Supper, and our focus on the Bible.
Because we have much to learn from other Christians. We must not let pride convince us that we are the only or even the best Christians. Others can show us new paths of understanding, service, and mission.
How Do We Join?
While particular ecumenical organizations may have membership lists, there is no official list of churches involved in the one ecumenical movement. Thus our churches can “join” in various ways. Local churches can reach out to neighboring Christians to study, worship, and serve together. Regional and national para-church organizations can cooperate in mission.
But wouldn’t it be great if there was some way Churches of Christ could be involved on a more global scale? Wouldn’t it be good if there was a ministry that gave us a seat at the table with other Christian groups?
There is such a ministry, the World Convention of Churches of Christ (see worldconvention.org). For over eighty years, God has worked through the World Convention to connect Christian Churches, Disciples, and Churches of Christ globally every day. The Preamble to the World Convention Constitution gives the mission of the organization:
The World Convention of Churches of Christ exists in order more fully to show the essential oneness of the churches in the Lord Jesus Christ; to build up fellowship, understanding, and common purpose within the Christian-Churches of Christ-Disciples of Christ global family (including United Churches which members of the family have joined); to encourage and inspire these churches in their serving, prophetic and reconciling ministries; to provide a means of relating the global family to the whole Church of Jesus Christ; and to cooperate with Christians everywhere toward the unity of the Church upon the basis of the New Testament Scriptures.Churches of Christ were NEVER "unioned" with the Disciples of Christ. The first Census proved that in 1906. The Christian Churches formed the NACC in 1927 and "unity movements" have been a way to burrow into churches of Christ and find dupes to spread instrumental discord.
In John Jesus GUARANTEES unity based on the revealed Word of God:
What excites me most about this organization is not only is it the only entity working to connect all streams of the Stone-Campbell movement worldwide, but it also gives our movement a seat at the table with other communions globally. It is one way our churches can participate in the one ecumenical movement to take the gospel to the entire world.
Gary Holloway is Executive Director of the World Convention of Churches of Christ [worldconvention.org]. He formerly was Ijams Professor of Spirituality at Lipscomb University. Holding degrees from Freed-Hardeman, Harding, The University of Texas, and Emory University, he has written twenty-five books, including You Might Be Too Busy If…, Spiritual Practices for People in a Hurry from Leafwood Press as well as several volumes in the Meditative Commentary Series, also from Leafwood. He is married to Deb Rogers Holloway, who teaches theatre at Lipscomb University. See this excerpt from the book An Invitation to Live in God's Love, co-written with Earl Lavender, in our "Spiritual Formation" issue.19,12,12
Gary.Holloway.World.Convention.Disciples.of.Christ.html
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