Open letter to David Powers
Dear Brother David,
You probably don't see anything wrong with the article you posted on the BIBLETRUTHS.ORG website titled Join the Church of Your Choice OR Join the Church of God's Choice. Your article asks some good questions and makes some good observations about the body of Christ. You're only off by just a little bit with the answers to your own questions - just a little drop of false doctrine mixed with a lot of truth makes your entire brew spiritually deadly. Let's see if some editorial comments in teal will help you see what's wrong with your work.
J Wayne Airy
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Join the Church of Your Choice |
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Join the Church of God's Choice |
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Is there a Church of God's choice for His children? We believe there is. [SO FAR, SO GOOD - AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT BELIEVE YOUR SECT IS THE ONLY MANIFESTATION OF IT!] |
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Is the Church the L ORD is building practical or just figurative?We believe it is real and functioning, and in fact, it is the only church doing God's work. [GOOD FOR YOU. IT'S REAL, ALL RIGHT, WHETHER YOU RECOGNIZE IT OR NOT. IT'S ALIVE AND DOING GOD'S WORK IN A PRACTICAL WAY; IT'S REPRESENTED BY EVERY BELIEVER; AND IT'S BIGGER THAN YOU CAN EVEN IMAGINE.] |
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Is God building all the various denominations? We believe God is only building one church and all of His children are members. Men are building denominations. [SINCE YOU DIDN'T EMPHASIZE THE WORD "ALL", IT MIGHT INDICATE YOU DON'T EMBRACE ALL THE WAY HE DOES. HE WORKS IN THEM ALL DESPITE DENOMINATIONS, UNIONS, CO-OPS, AND HUMANLY INCORPORATED MINISTRIES.] |
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Are there Christians in the various denominations? We believe there are Christians in many man-made denominations, but they have disobeyed God's word by joining. [DOES THIS MEAN THE WORLD CAN'T SEE GOD'S WORK BECAUSE CHRISTIANS HAVE DISOBEYED HIM? OR THAT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS NULLIFIED BY THEIR NAME ON A MEMBERSHIP ROLL? OR THAT THE LOVE OF SAINTS IN AUSTRALIA FOR SAINTS IN ALASKA IS VOID BECAUSE THEY ARE MEMBERS OF DENOMINATIONS? CAN YOU GUARANTEE THEY'LL BE OBEYING GOD'S WORD IF THEY COME OUT OF MAN-MADE DENOMINATIONS TO JOIN YOUR MAN-INCORPORATED SECT? WILL THEY BE LESS SECTARIAN IN YOUR CULT?] |
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Is it God's will that His children be divided by denominations? We believe God has commanded His children to be one in a visible way so that the world may see and believe. [NO, JESUS DID NOT COMMAND HIS FOLLOWERS TO BE ONE; HE PRAYED THAT WE'D BE ONE, AND HIS PRAYER HAS BEEN ANSWERED. HE DID COMMAND US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. WHENEVER WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT WE OBEY HIS COMMAND; AND THE WORLD KNOWS WE ARE ONE BECAUSE WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER. BUT YOU DIDN'T REALLY ANSWER YOUR OWN QUESTION. YOU THINK SAINTS MUST JOIN YOUR SECT AND MEET WITH YOU TO BE "ONE IN A VISIBLE WAY". WHAT'S VISIBLE TO THE WORLD IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN ALL SAINTS, INCLUDING DENOMINATIONAL SAINTS. YET YOUR SECT IS A MISERABLE FAILURE AT UNITY WITH ALL SAINTS IN A VISIBLE WAY BECAUSE IT PRACTICES A BRAND OF COUNTER-SCRIPTURAL SEPARATION AND EXCLUSIVENESS TOWARD THEM. THE WORLD WILL RISE UP AND TESTIFY AGAINST YOU.] |
