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Brotherhood -- All Christians everywhere Local
Groups Congregations, churches Fellowship
Joint participation
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What is a Local Church ? Ideally a group of
fully taught, morally pure, totally Christ-like
people all of whom actively practice all that the
Lord asks. Actually a group, some of whom are
babes some have failed to grow some battle
Satan over attitude, some over the flesh some
are loving while others have jealousy or strife
some are generous and hospitable while others are
selfish and so on . . . .
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Heb. 5 Should be teachers but need teaching 1
Cor. 3 Carnal babes, jealousy and strife 1 Cor.
15 Some denied the resurrection Should sin be
ignored? NO ! (Teaching was demanded in some
cases in others, withdrawal was demanded.)
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When should fellowship be broken? Hes doing
something wrong. Either he stops or we will
withdraw from him. But they did not withdraw
from those who differed on eating meats
sacrificed from idols. (Each had to feel the
other was wrong) When should fellowship be
withdrawn??
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• When to withdraw fellowship?
• When presence shamed the congregation
• (Immoralities of I Cor. 5 not sanctioned
• even among the gentiles)
• When presence is disruptive, destructive
• Rom. 16 dividing through teaching
• 2 Thess 3 parasite, busybody
• Titus 3 Factious person

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• In cases of withdrawal, member was
• In (among) the congregation
• Perceived as part of the congregation
• Presence was harmful to the group
• ( Withdrawal is not a method to force obedience
  but a defensive means of protecting the
  congregation from a destructive member)

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• Did churches withdraw for every error?
• Meats sacrificed to idols (I Cor 8 10)
• Some denied the resurrection (I Cor 15)
• Abuses of the communion (I Cor 11)
• These were not ignored! Presence did not
  compromise other brethren. Teaching was done.
  Withdrawal was not demanded. Withdrew if behavior
  became destructive.

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• Divisions among us and charges of error on local
  fellowship are most unfortunate. In my judgment
  all of us believe and practice the same
  principles.
• Cannot sanction or participate in error
• Immoralities demand withdrawal
• Causing division in congregation demands
  withdrawal
• Faction, disruption demands withdrawal
• Yet, all of us tolerate some differences of
  beliefs and practices (covering, Xmas, etc)

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• What about Romans 14?
• Note the conditions
• Members differed in conviction regarding the
  faith v. 1
• Each to be fully assured in his own mind i.e.,
  individual practice (his own faith)
• Each respected (tolerated?) the others view
• Accepted each other as brethren without
  sanctioning (approving) the others view

