Question: Is it wrong for a Christian to join a religious society?
Answer: There is only one society for the Christian recognized in Scripture; it is the Church of God. No membership of anything else is there found for the Lord’s people besides “members of Christ.”
This positive side of divine truth should be enough to deter us from becoming a member of anything else. But we have more than this. We are solemnly charged to keep in a path of separation from unbelievers. This is a sufficient answer to the question as to co-operative and all other societies, where members are made up of both saints and sinners.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive on, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18).
Answer: We must read the context of both passages. In Romans 14 the apostle bids us respect the weak conscience of our brother. He does not here set one day above another, but says that the conscience of the man who does so is to be respected, while seeking at the same time to instruct him (15:2.) In Galatians, on the contrary the apostle is attacking a relapse into Judaism that was threatening to sap the whole foundation of the Christian faith, keeping days being here an integral part of the Jewish religion. Hence the apostle denounces it unsparingly.
Answer: In verse 8 the apostle points out the connection of Christ with the Jews, and in verse 9 with the Gentiles, which he proceeds to prove in verse 10 from the Law, in verse 11 from the Psalms, and in verse 12 from the Prophets, and then he sums all up with a prayer to the God of hope that they might be filled with joy, peace, faith, and hope through the Holy Ghost.
Answer: There is no difficulty in the use of the word translated “Church” in Acts 7:3838This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:38), when we remember the simple meaning of the word is “assembly,” as may be seen in Acts 19:32, 39, 4132Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. (Acts 19:32)
39But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. (Acts 19:39)
41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:41). It is the same word in each case. But “the assembly which is His body” could not have existed, before Christ, as man, ascended up on high, was given to be Head (Eph. 1:22, 2322And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)). There was an assembly truly in the wilderness, the nation of Israel. But Jesus had not yet died to gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. And when Jesus was on earth, He distinctly spoke of His assembly as a future thing (Matt. 16.18). The assembly His body, had not then been revealed (Eph. 3).
The 144,000 do not appear to be Christians at all. The Christian period closes at the end of Revelation 3— “The things which are.” Chapter 1:19.
In chapter 4 we come to the things which shall be after these things; after therefore the translation of the saints as revealed to Paul (1 Thess. 4).
The opening of the seals then in chapter 6 must be after the translation of the saints; and also the sealing of the 144,000, not Christians, but from the tribes of Israel; sealed for future blessing on the earth, but no intimation that either they, or the innumerable company, will form part of the assembly, His body.
The 144.000 in Revelation 14 contrast with those who worship the beast (Chapter 13). They hear and learn the heavenly song which is sung before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders. This proves the present period of Christianity had closed; for the elders take their seats after the present things have closed (Rev. 4:1, 41After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)
4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4)). It is a most precious scripture, and shows how God will have this blessed and holy remnant. even when the earth seems entirely given up for a short moment to the dragon to the beast, and to Antichrist. O, the riches of His grace!
Instead then of the 144,000 being caught up, there is no evidence that they form part of the translation at all, but are a blessed first-fruit remnant during the days of tribulation and unparalleled evil.