THE POUND
PROCLAIMER
Volume V
February 2011
Number 12
Sing
to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day
to day. Psalms 96:2
PATTERNISM
Someone may be asking, “What on earth is
‘patternism’? “Patternism”
or “patternists” are labels used to discredit another
person’s position. When a person feels compelled to resort to the use of
labels, it reveals more about their character than of their opponents teaching.
I am not suggesting that it is never appropriate to describe another’s position
on a matter.
But what about “patternism”
or “patternist”, what is the problem? The problem
resides in the purpose for using “labels”. In political debate as well as
religious debate, when a disputant is losing the argument they often resort to
hurling insults with labels. How often do we hear political labels like “Nazi,
communist, socialist, tea-bagger, etc? We need civil discourse over those
things of which we disagree. However, civil discourse without an established
authority to settle the matter is debating in futility. In political debate,
the authority is the Constitution of the
Before we discuss the fact that God does
have a ‘pattern’ for the righteous, let us notice something I call the
arrogance of the so-called non-patternist. An
affirmed non-patternist has said, “I firmly believe
that our Father does have a ‘pattern’ for His children to follow,” The natural
question to follow such an admission would be; Just exactly what are you
opposing? With further investigation you will find that their opposition is not
whether or not there is a pattern for the righteous to follow, it is that they
do not agree with the pattern you teach and practice. I believe that such a
position is arrogant, because it is saying their position [the pattern they
accept and practice] is the only correct position. Is it not disingenuous to
condemn those who believe in God’s pattern for Christians by using the label ‘patternist’ then advocate that God has a pattern for His
children to follow? The answer is obvious to all honest hearts.
Yes, God has a pattern, has always had a
pattern and continues to have a pattern today. Any time God tells man to do
something, He also tells him how to do it. God told Noah about His plan to
destroy life with a great flood. He then told Noah what He wanted him to do.
The command to build an ark was complete with instructions as to what kind of
wood to use, the dimensions for its size and specified the number of floors,
windows and doors. (Genesis 6:14-16)
Sounds like a pattern to me.
When it comes to the New Testament church
which belongs to Christ, the same principle of having a pattern still applies.
The Devine record of The Acts of the Apostles tells us, “40And with many other words he bore witness
and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves
from this crooked generation.’ 41So those who received his word were
baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came
upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the
apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had
all things in common. (Acts 2:40-44)
Notice that it says “they devoted
themselves to the apostles' teaching”. Does that not tell us the doctrine
of the apostles was/is the pattern for God’s children today?
Further more, John gives a warning to
those who would not continue in the pattern which God gives to His children. “9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the
teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both
the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,”
(2 John 1:9-10)
A problem arises among Christians over
the pattern because some have come to believe that the pattern is unity in
diversity. Indeed, unity is the pattern but not unity in diversity. Jesus
Himself said, “34Do not think
that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace,
but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his
father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. 36And a person's enemies will be those of his
own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36)
Jesus’ words destroy the premise of unity in diversity. The pattern, i.e.
gospel – teaching – doctrine of Christ, divides people. If Jesus prayed for
unity of all believers (John
Personally, I know that I still have much
to learn from God’s word. For that reason, we who are Christians must show
patience and brotherly kindness to all brethren, even those with whom we
disagree especially if/when they call us ‘patternist’.
We cannot stop advocating for God’s pattern of sound words, neither can we fail
to heed Peters words, “But grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
(2 Peter 3:18)
The Editor’s
Page
THE BANE OF CHRISTIANITY
I don’t know about you, but I am
perturbed and frustrated with the way Christians are talked about today. It
amazes me how that people in high places spout words that both denigrate and
demean Christianity. We hear
It has always amazed me how people can
become experts on a subject they have never studied or investigated. Much of
the venom we hear spewed against Christianity comes from the ill informed or
the prejudiced mind. When someone says that Christians are more violent that
Islamic jihad, they will use the Crusades of the middle ages to prove their
point. The truth is that the Crusades were engaged in because a Pope encouraged
it. This does not give credence to the claim of Christian violence because the
Pope i.e. Holy Roman Catholic Church does not represent true Christianity nor
has it ever. Jesus teaches, “You have
heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But
I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that
you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on
the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” Matthew 5:43-45.
