MUCH
ASSURANCE
CAST
OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE
We
want to discuss the problem of being "cast out of the synagogue" and
assurance.
The
old word from the Whore of Rome is excommunication. Baptists speak of being "churched."
This I find very peculiar, for to be churched should imply that I have somehow
been blessed by the Church of Jesus Christ. To call excommunication "being
churched" tells me there is some implicit jackboot nature to the process.
There are biblical grounds for the leaders of the local church to send away a
rebel against Christ, or a willful sinner. But, most "churching" today
has to do with nothing else but the pastor feeling threatened and forcing the
threat away from himself.
It
is the high muckity mucks who cast sheep out. Here is how it worked in Jesus'
day:
John
12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because
of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John
9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents,
that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor
his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh,
when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of
the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And
said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.)
He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
8 The neighbours
therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not
this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is
like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were
thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made
clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and
wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto
him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
13 They brought to the Pharisees him
that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the
clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how
he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and
I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is
not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man
that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17
They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened
thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning
him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents
of him that had received his sight.
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this
your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
20 His parents
answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes,
we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22 These
words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed
already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out
of the synagogue.
23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God
the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
25 He answered and said, Whether
he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind,
now I see.
26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened
he thine eyes?
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not
hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
28
Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from
whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous
thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of
God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it
not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If
this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34 They answered and said
unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they
cast him out.
Let
us note several things:
1.
The man was healed and delivered by Jesus Christ, and he was content to receive
the work of God in his life without consulting the religious leaders. Today, many
preachers insist that to be delivered from sin and death a person needs to be
at their altar. They refuse to accept anyone being born again alone with Jesus
Christ.
2.
The Pharisees were willing to receive the work of God if it was credited to Jehovah
God without giving Jesus Christ the glory. The healed man did not comply with
this, so they railed on him. Again, many preachers today are willing for even
Jesus Christ to get the glory as long as some glory is shared with the preacher
and his program.
3.
The beggar, though undoubtedly not very articulate in matters of theology and
high toned Talmudic debate, walked circles around these erudite religious leaders
with his simplicity and sarcasm. You need to understand that the smartest whip
in the Bible college or the local church, when he gets out of line with the person
of Jesus Christ and the King James Bible, is your target. You may mock him and
deride him, as God does in his heaven. There is NO reason to show mercy. They
are about to thrash and "church" you anyway, so show them themselves
for the fools they are.
4.
Jesus is there to look you up after they throw you away:
John
9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said
unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who
is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou
hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said,
Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I
am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which
see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him
heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto
them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore
your sin remaineth.
5.
You need to understand that the one who follows Jesus Christ in a simple literal
way WILL get into trouble with pastors and church leaders. They are the ones who
resist the simplicity of the Good Shepherd with his sheep. They give lip service
to Jesus Christ, but they love to have the preeminent place-- they want you to
first submit to them.
CONCLUSION:
Being
"churched" or cast out is very intimidating. The devil will tempt you
to believe you are wicked, and you will feel you need to come crawling back to
the great leaders and beg for your place back. I strongly encourage you to walk
on with Jesus Christ. He has plenty of sheep with whom you will find fellowship.
Do not run back to the hireling once you have escaped.
You
are in the best company in the universe if you are born again:
Matthew
12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who
are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples,
and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the
will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and
mother.
Luke
24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he
talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Ask
the Lord Jesus Christ to send someone to you whose heart burns for Jesus Christ
and the Word of God. Don't look back-- the future is bright in your Good Shepherd.
BLESSED
QUIETNESS IS BEST FOUND IN MUCH ASSURANCE
