This article is brought about by men who look to control pressure and lord over the body of Christ. They pretend they have some say in the eternal fate of a human soul which is a lie.
One such man in Missouri named Mark Bullen acts as the lone ruling Bishop over a anabaptist type body. We are NOT in unity today ( we never attended there ) and it is because of many unbiblical sinful teachings he is overseeing and will not repent of.
This article deals with one issue.
Please go here to read my complete biblical testing on him of you are interested:
https://www.dontperish.com/-living-faith-christian-fellowship-brookfield-mo-mark-bullen.html
I have many more issues to address in detail over his teachings and this is only the 3rd in the series. It is a teaching moment for us all.
The first 2 issues were:
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2017/07/one-bishop-in-charge-is-not-biblical.html
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2017/07/church-attendancemembership-saves-your.html
I want it all to be biblical and not fleshly or attacking as we care for them and desire the best for them.
Moving on...
*********************************************************************
Mark teaches the unbiblical idea that if a biblical body/bishop excommunicates you;
"you lose your hope of salvation"
Here are quotes from Mark so there is NO error in what he teaches
I cant know for sure but it appears Mark is dong this to enhance his lording over ways and put fear into those under him. Jesus warned about lording over in Matthew 20 and He said... don't do it!
So are these biblical statements above by Mark or ones made of man?
Does a bishop control a mans eternal fate?
Some history will help perhaps.
Mr Bullen is from the Ind Baptist ways in his youth. Mark, today calls himself the chairman of the board over Christ's body.
As I have witnessed to many men in leadership over the years; I can say those Ind Baptists pastors are some of the WORST and very NASTY MEAN spirited men I have ever met. They have a pride and ego and do believe in the total rule over a body. In fact many of them teach if your not in an Independent Baptist body under a pastor, you're NOT in Christ at all. It is heresy...
What does God's Word have to say about this topic?
I can tell you this after some good study.
There is NOT one place or scripture that states what Mark is alluding to about obeying a lone bishop for hope of salvation. Did you notice he has ZERO scriptures that directly pertain to his remarks? That is because they do not exist. Mark is doing top down theology. He is saying, I believe this at the top and he goes down into the Word to try and make his views stick. He needs to be a bottom up man. Start at the bottom ( a good foundation amen? ) and built up to the top and then you have God's way, not your own. Mark wrote a book called the Crucible and he believes it is his job to build a system and control the body so he can lead it to heaven for its own good? I fear Mark is still trying his best to live out the error filled Ind Baptist ruling ways he was bred into and the result is more sin and bad theology. We love so we speak out.
Church discipline.
It is a fact indeed if you are in sin you should be dealt with and removed from a biblical body if you won't repent. See see this in 1 Corinthians 5 ( we do not promote sinful disobedient lives at all ).
Jesus made it clear in Matthew 18 we are to deal with sin and if they cling to it to toss them out as a publican. But let's be clear,
If you're put out of a godly body over sin, your goal should first be repentance unto God and then if possible a reconciling with your body, in that order, but your salvation is NOT linked to the body of Christ but to Christ alone lest it is man based and NOT fully of God!
The purpose of putting sinful people out of the body serves these main goals:
1) God is glorified keeping His people pure 1 Timothy 5
2) The body is protected from leaven / sin Galatians 5:9
3) The believer is sent a message of the seriousness and the goal is repentance/restoration. 1 Corinthians 5
Paul even says this in 1 Corinthians 5 after he tosses the man out for sexual sin:
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
It is a heady complex text many have tried to unpack but one thing is clear. No bishop is involved in saving this man's soul. The outcome will be at the hands of him and Christ alone!
But sadly church discipline is NOT the real problem here. Because of Marks other unbiblical teachings ( him the lone ruling bishop and you MUST go to church to be saved ) he is stretching this truth to fit his lording over ways in this excommunication area as well. His ways look a lot more like roman catholic-ism/orthodox religion then the first century body of Christ.
God's Word must be our lone guiding factor.
Lets ask some basic theological questions that cannot be lost in this church salvation false teaching.
* How does the bible say we find eternal life?
Though a bishop or a church body? No, not at all.
It is via the gospel message of our faith in His perfect work for us, repentance, new life, holiness /obedience as fruit and enduring in the faith. See the gospel here: https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
In truth, no bishop is involved in our salvation story, period!
(A lone ruling bishop is NOT found in the body of Christ )
Who is the head of a man anyway? Christ or a bishop?
Apostle Paul says:
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ
1 Corinthians 11
Who goes before God for us a bishop or Christ?
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Timothy 2
Who is our hope of salvation?
Do you see a pattern here folks? Many scriptures tie the hope of salvation to Christ alone. Not ONE tie it to man or a body. The Word of God makes Christ our only hope of salvation but men like Mark Bullen for power and control over others; they inject themselves into that salvation equation and because of this; I fear for him!
