Walking By Faith
"For we walk by faith, not by sight," 2 Cor. 5:7; "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen but without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. 11:1-6; "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17. Now we are not walking by faith when we do that which we cannot give book, chapter and verse for; and "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Rom. 14:23.
Our sectarian friends say, "There are many things you do, that you cannot give book, chapter and verse for, such as teaching in classes." They fail to see that we have a direct command for more than one class. In Paul's statement to Timothy, "....the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." 2 Tim. 2:2, is class No 1 "The aged women,....that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children," Titus 2:3-4 is class No. 2. Both were commanded of God by the same writer.
There are three ways to prove anything to be scriptural: by 1. Direct command, 2. Approved example, 3. Necessary inference.
They say there is no authority for paying a preacher out of the church treasury. But Paul says, "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service." 2 Cor. 11:8 This is an approved example and, coming from other churches, the elders must have taken it out of the treasury.
Where is book, chapter and verse for song books? Now all our fifth grade Bible students know that several of the books of the Bible are song books such as Psalms, parts of Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. And Paul says, "Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," in Eph. 5:19; and in Col. 3:16 there is a command to use them. I have a book of Psalms set to music. The early church used Psalms for singing in public worship up to the fourth century; according to Catholic Encyclopedia IX page 296.
Where is book, chapter and verse for church house, preacher's home, preacher's study and hired secretary? You will find the meeting house, preacher's home and study all in Acts 28:30-31: "And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house and received all that cane in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." Notice, he preached in that house, lived there, did his office work there, wrote several letters from there, all of which were written by secretaries, and paid for by the church in Philippi according to Phil. 4:14; "Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction." This is an approved example for: a house to meet in, for the preacher to live and study. As for paying his secretary, read Acts 20:34, "Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me." Some of whom wrote the letters for Paul.
Read 1 Cor. 9:5-14 for scriptural authority for paying a preacher.
They say, "no scripture for taking an orphan into a private home." Well, I believe they will all agree that the scripture classes the widows and orphans in one class according to James 1:27; "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." John 19:26-27, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, 'Woman, behold thy son!' Then saith he to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother!' and from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." Here is an approved example of taking them into your own home who are not relatives. 1 Tim. 5:3, 8:16. "Honour widows that are widows indeed, but if any widow have children or nephews let them learn first to shew piety at home and to requite their parents for that is good and acceptable before God.....But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he bath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
"If any man or woman that believe have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed." So we see the church is it's own benevolent society as well as its own missionary society, according to Eph. 3:10: "That through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known." (R. S. V.) The Bible is very clear on how the work is to be done, no other society than the church is needed to do the work .of the church, neither benevolent nor missionary.
Where is book, chapter and verse for individual cups? Who knows of a congregation that really believes in one cup? They quote as authority for one cup in Matthew 26:27-29, "And he took THE cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying 'Drink ye all of it'. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of THE vine until that day I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." Now whoever heard of a congregation using only the fruit on one vine? Remember it is the same THE in both places in both the Greek and English. And Luke 22:17 says, "Take this and divide it among yourselves." How do you divide a CUP? Let us walk by faith and not by sight.
O yes, book, chapter and verse for the uninspired literature. Acts 17:28 Paul quotes uninspired Cleanthes in his hymn to Jupiter, an approved example of using uninspired literature.
Whoever says we don't have book, chapter and verse for all we do and teach is not walking by faith but is walking in SIN for what-so-ever is not of faith is SIN. 2 Tim. 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God, may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto ALL good work." If it is of faith or a good work we can give book, chapter and verse for it. I John 5:2-3, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments."