Another Look at Christian Fellowship
Malcolm L. Hill

I must confess that I do not have every detailed answer to Christian fellowship, just like I do not have every detailed answer to how my spirit dwells in my body. I know about the soul of man from what the Bible says, but I do not know all about the soul of man. I know enough about the soul of man to be saved, but I do not know everything there is to know about it. I know much about Christian fellowship, which I have learned from the Bible, but I do not know every little small, minute detail about Christian fellowship. I know enough about Christian fellowship to be saved and to save those who will listen. Everything we need to know about Christian fellowship in order to be saved is clearly set forth in the Scriptures. If brethren would do what the Bible plainly teaches on Christian fellowship to begin with, then those smaller, detailed hard to know things would be virtually nonexistent. Such passages as Ephesians 5:11; Romans 16:17-18; II John 9-11; and I John 1:6-7 are crystal clear about who the Christian should and should not fellowship. But because men refuse to follow the plain teaching of God on Christian fellowship, we get into the quagmire of minutes on the theme.

The present state of the brotherhood has thrown me into regions of study on Christian fellowship that I never thought of before. The reason I have given many hours and weeks to the study of Christian fellowship is because it is a salvation issue (I John 1:6-7; II John 9-11). It, in my opinion, is the issue of the present and carries serious consequences. In fact, it seems more serious than most brethren seem to realize. I am convinced that eternal life and eternal death depend upon our view and practice of Christian fellowship. It is because of this that I am writing more about the subject. I will be going into some areas that at first will seem unnecessary, but when I am finished I hope to set forth the connection on the theme of Christian fellowship.

All Sin Is Not the Same

I have heard people say that sin is sin, and there is no such thing as a great sin and a small sin. Is this what the Bible teaches? If so, then it is true; but if not, then it is false. Let us go to the Bible with this in mind and exegete some passages.

Matthew 23:23

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Mint, anise, and cummin were garden herbs. They were of little value in God’s eyes, but judgment, mercy, and faith were weightier matters – they were more important. So it is clear that Jesus said there are some things more important than others. Thus to leave off judgment, mercy, and faith would be a greater sin than failing to sacifice mint, anise, and cummin. Please remember that Jesus did not say to leave off the latter. Christ said they should have observed judgment, mercy, and faith along with the tithing of mint, anise, and cummin. Jesus did not teach them to leave off anything that God had commanded nor has any man of God ever done so in any dispensation or age. What do we learn from this passage?

1. Jesus taught there are some matters of religion that are more important than others.
2. Jesus taught that we commit greater sin when we leave off the greater matters of God’s Will.
3. Jesus taught us to understand and not do is a greater sin (James 4:17).
4. Jesus taught that all of God’s Will should be observed.
   

Matthew 12:3-8

“But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” The background of this passage is about Jesus and His disciples going through the field on the Sabbath and plucking grain and eating it. The Pharisees condemned Him and said he was breaking the law of Moses (Matt. 12:2). But the law of Moses did permit them to pluck grain from their neighbor’s field (Deut. 23:25). However, the Pharisees had made a number of rules about work on the Sabbath. Reaping and threshing on the Sabbath day was forbidden. The Pharisees said that rubbing the hands together was a form of threshing; therefore, it was forbidden by their traditions to be done on the Sabbath day.

Jesus then cites to the Pharisees what David did as found in our Bible in I Samuel 21:1-6. Jesus told them that mercy was more important than the law about the shewbread. It was true under ordinary circumstances that only the priests were permitted to eat the shewbread. But there was a higher rule of judgment and mercy that came before eating the shewbread, and David and his company were a good example. What do we learn from this?

1. We learn that smaller incidentals do not come before larger things when it relates to necessity. Had David and his men made a practice of eating the shewbread, then there would have been a serious problem with David and his attitude toward God and His law.
2. There are times in the life of a Christian when necessity supersedes in a matter. If one is on his way to worship and runs upon a bad automobile wreck, is he justified in stopping to help the injured and dying? Of course – Matthew 12:7 shows this to be true. We are not disobeying God by so doing but obeying God in the matter.
3. The liberals preach Matthew 12:1-8 in the following way. They would say David and his men went into the temple and ate the shewbread that was only for the priests. So anyone who gets hungry should go to the temple and eat the shewbread anytime. This idea is totally out of harmony with what Jesus was teaching. But this is the liberal mindset in the world today.

Proverbs 21:3

“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Actually what the Bible here says is that God would have justice and judgment before worship. This points out very clearly that judgment and justice is more weighty than worship. But what is judgment? Judgment has to do with fair appraisal and treatment in all of life’s problems and difficulties. It demands that we check out, serch out, study out, and think out all situations in life and then act in keeping with truth. But what is meant by justice? Justice carries the idea of being fair in all or our dealings with God and man. We must be fair with God. We must be fair with self. We must be fair with our fellow man.

Solomon knew that all through his life he, along with his fellow man, had been slack at times in judgment and justice. So he pointed out in Proverbs 21:3 that these two things are more important to God than worship unto Him. Without judgment and justice all the worship we might render to God is not acceptable to Him. What do we learn from this passage?

1. We learn that right judgment in all things is a more weighty matter than offering beautiful and wonderful sacrifices to God.
2. We learn that justice is a more weighty matter than offering the choice things in sacrifice to God.
3. We learn that God places some things above other things when it comes to pleasing Him and doing His Will.
4. Please see Proverbs 17:15 which applies, in principle, to these comments.
   