Now to be truthful it was indeed God's design for believers to be in biblical bodies with others to encourage and grow and be held accountable. We see this in scripture and we read about the purpose of the NT body in Ephesians 4. It is for the training up of saints for the ministry. It was about training them up in the faith but NOT about salvation itself. That is of God alone. In Acts 2 we see God building/adding to His body, not any man. (Mark has told me several times HE built his body ) That was the perfect situation to be in but we know from scripture and the history it often is NOT so for God's people yet they are safe in Christ still if they cling to Him and obey/repenting to God, when they do not.
Now, how does the bible say we are forgiven if we fall into sin?
Do we go to the bishop or the body or to Christ?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1
If you're in sin you need to fear God NOT a bishop or body!
You should also fear ANY man who tries to step between you and Christ for salvation. Run from him please!
So we have determined in the Word that you don't need a body or a bishop to gain eternal life. If you have a biblical body that is a blessing and over you should be multiple elders NOT a lone ruling bishop in control. If you are in sin and you get put out of a biblical body you are in grave danger. Not because of the body but because of God who is holy. He has called you to a higher purpose/standard and so you need to repent and ask Him to forgive you lest sin gets a root in your life that can led to death as the book of James says.
There is also a saying in the study of God's Word that is important.
descriptive vs prescriptive?
Example: Jesus says keep my commands ... that is a prescriptive command.
Or it may say they walked to town. That is descriptive but not binding on us.
While the bible describes for us the true body of Christ does it make it prescribed for finding eternal life? The answer is no as God knows it is not always available to His people. (Ask the guy alone in prison or the Muslim who comes to faith surrounded by Islam. )
Mark sadly tries to connect the two but he fails for several reasons:
1) Scripture is not on his side, not one verse!
2) The example of Paul and the other Apostles is against his model
3) Many follow Christ in lives/situations far from other true believers
Mr Bullen should know the bible. What does he do with Matthew 7 and 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Timothy 4 and Matthew 24 where we are told FEW will be His true people, in the last days there is a falling away from truth NOT a revival and false teaching will be all over in the last days?
Ask yourself, was it always possible then or even now to have this perfect scenario of biblical believers all in one place around you forming a biblical body? Of course not. Men had to scatter and often there were no other believers near you. Because he is trying to lord over others; Mr Bullen would have you believe without a bishop/church body your doomed in your faith.
That is a lie.
Just ask Mark Bullen. He told me he once was a wandering man with no body or church. He was out seeking and searching for other true saints. Was he and his family LOST without a body? Of course not! While Mark today persecutes those who are striving in the Word without true saints near them, he was once in just that exact same situation. Seems hypocritical to us who know him and his past.
Consider this scenario:
A man in a body falls into sin and is excommunicated. He stays in his sin and moves away and for years he is a rebellious worldly man. The one day he comes to his senses and repents to Christ and is made at peace with God. Per the bible he is on the road to eternal life thanks to His faith/fruit, Christ's blood and God's grace. Per Mark Bullen theology does he need to come back and repent to Mark to have the hope of eternal life?
This is man made heresy and it cannot stand!
We also believe in teaching them to observe as the scriptures say. But the fact is once your taught something obedience is always about you and God, in the end. You can be put out of the body if in sin but your salvation rests between you and Christ alone not the ruling unbiblical bishop. With my dying breath I will proclaim that truth. (My whole family was roman catholic so I know about bishops ruling over people. )
Paul says keep the traditions he handed down
2 Thess 2:15
To be clear, we do strive for the biblical NT body daily with multiple men to oversee and all men using their gifts led by the spirit; not a man run ritual unbiblical religious system like Mark Bullens. We are NOT unbiblical hippy types as Mark liked to call us unfairly several times. If the day comes and we have NO true believers around us ( and we know what that is like ) we will strive on in faith and obedience and our God WILL make us able to stand. We are NOT bound by ego filled men who make God's salvation work in some way about themselves! It is shameful.
In closing if you have sin you do need to repent before God and get things right. If you have a biblical body you can go back to and make amends with, then do so of course. If your're unable to do that or it is best you just move on now obeying and serving God fully as you go then do so! Christ is your hope and He is your head men, not any bishop who desires to lord over/control you.
The bible says obey those over you Hebrews 13 and we should follow their good example.
But I have heard it many times right from Marks pulpit; if leaders are in sin you are NOT compelled to obey them into sin ( Acts 5:29) and that is where it stands here. Marks theology is in error and NOT to be followed. Do not let power hungry men lord over you. We pray he comes to repentance.
Let us know how we can help you via our many biblical resources below?
God be praised
www.dontperish.com
**************************************************
One such man in Missouri named Mark Bullen acts as the lone ruling Bishop over a anabaptist type body. We are NOT in unity today ( we never attended there ) and it is because of many unbiblical sinful teachings he is overseeing and will not repent of.
This article deals with one issue.
Please go here to read my complete biblical testing on him of you are interested:
https://www.dontperish.com/-living-faith-christian-fellowship-brookfield-mo-mark-bullen.html
I have many more issues to address in detail over his teachings and this is only the 3rd in the series. It is a teaching moment for us all.
The first 2 issues were:
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2017/07/one-bishop-in-charge-is-not-biblical.html
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2017/07/church-attendancemembership-saves-your.html
I want it all to be biblical and not fleshly or attacking as we care for them and desire the best for them.
Moving on...
*********************************************************************
Mark teaches the unbiblical idea that if a biblical body/bishop excommunicates you;
"you lose your hope of salvation"
Here are quotes from Mark so there is NO error in what he teaches
I cant know for sure but it appears Mark is dong this to enhance his lording over ways and put fear into those under him. Jesus warned about lording over in Matthew 20 and He said... don't do it!
So are these biblical statements above by Mark or ones made of man?
Does a bishop control a mans eternal fate?
Some history will help perhaps.
Mr Bullen is from the Ind Baptist ways in his youth. Mark, today calls himself the chairman of the board over Christ's body.
As I have witnessed to many men in leadership over the years; I can say those Ind Baptists pastors are some of the WORST and very NASTY MEAN spirited men I have ever met. They have a pride and ego and do believe in the total rule over a body. In fact many of them teach if your not in an Independent Baptist body under a pastor, you're NOT in Christ at all. It is heresy...
What does God's Word have to say about this topic?
I can tell you this after some good study.
There is NOT one place or scripture that states what Mark is alluding to about obeying a lone bishop for hope of salvation. Did you notice he has ZERO scriptures that directly pertain to his remarks? That is because they do not exist. Mark is doing top down theology. He is saying, I believe this at the top and he goes down into the Word to try and make his views stick. He needs to be a bottom up man. Start at the bottom ( a good foundation amen? ) and built up to the top and then you have God's way, not your own. Mark wrote a book called the Crucible and he believes it is his job to build a system and control the body so he can lead it to heaven for its own good? I fear Mark is still trying his best to live out the error filled Ind Baptist ruling ways he was bred into and the result is more sin and bad theology. We love so we speak out.
Church discipline.
It is a fact indeed if you are in sin you should be dealt with and removed from a biblical body if you won't repent. See see this in 1 Corinthians 5 ( we do not promote sinful disobedient lives at all ).
Jesus made it clear in Matthew 18 we are to deal with sin and if they cling to it to toss them out as a publican. But let's be clear,
If you're put out of a godly body over sin, your goal should first be repentance unto God and then if possible a reconciling with your body, in that order, but your salvation is NOT linked to the body of Christ but to Christ alone lest it is man based and NOT fully of God!
The purpose of putting sinful people out of the body serves these main goals:
1) God is glorified keeping His people pure 1 Timothy 5
2) The body is protected from leaven / sin Galatians 5:9
3) The believer is sent a message of the seriousness and the goal is repentance/restoration. 1 Corinthians 5
Paul even says this in 1 Corinthians 5 after he tosses the man out for sexual sin:
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
It is a heady complex text many have tried to unpack but one thing is clear. No bishop is involved in saving this man's soul. The outcome will be at the hands of him and Christ alone!
But sadly church discipline is NOT the real problem here. Because of Marks other unbiblical teachings ( him the lone ruling bishop and you MUST go to church to be saved ) he is stretching this truth to fit his lording over ways in this excommunication area as well. His ways look a lot more like roman catholic-ism/orthodox religion then the first century body of Christ.
God's Word must be our lone guiding factor.
Lets ask some basic theological questions that cannot be lost in this church salvation false teaching.
* How does the bible say we find eternal life?
Though a bishop or a church body? No, not at all.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10
It is via the gospel message of our faith in His perfect work for us, repentance, new life, holiness /obedience as fruit and enduring in the faith. See the gospel here: https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
In truth, no bishop is involved in our salvation story, period!
(A lone ruling bishop is NOT found in the body of Christ )
Who is the head of a man anyway? Christ or a bishop?
Apostle Paul says:
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ
1 Corinthians 11
Who goes before God for us a bishop or Christ?
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Timothy 2
Who is our hope of salvation?
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Thessalonians 5
Do you see a pattern here folks? Many scriptures tie the hope of salvation to Christ alone. Not ONE tie it to man or a body. The Word of God makes Christ our only hope of salvation but men like Mark Bullen for power and control over others; they inject themselves into that salvation equation and because of this; I fear for him!