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Is it God's will that His children unite with unsaved and pool their resources to build a denomination that divides them from other of God's children? We believe God has clearly commanded that His people not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. [YOU MAKE A FALSE GENERALIZATION ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF GOD'S CHILDREN. DENOMINATIONS ARE NOT THE RESULT OF A CONSORTIUM BETWEEN THE SAVED AND UNSAVED TO DIVIDE CHRISTIANS. YES, PROFESSING CHRISTENDOM IS A MIXTURE OF WHEAT AND TARES; BUT MOST CHRISTIANS, EVEN IN DENOMINATIONS, TRY TO AVOID "UNEQUAL YOKES" WITH UNBELIEVERS. THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE "ARTICLES OF FAITH" OR "STATEMENTS OF BELIEF" TO ESTABLISH MEMBERSHIP. THE BODY OF ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST IS UNITED BY GOD'S SPIRIT - BY HIS LOVE, NOT BY OUR CREEDS OR RESOURCES. HE DOESN'T NEED OUR GOLD - IT'S ASPHALT IN HIS REALM. NOTHING SEPARATES US FROM HIS LOVE; NOTHING SPIRITUAL DIVIDES US FROM THE BODY, NOT EVEN FALSE DOCTRINE; FALSE ATTITUDE ONLY KEEPS US APART IN FELLOWSHIP. YOUR INCORPORATED RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION IS A NO-NAME DE FACTO DENOMINATION. YOU CAN'T HONESTLY CLAIM IT INCORPORATES ALL AND ONLY SAINTS JUST BECAUSE YOU DO NOT MAINTAIN A MEMBERSHIP ROLL.] |
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Did you know there are Christians who really are meeting and working together simply as part of the body of Christ? We believe the word of God is practical and really works if we simply allow it to. [OF COURSE! EVEN THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, WITH ALL ITS PROBLEMS AND BAGGAGE, WAS EXTENDED GOD'S GRACE AND PEACE AND LOVE AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN HIS NAME, HE IS IN OUR MIDST. SAINTS ALL OVER THE WORLD PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL. WHO DO YOU CREDIT FOR THAT? THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH GETS ALL THE CREDIT. BUT YOU ARE NOT WORKING SIMPLY AS A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST AS LONG AS YOU SUPPORT RAG MINISTRIES, INC.] |
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Are you willing to contact us and find out for yourself?We believe God has commanded us to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We want to study God's word with you to prove the body of Christ is functional and the only church the Lord is building. Salvation by God's grace makes you a member of His church. [TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! I KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT YOUR PRACTICES." IF THOSE WHO BROWSE YOUR SITE ARE MEMBERS OF CHRIST, HE WILL DIRECT THEM THROUGH HIS WORD. IF HE WANTS THEM TO MEET YOU, YOU DON'T NEED TO ADVERTISE. IT'S LIKE A STEEPLE ON A DENOMINATIONAL MEETING HOUSE.]
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The Lord's Church |
purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28). [IT'S NOT FOR SALE TO ANY SECT.]HE
HE
is the Head (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). [HE IS HEAD OVER ALL.]HE
nourishes and cherishes it (Eph. 5:29). [DESPITE THE ABUSE OF HUMAN LEADERS.]HE
dwells in it (Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:18). [IN ALL ITS MEMBERS.]HE
adds only saved to it (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:13). [EVERY SAINT.]HE
places the members in it (1 Cor. 12:18). [WHERE HE PLEASES.]HE
designates the qualifications of its leaders (Titus 1:5-11; 1 Tim. 3:1-15). [THE TONE OF YOUR ARTICLE IMPLIES THAT THERE ARE NO QUALIFIED EXAMPLES FOR SAINTS TO FOLLOW OUTSIDE YOUR LITTLE FACTION. WE'RE TOLD THAT "EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES" IN CHRIST'S BODY. WE MUST RECOGNIZE ALL WHO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR LEGITIMATE CHURCH OFFICES. SURELY, YOU DON'T WANT YOUR SECT TO BE KNOWN AS THE SECT THAT SAYS, "WE HAVE NO NEED OF THEM." INCIDENTALLY, THE WORD "LEADERS" IS NOT FOUND WITH A COMPLIMENTARY CONNOTATION IN ANY PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE.]HE
instructs its members to be one that the world might believe (John 17:20-23). [YOU'D BETTER LOOK AT THAT PASSAGE AGAIN. IT'S NOT A DEMAND THAT BELIEVERS BE ONE; IT'S A REQUEST THAT THE FATHER WOULD MAKE US ONE, AS HE AND THE FATHER ARE ONE. HIS PRAYER HAS BEEN ANSWERED; HIS DISCIPLES, HIS FOLLOWERS, HIS SAINTS ARE ONE!]HE
