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SUBJECT: Church -- Organizations
QUESTION: Why church organization or denominations?
Why names or group names? How do you have God’s truth? Why
is the ICG organized?
ANSWERS:
1) Why religious denominations?!
First, are you asking why there are organized churches or
are you asking why are there so many different organizations
or denominations? Or are you asking, "Why is the
Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong
Evangelistic Association organized?"
Second, what do you want there to be? No organizations of
any kind? Not sure I understand.
If you have any understanding of the Bible, then you know
that Jesus established a church before He died. He then
organized it. He gave it two primary commissions, namely 1)
to spread the gospel and 2) to feed the flock. God then
called people into that church. He moved these people to
repent of sin, to be baptized and to receive the Holy Spirit
of God. He calls these people firstfruits. Paul later
talks a lot about the church, seeing that he spent much of
his life in the church traveling throughout the country
establishing churches and organizing them. The disciples
did the same. Paul talked about all the positions in that
organization including ministers.
That is the primary reason we are organized.
If you have any understanding of human governmental law then
you must understand that the other reason churches,
including ours are organized is because the government says
we must. There are specific laws binding us at both the
state and Federal Gov-ernment level to submit corporate
papers. Without them everyone is put at risk and the church
cannot claim to be a non-profit entity.
Note: I am going
to assume you know your Bible so I am not going to give you
all the scriptures that prove the Bible part above but will
supply them to you if you need them.
2) Why call yourself something? Why have names? Why
have group names?
Again, based on the answer to your first question, there
must be a name if you are going to incorporate. You cannot
give them NO name. Your application would be refused.
Regarding the name, Intercontinental Church of God: The
Bible is clear that the name of the church Jesus established
was "Church of God"...
Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood.
1 Corinthians 1:2
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all
that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our
Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Corinthians 10:32
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles,
nor to the church of God:
1 Corinthians 11:22
What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise
ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What
shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you
not.
1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
2 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at
Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
Galatians 1:13
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the
Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the
church of God, and wasted it:
1 Timothy 3:5
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall
he take care of the church of God?)
As for the "Intercontinental" part of the name: the state
and Federal Government will not allow two churches with the
same name and the church in question does not want there to
be confusion with the name so we use the word,
"Intercontinental" to make the distinction.
Regarding the name, "Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic
Association": Clearly you understand the "Garner Ted
Armstrong" part but who goes around just calling themselves
by a name. If you were incorporating or starting a business
tomorrow, what would you call your self? Say you are
beginning a computer sales business; would you just call
yourself "Siweltap" or "Mr. Siweltap" and hope every
understood you sold computers or would you add a descriptor
to your name like, "Siweltap Computers, Sales and Service"?
Believe if I saw this name, I would have a pretty good idea
what it was you had to offer me as a business.
Now regarding the part of the name, "Evangelistic": Mr.
Armstrong is an evangelist. Notice...
Ephesians 4:10-12
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far
above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Note: Jesus
established the positions and called the specific
individuals to these positions. Do a Bible study on Godly
Calling to confirm this fact. An evangelist has a specific
duty. Notice...
From Strongs Exhaustive Concordance:
2099 euaggelistes (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace');
from 2097; a preacher of the gospel:
KJV-- evangelist.
Now from the dictionary (Webster's
Unabridged Dictionary 1913):
Evangelist
E*van"gel*ist, n. [F. évangéliste, L. evangelista, fr. Gr.
.] A bringer of the glad tidings (gospel)
of Church and his doctrines.
Specially: (a) A missionary preacher sent forth to prepare
the way for a resident pastor; an itinerant missionary
preacher.
(b) A writer of one of the four Gospels (With
the definite article); as, the four evangelists,
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John. (c) A traveling preacher whose efforts are chiefly
directed to arouse to immediate repentance.
The Apostles, so far as they evangelized, might claim
the title though there were many evangelists who were not
Apostles.
Therefore, this part of the name tells the world that Mr.
Armstrong is an evangelist and deals with evangelistic
situations and endeavours.
The final part of the name, "Association":
This is, of course, a corporate designator. Notice this
from the same dictionary:
Association
As*so`ci*a"tion (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. association, LL.
associatio, fr. L. associare.]
1. The act of associating, or state of being associated;
union; connection, whether of persons of things. Some . . .
bond of association."
The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association is fully
associated with The Intercontinental Church of God. Mr.
Armstrong is the president (on
corporate papers) of both organizations.
NOW SPIRITUALLY: Mr. Armstrong is a servant of God, called
by Him to proclaim the gospel of the good news concerning
the return of Jesus Christ.
Now regarding the Web Site address, "www.garnertedarmstrong.org":
This one is easy. All URL (web
site addresses) must have unique names. The
"org" is a designation of the Internet for organizations as
opposed to "com" which is for commercial organization which
we are not.
3) Does Mr. Armstrong get his information from a group of
scholars that study day and night, turn their conclusions
over to him and he reports on them?
NO. Generally this is not how God works. Remember, this is
God's church. God provides the truth of the gospel. The
people involved are only His servants doing His work. Here
are just a few scriptures about how things work in God's
Church and where truth comes from.
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come.
Note: The
primary commission of the work.
Matthew 28:19-20
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:
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.
Note: Sounds
like you have to be organized to me. God is always with His
church.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.
Note: Ministers
must study before God and rightly divide (teach
and preach) the Word of God.
1 Corinthians 12:3-14
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking
by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man
can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same
Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the
same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man
to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to
another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts
of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy;
to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of
tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all
the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so
also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Note: The Work
of God is done by the power of the Holy Spirit (not puny
man). God gives the gifts, all by the power of the Holy
Spirit (power of God).
The church has members, all baptized and having the Holy
Spirit in them. It is not the work of one man.
1 Corinthians 12:18
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the
body, as it hath pleased him.
Note: God puts
the members in the church including them who preach and
spread the gospel.
1 Corinthians 12:27-28
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles,
then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues.
Note: God
invented and designed the various positions in the church
and puts in thos positions who He will.
1 Corinthians 2:10
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Note: By the
Spirit, God's people know the deep things of God.
Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his
secret unto his servants the prophets.
Note: God reveals
things to His servants.
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Note: People
without God's Spirit cannot know the things of God.
1 John 2:20
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all
things.
Note: By the
Holy Spirit, those with the Holy Spirit know Spiritual
things.
I could give you much more but possibly you get the point.
4) Regarding your basic feeling that having an
organization or calling yourself this or that and your
reference to the unjust prophet, etc.:
It is GOOD that you are careful. Two important points
here. First a promise from God:
Matthew 7:15-24
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes
of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and
doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built
his house upon a rock:
Note:
1. God says to beware of false prophets (ministers). There
are some out there.
2. It says you will know them by their fruits.
3. The promise: A good tree CANNOT bear evil fruit and an
evil tree CANNOT bring forth good fruit. This should make
it easier for you.
4. Verse 21 shows that even false prophets and ministers (evil
trees) can say "Lord, Lord" and other religious
sounding words but true ministers are doing the will of the
Father in heaven.
5. Verse 24 is an admonition to you---YOU MUST DO THESE
WORDS and prove things such as which ministers and churches
are doing the will of God and preaching the truth.
IT WILL ALWAYS COME DOWN TO YOU...
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Philippians 2:12-13
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do
of his good pleasure.
Note: YOU must
prove all things. Do not believe Mr. Armstrong or me or
anyone else without proving it with your Bible. Also, you
must work our your own salvation, again meaning you must
prove all things but know (verse
13) THAT GOD IS WORKING IN YOU (if
He is calling you now....see John 6:44). |