Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 21 September 2006 — Page 38

Page 38 • The Muncie Times • September 21, 2006

BELIGION The Church Separated For Service

By Reverend N.A. Urshan Never before has the Church of the Living God meant so much to the world. If ever there was a time the church needed to take its position in relationship to Almighty God and become that unusual, unique channel through which God meets with men, this is that hour. I sometimes think that a great many people are not aware of the important role that the church plays in regard to the work of God. Many people think of the building on the corner as just a building of brick and mortar. Many think of the church only as people who are related to some denomination, failing to recognize that there is a unique and remarkable body of people, a spiritual entity called the church of the living God. The members of the church have been pulled out of a world of sin to live a righteous life before God, they have been born again of the water and of the Spirit; they have found that Jesus Christ is the only and real Savior. They have given their lives to Him in full consecration; they have obeyed the great truths of the Scriptures in baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, they

have understood and found that the Holy spirit that was poured out on the Day of Pentecost is still poured out today. This people, this body, this ecclesia, the called - out church, play a specific role in the plan of God. The church is a place of prayer. When I talk about the church, again let me point to this body of people who have obeyed the Lord. This people pray and seek god, and through their prayers they hold back the flood tides of judgment that can come upon the world in which you and I live. The church must also hold up standards of righteousness and holiness if it is to survive the onslaught of present permissiveness. An editorial recently appeared on the theme of churches that hold the line on strong moral conduct and convictions of Christianity and the fundamentals of faith. The article in its editorial expression stated that these churches are thriving and growing. Then, on the other hand, the article explained that those who yield to the weakness of humanity and tend toward liberalism and ideas of such nature are loosing numerically as well as spiritually. Then it pointed out a very unusual and unique

thing to note that it is the need of the church to take a stand where it represents a real meaning of spiritual life for the people. Imitation or Separation I would like to bring to your attention the statement of the Apostle John as he wrote to the New Testament believers many years ago: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is-in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of god abideth for ever” (I John 2:15-17) Now this beautiful expression from the Apostle John’s writing was given many years ago, but it points up to you again the great call that is placed upon the church. The church is not to mix with the world. We are not called to be an imitation but we are called to a separation. The church of God is not called to imitate the world but to separate from the world. The church is not called or ordained to do the things that the world

does, but it is called and ordained to do the things that the world cannot do. The world can do the natural things, but it is the calling of the church of our Lord to do the spiritual things; it knows nothing of the things of the spirit. The church should not be found amongst those doing the natural things but amongst those doing the spiritual things. The church is a chosen body for the indwelling and outworking of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has no other dwelling place but in the church of the living God in the time now present. The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit; this emphatically declared. The Book of John declares, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17). If the church had continued to walk in the Spirit as it began in the beginning, the world would have attempted to be the imitation of the church rather than as it is now, the church imitating the world. In the Old Testament, it is rather amazing to notice that Moses did not attempt to imitate the thins of Pharaoh and

the Egyptians. But Pharaoh and the magicians did attempt to imitate the things God was doing through Moses. (However, the rod of Moses is of no avail without the God of Moses). It is not likeness to the world, but unlikeness to the world that gives the church power and prestige. The church is poor at imitating, but note, it is powerful in separation. The world has done about everything to amuse the church, but the church must not try to do things to amuse the world. The church is a poor substitute at amusing; it is not in the amusing enterprise. To furnish amusement has been the world’s business, and it can do that very well. If the church were to amuse the world, it follows that it would abuse the world. It is well for the.church to leave the amusement business to the world. Stooping to Substitutes A certain minister in a certain city thought he would attempt the attraction of a great number of people to his evening service in the summertime, so he announced he would serve lemonade each Sunday evening. And he did. Some came in to continued from page 42