Proverbs 6:30-32

This passage does not teach that it is right to steal. It does teach that the transgression of one who steals because he is starving is not as bad as a man who goes out and intentionally commits adultery. Please notice that even though a man steals because he is very hungry he is still held accountable for what he takes (Prov. 6:30-32). I do not think of a single person who would hold a mother very accountable who would steal for her children who were starving and the same feeling would be held if she was starving. All of us can see this and our heart is moved by it. We would hold her accountable for stealing but our feeling for her would not be so strong. The circumstances prevailing would alter our view of the wrong.

But what about a man who is a whoremonger? He plans his way of living and conduct. He goes out seeking a woman with whom to commit adultery. He does this day by day. He cares not if he breaks up families because he has fleshly fulfillment in mind. All the women of the world are open season for him. The young and old make no difference to him. Which is worse in the sight of God? Both are a sin but this passage bears out that the man who deliberately and intentionally commits adultery is much worse than the man that steals because his family is hungry. The judge in our civil court would make a distinction and surely God does, as this passage points out. What do we learn from this passage?

1. All stealing is weighty in the sight of God.
2. But stealing when one’s family is hungry carries some tenderness with it.
3. When a man goes out with fornication on his mind and seeks and does such, he is worse than one that steals to stay alive. One is more weighty than the other.
4. When a man deliberately and knowingly takes a stand for wrong he is guilty of committing a weightier sin. It is often the case that some elders, preachers, deacons, and church members are guilty of this.
5. Please see James 4:17 on this point.
   

Hosea 6:6

“For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” What is mercy? From Luke 16:24 we see that mercy is an act of kindness. Psalm 4:1 tells us that mercy is to hear the call of an individual. From Psalm 51:1-6 we find that mercy is to hear the cry of one asking forgiveness. From Psalm 123:1-4 we find that mercy is to deliver one from danger. From Proverbs 14:31 we can see that mercy is to help the poor. From Luke 18:13 we see that mercy is to forgive wrong when asked. Mercy will hold no grudges and bitterness. Mercy means that we are gracious toward others.

If it were not for God’s mercy toward man, none of us would be alive. But He is full of mercy and loving kindness (Ps. 25:10; 57:10; 69:13). From Hosea 4:6 we find that God desires mercy before sacrifice or worship. This means that it is more weighty than sacrifice. Does this mean that sacrifice is not weighty or important? It surely does not but it does mean that mercy is above sacrifice when it comes to God’s scale. Should man therefore forget worship altogether and deal in being merciful to his fellowman? No. Man should first show mercy and then worship God according to His plan.

Next we see in Hosea 6:6 that God demands knowledge before worship or sacrifice. What is included in the knowledge here mentioned? God expects man to know and learn His divine will as fully and completely as he can. This does not come overnight but through a life of discipline as one of God’s children. Knowing God’s Word is a weighty matter. We can see this from Hosea 6:6 because God says He desires knowledge before worship to Him. The knowledge of God’s Will is vitally important to pleasing Him. Some in the days of Paul, the apostle, worshiped God but they did not have the proper knowledge (Rom. 10:1-2), thus their worship was in vain. Jesus confronted the Pharisees because they did not worship God according to His Will (Matt. 15:8-9; Mark 7:7-8). People in general do not realize the importance God places on knowing and doing His Will. Many members of the church of Christ do not realize this. All will realize it in the judgment day (II Tim. 2:15; John 12:48). We can see that knowledge of God’s Will and mercy are more weighty to Him than worship or sacrifice. What do we learn from this passage?

1. We learn that God demands mercy of all His people. Mercy means to properly respond to all the needs and calls of others. It means to deal justly with others.
2. We learn that the knowledge of God which is found only in the Bible is a more weighty matter with God. God expects all to live and walk in the light of His Word (I John 1:6-7).
3. Men who know but refuse to walk in the knowledge of God are committing a serious evil. They are going to lose their soul and the souls they support by fellowship (II John 9-11).
4. It is sinful not to worship God in His appointed way (John 4:24). But it is a more weighty thing not to have mercy and knowledge of God.
   

Leviticus 10:1-20

Please read all of Leviticus chapter 10. My suggestion would be to read and study that chapter thoroughly along with your study of this paper.

Now our comments and points on Leviticus chapter 10. Nadab and Abihu were priests of God. They offered or used strange fire in burning incense. Strange fire was fire that God had not authorized just as strange worship would be worship God did not sanction. Strange, in this way, means that which is foreign thus unauthorized.

When Nadab and Abihu offered their strange fire to the Lord God took their life by sending fire down from heaven which devoured them (Lev. 10:1-2). This brought fear in the hearts of those who beheld the matter (Lev. 10:6-7, 9). Moses gave them commandment about the Lord’s Will lest they die. This was a good time to do this since God had acted with death’s angel to Nadab and Abihu. Moses asked why the sin offering had not been eaten in the Holy place as he commanded (Lev. 10:16-18). Aaron answered and said,


Aaron tells Moses that the sin offering had not been eaten and reminds him of what had befallen him in the death of his two sons. He seemed to be in doubt about the eating of this offering (Lev. 10:19b), even though Moses had commanded that it be done. Why would Aaron be in doubt about this? He had two sons burned that day for using strange fire. Perhaps he thought that the offering on the alter was also polluted and rejected of the Lord even though Moses had commanded it. Aaron was filled with weeping over the death of his sons and his mind may have been in a whirl. I know that fear must have filled his heart after having seen what God had done to his sons. He must have been in a state of uncertainty. The Bible says, “And when Moses heard that, he was content” (Lev. 10:20).

