"WHY STAND YE HERE ALL

Another word which is translated "edifying" is found only one time in the New Testament (1 Tim. 1:4) and means the "act of building...the increase which God desires in faith" (Thayer, 440). Edification is an essential work of the church. Christian growth is a theme that runs throughout the New Testament (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18). Christians are warned to be sober, steadfast, and strong (1 Pet. 5:8-9; Eph. 6:10). Paul said, "let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Cor. 14:26). Edification begins with education and, therefore, study is required (2 Tim. 2:15).

The work of the church in preparing people for heaven involves benevolence. (1 Tim. 5:16; Acts 6:1-6; Gal. 2:10). The word (eunoia) which is translated "benevolence" is found only two times in the New Testament (1 Cor. 7:3 - benevolence and Eph. 6:7 – good will) (Smith, 158). This word means "favor, benevolence, good will, kindness" (Thayer, 260). Paul said that we should remember the poor (Gal. 2:10). The word which is translated "remember" means "to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind...to think of and feel for a person or thing" (Thayer, 416). This word is translated "remember" nineteen times (Matt. 16:9; Mark 8:18; Luke 17:32; John 15:20; 16:4,12; Acts 20:31,35; Gal. 2:10; Eph. 2:11; Col. 4:18; 1 Thes. 1:3; 2:9;2 Thes. 2:5; 2 Tim. 2:8; Heb. 13:7; Rev. 2:5; 3:3; 18:5), "been mindful" (Heb. 11:15) and "made mention"(Heb. 11:22) (Smith, 235). Paul told Timothy that widows should receive relief or be relieved (1 Tim. 5:16). The word which is translated "relieve" means "to aid, give assistance, relieve...to give aid from one’s own resources" (Thayer, 229). This word is translated "relieve" three times (1 Tim. 5:10,16,16) (Smith, 137).. James writes that Christians are to visit the fatherless and widows (Jam. 1:27). The word which is translated "visit" means "to look at something, examine closely, inspect, observe, to look upon with mercy, favor, or regard...to look after, take care of or nursing the sick (Matt. 25:36,43; Jam. 1:27); to look accurately or diligently (Acts 6:3)" (Thayer, 242). This word is translated "visited," or ""visit" ten times (Matt. 25:36,43; Luke 1:68,78; 7:16; Acts 7:23; 15:14,36; Heb. 2:6; Jam. 1:27) and "look ye out" one time (Acts 6:3) (Smith, 145).

How must the work of the church be accomplished? How is the church to carry out the work of evangelism? How is the church to carry out the work of edification? How is the church to carry out the work of benevolence? The local church is organized for evangelism. The local church is composed of Christians in a local area meeting and working together according to the authority of Christ. The gospel can be spread throughout the whole world by use of radio, television, internet, or by sending preachers into the world. This work of preaching the gospel is the responsibility of

every congregation. The church at Antioch made it possible for Paul and Barnabas to go and preach the gospel to other areas (Acts 11:19-26). Local churches regularly supported Paul while he was preaching (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:15-16). A local congregation can support another congregation with the work of evangelism. What about a missionary society? A missionary society was developed many years ago (1849) to take over the missionary efforts for congregations. This was and is an unscriptural organization. The missionary society was larger than the local congregation and smaller than the universal church. Even though the missionary society was composed of only members of the church that did not make it scriptural. The missionary society exists for the purpose of doing the work which God gave the church to do. There is another organization of men attempting to do the work of the church known as "African Christian Schools Foundation" located in Nashville, Tennessee. This foundation is composed of a board of directors. This foundation was founded in 1959. What does this organization attempt to do? The African Christian Schools Bulletin, Spring, 2001 states: "As a result of ACSF’s self-study, it was determined that the programs and interests of the organization have grown to the extent that certain aspects of the work need more attention. The CEO will focus on administrative and fund raising tasks in the U.S. while President Huffard will devote more time to recruitment of missionaries and oversight of the expanding programs in Africa."

God is not glorified in the organizations of men. When a congregation turns over the work of evangelism to a missionary society, it shirks the work which God required of them. The local church, congregation, has the machinery and the organization necessary to perform all of the duties involved in the field of evangelism.

How is the church to carry out the work of edification? The local church is organized for edification. The local church should be edified by worshiping together (Heb. 10:24-25). The local church should be edified by studying together (2 Tim. 2:15). The local church should be edified by practicing discipline. Sometimes it is necessary to "...root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down" in order to build and plant (Jer. 1:10). The apostle Paul warned that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). The damaging influence of sin must be purged out of the local congregation (1 Cor. 5:7). One must remember that church discipline is an act of love, carried out for the purpose of saving the sinner’s soul and the purification of the church. When all avenues have been exhausted, the sinner must be put away (Gal. 6:1; 1 Cor. 5:1-7; Titus 3:10; 2 Thes. 3:14-15).

The church is not responsible for physical activities such as basketball, softball, fly fishing, etc. It is not the church’s responsibility to build gyms and family life centers and claim it is being done in the name of edifying one another.

continued next week