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Self-Government: Overcoming
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's government operates as a hierarchical structure with authority flowing from the top down, the Father holding ultimate headship over Christ, who in turn heads the church and family. This patriarchal pattern appears consistently in every divinely authorized government described in Scripture, yet the structure itself is not the source of difficulty. The real issue lies in the misuse of free moral agency by those who hold or grant authority, whether in civil realms, the church, or individual families. God appoints and delegates governing power to human officials, including rulers and church leaders, but such appointments never make those officials identical with His own direct governance. When people equate church government with God's government, they create an idol that stands between individuals and submission to God Himself. After repentance and the New Covenant, nothing remains between the converted person and the Father's direct rule; every moral choice therefore becomes an opportunity to submit voluntarily to that rule rather than to any intervening voice. Christ modeled this submission by obeying the Father while still rendering appropriate honor to civil authorities and religious leaders, never allowing those authorities to deflect Him from the Father's will. The same principle applies within the church: leaders receive authority both from God and from the willing consent of those they serve, yet they must continually restrain that authority within the limits God has set. When leaders or members exceed those limits, whether through harsh domination or self-exaltation, they repeat the pattern first seen when Lucifer and then Adam and Eve chose to interpose their own governance in place of God's. The church, as God's family on earth, bears special responsibility to display the servant attitude that keeps hierarchical government from becoming oppressive. Every member, regardless of position, must consciously choose to govern himself under God's law, thereby allowing the hierarchical order to function as intended without coercion. This voluntary submission preserves direct access to the Father and prevents the formation of any new idol, whether labeled church government or anything else.
Government (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is establishing a spiritual kingdom, with Christ as King, installed at the seventh trump when He will unleash the power of His Kingdom against the world.
God and Government
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGovernment run by carnal men will never work, but those under the New Covenant, having God's law written on their hearts, can make any form of government work.
Government (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod intended government to be a positive force of bringing order out of chaos, keeping on a straight course, educating, and edifying with necessary laws.
An Anniversary Message
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The emphasis in the Church of the Great God is on self-control and self-government, responsible to God.
Anarchy in God's Church? (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeNumerous biblical examples show the authority and structure of the church. However, they will hold little weight if we feel our experience invalidates them.
Religion and Politics
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughA survey of the New Testament on the subject of politics shows that those who stoop to politics or other devious means to get their own way are the bad guys.
Scratching Our Itches
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughIt's easy for worldly ideas to creep into the church. We must be on guard against any 'itch' we have that could lead us or others astray.
The Peter Principle (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Mike FordThe Peter Principle is a concept in business management developed by Laurence J. Peter: People in a hierarchy tend to rise to their level of incompetence.
What Is the Work?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe work of God does not always stay the same, continually shifting media, techniques, and approaches, similar to the Israelites following the Cloud.
Themes of I Corinthians (Part 5)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughI Corinthians gives ready instruction in the order and decorum that is fitting for church organization, as well as the Passover and weekly service.
The Sovereignty of God (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe are assured that even though inexplicable things happen in our lives, God is still sovereign. We must develop childlike faith to trust in Him for solutions.
The Handwriting Is On the Wall (Part Two) (2007)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe sheep do not belong to any man or group, but to Christ. It is Christ's responsibility to get the sheep into the Kingdom, not the ministry's.
Deuteronomy (Part 3)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur goal shouldn't merely be to be saved, but to finish the spiritual journey God has prepared for us, developing the leadership to help those who follow.
For the Perfecting of the Saints
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughDo Christians need a church? With all the church problems in recent years, many have withdrawn. Yet the church—problems and all—serves a God-ordained role.
Unity (Part 2): God's Pattern of Leadership
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is not the author of confusion, but throughout the scriptures has used a consistent pattern of appointing leaders over His called-out ones.
Avoiding Superficiality
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSuccess in spiritual things does not consist in growing large and powerful, but humbly living by faith, overcoming, and yielding to God's shaping power.