The liberals in religion and among the churches of Christ have taken passages like this and abused them. They say that God let Aaron by in his disobedience in Leviticus 10:16-20. Then they argue that He will let people by if they do the best they know how even though they disobey or fail to obey God’s commandments. Please notice that God did not tell them to go on acting in this fashion. Had they done so, there would have been some more deaths take place. What Aaron did in Leviticus 10:16-20 was a one time event and it was an exceptional event. It was not the most weighty matter in the Law of Moses. However, Moses brought Aaron’s actions on this occasion to his attention and informed him that it should not have been as it was, thus teaching him what he should do if such occasions should happen in the future. The Bible does not condone what Aaron did on this event. It indicates that Moses let it pass for the time.

What would be equal to what Aaron did in today’s activities? Sometimes we have loved ones to lie in state at the funeral home on Sunday. The loved ones of the deceased will go and sit with that loved one instead of attending worship. Where in the Bible is such action condoned? God is to come first and that even before our dead loved ones (Matt. 8:19-22; 22:37-39). We can all see that this is a less weighty matter in the Lord’s Word. I have never rebuked anyone for doing this. I have taught them what the Bible says about loving the Lord supremely. I attended worship both times when my mother and dad passed away and told my relatives they should do the same. Some of them did and some of them did not. What is going to happen when people do this? I do not know and am willing to let God judge this very intricate matter. When it gets down to the very fuzzy things like this I have never thought myself able to pass a ruling judgment in the matter. This I do know that I am not going to miss worshiping the Heavenly Father for any of my beloved dead. On the Lord’s day, I attend service to remember the One who was willing to die in my stead – that which represents His body and His blood is lying in state as though it were. What do we learn from this passage?

1. We learn that God expects strict obedience from the heart to His commands.
2. We learn that just any worship will not please God. It must be according to His Will.
3. We learn that circumstances are taken into account when disobedience takes place.
4. We learn that a man might be used in public prayer that we personally doubt to be faithful to Christ as he ought. But instead of disturbing the worship of the church and the unity of God’s people we wait to get the matter straight and the truth for sure.
   

Matthew 11:20-24

“Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”

Jesus had been to Chorazin and Bethsaida and had preached some powerful lessons to them. They had also seen the various miracles Christ did. But this did not do them any good for their hearts were hardened and set. But Christ said it would be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment day than for these cities. Why? If sin is sin and wrong is wrong and there is no difference, why was it going to be harder on Bethsaida and Chorazin at the judgment bar of God? The answer is quite clear: their sin was worse and their opportunity of knowing and understanding was greater. Jesus dealt with this very principle in Luke 12:47-48. More weighty is the matter wherein one has the opportunity to know and understand God’s will than those who do not know and do not have the opportunity to do His will. Those who knew and refused to do the Lord’s will would be beaten with many stripes. But those who did not know and did not do God’s will shall be beaten with few stripes.

Mankind understands this principle in the rearing of children. The age of a child makes a difference when it comes to punishment. The understanding of a child makes a difference. The warning a child has received makes a difference in punishment for wrong doing. If a man understands this principle of justice, then how could we think that God does not know and practice it? There are some things more weighty than others by the very nature of things. What do we learn from this passage?

1. We learn that some will be beaten with few stripes in eternity. Those who did not know and did not do will not be punished like some others.
2. Those who knew their Lord’s Will but refused to do it will be beaten with many stripes throughout eternity.
3. Opportunity plus ability equals responsibility. Think of the opportunities people have in America to know God’s Will but refuse to study it. Someone has said that the United States is a sad place from which to leave this world when it comes to Christianity if one is unprepared to meet God.
4. More weighty in God’s sight is one who could know and live for Him but refuses than he who cannot and fails to do. The latter is a less weighty matter than the former.
   

Proverbs 6:16-19

If there are seven things the Lord hates, this must mean there are some things which are not as bad in His sight. God has no use for an arrogant spirit. Such is an abomination unto Him. God despises a liar. He has no use for hands that are involved and dedicated to wrong doing. God abominates an individual that goes around thinking of how he can bring about more things to lead men astray and be lost. This means that God hates a sizeable portion of men and women around the world. We have plenty of this kind in the United States. One of the worst people in the world to God is one that is ready to run to evil. Gossipers are mentioned in this list. God hates those who bear false witness. God greatly disapproves of those who sow discord among the brethren, those who split and divide the church. These seven things are weighty matters in the eyes of the Lord. What do we learn from this passage?

1. Some things are worse than others.
2. Gossip is much more weighty than one who misunderstands.
3. Sowing discord among God’s people is the seventh thing mentioned in this list and is an abomination to the Lord.
   

Micah 6:6-8

Are these the only things the Lord requires of the people of the earth? No, there are many more things one must do to please the Lord.

