March 15, 1994.
Revised August 31, 2005
The Separate Church
The Church and the congregation of the
people continued in free association, working out their own salvation
with fear and trembling. They imposed, by their presence, a powerful
force of freedom and liberty for almost a thousand years. By their
brotherhood, they were able to keep kings retreating to their castles
so that freeman could walk down God’s paths, living at liberty
in spirit and in truth.
“Those
captured by pirates and robbers remain free.”
Many believe that America was once a
free country and has lost much of those freedoms. This land is as
free as it ever was. When my ancestors came here in the 1600’s,
it was a free land. There were impenetrable forests, bears, lions,
and wild uncivilized aborigines. There were dangers, perils, and
hardships at every turn, but freedom is found, like the Kingdom of
God, first, in your heart and your minds. Freedom is not comfort nor
convenience. Man is bound by his words, appetite, or fear, by his
allegiance, given or bought, by his own covetousness and his lack of
faith, not by the circumstances in the world around him. It is your
vise that binds you and your virtue through Christ that sets you
free.
“Things
captured by pirates and robbers do not change ownership.”
The solitary retreat and fasting, like
Christ in the wilderness, plays an important part in the development
of the soul. But true fasting is about abstaining from self
indulgence not punishing the body through deprivation and neglect.
Even the Levites, who had their homes amongst the people for service,
had their suburbs and lands in common for their retreat.
Monasticism played an important role in
the development of the Church, but monasticism was not really defined
generally as we know it until the late middle ages. Until then, there
were a variety of practices and traditions. In most studies of broad
and diverse subjects, it is often convenient to the teacher to group
peoples and customs into categories and classes, sometimes at the
expense of the truth.
Yes, there were eremitic monks
who were hermetic individuals who lived solitary lives of prayer and
study as holy men, rejecting all the pleasures of the world in abject
poverty. But they were not the rule. They were remembered because of
the dedicated nature of their life and, as the Essenes, because their
communal buildings survived the test of time. The truth of their
purpose and practice may have been lost in the partisan reporting of
it.
There seems to be enough pain in a life
of service that one needs not seek out more pain and discomfort for
suffering’s sake alone. Although, solitude for periods of time
may be beneficial, we should not imagine that God put us here on
earth simply to reject and deny every aspect of our existence and
life just because it might afford some pleasure or comfort. And can
we really live as servants of mankind, feeding His sheep, if we never
come in contact with any of them? These early centers of monastic
life were places of training and study, not hermitage of isolation
and deprivation.
There were other more communal monks
that were of several types, such as the Basil and Benedictine. These
forms of Monastic life styles eventually formed what we see as
monasticism in Europe, but, again, that was in the Middle Ages. To
look at the Middle Ages and assume that the Church in that time
period was even similar to the early Church will lead to a
super-erroneous picture of what Christ intended the Church to be.
The History of the Church was, by no
means, presenting one doctrine of religious zealots spanning the
globe. The idea of Petrine Succession from Peter as the head of the
Church was a minority concept of little more than general respect.
There were no geographical jurisdictions for Bishops, for the
kingdom, not being here nor there, is not geographical. The
ministers of the kingdom were more like the public servants of the
mobile nation of Israel than medieval or modern Churchanity.
The true Church operated relatively
well in the first thousand years after the destruction of Jerusalem.
It had little to do with central authority until it ran afoul of
persecution coming from disparate and despotic religious sects, which
often enjoyed the generous graces of political despots.
The faithful Church’s function
and achievements in ministering to the Kingdom of Heaven on earth did
not fit well into modern history books, which were fostered, written,
and censored by the promoters of central Benefactors
who exercised authority, one over the other. The true precepts
of Christianity were so successful that no king rose to prominent
power over the Kingdom of Heaven on earth for almost a thousand
years, beating a previous record of four hundred years from Moses to
Saul.
There are many stories that tell us of
the princes of the Kingdom, as in the account of Saxons marching up a
European river toward the castle of a would-be king who had done, at
least, some sort of injustice to men. His Ambassador returned after,
what that kingly usurper believed to be, lengthy negotiations, only
to report that he could find no one to bargain with, for “They
say they are all kings.”
