Gospel Order
(Andreas Dura)
One of the most powerful series of camp meetings in the history of this movement took place when the message on gospel order was preached. Those of us who heard this message back then and who still love it today, will surely be able to confirm this. On those occasions, the changes of heart and sincere confessions wrought by the Holy Spirit, resulted in a level of unity which we had never experienced before that time.
Some who had acted contrary to the new light without realizing it, were happy to accept the warning and were completely restored. Others left us forever. Both reactions were a blessing to the Church, although no one rejoiced over the loss caused by those who left us.
Some were so inspired by the message, that they gave grateful testimonies of the blessing received, wrote and sang songs about gospel order, or added verses to well known songs which expressed their love for this message. There really was a wonderful harmony.
1989 was a year of triumph over the powers of darkness for God's people, and it seemed obvious that we could expect a reaction to follow. As Luther's ninety-nine theses awoke angry reactions from Tetzel and others, so the first presentation of gospel order called forth a determined resistance. The first wave of opposition was led by those who were not in harmony with this message anyway, and only served to make manifest their true position.
But, a few years later in 1993, the next crisis broke unexpectedly over our heads. Some who had originally accepted the message suddenly made a public rejection of the same as error and condemned it as a deviation from the truth. But it soon became obvious to every spiritually minded person that this crisis did not bear the signs of a true reformation. However, it did attract our attention to an important part of the message on Gospel Order. Since truth can afford to be tested, the Church can only profit from such investigations. Truth is constantly growing in the minds of God's children. Therefore, when a new message is presented, it disposes of some wrong ideas but not all. This combination of further wrong ideas and newness of the message leaves us with some misunderstandings and imbalances in the first stages. But, shall we stop preaching the message because of this? Certainly not! Truth must be preached, even if, for the time being, our understanding of it is incomplete. When God initially delivers His truth, He unfolds to us the basic principles upon which the light is established.
So, what is the principle of gospel order which was not seen until it was preached? Is it, as our enemies maintain, that we are to be dependent on one person, so that we may not think for ourselves? Is it that we can no longer test a new teaching without being prejudiced? Is gospel order an appeal to return to the papacy, where one person defines what truth is? Is it the exaltation of a humble messenger to the office of magistrate, to determine what each individual is to do and not to do?
If this had been the underlying principle of gospel order which I preached at every camp in 1989, then it would not have led to the revival it did at those meetings. What do our opponents imagine? That 1, a man of rather shy disposition who has never learnt the art of preaching, have bewitched whole congregations by pure eloquence? No, this blessing came from God and not from man, and God's working leads us to Him, not to men.
Let us briefly delineate just what the principle of gospel order is: Christ is the Head of the Church. He leads the Church in doctrine and in life according to a certain order which He Himself has instituted. This is the heart of all the principles which have been presented in connection with gospel order.
In gospel order, the members of the Church are closely connected with one another, and yet independent. However, each individual's dependence on that which God has revealed is critically important. In this matter the Bible fills a special role, for ". . . prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:21. We concur with present truth because it is in harmony with the word of God. In fact, present truth is judged by the word. The Bereans ... searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." Acts 17:11.
This principle seems to be self-evident, and every faithful Christian should be able to accept it. But before we complacently turn from this verse, with the idea that we already understand its meaning, let us take a closer look at it in the light of what God has revealed to us.
Dependence on the word means much more than recognizing the Bible as the rule for every doctrine. It also means that we shall not declare any of our own, independent thoughts as truth.
It is a fact that men make their own thoughts, independently of what God has revealed, and then spread these thoughts as "truth". However, the human will has never produced real prophecy, but rather a multitude of teachings which all include more or less error, and are the cause of the many divisions throughout Christendom. Indeed, these divisions are increasing daily as more and more new teachings are produced by human efforts.
What can we do about this? Those of us who know something of God's character should also know that this unfortunate situation cannot be corrected by using force, nor by deception. The use of force and deception are the tools of the adversary. God and his followers have nothing to hide. Instead, it is through enlightenment that they seek to win people to God's side.
If we take a close look at the history of our movement, we will notice that the Lord has always worked according to a certain pattern. He has revealed everything that was the main stream of present truth through one channel.
In our movement there have also been people who have tried, with whatever motives they might have had, to bring about messages by the application of the human will. Not a single reformatory movement has escaped such efforts in the past. But so far in our Church, not one of these human messages has taken root, and neither will they in the future so long as we hold fast to what God has revealed to us in His way.
The fact that the Lord always used the same channel to reveal the basic messages was bound to awaken the jealousy of those who dreamed of holding such an "honorable" office themselves. This office, however, is not as honorable as they imagine, for the messenger has no authority over the people. He is simply a channel from which no more is expected than to faithfully pass on what he has received.
At this stage we do not want to investigate the reasons why the Lord has only used one channel for this work. We do want to stress though, that should the Lord decide to use another channel, we are ready to accept him. And we already know that He will do this when the loud cry is proclaimed. When this happens, the Church will recognize the light. Every sincere person will then be enlightened, and the light will lead to a true reformation. Of course, the extent of this work will be much greater than the confines of our work today.
When this time comes, the Lord will reveal it to His people. But we cannot accept any message which individuals produce by their own efforts in anticipation of this event. That would be the end of God's working through our movement. Instead of searching for new light, let us diligently study the light that God has given us in His way. The Lord Himself will take care of everything else.
Everyone who loves the message today can see that it has not made us dependent on a man but on the revealed word of God. It doesn't matter which person the Lord uses as the messenger, though He usually uses the simple and lowly-a concept which the world despises. While the tool itself is not the treasure, we do not despise the instrument, but honor the Lord by gladly accepting the word which comes through it. See Acts 17:11.
So let us be grateful that through His light on gospel order the Lord is establishing us more firmly on His word, and delivering us from human words.