What is meant by “to do justly”? This means that we should seek to be fair and just before God and our fellow man. What does it mean “to love mercy”? It means that we not only try to extend tender mercies in all ways to others but also want others to do the same. Mercy is to be warm and helpful to others. It does not seek to destroy but to save. What is meant by “walking humbly with God”? This means that we do not have an inflated ego relative to self. It means that we think of others. It means that we never quarrel with God and His Word. It means that we do not have self pity nor are we filled with arrogance. Between self pity and arrogance is the balanced man of humility. To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God are more weighty matters. We are not saying we should leave off the less weighty matters of the will of Jesus but only that they should be done and the weightier matters should not be left undone (Matt. 23:23). What do we learn from this passage?

1. It is important to worship God.
2. It is important to give expensive gifts to God.
3. But we must remember that God wants us to remember the weightier matters before worship.
   

II Kings 5:18-19

Let us get the background of this text. Naaman’s master was an idol worshiper. There were times when Naaman had to take his master to an idol’s temple to worship. Read carefully again II Kings 5:18-19. Naaman had to hold his master and he evidently had to bow in the house of Rimmon. Naaman asked that God forgive him for doing this. The man of God told Naaman to go in peace (II Kings 5:19). This seems to be a case of a servant having to obey his master. It seems that his master was unable because of the lack of strength to bow himself to his idol so he depended on the strength of Naaman to get up and down when he bowed. It was for this that Naaman asked for God’s forgiveness and God’s servant told Naaman to “go in peace.”

What would be like this today? It would be like a servant in a household that had to drive his master to a denomination church for worship. It may be that one would have to help his master to the door and at the end of the denominaitonal service that servant would have to pick him up and take his master home. I have often wondered if this incident in II Kings 5:18-19 has any application to working in a modern grocery store. I have often wondered if it has an applicaiton to dropping one’s mother off at her denomination. Does it have an application to picking up a family member that is at a beer joint? This gets fuzzy to me. I would advise all not to do anything that would violate their conscience (Rom. 14:23). What do we learn from this passage?

1. We learn that Naaman had to help his master go to his idol’s temple.
2. We learn that Naaman did not feel good about it because he asked to be forgiven.
3. We learn that Naaman was told to go in peace.
4. We must never split the body of Christ over speculative matters. We should lean as far as we can without sinning or going against our conscience.
5. We must confess there are matters that are almost impossible to know and that we will never know for sure and this is one of them.
   

How to Determine the Weightier Matters of God’s Will

How can one know the weightier matters of the Bible from the less weighty matters? We cannot determine this by the way each person feels or thinks. This leads to subjectivism, and subjectivism leads to pluralism, and pluralism leads to individualism, and individualism leads to what each fellow thinks is right. If we take this way out, we wind up with confusion on top of confusion and no objective rule for right and wrong. We must turn to the Bible and say, “Tell us Lord what is more important and what is less important.” Actually, we get down to the salvation issues of the Bible. If one says, “The Bible will not settle this issue for me,” then he has a far greater problem that must be dealt with which we term agnosticism, and it could go a step further into atheism. These would be altogether other issues. But we are going to take for granted that all who read this material believe the Bible to be the Word of God.

What are issues of salvation or what are the more important Bible issues? Belief in God is of utmost importance when it comes to eternal salvation. The Bible plainly teaches us this (Heb. 11:6; Ps. 14:1; Ps. 53:1). If belief in the true and living God is necessary to eternal salvation, and it is, then we must hear Bible teaching about God to be saved. Hearing Bible truth about God and His existence is also a salvation issue, which means that it is most important. The Bible plainly establishes this fact. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Hearing the Koran, the Baptist Manual, the Methodist Discipline, the Catholic Catechism, and other human books are not necessary for salvation, but hearing the Word of God is. So by the Bible we have already established two weightier matters of the Lord.

Repentance is a weightier matter of the Lord’s will. One cannot be saved without repenting (Luke 13:3). It is commanded of God (Acts 17:30-31). According to the Bible, anyone who teaches that one can be saved without repenting of his sins will lose his soul, and those who listen to and follow him will lose theirs. Another weightier matter of the Bible is believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. If one does not believe Christ to be the Son of God, then he will lose his soul (John 8:21; John 12:48). But just as weighty according to the Bible is confessing the name of Christ. If one will not confess the name of Christ, then Christ will not confess him (Matt. 10:32-33). Confession is made unto salvation (Rom. 10:9-10).

Bible baptism is a weightier matter of the will of Christ. We must be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16). We must be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). We must be baptized to wash away our sins (Acts 22:16). We must be baptized to be saved (I Pet. 3:21). Many do not believe that water baptism is a weightier matter, but this does not change the fact that it is. God said it in His Bible, and this settles it (Matt. 16:19).

Adding to the Bible and taking from the Bible is a weightier matter with God. We are forbidden to add to or take from the Bible (Rev. 22:18-19). Some have said this is only a principle spoken about in the book of Revelation. So we may add to any and all parts of the Bible except the book of Revelation? This kind of thinking is nothing more than a silly notion. Please take a look at Proverbs 30:6 and Deuteronomy 4:2. When one says that the Bible can be added to or taken from, he is saying that any and everything can be taught in religion – the Koran, the Book of Mormon, the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the teachings of Judge Rutherford, or any other man who has ever lived on this earth. Do the liberals want to take this route? Their reasoning would lead them to this, but they are afraid to practice what they teach. This would get close to their popularity and paycheck, which things rules them in most cases.

