Restored to its primitive glory

Before I can accede to your pretensions I must see, not
only that the Church was such in the beginning, but, moreover,
that it is according to God's will that it be restored to its
primitive glory; and, furthermore, that a voluntary union of
"two or three" or two or three and twenty, or several such
bodies, are each of them entitled, in any locality, to take the
name of the Church of God, when that Church originally was an
assemblage of all believers in any given locality.

And let me here dwell on a most important consideration, which they who are
bent on making churches have overlooked. They have had their
thoughts so fully engaged in their churches that they have
almost lost sight of the Church. According to Scripture, the
whole sum of the churches here on earth compose the Church, at
least the Church on earth; and the Church in any given place
was no other than the regular association together of whatever
formed part of the entire body of the Church, that is to say,
of the complete body of Christ here on earth; and he who was
not a member of the Church in the place in which he dwelt, was
no member of Christ's Church at all.
... John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)

Important notice
From now on, you can keep up to date with these 'One Church' postings by visiting www.one-church.org where this page will continue as usual.

Just read this today. Not specifically about 'one church' but so deeply profound and challenging that it deserves mention:

"What a lot of trouble and waste of time would be saved if we really were led by the Spirit in what we do." T.Austin Sparks.

That's all.

Thinking God's thoughts

"In thinking God's thoughts about the church we may have to rid our minds of some popular misconceptions. To many the church is simply the sum total of the various denominations, each with its own particular organisation. But the New Testament has nothing to say about denominations. All that we find there is 'the church' ! All true believers regardless of colour, race or tradition, comprise 'the church'.

It is very important as we pick our way through the confused situation we call 'Christendom', to keep God's blueprint always before us."
Arthur Wallis, Into Battle

Love one another...
Are we not all members of the same Body and partakers of
the same Spirit and heirs of the same blessed hope of eternal
life? ... Why do we not, as becomes brethren, dwell together in
unity, but are so apt to quarrel and break out into heats, to
crumble into sects and parties, to divide and separate from one
another upon every trifling occasion? Give me leave... in the
name of our dear Lord ... to recommend to you this new
commandment of his, that ye love one another. Which is almost
a new commandment still, and hardly the worse for wearing, so
seldom is it put on, and so little hath it been practiced among
Christians.
... John Tillotson (1630-1694), Sermons

Hands off!
I'm reading through notes from a series of meetings held by T.Austin Sparks titled "That they may all be one". Here's some outrageously challenging words about the way that man has taken what belongs to God and formed it to his own ends. Hard-hitting stuff, I'm sure you'll agree.

"We are seeking to get right back behind all that Christianity has become to its fundamental principle. Very soon after the apostles had gone, men began to put their hand upon Christianity. From the day when Adam put his hand upon the tree of knowledge of good and evil, man has always wanted to put his hand on the things of God. That is, to bring the things of God into his own control.

Christianity began in a simple beautiful living way. It was all in the life and liberty of the Holy Spirit. And while the Holy Spirit has his hand on things, everything is all right. Now men came in and took hold of Christianity and the result is what we have today." T.Austin Sparks - That they may all be one, Volume 1, meeting 8

Some Bible to remind us of the kind of church we believe in...

For Zion’s sake...
The church we believe in:

Ø No one living in Zion will say “I am ill” - Is 33:24
Ø Even the lamb will carry off plunder – Is 33:23
Ø A place of worship & celebration – Is 33:20
Ø Full of peace – Is 33:20
Ø A joyful assembly, shouts of joy – Heb 12:22, Jer 31:12
Ø City of truth – Zech 8:3
Ø Holy unto the Lord – Zech 8:3, Obad 1:17, Joel 3:17, Is 62:12
Ø The law will go out from Zion – Micah 4:2
Ø On Mount Zion will be deliverance – Obad 1:17, Joel 2:32
Ø Where the Lord dwells – Joel 3:17, Joel 3:21
Ø People bound to the Lord in everlasting covenant – Jer 50:4/5
Ø Leadership that reflects God’s heart; with knowledge & understanding – Jer 3:14/15
Ø Righteousness shining like the dawn; salvation like a blazing torch – Is 62:1
Ø A crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand – Is 62:3
Ø Broken-hearted bound up, captives freed, prisoners released – Is 61:1/2
Ø Beauty instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning, praise instead of despair – Is 61:3
Ø Clothed with strength & garments of splendour – Is 52:1
Ø Free from sorrow, crowned with everlasting joy & gladness – Is 51:11
Ø Joy & gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving & the sound of singing – Is 51:3
Ø Instead of deserts, she will be like Eden – Is 51:3
Ø Filled with justice & righteousness – Is 33:5
Ø Secure & unshakable, enduring forever – Ps 125:1
Ø Perfect in beauty, from where God shine forth – Ps 50:2
Ø The joy of the whole earth – Ps 48:2

My heart grieves because many people are not afraid of setting up another church. They presume that this is a very simple matter and that they can immediately set up a church after discussing it with three or four others. Brothers who are somewhat gifted, who have some scriptural knowledge, and who are capable in preaching, think that they can set up a church. I may have some trouble with my brothers, and it would not be difficult for me to go out to preach, to set up the Lord’s table, and to build a meeting hall. But I could never do this, because the church is one in each locality.
(Watchman Nee, Further Talks, 126)

Had a great email from Rachel....have taken the liberty to quote from her:

"God showed me a picture of a wedding. the groom was stood at the front of a massive crowd. the crowd parted and he looked back to see his bride - i saw countless people stood at the end of the parted crowd, all dressed in white and i saw the look on the groom's face when he saw His Bride walking towards him. i've never seen such a love filled expression in my life. for a moment i could see some of what Jesus feels for us, his Bride, how much he loves us and how much he really gave for us."

When we see & feel God's holy passion for his church, it's impossible for us not be be consumed also with that same passion. Because Christ gave himself up for her, so also must we give ourselves up for him, so that he gets the bride he deserves. When we see this, no cost is too great; no change too inconvenient. It's for him!

Ephes. 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [NIV]

Here's another quote that really stirs me. It's from Bryn Jones' book called 'The Radical Church' and he's talking about the early followers of Christ and the way they lived...man, if we can get this and live it...

“Their only allegiance was to the lordship of Christ. They supported no other party , adopted no other name, embraced no other cause than that of Christ and his kingdom.” Bryn Jones, The Radical Church

Here's a quote I love, just to get us going...

“nothing in the thought of God is local, departmental, separate or independent. In the thought of God everything to do with his church is universal, relative, interdependent; the Church is one."
T.Austin Sparks, The Church which is his Body

Jesus' prayer for all those that are his was, "That they may be one", as he and the Father are one.

This place is simple an information forum for all those who believe this, who passionately long for it to be a reality in our generation, and are prepared to give their lives towards doing all they can to bring it about....right here, right now!

If you have any quotes, sermon soundbites, interesting thoughts or other resources that you think will be of value to those who are wrestling with such issues, either email them to me (nick@tgq.org.uk) or if you want to contribute on a regular basis, I can set you up with your own direct access.

Enjoy.