that vain, deceitful philosophy which is not after Christ and from that lie

of the devil who introduced sin and death into the world.

Articles bearing upon this important theme are Sleep7, as a figure of

death; Immortality (p. 316); and Soul7.

The way they call heresy, or the fear of forming a sect.

Some of the Lord's people who feel the need of fellowship with other

fellow -members of the Body of Christ have expressed hesitation to put their

desires into operation, fearing that by so doing they would be forming

'another sect'.  It is well to retain a tender conscience over all our

actions, but at the same time we must not allow an unscriptural fancy to

prevent us fulfilling what may be a Scriptural desire.

What is a Sect?  We read in Acts 5:17 of the sect of the Sadducees, and

in 15:5 of the sect of the Pharisees.  In Acts 24:5 we find the term, the

sect of the Nazarenes.  Here we have the same word used of two sects which

were manifestly not of God and also of one that was the true church of God.

The apostle uses the word taken up by Tertullius in 24:5, in his defence

'But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call

heresy (same word as sect), so worship I the God of my fathers' (Acts

Hairesis = sect is derived from haireomai = to choose (Phil. 1:22; 2

Thess. 2:13; Heb. 11:25).  The Scriptural idea of a sect is 'self choice',

and is a word of the flesh (Gal. 5:20; 1 Cor. 11:19 heresies).  A company of

believers seeking to manifest their union with one another and with the risen

Lord cannot be guilty of forming 'another sect' by so doing.  Should

unscriptural practices, leaders, or ideas be allowed, these departures would

merit the undesired title, and it is these 'self choosings' we must shun.

One of the most important facts to remember in connection with any

attempt to form a meeting today is the condition that corporate Christianity

had reached in the days of the apostle Paul.  The second Epistle to Timothy

reveals a church in ruins, the foundation alone remaining and exposed to

view.  Consequently the discipline that was possible while the church was

standing can no longer be put into operation.  Instead of Timothy being

instructed to exercise his disciplinary powers upon others, he is urged to

exercise them upon himself.  The foundation itself bears the seal:

'Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity' (2

Tim. 2:19).

The personal note is sounded in such statements as:

'If a man therefore purge himself from these' (not purge others)

'From such turn away' (not turn others away) (3:5).

Timothy is told to 'shun' profane and vain babblings, to 'flee'

youthful lusts, to 'follow' righteousness, faith, love, peace with them that

call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Foolish and unlearned questions he is

to avoid, knowing that they but gender strifes (2 Tim. 2:23).  These passages