Too often a man is teaching error, and we are unwilling to warn him of the consequence of his teaching. We exhibit moral cowardice, and their leavening influence continues unchecked, endangering both them and their hearers.
The sole source of religious authority for the child of God is our Savior Jesus Christ. Appeals to any other authority for religious faith and practice must be rejected.
It is almost universally recognized that men can co-exist peaceably only with a recognition of authority. True anarchists (those who rebel against any established authority or power) are few and far between, because anarchy leads to confusion and chaos. Even one who occasionally breaks the rules understands that the rules are necessary.
A very simple way to determine when the church was established is to recognize that the church and the kingdom are the same thing. If we recognize the two terms signify the same “institution”, then we can look to an abundance of information regarding the date of its establishment.
Religious people differ on the date of the church’s establishment. To some it matters little, being simply a theological question with little practical value. Such a point of view is short-sighted, as misconceptions regarding this question have contributed to false theories regarding the kingdom of God.
We should never forget that the church is the blood-bought institution of the Lord. It was conceived in the mind of God before the world began, and is an integral part of God’s scheme of redemption. The voice that speaks lightly of the church is guilty at the least of ignorance, and at the worst of blasphemy.
The word translated into our English as “church” is the Greek word “ekklesia.” The literal meaning of the word is “the called out”, and when used by Christ and the New Testament writers referred to those “called out” of the world by the gospel of Christ.
