How should the elders in a local church deal with complicated situations involving the saints?
The elders in a local church must deal with all kinds of issues, including complicated situations involving the saints. A great temptation the elders face is getting entangled in determinations of right and wrong in disputes between saints. The proper function of the elders is to shepherd all the saints and minister Christ as life […]
What is the relationship between authority and fellowship?
The throne and the river should guide us in our practice of fellowship and help us to discern what is genuine spiritual authority. Some may claim a measure of spiritual authority, yet their way is not in the fellowship of the divine life and does not impart life. In extreme cases their assertions of authority […]
Should we speak the words of warning that are given in the New Testament?
Many Christian teachers avoid the warnings that occur throughout the New Testament, and many believers have ears only for words of comfort and affirmation. Those who seek such affirmation find it uncomfortable to hear the sober words of warning in the Bible. Discomfort aside, the many warnings in the New Testament embody healthy words that […]
What is the proper ground for the building up of the Church?
Matthew 18:20 contains a wonderful promise: “For where two or three are gathered into My name, there am I in their midst.” However, some have misused this verse to discount the need for local churches established and built up on the proper ground. They claim that the gathering of two or three in the Lord’s […]
Q&R Sessions with Co-workers by Uni Students
The serving ones with Uni Students in Europe have hosted and published a series of sessions in the format of Question & Response with various co-workers including brothers Tom Goetz, Chris Wilde, Ray Mulligan, Peter Welk, Ken Mooney and Ron Kangas, among others. The questions were all collected anonymously and chosen for their sincerity, general […]
What is the central line of the Bible?
In addition to the central line there are many supplemental points of truth in the Bible, including the types and the prophecies, and many outworkings of God’s economy in terms of practices, all of which should be understood and applied in light of the central line. Concerning these secondary matters there are divergent interpretations among […]
Is it wrong to allegorize the Bible?
The Bible is written in a marvelous way. Some words in the Bible are clear, direct teachings, but many are in the form of parables, of allegories, of pictures in words that are full of meaning. Those who argue that such things should not be interpreted cast aside the means by which God has chosen […]
What is the attitude of those who meet in the local churches towards other believers (Part 3)?
In any kind of labor, all parties must concur on both the goal of that labor and the way to carry it out. This goal and this way issue from the vision that governs that labor. If the parties’ visions differ, serious problems will inevitably arise. The goal of the Lord’s recovery is the building […]
What is the attitude of those who meet in the local churches towards other believers (Part 2)?
The vision of the Lord’s recovery is contrary to the practice of today’s Christianity. Our vision is that God so loved the world that He gave His Son to die for us to redeem us, the sinners, in order that we can have the life of Christ and be regenerated by Him to be God’s […]
When should leading coworkers intervene in the administration of a local church?
Under normal conditions, a local church is entirely under the administration of local elders; the workers should not interfere. Of course, the church, especially the leading ones, should always maintain a harmonious fellowship with other churches and with the Lord’s servants. However, if a church is in serious disorder or if an accusation is made […]