Christians are to keep the commands and
not deviate from the least of the Lord’s commandments. “And this is love; that we walk according to his commandments; this is
the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should
walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not
confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and
the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked
for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide
in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever
abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you
and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give
him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” 2 John 1:6-11. Is it Islomophobic to stand upon the teachings of Christ Jesus?
Is it homophobic to take the position that homosexuality is sinful when the
scripture says, “Or do you not know that
the unrighteous will not inherit the
Should Christians give up their
convictions because some are looking down their proverbial noses at us and
calling us names? No, a thousand times no. “Be
watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:13. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take
hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the
good confession in the presence of many witnesses” 1 Timothy 6:12. Let us take Paul as our example so that when we
come to the end of our life we will be able to say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have
kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7.
Yes, Christians cling to their religion because we know that we must be
faithful to death. “Do not fear what you
are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be
faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” Revelation 2:10.
As a Christian, I will pray for those who
persecute Christians. I will pray to the Father that I will have the spiritual
strength to face ridicule. I will draw encouragement from my brethren and in
turn will add strength to them. Christians are in it for the long haul. We will
not give in to Satan’s devices but will look unto Him who is the author and
finisher of our faith. It matters not what others may say, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek”
Romans
WORKING FOR THE
MASTER
LEARNING TO LOVE OUR FATHER’S DESIRES
“Jesus said to them,
‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’” (John 4:34).
ONE OF THE HIGHEST REASONS FOR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IS THAT WE DESIRE TO BE
EXACTLY WHAT OUR FATHER WANTS US TO BE. We do this not for our own sake, but
for His. Because we love Him and also trust Him, we love whatever He desires
for us.
Loving our Father’s desires does not come naturally. We have to learn this
kind of love. The much easier thing is to love what we want for ourselves, and
then love what God wants for us only insofar as it coincides with our
predetermined wishes. In fact, we often go so far as to decide what IS God’s
will based upon nothing more than what we WANT His will to be.
Because of our entrenched habit of self-centered thinking and selfish
choosing, learning to do God’s will for God’s sake requires that a war be
waged. Our unruly mind must be subjugated to His mind. And the reason for this
is not merely arbitrary. As natural as it feels to think self-centeredly,
selfishness actually runs counter to the laws of nature. Our demands are in
rebellion against reality — they’re a futile attempt in the short run to
violate principles that are inviolable in the long run. Selfishness is a revolt
against the way the world works, a childish effort that simply can’t succeed in
the end. Thus, before it’s too late, our thinking needs to be brought into
subjection to the truth about how things really are, and Paul speaks of “casting down arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2
Corinthians 10:5).
The more we come to trust God’s wisdom and love, the more we’ll be eager to
subordinate our desires to His. Our love for Him will draw us into a deeper
longing to act according to His will. The apostle John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep
His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Ultimately, being “pure in
heart” may mean this very thing: not only to want “one thing” ourselves, but
lovingly to want the same “one thing” that is God’s own desire.
“You may grow so to follow His voice that even your thoughts will be
brought ‘into captivity to the obedience of Christ.’ This bondage is perfect
freedom, for we desire, He and we, only one and the same thing, and the true
heartlove makes it all joy to follow, even if the path is narrow and rough”
(Lilias Trotter).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com
THE LAST WORD
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WHAT MUST
I DO
Hear: Rom
Believe: Heb 11:6
Repent: Lk 13:5; Ac
17:30
Confess: Matt
Be Baptized: Ac
TO BE
SAVED?
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MATTERS
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Editor: Glen Young
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