Life Lessons: Ordinances and Shepherding

For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, and might reconcile both in one Body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity by it. Ephesians 2:14-16

Ordinances

The primary source of the divisions among Christians throughout the centuries has been ordinances. We may trace these ordinances all the way back to the time of Babel. From the time of Babel, mankind has been divided by ordinances concerning the ways of living and worship. One of the main elements of ordinances is language. As we all know, the division of the peoples at Babel was related to differences of language. There are many other ordinances concerning practices. The practices of baptism, the way a Christian group meets, the way they worship and pray, and many other practices. All these ordinances must not be the cause of division may Christian. What is important is Christ, the one new man.

Today morning I saw a message from a brother that I have been shepherding for years. He texted me about his baptism which should have been a thing of joy. But my reaction was somewhat negative. As I went before the Lord to pray and consider, the Lord rebuked me in not being joyful at my brother's baptism. In fact, the Life-study message on ordinances spoke to me in a fresh way. I felt like the Lord rebuked me saying, "You are not joyful about your brother's baptism because he was not baptized by you? Or because he was baptized by a sister who first led him to the Lord? You think that he should be baptized by you and just by some "leading brothers?" You are holding to your own concept, that is ordinances." Then, I repented before the Lord. I was exposed of how I was unconsciously holding on to ordinances. My ordinances may be according to my understanding of the "proper teaching of the Bible." Nevertheless, it is still an ordinance. It was a big blow to me and a great deliverance from my own ordinances. Praise the Lord that a brother whom I have been shepherding has been baptized! And I am being delivered from my own good ordinances!

Shepherding 

Another matter the Lord clarified by doubt was on shepherding the new ones. Some of the new ones are yet to be delivered from idolatry as they are from such background and some are in a live-in relationship, which we have advised them strongly to not continue and get married properly. 

According to the teaching of the New Testament, there are four things which we cannot tolerate: idolatry, fornication, division, and the denial of the deity of Christ. Romans 16:17, “Now I beg you, brothers, keep a watchful eye on those who make divisions and causes of falling contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and turn away from them.” In 1 Corinthians 5:7-11 Paul deals with fornication and idolatry. In verse 9 he charges the saints “not to company with fornicators.” Fornication damages humanity, and idolatry is an insult to God. Although Paul was liberal with respect to doctrine, he would not tolerate anything related to fornication or idolatry. His word about these things is strong and definite. In Titus 3:10 Paul says, “A man that is factious, after the first and second admonition, reject” (Gk.). A factious person is divisive and sectarian. After such a one has been admonished once or twice, he should be rejected if he continues in his divisiveness. There can be no compromise or neutrality. Therefore, regarding idolatry, fornication, and divisiveness Paul was very strict, and we must be strict also. According to the Second Epistle of John, we see that we must also reject those who deny the incarnation of Christ. Verse 7 says, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” This verse indicates that even in the first century there were certain ones who called themselves Christians, but who did not confess that Christ was God come in the flesh. In other words, they denied the fact that Christ was God incarnated.

According to the truth objectively, the new ones we are shepherding them must be helped immediately lest they be cut off from the fellowship as some of them are still holding onto their past background of idol worship. And some are still in their live-in relationship which is another form of fornication. As I was considering in the light of the word of God and also in the light of shepherding the new ones, the Lord showed me a new light. I must pray and shepherding these new ones to the extent that they fully leave idolatry, and they also fully come out of fornication. Instead of applying the teachings to them, I must shepherd them that they are not barred from the fellowship because of their sinful past. The solution is not in applying the doctrinal truth to them, but to shepherd them that they grow in life to come out of their sinful past lifestyle. What a relief the Lord gave me this morning!

Self Knowledge and God's Light

Another light the Lord showed me today morning is regarding my service. As I considered my past years of service, I felt very disappointed that I did not fruitfully bore forth fruits, according to my estimation, considering the length of my service so far. This is my own self-knowledge from self-examination, At that juncture, the Lord's light shown on me through the PSRP session we just had on the Crystallization-study of Job. The Lord showed me how I need not be like Job who cursed his birth, who dwelt on his excellent past, and willing to die to escape the Lord's stripping. Rather, I should follow the pattern of the apostle Paul who lived Christ, who left everything of the past behind, good or bad, stretching forward to pursue and gain Christ, dying to live Christ and being filled with joy and rejoicing and preferring to live for the saints' progress and joy of their faith. With this light, I was very much comforted and learned my lesson to let go of everything of my own feeling and continue to faithfully serve the Lord.

These are the life lessons the Lord taught me today, regarding ordinances, shepherding, and concerning myself. Praise the Lord!