Hi John,
I read over the Scriptures you handed out at Saturday’s meeting regarding the authority given to a body of believers to make judgments that are bound in heaven. I had a thought about something that I am having difficulty putting into words. I was thinking about how important it is for any congregation of saints which is making judgment on a matter to make righteous judgment as a body. In other words, Satan is aware of the authority given by God to the saints to make judgments on earth and that those judgments are “bound in heaven”. I can see how Satan can use that to his advantage if he can persuade a group of believers or religious non-believers to pass judgment on a matter that may appear righteous but out of the will of God. And, as you have taught us, the closer something is to the truth, without being the truth, the more dangerous it can be.
As an example, in ICor. 11, Paul is rebuking the congregation for bringing their meals to the gatherings, telling them to eat at home. Paul continues in verses 24-26 by quoting Jesus, “Take, eat: this is my body…this do in remembrance of me” and “This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do … in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.”
These Scriptures somehow became the heartbeat of Catholic doctrine. They are repeated pretty much word for word during the pseudo-act of changing bread and wine into “the actual body and blood of Christ” for their communion ceremony. I have to assume that Satan convinced a group of religious leaders to proclaim this act as holy and bound in heaven, according to their understanding of the authority they believed God gave them.
This thought helped me tie together your message on liberty and authority among the saints. In order for the congregation of saints to exercise their authority and make righteous judgments they must be at liberty to do good, as individuals and as a body. And that liberty can be used rightly only if they know the truth and love it.
I am sure there are thousands of examples of how false doctrine originated in this manner.
Thanks,
Tom
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Yes, Tom, I can see where you are coming from. Isn’t it a wonderful to know that, even though such false teachers do claim that their errors are binding on us, they are not? The Pope has no authority from God whatsoever over the lives of God’s people, and neither does any other false teacher. Nothing evil or false has any jurisdiction over God’s children! THAT is good news!
Only those men and women who truly have an anointing from God to minister to His people can decide anything and have their judgment bear any weight in heaven and, so, it be binding on the saints around them.
Thank God for the truth! It has set us free.
jdc