The kind of music in worship and praise to God is a weightier matter according to the Bible. The kind of music authorized in the New Testament for the New Testament church is vocal singing. Not just vocal, for this would mean that humming, making noises like instruments with the voice, etc., would be pleasing to God. But God has specified the kind of vocal music He wants in the worship just as He has specified the kind of the fruit of the vine he wants. Watermelon is a fruit of the vine but not the right kind for the Lord’s Supper. Cantaloupe is a fruit of the vine but not the right kind according to the Bible for the Lord’s Supper. Pickles are a fruit of the vine but not the right kind of the fruit of the vine for the Lord’s Supper. Humming is vocal music but not the right kind according to the Bible for worshiping God. God wants vocal singing in the worship and vocal singing only (Matt. 26:30; Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; I Cor. 14:15; Col. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:19; Heb. 2:12). Many today want to relegate the kind of music in worship to God to a small matter in God’s sight. It is a weightier matter and must be treated that way if we would follow God’s word. Just as the Bible commands and demands that we worship one God, so it is with vocal singing; we must sing and only sing in the assembly of the saints to the Lord. Please remember Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2). Please remember Romans 15:4.

Praying to God is a salvation issue; it is a weightier matter according to the Bible. The Bible teaches us to pray (Matt. 7:7-9; Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 18:1; I Thess. 5:17). The one to whom we pray is a weightier matter of the Bible. Would God be pleased if we prayed to Buddha? To Allah? To the Pope of Rome? To the virgin Mary? Our prayers are to be directed to God (Matt. 6:8-9; Matt. 7:11; John 11:22; John 15:16). What liberal among us today would say we may pray to Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, or one of the prophets if we wish to do so and God would accept it? Many have gone a long way out but not out that far. Yes, prayer is a weightier matter of God because the Bible places it there. There is much difference in importance to “shall we have a church house” and “to whom shall we pray.” How do we know this? – because of the way God’s Word treats the subject. There is a great deal of difference in “to whom shall we pray?” and “shall we have a kitchen in the church house?” There is much difference in “to whom shall we pray?” and “how many prayers shall we have in the assembly of the saints?” There is a great deal of difference in “how shall we take care of orphan children?” and “to whom shall we pray?” The Bible makes this distinction in that there is not one word said about how we should take care of orphans and widows, but there is much said about to whom we should pray. Prayer is a weightier matter of the Bible and of God than how Christians should take care of orphans and widows. The weightier matter of caring for widows and orphans is caring for them. This is a must in God’s sight (James 1:27; Gal. 6:10; I Tim. 5). The liberals and the antis want to make how to care for orphans and praying to God equal in importance, but such is not so according to the Bible.

Worshiping God in spirit and in truth is a weightier matter of the Bible. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Notice the Bible says one must worship God in spirit and in truth. One may worship many things, and men have worshiped many things. They have worshiped the sun, moon, stars, trees, rivers, rocks, mountains, the god of fertility, and hundreds of other such things. But such worship was not to God nor did He condone such. In fact, God condemned such and still does (Exod. 20:3-5). What liberal among us today would say the way we go with the gospel is just as important as the God we serve? There is one and only one true and living God, and He alone we must worship (Matt. 4:10). How do we know this? Because the Bible tells us this.

If we worship the one and only God, it must be done in spirit – it must come from the heart (John 4:24; I Cor. 14:15; Matt. 15:8-9; Matt. 13:10-15). When we worship the one and only living God, we must do it in truth – it must be done according to the Bible (John 17:17). One may worship God in different ways, but he cannot worship God acceptably unless he does so in spirit and in truth. This is a must. How important is worshiping God? It is of superb importance. Is a water fountain in the church house of the same importance as worshiping the true and living God in spirit and in truth? The liberals and the antis seem to think so, but God does not think so. How do we know this? Because the Bible teaches us so. A water fountain may be of some importance, but it in no way equals the One whom the Christian worships. Worshiping God is a weightier matter of the Bible.

Worshiping God in truth is a weightier matter of the Bible. It is a must (John 4:24) if we please God in our worship. Worshiping God in truth means that we worship according to what the Bible teaches. Does the Bible teach us to pray in worship? Yes, it does (Acts 2:42). Does the Bible teach us to preach in worship? Yes, it does (Acts 20:7). Does the Bible teach us to take the Lord’s Supper in the worship? Yes, it does (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11; Matt. 26:26-28). Does the Bible teach us to give of our means on the first day of the week? Yes, it does (I Cor. 16:1-2). Does the Bible teach us to sing and make melody in our heart to the Lord? Yes, it does (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16-17). Would it be a weightier matter of the will of Christ to add to the Lord’s Supper hog’s jaw and pigs’ feet? Could we have beans and potatoes in the Lord’s Supper and be pleasing to God? Would it matter to God if we added whatever we wished to the Lord’s Supper? Would this be a small matter to God? How does the Bible treat this type of thing? All we have to do is look at Leviticus 10:1-2, and we find how weighty a thing like this is. We can see from Nadab and Abihu how God looks on those who corrupt the worship with strange fire – fire that was not authorized. Even the liberals tell us we should not and must not change the elements in the Lord’s Supper. Is taking the Lord’s Supper as specified in the Bible of the same importance as the container of the fruit of the vine? The anti-cup brethren and the liberal brethren say they are. The liberal brethren throw them together.

