I'm sorry
I didn't write sooner, but I've been very busy with things going on in my life and trying to keep a good relationship with God by
doing His will.
All the years I've been in the church, I've seen many people come and go, and it hurts to see that. I've learned
not to get involved in other peoples problems, because I have plenty of my own. I've learned that God will deal with any of His ministers
or people that are doing wrong. I've also learned you can't play games with God, because He knows our hearts & minds.
Answered on March 17, 2001
Dear Dave,
Hi, we were glad to hear from you after
such a long time. We can see that your view of us is a little off. Did someone just tell you we were angry and you believed them?
I would assume this, since I believe it has probably been a year since you last called us on the phone. We can see by your letter,
that you have clearly over looked a few very important scriptures in your Bible, such as: Galatians 6:2: Bear ye one another's burdens,
and so fulfil the law of Christ. This verse certainly doesn't say what your letter said. You wrote: “I've learned not to get involved
in other peoples problems, because I have plenty of my own.” Your view seems to be the direct opposite of what God says. How do you
explain that?
First, before we cover the subject of division, I think we need to define a couple of terms. First of all let's
define as you put it, The Church. We assume you are speaking of God's Church. The Bible, God's word, no place says that
The Worldwide
Church of God or
The United Church of God AIA is/are The Church (meaning exclusive). The Bible, God's word defines church as the Ekklesia
(Greek), meaning called out ones (people). This covers a whole lot more territory than you covered by naming only 2 groups. Now you
must go on to define what constitutes division. People in your
United AlA congregation have been receiving literature from us since
October of 2000. That is several months now. YOU are an adult, and if you did not want to continue receiving our literature, then
you needed to either refuse it without opening it, or drop us a note telling us not to send anything else. You make it very clear
in your letter, that not only did you open our literature, but you also read at least some of it, discussed it, and you even went
on to say that we are good at quoting scripture. If you are now seeing division in your
corporation church, might it be caused by
the fact that some looked to see if the scriptures we quoted were truly in the Bible, and woke from their slumber? I don't know Dave,
you will have to decide. Division as defined by the Bible, would be caused only if we were teaching a doctrine contrary to God's doctrine's,
and we aren't doing that. See Romans 16:17: Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to
the doctrine (God's) which ye have learned; and avoid them. This is Paul speaking and he is talking about God's doctrines as given
in God's word the Bible, and not the doctrines of any corporation church in existence then or today. This scripture clearly indicates
to me that division is caused because some teach God's doctrine as stated in the Bible, and some do not, they twist scripture to suite
themselves. For some scriptures spoken by Christ, read on: Luke 12:51: Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you,
Nay; but rather division: John 7:42-43: Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town
of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was division among the people because of Him (Christ). John 9:16 Therefore said some of the
Pharisees (Name of corporation church of Christ's day), This man (Christ) is not of God, because He (Christ) keepeth not the Sabbath
day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was division among them. John 10:18-21: ...This commandment
have I (Christ) received of my Father. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said,
He (Christ) hath a devil, and is mad: why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil
open the eyes of the blind?
From the above scriptures, we can clearly see, that even Christ was accused of creating division.
Just because a Pharisee or a corporation church accuses a person of causing division, does not make it so according to my Bible. If
people accused Christ of causing division, then why would they not accuse God's people of the same? Just as the Pharisee's did in
Christ's day, many corporation churches are also deceiving many, by their twisting of scripture. Do not believe us, prove it for yourself,
read and study the word of God.
As your letter also states, “I've learned that God will deal with any of His ministers or people
that are doing wrong.“ Again, you do have a responsibility in this area. Read Isaiah 58:1: Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice
like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Many ministers within the Churches of God,
have their congregations so well trained that even when the people know ministry or leaders have done something which is clearly against
scripture, the people don't say anything to them or anyone else, because the people believe the direct opposite of what God says to
do.
As per your request, we have removed your name from our mailing list. Your letter seems to mention we should remove other
names from our mailing list also, however, in order for us to do that, we would have to hear directly from those people. We will not
remove anyone's name on another person's say so. We sincerely hope we have cleared up your assumption, that we are creating division
within God's Church. We sincerely hope that you start really studying your Bible to see what it really says, and don't just go around
taking someone's word for what they say it means.
We thank you for your prayers, and we will also pray for you. We also want
you to know that if you are ever in the Bismarck, North Dakota area, you are always welcome in our home.
With Much Love,
Darwin
& Laura Lee
