The Free Formation
of the Congregations of the People
This article may be read with active footnotes and images at:
http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/formation.asp
I am contacted regularly by people asking for help and assistance.
Often government benefits are found to be inadequate or non existent. Or
individuals may be ineligible because of a stand they have taken based on a
moral conviction of separation from a system of authoritarian Benefactors which
we are told not to be like.1
This story of neglect and need is becoming more and more frequent. The
US economy is stretched and options for those who desire to live as the
pilgrims decrease.2 Those who have read my books or studied history know that
this decline and fall is inevitable as history continues to repeat itself.
As it was in the days of Christ and the decline of the Roman Empire, as it
was in the days of Moses in the plagues of Egypt so shall it be in our own
time. Christ and the prophets had a plan to save the people in this world and
the next and taught them how it worked.
Today the people are a scattered flock, and like dried bones they will need
to come together to form the kingdom of God in spirit and in truth. The plan
and precepts of that godly system called the Kingdom of God is found in the
Bible. Men and their families gather together according to the perfect law of
liberty. Not by social or constitutional compacts but in one accord.
As Wycliffe wrote, "The Bible is the book for the government of the people, by
the people and for the people."
The Kingdom is bound not by force but by love of God and love for one
another. Through a network of congregations formed by the early Church and
before that by the "church in the wilderness"3 a peculiar people were able to
move as one nation in hard times, grave conditions and cataclysmic
circumstances.
The Bible is not alone in teaching these lessons of mutual cooperation and
unselfish dedication. As I tend sheep here in the high deserts of Oregon I see
them form tight groups that graze in formation, shoulder to shoulder. This
keeps them close in the case of predatory attack. The sheep that go off alone
are easy prey.
This same precept is even more striking among geese flying in V formation.
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately
following. By flying in formation, they can add 70% to their flying range. The
birds who feel the drag and resistance if they move out of formation will
immediately return. As they fly overhead you will sometimes see leaders fall
back letting another goose take the lead while he takes a position that allows
him to take advantage of the lift of others to rest.
No one forces the sheep to stand together or compels the geese to fly in
formation, it is just naturally good common sense.
People are not often as naturally wise as sheep and geese. They cannot see
the wisdom of coming together and working for a common purpose. Pride and
vanity, selfishness and avarice, sloth and apathy often imprison men in a
delusion of freedom until it is too late.
Christ tried to give them that common purpose of liberty under God, justice
and mercy, charity and hope. Early Christians wisely formed tight groups of ten
families called congregations or tithings that were linked through a system of
chosen ministers of what was called the Church. They used that voluntary system
of brotherly charity and love to survive without the centralized civic altars
of Herod the Great and the Pharisees. In the days to follow as the corruption,
decline and collapse of the Roman Empire continued the Christians survived,
even thrived.
Christians would not participate in the civic altars of Nicolaitan
benefactions of Rome and other similar systems because they operated by
"exercising authority" that compelled contributions of their members and
supplied benefits at the expense of their neighbors which was forbidden by
Christ to his Church.4
Today, men and women calling themselves Christians indulge heavily in these
systems of authoritarian Benefactors.5 Modern Christians are falsely taught
that compelling their neighbors to contribute through the agency of governments
for their own benefit and social security is natural and good, even blessed by
God.
Such systems depersonalize communities which function well enough when times
are good but fall into chaos in bad times. No one compels healthy geese to drop
out of line when one goose gets sick or injured and drops back. Geese often
follow their fallen comrade down to the ground and stay with them until they
all are able to resume the trip south with another group with the same goals
and precepts.
We are supposed to be seeking the kingdom of God where everyone lives by
faith hope and charity. It is not a place but a WAY, where men live according
to the perfect law of liberty, caring as much about their brothers rights and
welfare as they do their own, coming together bound by mutual love and
sacrifice.
The kingdom is not just a few people who help one another out from time to
time but was and is a nation of people who form a voluntary network with the
common goal and purpose of liberty, mercy and justice under God. It is not
created over night but is something that must be actively sought, nurtured and
practiced every day.
Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.
We encourage everyone to begin forming free congregations and link those
congregations together in the same way the first century Church was united. If
they already have congregations, then connect them with other groups through
systems similar to the systems established by Moses or the early Church during
the first Millennium.6
The church first is a spiritual union that begins within you but it also
includes people coming together in practical ways that aid in the prospering of
independence and freedom under God the Father.
The world does not see spiritual things so it may be of value to produce a
visible record of our status under God. Here is a web page that has numerous
reports, articles and forms to aid individuals and groups in forming a network
of congregations.
http://www.hisholychurch.net/pdfiles/His-Church/
You can also join one or more of our discussion groups including the
congregation group and encourage others to join also.
http://www.hisholychurch.net/csubscription.asp
Many of you know we are not a "registered" Church, but a free Church under God.
We are asking you to please write us letters of testimony concerning this
ministry and mail them to:
His Church
Box 10
Ana Road 10
Summer Lake, Oregon
97640-0010
We will keep them on file as a record and your personal testimonial to our
ministry.
Peace on your house
Gregory@hisholychurch.net
Discussion and News lists including the Kingdom News.
http://www.hisholychurch.net/emaillst.asp
Also if you wish to contribute to this ministry please download this form, fill
out the first part and send it along with your contribution.
http://www.hisholychurch.net/pdfiles/ministers/Acceptance.pdf
If you wish to donate on line you can go to:
http://www.hisholychurch.net/donation.html
1ARTICLE X - The prime directive of the Church
Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/polity/articlex.html
2These articles mention the Pilgrims, called Separatist.
Http://www.hisholychurch.net/study/history/1abramcivil.html
Http://www.hisholychurch.net/news/a4constitution8charters.html
http://www.hisholychurch.net/sermon/romeus.HTM
3Ac 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel
which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the
lively oracles to give unto us:
4Mr 10:42 But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that
they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them;
and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among
you:
5Lu 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship
over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
But ye shall not be so:...
6Thy Kingdom Comes Read or Order
http://www.hisholychurch.net/order/materialskingdom.html
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