Singing is the only kind of music that God approves for worship. The singing done must be songs, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). How weighty is singing in the assembly of the saints according to the Bible? Can the church please God on the first day of the week worship and leave off singing? I do not know of anyone that has taught that such can be done with God’s approval. How about adding instrumental music to the worship service? Where in the Bible is instrumental music commanded in worship to God? If watermelon juice as a fruit of the vine would corrupt the Lord’s Supper, then why would not the addition of instrumental music in worship do the same? There is as much authority for one as there is for the other. Is the kind of music God wants in worship less important than the Lord’s Supper? Is the Lord’s Supper more weighty in God’s sight than the singing? If so, what passage teaches this? If it is wrong to contaminate the Lord’s Supper, then it is wrong to contaminate the kind of music God wants and prescribes for worship. Both are weightier matters of God. The liberals have tried to place instrumental music in worship to God on the same plane with supporting orphan homes, church houses, baptistries, etc. Evidently they have not been able to take their Bible and let it tell them what is weightier and what is not in the sight of God.

Singing is the prescribed music for the assembly of the saints. But what about hand clapping in the assembly at different times for different reasons? Some have said that hand clapping is the same as saying “Amen.” Then could we clap our hands after the prayer is said at the Lord’s table? Could we clap our hands after a prayer is said at a funeral? What Bible right does anyone have to say that clapping hands is tantamount to saying “Amen”? David Lipe and Ralph Gilmore of Freed-Hardeman University said that they are the same. This is why they holler “Amen” at basketball games and clap their hands at worship. Any of us would have just as much right to say that the stomping of feet is tantamount to saying “Amen” as those who say that clapping of hands is the same as saying “Amen.” The Bible is just as silent on hand clapping in worship as it is on instrumental music in worship. If you can do the one, then you can do the other. The same thing is true with humming, making sounds like music, praise teams, etc. How weighty are these matters? Just as weighty in the sight of God as the kind of juice is to be served on the Lord’s table. But the liberals want to place such in the same category as pews, song books, communion trays, etc. God’s law of silence is just as weighty as what he has spoken on salvation issues (Heb. 7:13-14).

How important is taking the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week? Where is it on God’s priority list? The Lord’s Supper is commanded of God (Matt. 26:26-28). They were to take it in the kingdom or church (Matt. 26:26-28). It was to be served when the whole church came together in one place (I Cor. 11:17-29). It was to be done on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Some have said this was the choice of the early Christians. If this had been so, then why did the apostles not correct them? Paul took the Supper with them (Acts 20:7). Paul was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:16). But he tarried seven days at Troas (Acts 20:6). Why did he tarry seven days at Troas when he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem? Because he wanted to take the Lord’s Supper with the disciples. If another day would have been pleasing to God, why did not the apostle Paul tell those Christians at Troas so? If one day is just as good as another to take the Lord’s Supper, then why did not Paul tell all the churches so? But Paul did not tell one church such because it was not so. God commanded that the Lord’s Supper be taken on the first day of the week, and the early church respected and obeyed His will. Does the Bible teach that the Lord’s Supper is a weightier matter of God? Indeed it does.

How weighty is the purpose of the Lord’s Supper? The Bible teaches us that it is very weighty. If we take the Lord’s
Supper and do not have in mind the meaning and purpose, we eat and drink damnation to ourselves (I Cor. 11:29). We are to discern the Lord’s body (I Cor. 11:29). What is meant by “discerning the Lord’s body” (I Cor. 11:29)? Discerning the Lord’s body means to remember His death and suffering for our sin (Matt. 26:26-28). Abilene Christian University had the Lord’s Supper on Sunday night at the University during their 2002 annual lectureship and called it “A Meal of Racial Reconciliation.” I have never known of a more ungodly act of will worship than this (Col. 2:23). This is far worse than Belshazzar’s abhorrent, loathsome, repulsive, use of the temple vessels at his sinful feast as found in Daniel 5. Belshazzar lived in the moonlight age of God’s revelation and was a heathen to start with. But the Abilene Christian University crowd now live in the sunlight age of God’s revelation, and they claim to be Christians and know God – they claim to be faithful. Those who participated in the Abilene event got a good dose of God’s damnation in their event and eternity will reveal this. The corruption of the Lord’s Supper is serious business.

How serious is Christian giving on the first day of the week according to the Bible? Is it a weightier matter of Christ’s will? We are commanded to give on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:1-2). We are to give as we have been prospered on this day. We realize there are some preachers who teach this was not a church treasury matter. We are told this was a special contribution to the people in Jerusalem according to the preachers who teach this. I have often thought that if the churches where these preachers preach would practice what they preach about there being no Bible for a church treasury, many of these preachers would be out of a house, out of a car, out of food, out of clothing, out of the necessities of life. It would not take long to get them to change their view of the church treasury. We know how preachers are because we have dealt with them for a long time.

God had a plan for supporting His work in the Old Testament. Jesus and His disciples had a treasury, and Judas was the one that kept the money for them (John 12:4-6). The first church had a treasury. Read J.W. McGarvey’s commentary on I Corinthians 16:1-2. There are historical documents along this line. Is the church treasury a weightier matter according to New Testament teaching? Indeed it is. The Old Testament has many wonderful examples for Christians to learn from (Rom. 15:4). When the people of the Old Testament held back their gifts and offerings for the Lord, they were called robbers (Mal. 3:7-10). What would be the conclusion, therefore, about the Christian withholding his money to the Lord (I Cor. 16:1-2)? Christians withholding from God that which they should give actually boils down to thievery and stealing from God. Surely one can see how important giving is on the Bible scale. To argue that giving is a minute matter in God’s sight and according to God’s revelation is to argue a lie.

