"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:23-27)The above passage, which is one of the more important places in Scripture dealing with the relationship between a man and his wife, also reveals deep truth concerning the relationship between Christ and his Church. The correlation between those two great institutions, marriage and the Church, respectively, is more than analogical; but just a few verses later in that same place in Scripture, that correlation is stated to be explicit. In other words, the covenantal relationship between a man and his wife in marriage is intended by God to be representative of the covenantal relationship between Christ and the Church. As 'this' is, so must 'that' be; the model being the relationship between Christ and his Church.
Jesus made it perfectly clear that God intended for the covenant of marriage to be between one man and one woman, for life. Not one wife and a mistress on the side. But one man and one woman in holy matrimony. Fidelity and devotion in marriage ~ which entails separation from emotional and physical intimacy with any other person, is not optional. Marriage is to be modeled after the sacred union between Christ and his Church (and not the other way around).
I have thus far belabored the point, to show plainly that the Church ~ the Body (and Bride) of Christ ~ is not some occasional, come-as-you-are meeting, of folks with divided loyalties. But the Church, as such, lives perpetually in holy union with Christ. When the Church is assembled together in one place (regardless of that location), it is to minister to Christ, and Christ to the Church. At no time should the Church, which is the Body of Christ, be supposed to consist of anyone other than truly born-again persons.
Of course, persons who as yet are unsaved should not only be permitted, but they moreover should be invited to "come to church." But what is the reason for such invitation? It is for one purpose only, that is: that they may hear the Word of God and, by the power of the Holy Ghost, be convinced of their own sins, repent, and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Yet, the policy and practice of nearly all churches, is, to welcome sinners into the midst whensoever the Church is assembled, irregardless of whether such persons may ever express any confession of faith in Christ ~ much less demonstrate any real evidences of that. The hope, of course, is that some day ~ though it may require many years, perhaps, such persons may actually be convinced of their sins and turn to Christ in truth.
Meanwhile, however, such unsaved persons ~ who, notwithstanding they persist with some regularity to attend church; nevertheless, they do not worship God in spirit and in truth. They do not love the Lord Jesus in truth. They do not reverence, nor do they obey, the Word and Spirit of God, but they continually resist the Holy Ghost in their hearts, if not also in their outward conduct. Thus they are hindering spirits in the Assembly.
I have only very rarely heard of some instance where that someone who frequently attended church, eventually, after many years, surrendered himself or herself to Christ. But I have many times observed that a hardening of the heart appears to result in those who make it their practice to habituate the assembly of saints, yet, without yielding their own selves to God. I can see no difference between those who, on the one hand, sit at the "table of the Lord," week after week, to hear the Word of God ~ while they remain unrepentant; and, on the other hand, those who approach with sin yet in their hearts to partake of the Communion bread. If the latter case is strictly condemned (even cursed), in Scripture, then, how is it that the former case is not merely permitted but even encouraged, amongst the churches?
It is one thing, and necessary, that Christian parents should compel their unsaved children to attend church. But it is a different thing altogether, when unsaved adults elect to attend church while persisting to resist the Spirit of God. The consequences of such evil practice are not only hurtful to such individuals but, furthermore, the churches which tolerate or even encourage such behavior, must also suffer because of that. Experience, as well as the record of Scripture, abundantly testifies that is the reality.
Unsaved family members and/or friends should be warned against the dangers to their own soul, which are sure to result from presumptuously coming, with an unrepentant heart and an irreverent mind, amongst the assembly of saints. Consider, carefully if you will, the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira:
"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord , multitudes both of men and women.)" (Acts 5:1-14)God made an example of that man and his wife, who dared to trifle with God and the Church. The result was that "great fear came upon all the church." Henceforth, "no man" dared to "join himself to them." Nevertheless, "believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." When the Church was purified of hypocrites and deceivers and unbelievers, then the Church was greatly blessed, empowered, and increased in every way.
Here is yet another proof, that God's will and expectation is for purity in the Church, and there must be no "mixed multitude" in the Church:
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?" (1 Corinthians 6:1-5)How would the above injunction work out, in a congregation comprised of a mixed multitude? Such a church would necessarily have unbelievers sitting in judgment of believers! What could be more abhorrent to the Holy Ghost, in the midst of the Church?
A "mixed multitude" in the assembly of the saints is an abomination to God. The presence of a mixed multitude, in any given church, is a sure sign that that congregation is already on the road to apostasy. Moreover, the presence of a mixed multitude in the midst of any congregation, is a powerful weapon in the hands of Satan to advance apostasy amongst such a congregation: "Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9).
Apostate Christianity with its watered down suggestions and suppositions and opinions, is not qualified to sit in judgment of what is God's will for God's Church. Compromised Christians are quick to object that true holiness is not a realistic standard of conduct for professing Christians, much less for any group of Christians (i.e., the Church). Still, the Word of God ~ and not any man's opinions ~ is the standard by which all men shall be judged.
And the Bible insists that the Church of God is to be holy: "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
Give me that Church! Else, like Noah in his time, I will walk alone with God.
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