The Family of God, NOT the so-called Church

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There was Peter, who, as tradition has it, was crucified up side down in 64 AD. There was Paul, who was executed in 68 AD. All but one of the Apostles was martyred. Jesus, referring to this one, said to Peter, "</FONT><B>If I desire him to remain until I come, what </B><I><B>is that</B></I><B> to you? You follow Me</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >." (John 21:22 LITV) </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >John would indeed out live them all. And we should be very thankful that he did, for his writings give us the clearest picture of how a full-grown Christian community looks and functions. Having outlived all his pears, John lived out the teachings of our Lord to their full and logical conclusion. In the late first century Christian community, in which John lived, we see a more full-grown expression of the Church--the Church come of age if you will. With the passing of time the Lord had developed in them a mature expression of His light, life and love. Therefore, </FONT><B>in John and in the Christian community of which he was a part, we see the purest expression of the </B><I><B>ecclesia</B></I><B>, the zenith and crowning moment of the Church</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. God would use their example as a Divine reaction to the defection of the Church. The Church was beginning to depart from the faith, and the community of God was beginning to be influenced by "the rise of the Bishops," or should I say "wolves," with their institutional paradigm, rising to lead away disciples after them (Acts 20:30). So in a time of the extraneous adulteration of the Church, we see John as a brother contending for the preservation of the family of God. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Between The Lines</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >In obedience to his Lord, </FONT><B>John never called himself by ecclesiastical titles and therefore never postured himself </B><I><B>over</B></I><B> the body of Christ. Instead, he made a habit of referring to himself as </B><I><B>"brother, and companion</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>"</I> (See Rev.1:9). He opens his first epistle without mentioning himself at all. This is very telling! For one will inevitably relate to things, in the manner in which they perceive themselves as related to them. How one views people and situations, depends largely upon their view of themselves. Revealed between the lines in his first epistle, is John's mental image of the Church, and his perception of his relative relationship to it.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> John's epistles were written long after the other epistles in the New Testament cannon. When John wrote his final letters, Paul had been in heaven for about 20 years. In these late first century writings, John's understanding of the Church (<I>ecclesia) </I>comes through loud and clear. They reveal John's view of the Church, and how he saw himself as relating to it? Clearly, John's view of the <I>ecclesia</I> is radically different than that of today. He understood the church as a family—not metaphorically but in reality—not in type, but in fact. When we carefully consider the contents of this little letter, another thing becomes painfully clear. The late first century <I>ecclesia </I>knew nothing of the science of the Church as an organized ecclesiastical society.</div> <bR> <div> You may discover the nature of any piece of literature by the number of times particular words are used in the text. You can also determine much by the words that are not used. A simple word count reveals volumes. Words emphasize the goal and priorities of the author. Then there is the matter of style to consider. A technical manual reads much differently than a letter to a family member. </div> <bR> <div> As we shall soon see, John was not writing from the codifying and mechanical paradigm of the so-called Churches in the forth and fifth centuries. He was not writing law! He was writing a letter to the members of his family—the <I>ecclesia</I>—the community of God. Accordingly his words took on relational warmth uncommon in Christian circles today. There is good reason for this. John was indeed writing to a beloved family. One that had not yet been spoiled by the rising tide of ecclesiology.</div> <bR> <div> Allow me to demonstrate.</div> <bR> <div> The following ecclesiastical words are found nowhere in John’s first epistle.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Apostle</I> </div> <div> <I>Prophet</I> </div> <div> <I>Evangelist</I> </div> <div> <I>Pastor</I> </div> <div> <I>Teacher</I> </div> <div> <I>Ministry</I> </div> <div> <I>Minister</I> </div> <div> <I>Leader</I> </div> <div> <I>Bishop</I> </div> <div> <I>Deacon</I> </div> <div> <I>Elder</I></div> <bR> <div> Now let us consider the use of family nouns and the number of times they are used.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Father……12___Referring to God as the paternal head and fountainhead of the family</I> </div> <div> <I>Fathers……1 ___Referring to mature family members.</I> </div> <div> <I>Brother…...12___Referring to all Christians</I> </div> <div> <I>Brethren…..4 ___Referring to all Christians</I> </div> <div> <I>Son………. 21___Referring to Jesus</I> </div> <div> <I>Sons……….2 ___Referring to all Christians</I> </div> <div> <I>Children….12___Referring to all Christians</I></div> <bR> <div> So in the total absence of any ecclesiastical titles, we find 64 family nouns. That ought to tell us something.</div> <bR> <div> The words; <I>obey, obedience, submit, </I>and r<I>ule,</I> which are traditionally used to subjugate the Christian masses to the intolerable heads of the ecclesiastical state, also do not appear. The church of John's time knew nothing of the idolatry of <I>ecclesiolatry</I>—the worship of temples, churchly forms, traditions and hierarchy. Conversely, the words <I>love </I>and <I>loves </I>appear 42 times.