One must know something about the Bible church to be saved. This is a very weighty matter according to the Bible. Before the church was established it was a weighty matter with Christ. It was so important to Jesus that His gospel was called the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23). John the Baptist preached about the kingdom of God (Matt. 3:1-2). John did not preach “repent ye: for a kingdom is at hand,” and neither did Jesus Christ (Matt. 3:1-2; 4:17). They preached the kingdom is at hand. Phillip the evangelist preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12). The Old Testament is full of prophecy about the church, and the New Testament is full of material about the church or the kingdom. How could anybody de-emphasize the importance of the church if he knows his Bible and respects it? Many liberals among us today are trying to get us to accept the denominations on the same equality with the Lord’s church. Some are trying to say the church of Christ is no better than any other body of believers in Jesus. They are willing to trade the divine for the human. The Bible knows nothing about denominational bodies, but it knows much about the kingdom of God or the church. How should we treat Bible teaching on the kingdom or church? Should it be a weighty matter or a less weighty matter? It is truly a weighty matter according to the Bible.

Now let us say a few things about premillennialism since it has to do with the kingdom of God. The Old Testament foretold of the coming of the kingdom of God. It told them when and where the kingdom or church would begin (Isa. 2:1-4). Jesus said He was going to build His church or kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19). He said the kingdom or church would be built during the lifetime of some standing with Him (Mark 9:1). The church is spoken of as being in existence for the first time in Acts 2:47. The kingdom was established because some were in it during the days of the apostles (Col. 1:13). John the apostle was in the kingdom when he was on the Isle of Patmos writing the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9-10). When one rejects the fact that the kingdom of God came on the first Pentecost day after the resurrection of Christ, he rejects Bible doctrine. To say that God did not establish His kingdom as foretold by His holy prophets and apostles along with all the other inspired preachers and teachers is very weighty and serious in the eyes of God.

When we say that God has put off establishing His kingdom or church because the people would not receive it, we commit a terrible mistake. If this were so, we would have to say that man overpowered God. We would have to say that God did not know the future because He said the kingdom would be established at a certain time and place. This makes God out to be a liar. It makes Christ to be a liar. It makes the Holy Spirit to be a liar. It makes the apostles to be liars. On and on it goes. How serious is this? The Bible teaches us that it is very serious, but the liberals place premillennialism in the same category as Bible classes, literature, church song books, water fountains, etc., and they do this without Bible authority. Yes, kingdom teaching is a weighty matter in God’s eyes.

How important is Christian fellowship in God’s plan to save? Is it a weightier matter according to Bible teaching? What emphasis does God place on Christian fellowship in the Bible? The Bible teaches very clearly that Christian fellowship is a salvation issue. God drew the line for Christian fellowship, not man. In order for a Christian to have fellowship with another person, that person must be in fellowship with God (I John 1:6-7). To be in fellowship with God one must know and honor His word (II John 9-11). God has no fellowship with those who teach false doctrine on salvation issues (Rom. 16:17-18). God will not have fellowship with those who fellowship false teachers and false doctrine (II John 9-11). The teachings of men equals vain worship (Mark 7:7-8). Vain worship means no fellowship with God and His faithful people.

When is one fellowshipping? One is fellowshipping when he jointly participates in a matter knowingly and intentionally and acquiesces in such. When one sings, prays, takes the Lord’s Supper, gives, and preaches or teaches, he is fellowshipping. So we must be careful about who prays, sings, preaches, teaches, etc. The Christian must only participate with those who are following the will of Jesus Christ.

What is the difference in a Baptist preacher who has no use nor respect for Mark 16:15-16 and a preacher in the church of Christ that has no regard for Romans 16:17-18? We have taught through the years that water baptism is commanded of the Lord and we have gotten after those who say it is commanded of the Lord but not necessary. But what about all of us knowing that withdrawing fellowship is a command of the Lord but we refuse to do so? Is it a command of the Lord but not necessary unto salvation (II Thess. 3:6, 14-15)? Shall we treat this command of the Lord like the denominational world treats the command to be baptized? If we do so, will God have respect unto us (Acts 10:34-35)?

Make no mistake about it – Christians cannot have fellowship with the works of darkness that come about through false teachers and false doctrine and be pleasing to God. Anything that has to do with my eternal destiny is a very important issue, and the Bible teaches such. We must come to the realization that some Bible teaching is more important than another. What the Bible teaches and establishes as more important and weighty must receive our first attention and the other should not be left undone (Matt. 23:23).

Less Weighty Matters of the Bible

Loving the Lord with all our hearts (Matt. 22:37-39) and a desire to do everything He has told us to do whether weighty or less weighty is the Christian attitude. This principle is seen in the parable of the virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). If we love the Lord, we will do all within our power to keep all of His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23-24). The Lord told us plainly about this matter in Matthew 5:19. According to Jesus Christ, anyone who teaches others to break the least of God’s commandments and does so himself is not esteemed in God’s sight. I may not be able to separate the minute things in the will of Christ nor understand them, but if I love the Lord as I should, I will do all within my power to follow the Lord’s will and way as far as I can see and understand. The liberal view seems to be if one does not understand the small things in the Bible, then just throw it all away and accept everything in religion.

At this point I am going to list some less weighty matters of the Bible for your consideration.

