Unity

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Bro. Shaw:
I agree totally that there is a good deal of variance on personal holiness within Apostolic
organisations.  

Me:
There is no such thing as "personal Holiness."  You is or you isn't, it is that simple.  Who
determines if you are in or out?

BELLS GOING OFF, SMOKE RISING FROM THE FLOOR, LIGHTS AND SIRENS BLARING, WOMEN TAKING UP SMALL
CHILDREN, then as a "deafening" pall falls over the Apostolic world and the air is pregnant,
everyone knows in their very being that something is about to be "said".......

<spoken in still, quiet, almost defeated voice> This is what I have been going on about y'all. 
Standards are not Holiness. 
<spoken with near fanatical conviction, but still in quiet voice> Holiness is a clear conscience
before God that YOU
<slight pause and that lets you see the love in the man's eyes and makes you want to hug him> are
dedicated to
HIM <warm glow evident on speakers face as he points Heavenward with one hand and toward his own
heart with the other>!

<speaker "eases" his posture as tone becomes more conversational> If someone comes into church with
their flesh showing all over the place it is safe to assume that this person's edification or
dedication is in need of attention.  This is in the Bible.  To assign an "attitude" even to one
such as this is sin.  To across the board and out and out *"LABEL"* someone unsaved is not only sin
but insensative, short sighted and just plain mean.

You say that you believe emphatically in separation from the
world, but you also believe in the unity of Apostolic believers.  
<slight imperative in man's voice> So do I.  

<tone is a mixture of matter of factness with underlying stress which acknowleges speaker's
conviction> This unity can only come from agreement with God and His Word through His Spirit and is
not in the hands of <very slight emphasis on this word> ANY  man, no matter how much you wish to
give him the responsibility for your soul! 

<spoken with emphasis, but true concern is still evident on man's face>You say that everyone who is
baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and is baptised with the Spirit of God is part of the
Body of Christ but I say this is not so.<slight scowl, peircing blue eyes, slight pause as eyes
"smile" ever so slightly>

<tone changes to plea to see reason>  What about those who have been overcome by Satan, the ones we
refer to as backsliders?  Are we  to be in agreement with them?  Are they any longer "of the Body?"

<spoken in a coaxing manner, with slight "contemplative" air, eyes clearly "smiling" now> Consider:

Rom 6
16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye
obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (KJV)
 
<spoken as a punctuation mark, a period> For we know that the unrighteous are not of the Body.

<eyes peirce as though looking to the very center of the person addressed, tone has a not so veiled
urgency>The Body of Christ is now and always has been unified: 

1Cor 1
11: For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe,
that there are contentions among you.

12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas;
and I of Christ.

13: Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

<man sits back and waves hand in air with a flurry, volume increases, listener notices slight
frustration but no anger in man's tone> "But what about all the different veiws and "standards" in
the churches?  How can they all be in the body of Christ when they cannot worship together and
won't let one preacher from one congregation preach in the other?" you will say to me.

<man slumps back into chair, looking slightly tired and defeated, tone is determined, sad, full of
remorse but laden with conviction> The answer is simple, they cannot. <tone conotes an "odd"
mixture of scorn and hope> God is not going to put up with all this division much longer.  He is
tired of people making the "standards" for themselves and saying these can stay but those must go. 
He is sick of these saying "Wouldn't you be more comfortable with those over there" and "Why don't
you stick to your own kind" and "We have decided that you can't do that and be saved."
<tone carries underlying ominance> God has given these blessings and favors and what have they done
with it?  They like the Pharisees have reduced it to a set of "rules" to keep people OUT <nearly
shouted, making the listener jump><smooth seemless transition to plaintive tone>instead of the
guidelines and support for those who would be free in the Lord.  Paul said:

1 Corinthians 11
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest
among you. 

<man assumes a "reflective" air>They which are approved.<slight contemplative pause>You don't have
to be an adulterer or thief to be backslidden.


<long pause as man looks into space as if looking for something just over the horizon>

<just as pause gets uncomfortable, man takes deep breath and as if waking from a short nap,
continues in an "easy" nearly cheerful tone> The Lord said that He was coming for a church without
spot or wrinkle and I know He won't go back empty handed.  This means that there has to be some
washing and some ironing done.  Many are not going to make it but those who are left will be the
True Body of Christ.

<man sits back with small chuckle, then continues> Funny thing is that these always were the Body. 
Some have been "amputated" but have returned before the "death" set in for good.  Once back though,
they clung like glue!  Some are new comers and others have been in it seems forever.  All<eyebrows
raised slighly as did voice>will have to be pruned!  
<pace picks up>They're pretty easy to spot.  They are the ones no one "really" likes but can't
really tell you why and say of them, "If there is anyone that is saved, it is that brother or
sister" and then tell you not to listen to them.  <slight smiling glow seems to come from man's
face> They always seem busy but when you really need something, there they are.  They say many
comforting things but really "tick" some people off, and in fact, if you hang around them very long
they will say something that "stings" you a little.  They get mad and frustrated but it never seems
to last very long.  <look of "knowing" comes over man's face that seems to enhance glow> Trouble,
yeah they have trouble.<face shining, man smiling, eyes looking past pain>They know the Lord will
deliver them though.  Seems when you are in trouble, they "just happen" to be there encouraging
you.<look of reflection as glow fades>Strange thing is, you don't even seem to notice they were
around. 

<tone changes to one of someone who is "wraping up">Amazes me!
<eyes widen, slight pause>Everyone is running around saying "This is the standard, and you can't do
that and still be a Christian" and I look in the Bible and I can't seem to find it.  I ask those
who say these things and they can't show me either!<man's brow furrows slightly as if puzzling over
this>

<long pause>

<man sits forward and his voice is crisp, bright>Don't know exactly how this will all come about,
but I am sure God will have His washed, wrinkle free Church!  
<said with slightly frightening resolution>It is God Who will decide what needs to be cleansed and
ironed and He will do this according to His Word.  For those who will have it, hope and unity; more
unity.  For those who will not, confusion and judgment.  

<seems an air of relief settles upon the man> My duty is clear: to stand on those "standards" that
are in the Bible! 
Then what people see that sets me apart will not only be the outward change that comes from true
modesty and the laying aside of vanity but faith and endurance in the Lord when I fall short of His
Glory.  This is the message.  If He does this for me, you should be no trouble at all!
<man stands as if to usher you to the door but has a large infectuous grin in spite of missing
teeth, glee in man's eyes is almost intimidating>You know, I always meant to ask someone, "If a
woman's hair is given to her as a sign for her glory, why do they put it up into those little
"buns" and hide it?"

Timothy Litteral
brotim@gte.net Luke 26:6
http://members.tripod.com/~trlitteral
http://home1.gte.net/brotim/science.htm