The Documents
God sees the heart and mind of mankind, but the world often requires something more tangible as evidence in witness.
His Holy Church offers a system for the edification, authentication, solemnization, and protection of the free Church and congregation which may assist in the maintenance and nurturing of a free people under God.
The Church is not a building. It is an institution of Christ. It is not a place nere or there. It, like the Kingdom of God, is composed of living souls who seek to do the will of Christ and the Father. Its mission is imposed by Christ upon our hearts and minds of those who are faithful to His way in Spirit and in Truth.
Documenting the formation
of the Church is no different than recording the births, baptisms,
and marriages of families in any other government, or marking the
boundary corners of property, or the borders of a dominion.
It is for those who are seeking the kingdom. That
record of the Church and the people also helps to identify and protect the Church in the
performance of its duty to God the Father and His people by establishing the intent,
obligations, rights, and responsibilities of all those who comprise
the Church and the people in congregation as well as the authority by which the Church does act and the people live as free souls under God.
Keepiing that record is to be a true and accurate preaching or publishing of the Kingdom of God. It is a work in progress from generation to generation.
The Church defined by the world.
The world gives us a
consistent definition of a Church in Black’s Law Dictionary:
“In
its most general sense, the religious society founded and established
by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, and propagate His doctrines
and ordinances.”
“A
body or community of Christians, united under one form of government
by the profession of one faith, and the observance of the same
rituals and ceremonies.”
First,
the Church is seen as founded
and established by the
Christ. Our prayer is to conform
to Christ, meeting His requirements, maintaining and edifying
His Church in righteousness and truth avoiding those stumbling
blocks, the deceitful meat, snares, and traps which are a
recompense to us and the Church.
The Church is a community
and it is also under one form of government, separate and different
from other governments, so that it may remain His Holy Assembly. The
ordinances and doctrines of the Church are dictated by God. It is
barred from exercising authority one over the other, but yet
it is to be the benefactor of the people. In observance of His
commandments, by the ritual of His ways, the ceremonies of His deeds,
in service to His people and the world we profess our faith as the
body of Christ by love.
All the documents offered contribute to prima facia evidence of a separation from the
ways of the world and our faith or fidelity in Christ's way. These
rituals and ceremonies, rites and services, forms and protocols are
for the purpose of keeping the Church from the domination by the
world while remaining in the world. The purpose of these
relationships, evidenced by this documentation, is to facilitate the
individual in their search for the Kingdom and His righteousness. The
recording of these events and documents is done in service to the
people, the Church, and to Christ, and our Father in Heaven.
The
change that comes from being Baptized in the spirit of Christ Jesus,
as Lord of your life, is only visible to those who have eyes to see.
The world,
not seeing these things of the spirit, needs evidence that is visible to the people of the world. Each
member of a congregation and minister must define their ministry
according to the spirit of the Father in their heart and mind. Each ordained minister of Christ must recognize and be recognized,
accept or reject according to his God given conscience. These
provided forms and records are offered in that service so that there
may be a uniform witness to the world, but it is by our love for one
another and the fruits of that love that we shall be truly known
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