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(Romans 141-12) But him that is weak in faith
receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. One
man hath faith to eat all things but he that is
weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth set at
nought him that eateth not and let not him that
eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath
received him. Who art thou that judgest the
servant of another? to his own lord he standeth
or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand for
the Lord hath power to make him stand. One man
esteemeth one day above another another
esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully
assured in his own mind. He that regardeth the
day, regardeth it unto the Lord and he that
eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God
thanks and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he
eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us
liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. For
whether we live, we live unto the Lord or
whether we die, we die unto the Lord whether we
live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to
this end Christ died and lived again, that he
might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or
thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment-seat of God. For it is written, As I
live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow,
And every tongue shall confess to God. So then
each one of us shall give account of himself to
God.
Gave means to accept the other brother
Meats, days not wrong in themselves
(Romans 1413-21) Let us not therefore judge one
another any more but judge ye this rather, that
no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way,
or an occasion of falling. I know, and am
persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is
unclean of itself save that to him who
accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is
unclean. For if because of meat thy brother is
grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy
not with thy meat him for whom Christ died. Let
not then your good be evil spoken of for the
kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit. For he that herein serveth Christ is
well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. So
then let us follow after things which make for
peace, and things whereby we may edify one
another. Overthrow not for meat's sake the work
of God. All things indeed are clean howbeit it
is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It
is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor
to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.
(ASV)
Must keep conscience
(Romans 1422-23) The faith which thou hast, have
thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that
judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.
But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat,
because he eateth not of faith and whatsoever is
not of faith is sin.
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Romans 141-12 Youngs Literal Translation 1 And
him who is weak in the faith receive ye--not to
determinations of reasonings 2 one doth believe
that he may eat all things--and he who is weak
doth eat herbs 3 let not him who is eating
despise him who is not eating and let not him
who is not eating judge him who is eating, for
God did receive him. 4 Thou--who art thou that
art judging another's domestic? to his own master
he doth stand or fall and he shall be made to
stand, for God is able to make him stand.
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Romans 141-12 Youngs Literal Translation 5 One
doth judge one day above another, and another
doth judge every day alike let each in his own
mind be fully assured. 6 He who is regarding the
day, to the Lord he doth regard it, and he who is
not regarding the day, to the Lord he doth not
regard it. He who is eating, to the Lord he doth
eat, for he doth give thanks to God and he who
is not eating, to the Lord he doth not eat, and
doth give thanks to God.
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Romans 141-12 Youngs Literal Translation 7 For
none of us to himself doth live, and none to
himself doth die 8 for both, if we may live, to
the Lord we live if also we may die, to the Lord
we die both then if we may live, also if we may
die, we are the Lord's 9 for because of this
Christ both died and rose again, and lived again,
that both of dead and of living he may be Lord.
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Romans 141-12 Youngs Literal Translation 10
And thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or
again, thou, why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand at the tribunal
of the Christ 11 for it hath been written, I
live! saith the Lord--to Me bow shall every knee,
and every tongue shall confess to God' 12 so,
then, each of us concerning himself shall give
reckoning to God
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In vv. 1-12 Paul gave instruction that under this
circumstance continue together and practice your
own private convictions. Then In verses 13 21
Paul explains that the meats and the days are
innocent. After explaining meats and days
innocent Then -- Verses 22, 23 Paul explains
what one must do if he still considers the meat
as sinful ! Dont Eat !! Keep your own
conscience.
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(Romans 141-12) But him that is weak in faith
receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. One
man hath faith to eat all things but he that is
weak eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth set at
nought him that eateth not and let not him that
eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath
received him. Who art thou that judgest the
servant of another? to his own lord he standeth
or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand for
the Lord hath power to make him stand. One man
esteemeth one day above another another
esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully
assured in his own mind. He that regardeth the
day, regardeth it unto the Lord and he that
eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God
thanks and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he
eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us
liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. For
whether we live, we live unto the Lord or
whether we die, we die unto the Lord whether we
live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to
this end Christ died and lived again, that he
might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or
thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment-seat of God. For it is written, As I
live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow,
And every tongue shall confess to God. So then
each one of us shall give account of himself to
God.
Gave means to accept the other brother
Meats, days not wrong in themselves
(Romans 1413-21) Let us not therefore judge one
another any more but judge ye this rather, that
no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way,
or an occasion of falling. I know, and am
persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is
unclean of itself save that to him who
accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is
unclean. For if because of meat thy brother is
grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy
not with thy meat him for whom Christ died. Let
not then your good be evil spoken of for the
kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit. For he that herein serveth Christ is
well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. So
then let us follow after things which make for
peace, and things whereby we may edify one
another. Overthrow not for meat's sake the work
of God. All things indeed are clean howbeit it
is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It
is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor
to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.
(ASV)
Must keep conscience
(Romans 1422-23) The faith which thou hast, have
thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that
judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.
But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat,
because he eateth not of faith and whatsoever is
not of faith is sin.
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• One man believed the faith (i.e., Gods
  teaching) forbade eating meat. Another believed
  the faith would allow eating meat. They
  differed in belief and in practice yet were
  taught to continue in fellowship.
• Continuing to accept each other did not
• Compromise the other brother
• Shame the congregation to others
• Cause division in the group (unless factious)

