By way of review of some items in Part I, lets look a little more at the clergy-laity division. It would be good to read some of “Miller’s Church History” on the origin of the clergy and laity that there was no distinction as “the clergy” and “the laity”. All stood on the same ground as to priesthood, worship, and nearness to God. As the apostles Peter and John say, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” and “The only priesthood, then, in the church of God is the common priesthood of all believers” (Page 186). Christians long ago have given up the priesthood to those who have no rights to it and have lost the blessing to it. If one sees a pastor, priest or anyone else as clergy, then they have been robbed of the effects of this part of reformation.

A second thing which is amazing to me is when the reformation supposedly started. As I stated before, most writers point to Martin Luther as the start of the reformation. He had his part for sure, but to me the real start was with John the Baptist. He was sent with a new message. He came preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. He said “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answered and saith unto them. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”
The things that John said are part of being reformed, a change of dispensation, a new view, a new life. So John came preaching a new thing to the Old Testament believers.

Jesus also introduced many new concepts and life for the new dispensation because the old was being reformed. You must be born again! You shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. In My Name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Of course we could write much more about the words of Jesus and the reforming which began to take place with the church, especially after Pentecost. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Yes, a quote from the prophet Joel and given to the reformed church at Pentecost.

Do we see clearly that John and Jesus introduced the new Way, the reformed Way for this church age? The reforming was started but fizzled out in time and we went through centuries of denomination systems that dragged the reformation out of the lives of God’s people.

As long as we go with the flow of this unreformed Christianity of today, we will not suffer at the hands of God’s enemies. John, Jesus, Stephen, Paul and most of the apostles suffered their outcomes for standing against the unreformed believers of their day.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.”

So what do we have today in the year 2008? We are in the court of mixture. Some do not believe in being born again or receiving the Holy Spirit. Most do not believe in deliverance from demons. Isn’t it interesting how the enemy has convinced the believers that all of the demons left the earth when Jesus sat down at the right hand of God? Jesus spent a lot of time casting our demons and wants us to deal with them in this reformed era. Most do not believe in the laying on of hands or healing. They have been convinced that all they have to do is go to their steeple houses on Sundays, join the division, pay their tithes, and they are complete in Christ.

John said “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” I think that statement as a starting place is still good for today.

Jim Dermanoski
February 2008

Questions or comments?  e-mail Jim@seeking-his-kingdom.com

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