The Church had brought to these lost
sheep the good news of the Kingdom, where there was no king and every
man did according to his God-given conscience. It was not a kingdom
that was new, but was the ancient kingdom of Israel, where God
prevails in the hearts and minds
of men bound by love. It did not have the rituals and robes of
the Pharisees. It was not like the nations where men crowned men to
guarantee the safety of each other at the expense of liberty. There
was liberty as long as they accepted the responsibility of protecting
their neighbors’ rights as if they were their own.
Men sought the kingdom. Some were pure
and pious and some mixed their search with anger, impatience, and
hostilities. Yet, their search and contemplation upon the message of
Christ altered the course of nations and history and their own hearts
and minds. But when men turned from God’s law, they soon felt
the whips of corrupted rulers and suffered under the bondage of
despots.
“If
we will not be governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants.”
William Penn.
Jesus was the rightful heir of that
promised Kingdom and the people flocked to His message of liberty, to
His Free Dominion under one God, the Father in Heaven, not the would
be Fathers on earth.
“But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
[therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25
The people of Europe and their rugged
individualism was a fertile ground for such blessed messages brought
by the early refugees from the persecution of the civil powers of
Rome. The decaying cities of the Roman Empire often displayed their
own brand of corruption. God’s kingdom is practical and wise.
It does not guarantee perfection, but shows us the imperfection of
our own hearts and minds. It demands spiritual and moral growth, or
demonstrates the evidence of its absence in our lives and society.
The Kingdom must be written on our hearts and minds and we must feel
the pain of it if it is not. Governments of men are often created to
remove the sting of our own foolish neglect of God.
“But
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Others systems, which run contrary to
God’s plan and Jesus’ gospel, lead to deception, though
they can often conjure up measures of success and order for a period
of time. Their affluence is often a lie built on debt and established
by spending the future of the next generation for the comfort,
indulgence, and apathy of the present. In almost all cases, they feed
avarice and sloth with repose and slumber. The strong are made weak
and the weak are debilitated. Faith, hope, and charity atrophy as
covetousness and avidity amplify.
There were many who said that they were
the Church. There were many who said that they were seeking the
Kingdom of God. God is judge. Right knowledge and good fruits help us
see the truth of God’s kingdom and the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
which tells us that His Kingdom is at hand. Though understanding the
Kingdom is, in part, the product of preaching the truth of the
Kingdom in word and deed, it is really the divine revelation of God
in our own hearts and minds that grants us the faith and grace to
know and do the will of our Father.
“But
rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be
added unto you.” Luke 12:31
The precepts of God’s kingdom
have remained the same because God has remained the same. What people
see as new is often just a return to the precepts and principles long
forgotten or twisted out of any recognizable form. Seeking the
kingdom always requires a measure of repentance. It is humility that
allows us to turn from what we have been taught as true to what, in
the depths, of our being we know is true.
Explanations of history, examination of
words and phrases, may bear witness to the precepts of the Kingdom of
God, but flesh and blood cannot reveal it. One may recognize the
kingdom as they see the truth of what has already been revealed to
them in their hearts by God’s grace. The pattern of the Kingdom
is as redundant in history as fingers and toes on a man.
Where two to ten families, who love the
ways of God, can come together in congregation, loving one another as
they love God and themselves, you have the beginnings of the Kingdom.
If they practice their faith in Christ and His way, then their love,
and charity will bind them and seal them from harm. Like the planks
of Noah’s Ark, sealed inside and out, they will weather the
storms of the millennium riding the waves of tribulation, and the
beast shall die upon the earth as it does in their hearts.
The time to begin your journey toward
the Kingdom begins by the turning of your heart toward God and your
hands and feet toward His service. By serving one another in faith,
hope, and charity, according to His will, we shall find our way into
His everlasting Kingdom within our reach.
“Church.
In its most general sense, the religious society founded and
established by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, and propagate his
doctrines and ordinances.”
“A
body or community of Christians, united under one form of government
by the profession of one faith, and the observance of the same
rituals and ceremonies.”
Footnotes:
Table of Contents
of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Peace be to this house,
The Prologue of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-0Prologue.php
1. The Kingdom of God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Is Righteousness of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-1IsRighteousness.php
A Man as King of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCa1-2AManasKing.php
2. Abraham Uncivilized of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The City State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-1TheCityState.php
Two kingdoms/ The Merchants of Men of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-2MerchantsofMen.php
The Hindu Connection of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-3HinduConnection.php
Abraham and the Legend, The Prodigal Son
Our king and our god? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-4Legend.php
The Code of Abraham of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-5code.php
Abraham and the Family of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCb2-6Family.php
3. The Altar of Abraham of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Moses and the Altars of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-1AltarsofClay.php
The Altar of Sin of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-2Sin.php
Sacrifice of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCc3-3Sophistry.php
4. Moses, Moses of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The Civil State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-1CivilState.php
Gods Many of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-2godsmany.php
No Kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-3NoKings.php
Servant Priests of a Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCd4-4Servants.php
5. Joshua’s Altar of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
White Altars of Joshua
King over us of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-1WhiteAltars.php
Adultery of a Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-2Adultery.php
Fear, Faith and Foolishness of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCe5-3RearFaith.php
6. The World of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Of Rome and Judea of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-1Rome.php
The Remarkable History of Israel of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-2Israel.php
Rome the Believer of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The Commander in chiefs
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-3RomeBeliever.php
A Father’s offer of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-4TheOffer.php
The Hasmonean Appeal of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Socialization of Rome
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-5SocialAppeal.php
The Love of kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCf6-6LovingKings.php
7. Factions at the Altar of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The Pharisees and The Sadducees of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCg7-1Factions.php
The Essenes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The Healers of a Nation
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCg7-2Essene.php
8. A King is Born of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
A King is Born of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-1KingBorn.php
What is redemption? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-2Redemption.php
Kingdom in Turmoil of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-3Turmoil.php
The New Deal of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCh8-4NewDeal.php
9. Temples and Churches of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The Church
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-1TemplesandChurches.php
Investing in Diana of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-2InvestinDiana.php
One Father of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-3OurFather.php
Arts of the Temples of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-4TempleArts.php
The Temple of Satan of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-5SatansTemple.php
The Royal Treasury of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCi9-6RoyalTreasury.php
10. Two Paths of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
God’s dominion from the Beginning of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The revenue of the wicked
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-1Paths.php
Beams in our eyes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Removing the Beam
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-2Beams.php
These two Kingdoms of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-3TwoKingdoms.php
Faith is actions of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-4Action.php
The kingdom appointed to Liberty of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCj10-5AppointedLiberty.php
11. Where is the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The kingdom comes of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-1Kingdom.php
Eating in the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-2Eating.php
Washing in the kingdom of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-3Washing.php
Where is the Church? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-4Where.php
We are all kings of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCk11-5AllKings.php
12. Apostasy of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The Ship of State of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-1Ship.php
The Allurement of Wolves of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-2Wolves.php
The Church of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-3Church.php
The Separate Church
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCl12-4Separate.php
13. The Kingdom of Heaven of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
The State of the Nation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-1Heaven.php
Seeking the kingdom, The Law of God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-2SeekLaw.php
What does the Kingdom look like? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-3looks.php
Assembling a congregation of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Where to start seeking the kingdom of God
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCm13-4Start.php
Appendix of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
Appendix 1. Kingdom of Heaven and God of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-1Appendix.php
Appendix 2. The things He says of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-2AppenSaid.php
Appendix 3. What is Worship? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-3AppenWorship.php
Appendix 4. Who are the Nicolaitans? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-4AppenNicolaitan.php
Appendix 5. Who is a god? of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-5Appengods.php
Appendix 6. Oaths and Swearing of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/TKCn-6AppenOaths.php
The Cover of the book, Thy Kingdom Comes
The Elixir of Love.
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/tkczzwa.php
About the Author of the book Thy Kingdom Comes
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/TKC/tkczzwb.php
Other publications:
The Covenants of the gods
The Free Church Report
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