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Brethren had convictions (i.e., their
faith) that differed on meats sacrificed to
idols but were to continue to work together at
Corinth. Brethren had differences on meats
and days at Rome but could continue together.
Many churches today have brethren who hold
different faith regarding artificial covering,
carnal warfare, observing Christmas, etc. and
continue to fellowship. Why ?
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These things are private, individual not
congregational Different private practices
that do not shame the congregation or cause
division should not cause separation.
Fornication, drunkenness, etc. would shame the
group and cannot be tolerated. Factious
behavior or teaching that causes division cannot
be tolerated.
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Participating in a local congregation does not
mean one must agree with every view and/or
practice of all the other members. This does
not mean differences must be ignored or
endorsed. Study can continue at the same time
while each brother keeps his own conviction. Each
should respect the others liberty and the fact
that each will ultimately answer to the Lord.
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• We must agree on things we will do together
• Instruments of music in worship?
• Church funds for a fellowship hall?
• Church funds for human organizations?
• Accept non-baptized persons as members?
• But on private practices that do not harm the
  group, each can practice his convictions

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• Divisions among our brethren and charges of error
  on local fellowship are most unfortunate. In my
  judgment all of us believe and practice the same
  principles.
• Cannot sanction or participate in error
• Immoralities demand withdrawal
• Causing division in congregation withdraw
• Faction, disruption demands withdrawal
• Yet, all of us tolerate some differences of
  beliefs and practices (covering, Xmas, etc)

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Most fellowship issues are issues of local
congregations. I urge us to be wary of trying to
regulate the brotherhood church of Christ. Do
we need to be aware of and cautious of false
views that are circulating? Of course we
should! We must make judgments on what is needed
in our local church. Teach on it? Expose it?
Wait and see what develops? All are judgments.
Pray for and use wisdom in dealing with any issue.
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Identifying false teaching and false teachers

• Teaches against the false doctrine

• A

• Names, locates the teacher of error

• Has every right to do this. His judgment

• E

• Teaches against the false doctrine

• B

• Does not name the false teacher

• Has right to make his judgment decision

• A Labels B as false teacher for not
  identifying E

• Uses his judgment as the law of God

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Romans 15 1-3, 7 Now we that are strong
ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and
not to please ourselves. Let each one of us
please his neighbor for that which is good, unto
edifying. For Christ also pleased not himself. .
. Wherefore, receive ye one another, even as
Christ also received you, to the glory of God.
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(No Transcript)
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Local churches are groups of brethren at
different levels of growth and development. Each
should recognize the other as brethren and
continue to work, study and worship together.
This fellowship is broken only when the presence
of a member becomes harmful to the others and
therefore is destructive to the group. Until
then, love, study and growth should continue.
Remember, the congregation is a family of
believers trying to reach heaven.
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Local churches are groups of brethren at
different levels of growth and development. Each
should recognize the other as brethren and
continue to work, study and worship together.
This fellowship is broken only when the presence
of a member becomes harmful to the others and
therefore is destructive to the group. Until
then, love, study and growth should continue.
Remember, the congregation is a family of
believers trying to reach heaven.
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Local churches are groups of brethren at
different levels of growth and development. Each
should recognize the other as brethren and
continue to work, study and worship together.
This fellowship is broken only when the presence
of a member becomes harmful to the others and
therefore is destructive to the group. Until
then, love, study and growth should continue.
Remember, the congregation is a family of
believers trying to reach heaven.
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Local churches are groups of brethren at
different levels of growth and development. Each
should recognize the other as brethren and
continue to work, study and worship together.
This fellowship is broken only when the presence
of a member becomes harmful to the others and
therefore is destructive to the group. Until
then, love, study and growth should continue.
Remember, the congregation is a family of
believers trying to reach heaven.
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Romans 15 1-3, 7 Now we that are strong
ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and
not to please ourselves. Let each one of us
please his neighbor for that which is good, unto
edifying. For Christ also pleased not himself. .
. Wherefore, receive ye one another, even as
Christ also received you, to the glory of God.
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