instructs its members to be of one mind and speak the same thing (1 Cor. 1:10). [LOOK AT THAT VERSE AGAIN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS. THEY WERE BOASTING IN MEN, AND IT CAUSED DIVISIONS. PAUL PLEADED WITH THEM TO BE LIKE-MINDED AND BOAST IN THE LORD. NO SAINT CAN LEGITIMATELY CLAIM THEY ARE OF ONE MIND WITH ALL SAINTS AT EVERY MOMENT WHETHER THEY ARE OUTSIDE A SECT OR DENOMINATION OR NOT. BUT "IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS, HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER." THAT'S WHEN WE ARE OF ONE MIND.]HE
instructs its members to have no divisions among them (1 Cor. 1:10, 3:1-4). [IS CHRIST DIVIDED? (1:13) THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS NO! PAUL URGED SAINTS TO RECOGNIZE THE UNITY OF THE BODY. IN 3:6-7 HE PRESENTED THE PRINCIPLE OF THE MATTER - HOW THE BODY WORKS - GOD GIVES THE INCREASE.]HE
instructs its members to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). [WE CAN'T MAKE UNITY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN. PAUL URGED US TO OBSERVE THE UNITY THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE BODY. HE WROTE: "THERE IS..." NOT THERE WILL BE OR THERE COULD BE IF YOU KEEP THE UNITY - IF YOU DON'T MESS IT UP. HE WROTE, "THERE IS ONE BODY..."]HE
instructs its members to not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-17). [AS DISTORTED AND MISAPPLIED BY RAG, INC., THIS PASSAGE HAS PROVED MORE SUCCESSFUL AT SEPARATING AND DIVIDING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP THAN AT DISCOURAGING UNEQUAL YOKES. THE APPEAL IS TO "COME OUT FROM THE MIDST" OF UNBELIEVERS WITH THEIR UNGODLY LIFESTYLE RATHER THAN TO BE SEPARATE FROM A CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION WHICH MAY HAVE A FEW FALSE PROFESSORS IN ITS MIDST. YOU HAVE FALSE PROFESSORS YOUR OWN CONGREGATIONS. YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ALL BELIEVERS ARE ONE, SO YOU CANNOT EXPECT ALL TO SEEK TO BE YOKED TOGETHER AS ONE WITH YOU. BUT WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN IN THE SPIRIT (APART FROM UNBELIEVERS) AND HE IS FATHER TO ALL SAINTS IN EVERY SECT (VS 18).]HE
thouroughly furnishes it unto all good works by the scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17). [DID HE FORGET TO FURNISH A RAG EXPLICIT SEX MANUAL?]HE
has gone to prepare a place for it (John 14:1-6). [YES, FOR EVERY MEMBER.]HE
is coming again to catch only His church away (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-58). [NOT ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.]Then, he Who has provided all of the above and more, commands His church to do all they do in His name, thus giving thanks to God and the Father that He might rightly receive the glory (Col. 3:17). [DIDN'T YOU FORGET TO ADD: PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO ROBERT A. GROVE MINISTRIES, INC.?]
Now...Shall I join the Church of MY choice?
[ALL SAINTS ARE JOINED TO CHRIST; THE POINT OF YOUR ARTICLE IS TO GET THEM TO JOIN THE SECT OF YOUR CHOICE. ISN'T THAT RIGHT, DAVID?]
by David Powers
edited by Weyman Zelder
David,
You seemed like such a fine, genuine, honest young man 30 plus years ago. Now you over-estimate the impact and credibility of your sect. You are reluctant to move out of your comfort zone and check out what "the leadership" is doing. But you heard brother Maurice admonish us to prove all things. When he finished his course, he didn't pass his mantle to anyone else because he knew the Lord is head of His church and that we should be looking to Him, not to man. Oh, "the leadership" puts out a good message - it sounds like what we learned, but you are not just responsible to prove what you hear them say, you are responsible to prove what they do. They can't prove their works are of God.
The Head of the church raises up men all over the world to spread the gospel and carry on the ministry of the church. And you, and those in your sect, seem totally oblivious to His work among all His saints. I pray you will get a glimpse of His work through His church.
J Wayne Airy