Now to be truthful it was indeed God's design for believers to be in biblical bodies with others to encourage and grow and be held accountable. We see this in scripture and we read about the purpose of the NT body in Ephesians 4. It is for the training up of saints for the ministry. It was about training them up in the faith but NOT about salvation itself. That is of God alone. In Acts 2 we see God building/adding to His body, not any man. (Mark has told me several times HE built his body ) That was the perfect situation to be in but we know from scripture and the history it often is NOT so for God's people yet they are safe in Christ still if they cling to Him and obey/repenting to God, when they do not.
Now, how does the bible say we are forgiven if we fall into sin?
Do we go to the bishop or the body or to Christ?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1
If you're in sin you need to fear God NOT a bishop or body!
You should also fear ANY man who tries to step between you and Christ for salvation. Run from him please!
So we have determined in the Word that you don't need a body or a bishop to gain eternal life. If you have a biblical body that is a blessing and over you should be multiple elders NOT a lone ruling bishop in control. If you are in sin and you get put out of a biblical body you are in grave danger. Not because of the body but because of God who is holy. He has called you to a higher purpose/standard and so you need to repent and ask Him to forgive you lest sin gets a root in your life that can led to death as the book of James says.
There is also a saying in the study of God's Word that is important.
descriptive vs prescriptive?
Example: Jesus says keep my commands ... that is a prescriptive command.
Or it may say they walked to town. That is descriptive but not binding on us.
While the bible describes for us the true body of Christ does it make it prescribed for finding eternal life? The answer is no as God knows it is not always available to His people. (Ask the guy alone in prison or the Muslim who comes to faith surrounded by Islam. )
Mark sadly tries to connect the two but he fails for several reasons:
1) Scripture is not on his side, not one verse!
2) The example of Paul and the other Apostles is against his model
3) Many follow Christ in lives/situations far from other true believers
Mr Bullen should know the bible. What does he do with Matthew 7 and 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Timothy 4 and Matthew 24 where we are told FEW will be His true people, in the last days there is a falling away from truth NOT a revival and false teaching will be all over in the last days?
Ask yourself, was it always possible then or even now to have this perfect scenario of biblical believers all in one place around you forming a biblical body? Of course not. Men had to scatter and often there were no other believers near you. Because he is trying to lord over others; Mr Bullen would have you believe without a bishop/church body your doomed in your faith.
That is a lie.
Just ask Mark Bullen. He told me he once was a wandering man with no body or church. He was out seeking and searching for other true saints. Was he and his family LOST without a body? Of course not! While Mark today persecutes those who are striving in the Word without true saints near them, he was once in just that exact same situation. Seems hypocritical to us who know him and his past.
Consider this scenario:
A man in a body falls into sin and is excommunicated. He stays in his sin and moves away and for years he is a rebellious worldly man. The one day he comes to his senses and repents to Christ and is made at peace with God. Per the bible he is on the road to eternal life thanks to His faith/fruit, Christ's blood and God's grace. Per Mark Bullen theology does he need to come back and repent to Mark to have the hope of eternal life?
This is man made heresy and it cannot stand!
We also believe in teaching them to observe as the scriptures say. But the fact is once your taught something obedience is always about you and God, in the end. You can be put out of the body if in sin but your salvation rests between you and Christ alone not the ruling unbiblical bishop. With my dying breath I will proclaim that truth. (My whole family was roman catholic so I know about bishops ruling over people. )
Paul says keep the traditions he handed down
2 Thess 2:15
To be clear, we do strive for the biblical NT body daily with multiple men to oversee and all men using their gifts led by the spirit; not a man run ritual unbiblical religious system like Mark Bullens. We are NOT unbiblical hippy types as Mark liked to call us unfairly several times. If the day comes and we have NO true believers around us ( and we know what that is like ) we will strive on in faith and obedience and our God WILL make us able to stand. We are NOT bound by ego filled men who make God's salvation work in some way about themselves! It is shameful.
In closing if you have sin you do need to repent before God and get things right. If you have a biblical body you can go back to and make amends with, then do so of course. If your're unable to do that or it is best you just move on now obeying and serving God fully as you go then do so! Christ is your hope and He is your head men, not any bishop who desires to lord over/control you.
The bible says obey those over you Hebrews 13 and we should follow their good example.
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5But I have heard it many times right from Marks pulpit; if leaders are in sin you are NOT compelled to obey them into sin ( Acts 5:29) and that is where it stands here. Marks theology is in error and NOT to be followed. Do not let power hungry men lord over you. We pray he comes to repentance.
Let us know how we can help you via our many biblical resources below?
God be praised
www.dontperish.com
**************************************************
Here is the biblical gospel:
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
Here is a 10 point biblical test:
Go here for audio teachings:
His true people follow Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24) NOT.... man made false ways or today's denominational religion.
God be praised