What We Need Most

Here is a song my great, great grandfather wrote a long, long time ago. I'm not certain, but I believe he was a pastor in the Church of God of Prophecy near the end of the tenure of A. J. Tomlinson (the first General Overseer of COGOP), or durning the beginning of M. A. Tomlinsons tenure. Anyway, here are the words:

It’s not a brand new organ, nor yet a fine church bell—
It’s not a seat of cushions, nor a carpet that is swell.
It’s none of these, my brother, that we’re in need of most—
It’s good Saint Paul salvation, and the Bible Holy Ghost.

It’s not a choir of trained voices, nor solos nor none such—
That will lead lost souls to Jesus, or build your church up much.
They may sing ‘till the Day of Judgment, and sinners go down in a host—
Unless they get acquainted with the Bible Holy Ghost.

It’s not an organization, for we’re organized most to death—
With solicitors big and little, but they will not stand the test.
I’ve made up my mind brother, the thing we’re in need of most—
Is good Saint Paul salvation, and the Bible Holy Ghost.

Chorus:
Well it's hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
for the Bible Holy Ghost.

How Do You Measure Up?

Both the Bible and history record how the people of God are continually in need of self-examination (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:5) and reformation (cf. Romans 12:2). But in every case of change there first had to be a recognition of the need to do so.

The Scripture teaches us that the church Jesus built, and is building, is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Paul also said, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

While these passages may seem to be contradictory, we can understand that the apostle Paul, who wrote both of these passages, was emphasizing that Jesus Christ is the foundation. The apostles and prophets merely pointed to and laid out the doctrine of Christ, it is not these men who constitute the foundation, but the one they represented. Jesus is the foundation, but He is also the chief corner stone.

I am told that a corner stone is an anchor-point, a reference point, or something to build off of. When you lay that stone on the corner, every wall, every square, etc., refers back to that point. He is the Rock—the very foundation upon which we build and by Whom we measure what is built. Isaiah said, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16).

It is ever so important that we examine ourselves in light of His Word which declares Jesus Christ as the Chief Corner Stone, it is by Him that everything is anchored to, built off of, and referenced to. The apostle Paul warned that “…we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). We measure ourselves by the Word of God, and we compare ourselves to the Christ we are sent to model.

So, how do you measure up?