Less Weighty Matters

1. Should a Christian woman marry a Christian (I Cor. 7:39)? This is a less important matter, and we treat it so. Would you say that it is as important as people living in adultery?
2. Missing a service on Wednesday night is less important than taking the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week. The Bible makes a distinction and we should.
3. Taking the Lord’s Supper in a separate room from the assembly on Sunday night is a less important matter than homosexuality. This is not to say that we should overlook what the Bible says about taking the Supper in the assembly (I Cor. 11).
4. Car washes to raise funds to help good works is a less weighty matter than not giving as we have prospered on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:1-2).
5. Women saying “amen” in the assembly is less weighty than women preaching in the assembly of the saints (I Cor. 14:34; I Tim. 2:11-12).
6. An elder must have more than one child is less weighty than should he be married and must he have children (I Tim. 3; Titus 1).
7. Drinking fermented grape juice on the Lord’s table is less weighty than taking the Lord’s Super on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Are people lost that have done so? I do not know, but I know that I refuse to do so and teach others the same.
8. Having a separate assembly on the first day of the week for children is a less weighty matter than having no assembly at all (Heb. 10:25). I am opposed to children’s church and believe it to be wrong, and I am going to teach such. What is going to happen to those who have had it? On this particular point, I must let God be the judge.
9. Being a poor steward is a less weighty matter than refusing to give as we have been prospered (I Cor. 16:1-2). People must be taught in the field of stewardship, and I will leave the judgment up to God in many cases along this line.
10. Going to war for a righteous cause is less weighty than someone being killed in cold-blooded murder (Rom. 13:9). The war question has been a question in the church of Christ for many years.
    

There are many other things to be mentioned, but time and space will not permit. I hope to print a booklet or a book on these matters in the not-too-distant future.

Matters of Opinion

As I close this study, I want to list some matters of opinion – things that God has loosed (Matt. 16:19).

1. Shall we baptize in a creek or river or a church house baptistry?
2. How large shall the church house be? What color shall it be? Shall it be of brick or wood?
3. How deep shall the water be when one is baptized? Shall the water be heated or not? Shall we take people backward to baptize them or put them forward?
4. Shall we give to an orphan home or not? Shall we take children and widows into our private home or not?
5. In going with the gospel (Mark 16:15), shall I fly, drive, ride a bicycle, walk, etc.?
6. Shall we support a certain mission point and a certain missionary?
7. Shall we have a church house or not? Shall we have a kitchen in the church house or not?
   

When it comes to opinions in the work of the Lord, they are like noses; everybody has one. Let us understand that opinions are not to be bound on anyone, and they certainly should not divide the church. Let us always be sure that according to the Bible opinions are matters of opinion and not matters bound by the Lord (Matt. 16:19).

How Weightier Matters Fit the Overall Picture

God’s plan of salvation or scheme of redemption works from a positive side. It is never half speed ahead in the kingdom but full speed ahead. The man who truly loves the Lord with all his heart and soul does not ask how little can I do and still be saved, but how much can I do for the Savior. The genuine Christian does not ask how much sin can I get by with and still be saved but his desire is to live as near God’s will of perfection as he can (Matt. 5:48). The Christian does not wish to disobey any command of God whether weighty or less weighty, but his wish is to respect God and His will in all things.

A failure to see that there are weightier matters and less weighty matters in the Bible has contributed much to the shattered condition of the Lord’s church today. When we place the same emphasis on the color of the church building as that of water baptism we commit a terrible blunder. When we say that the passive question about carnal warfare is on the same equality as the Lord’s Supper we have erred tremendously in the proper interpretation of the Bible. The teaching of premillennialism is much more weighty than should a widow marry only a Christian. Those in liberalism have bundled these things together along with a number of like things and such has made shipwreck the faith of many.

Many have tried to ascertain where God’s grace stops to the minute detail instead of teaching gospel obedience as far as one can see. I am convinced that the command to love God with all one’s heart is the first and great commandment (Matt. 22:37-39). On this commandment God established all of the Old Testament covenant and man’s acceptance with God depended on man’s understanding and receiving this command (Matt. 22:40). This commandment has always been and forever shall be. Obedient faith in God and His word with genuine love for the Lord is the number one commandment in God’s plan to save man.

Our eternal destiny depends on our keeping the weightier matters of the Bible and not leaving the less weighty matters undone (Matt. 23:23). None of us should be guilty of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Just because we cannot understand the hazy, foggy, dense, in-depth details of some things in the Bible is no reason to throw the whole Bible away (II Pet. 3:15-16). All of us can know enough truth to be saved (John 8:32). It is also the case that all of us may not understand all about the less weighty matters of Christ’s will and still be saved. Again, I must say I do not know where God’s grace stops in some things but these things are somewhat hidden to all of us. All of us can know very plainly what we must do to be saved and stay saved if our heart is set on it. Eternal salvation is not so much how much education we might have but the condition of our heart when it comes to genuinely receiving and obeying the will of God (Prov. 1:7). God only expects of us what we can know and do and no more, and these things are clearly revealed to us in the Bible. Let me emphasize that God does expect this of us, and He will not let us off with less (Matt. 25:14-30).

I have searched and searched for answers on Christian fellowship and the cause for the division in the church of Christ today and in days gone by. I could find no material like this. I am not saying that such does not exist; I am only saying if it does exist I am not aware of it. I am convinced that much of our difficulty in getting along as Christians hangs on the contents of this work.