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A pattern is simply a blueprint, or model, from which an exact copy is made. This reproduction must be identical to the original. Any deviation from this pattern produces a forgery.
The Bible is replete with patterns from Genesis to Revelation. Examples include the pattern for building the ark (Genesis 6:14-22); the pattern for building the tabernacle (Exodus 25:9); the pattern for the plan of salvation (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16); and, the pattern for withdrawing fellowship (Matthew 18:14-17).
Biblical history provides evidence of those who chose to follow God's instructions and others who took it upon themselves to deviate from that pattern. Note what was said about the following examples.
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he, (Genesis 6:22).
This was said after Noah had built the ark according to the divine pattern.
Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he, (Exodus 40:16).
This statement was attributed to Moses after he obeyed God's instructions on setting up the tabernacle and preparing it for worship.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king...And Samuel said unto him, "The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou," (1 Samuel 15:23, 28).
This statement about Saul is in reference to his changing the instructions God had given him when He said,
"Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass," (1 Samuel 15:3).
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person, (1 Corinthians 5:1, 9-13).
Here, Paul is rebuking the church at Corinth for not following the pattern of withdrawing fellowship.
False patterns abound everywhere. Since the beginning of time, there have been false doctrines, false teachers, and false churches. Brethren, these things draw people away from the truth. Let us examine these three types of false patterns.
False Doctrines. Paul warned the church at Galatia that there will be some who would preach a different gospel. This doctrine would be a perverted pattern of that found in the Word of God. The first false doctrine originated from Satan (Genesis 3:4-5) when he caused Adam and Eve to sin. Other examples of false doctrines include atheism (Psalms 14:1), situation ethics (Proverbs 6:30-31), and agnosticism (John 18:38).
False Teachers. False teachers are not only harbingers of false doctrine, but also have patterned their lives accordingly. Satan became the first false teacher in the beginning. Since that time, there has been a growing number of teachers who promote erroneous doctrines on a variety of issues. These include the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-16, Sadducees (Acts 4:1-4), and Diotrephes (3 John 9-11).
Likewise, there are "grievous wolves" (Acts 20:28-30) among the Lord's church today. These include, Rubel Shelley, Leroy Garrett, Max Lucado, Mike Cope, Jeff Walling, Lynn Anderson, Hill Roberts, Larry Rogers, and others too innumerable to mention. It is important that we not only mark and avoid these false brethren, but also warn others in hopes that they will refuse to have open fellowship with them and be "partaker of his evil deeds," (2 John 9-11). Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 said,
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
False Churches. False churches are corrupt patterns of the church that Christ built (Matthew 16:18) and established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), regardless if they are denominations (i.e. Pentecostal, Baptist, Mormon), or apostate churches of Christ (i.e. Maury Hills church of Christ Columbia, TN; Woodmont Hills church of Christ Nashville, TN; Highland church of Christ Abilene, TX).
It is of vital importance that we should have a proper Biblical understanding of pattern in order to avoid the false patterns of our day. The voices of change continue to corrupt what God teaches about patterns at an alarming rate. Let us pray to God, asking Him to give us the strength, courage, and guidance that we may be able to withstand and preach against this grievous error lest we become led astray.
Ira Mikell
ira@thechristianexaminer.com
The outline provided for this lesson is accessible here.
Ethan R. Longhenry
ethan@thechristianexaminer.com
www.deusvitae.com
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