</div> <div> The Church<I> </I>John knew was a family in community, constrained by love; a family characterized by love's sacrifice, rather than a regimented and commandeered institution subjugated through fear and maintained through the intimidation of the dominant.</div> <bR> <div> Indisputably, John saw the <I>ecclesia </I>as a loving family. However, for the next few moments, let us consider how he saw himself as relating to that family? </div> <bR> <div> As we have already mentioned, the word teacher does not appear in this letter. The words <I>teach</I> and <I>teaches </I>each appear only once, and that in 1 John 2:27, applying to the Holy Spirit.</div> <div> <I><B>These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone </B></I><I><B>teach</B></I><I><B> you; but as the same anointing </B></I><I><B>teaches </B></I><I><B>you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>. NKJV</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> When John said <I>"You need not that any man teach you," </I>he was not only referring to the <I>Gnostics</I> who were trying to seduce believers into accepting their teaching, their "gnosis" or "secret knowledge," but also to himself. "<I>Any man"</I> means any man. John was careful to preface his remarks with these words. <I>"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.</B></I></FONT><I>"</I> (vs20) NKJV</div> <bR> <div> John is very careful to inspire dependence upon the true teacher, not himself. He reminded believers of what the Holy Spirit had already taught them—<I>"as it (the Holy Spirit) has taught you…"</I> But more, John was also reminding them that <I>"the same anointing teaches (present tense) you all things."</I> Not a few things, but all things! John was very cautious not to supplant the Holy Spirit as teacher, and accordingly manifests an incredible faith in the <I>Paraclete</I> to lead and guide.</div> <bR> <div> Tradition has it that in his declining years at Ephesus, John would often be asked by the brothers/sisters to share something with the <I>ecclesia</I>. Being quite old now, he would struggle to his feet, open his mouth and say the same words he always said when asked to speak.<I> "</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Little children, love one another</B></I></FONT><I>." </I>Then he would promptly sit back down. "Oh, can’t you say something more?" the believers would plead, hoping to hear something profound from the "disciple that Jesus loved" who had gazed into the eyes of love—the Savior of the world. But John would smile and say, <I>"If you do this, it is enough."</I></div> <bR> <div> John had no desire to be in the forefront. He was simply reminding them of the Lord's commandment to love one another. <I>"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment</B></I></FONT><I>." </I>(1 John 3:23)</div> <bR> <div> Was John commanding anything? No! He was simply reminding them of the Lord's commandments. People have a tendency to forget. The Lord makes provision for our forgetfulness by reminding us. Regarding this Jesus said, <I>"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you</B></I></FONT><I>."</I> (John 14:26) This may sound ambiguous, but John was simply reminding the believers of the Spirit, who reminds us. I am convinced that most of the letters in the New Testament cannon were written because someone was being forgotten, to point out the One to be remembered. The gospels were written to point to Jesus, the One to be remembered, while most of the epistles were written to remind those believers who were so prone to forget Him. John was simply calling the <I>ecclesia</I> to remembrance. Peter put it this way, <I>"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth</B></I></FONT><I>."</I> (2 Peter 1:12)</div> <bR> <div> Peter and John served as humble reminders, not teachers in the ultimate sense. Peter and John would have ripped their clothing if anyone even implied that they were the author and source of anything. They were simply living out and sharing the life Jesus had shared with them. If the practice of rending one's clothes when hearing blasphemy was still in practice today, many a "Pastor" and "guest Evangelist" would stand snatched naked after sitting through those long, man-inflating "introductions" traditionally given just before they "ascend the podium."</div> <div> Can you imagine Peter, Paul or John silently suffering through such a thing? Undoubtedly, John would have never stood for it! Perhaps Diotrephes, but not John.</div> <bR> <div> May we not cease praying, until a family, such as John knew, is restored to the earth once again. A family whose characteristic Spirit is sacrificial love, which forms the very foundation of all that is relational. It all began with that kind of love. Jesus, the great shepherd, revealed this Spirit in giving His life as a ransom. None of this makes sense in the self-serving, self-seeking, and pompous paradigm of institutional hierarchy. Only a father, brother, or sister’s heart can know such affection.</div> <div> My prayer for you dear Brother/Sister is that our Father would surround you with such a family.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ___________________________ </div> <bR> <div> <I>George Davis</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>Coeur d' Alene Idaho</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <I>208 765 3946</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> See Also:  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF00BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gathering Together"><U>Gathering Together</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> See Also:  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#00BF00" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id654.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1 John"><U>Introduction to 1 John by Eugene H. Peterson</U></A></FONT></div> </td> </tr></table></body>