There are some vitally important lessons that we can learn from an analogy of building bridges. Much of the work of many ministers, and brethren who follow them, can be likened to building two kinds of bridges that represent two extremes within the environs of the Church, both of which are bad. Since one or the other is being practiced by so many of the scattered organizations, we need to take the time to analyze each one so we don't make the same mistakes.

Several groups tend to lean toward one of these two extremes as a focus for growth and development. There is an old movie that aptly illustrates the fallacy of both kinds of thinking and practice.

God's Church could glean some valuable lessons from the old World War II movie, "The Bridge On the River Kwai." The story is about a prisoner of war camp in Burma whose plot centers around the task the Japanese gave to their prisoners to build a railroad bridge over the River Kwai. Moral was quite dismal until these down-trodden prisoners rallied around a new found purpose for direction and unity by setting out to build the best bridge they could. They were determined to prove British superiority in engineering capability over that of the Japanese.

The efforts of those prisoners, which appeared to be noble, were riddled with fallacy. The best outcome for the allied forces was achieved when the bridge was finally destroyed. If that railroad bridge had not been destroyed, the Japanese would have used it to transport munitions and troops to be used to kill or imprison large numbers of allied forces. The prisoner's efforts being destroyed helped force them back into reality.

There is irony in the later part of the story when the bridge was finally destroyed. If people are not careful, they too can be drawn into the contradiction of that moment and lament the destruction of such a magnificent looking bridge. As you read this article, try to learn the lessons from this movie that tend to parallel so closely the efforts of many brethren today.

The First Extreme

Of the two extremes within the Church that we are going to examine, the first concerns the sincere desire of a growing number of brethren to "build bridges" between the scattered people of God. Although this may appear to be a noble cause, these efforts are also riddled with fallacy.

The expression of "building bridges" is being used to describe an effort to reach out to other scattered brethren with an open hand of fellowship that extends beyond corporate boundaries. This effort reflects a deep desire of many to see the scattered Church begin to be brought back together. Being scattered and diminished in size, with the loss of many friends, has carried a heavy toll upon our hearts and minds.

Many have been disillusioned by those who only give lip service toward acknowledging scattered brethren. They are frustrated with the continuing movement toward corporate elitism and attitudes of superiority.

A common response to the suffering and frustration from these conditions has been the outgrowth of various groups seeking to build bridges with others. This drive becomes so great that it shifts their focus away from the true reality of why we are in this condition in the first place and shifts it to a cause that seems nobler.

As in the movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai," building bridges has helped serve as a rallying point for a common effort to unify and give new found purpose to the down-trodden brethren. However, the bridge they try to build actually produces a structure of strength for the enemy, who in turn uses it against them. Some may react adversely to such a statement, but please stop to consider the danger in what many are trying to build. Some of us have already attempted to implement some of these plans, only to learn that their efforts were futile and destructive.

Attempts at reestablishing fellowship with other scattered groups is limited primarily to those who were once in the Worldwide Church of God. However, some will go beyond that by establishing relationships with others who may only have the Sabbath or even lesser standards in common.

A rallying cry used by some, in their effort to see out others, is to focus others on how much they might "have in common" and not on how much they "fail to have in common." This reasoning is deeply flawed and quite dangerous. Efforts for building a common fellowship with others is carried to the point of ignoring doctrinal differences that should otherwise serve to warn brethren away.

We should know better than to tolerate false doctrines in our midst for the sake of a larger fellowship or a growing work; we shouldn't tolerate false doctrines at all. Allowing doctrinal differences only serves to give our enemy a foothold to undermine and infect the body even more. Faithful brethren should be deeply convicted of the necessity to hold fast to revealed truth- foundational truth which never changes. Basic principles of how quickly leaven can spread throughout the body and how light and darkness cannot be mixed together in fellowship should cry out to us of the danger in allowing such things.

Silence about doctrinal differences for the sake of building a common fellowship with others leads to blindness instead of reality, futility- not fruit, and error rather than truth. It is sin to become tolerant of the sins of others who have moved away from the trunk of the tree and are no longer faithful to the truth God revealed to them when they were first called.

It is also quite futile to work toward bringing others into a spiritual fellowship who haven't been called of God. Too many have become so weak that they cannot even discern or identify those who clearly have not been called as firstfruits. It should not be difficult in God's Church to grasp that if someone does not believe in the Holy Days then they have not been called.

Building a fellowship with someone with doctrinal differences is like building a bridge of opportunity for the enemy. Such a practice clearly disobeys the word of God. In addition, too many ministers follow some of the same flawed practices by blinking an eye and tolerating the differences of people in their own fellowship. The reason- to maintain or increase the numbers in their congregations or organizations. These ministers will not preach on those differences for fear of stirring up anything that might take away from their facade of unity or that might threaten to diminish their numbers.

It is a shame when ministers become a respecter of persons rather than God and fail to preach strong doctrinal messages that help brethren hold onto foundational truths. How can brethren be faithful stewards of the truth that God has miraculously revealed when ministers aren't faithfully doing so?

The practice of increasing and developing the Church through such false ways will end in destruction. Our history and parent organization should be witness enough of such fallacy. For example, the Worldwide Church of God believes everyone should be able to have fellowship together as long as they refrain from judging their brother in their different beliefs. They have gone so far as to teach that they can have a common fellowship whether some observe the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week or on the first day of the week. They even teach that the observance of a Holy Day can be changed from mid-week to a weekend if it better suits the congregation.

Worldwide teaches that this kind of fellowship is to be tolerated and allowed in other brethren without judgment. This is looked upon as being big hearted spiritually and pleasing in God's eyes- for someone to be so spiritually broad-minded. These actions also give the appearance of peace and unity. This is masqueraded as being a matter of deeper spiritual love toward other brethren as well as avoiding strictness with the law. But anyone seeking to hold fast to the truth knows that such practices are against the Word of God, and they definitely betray Godly love toward brethren. Today, many scattered groups are tolerating different doctrines in their fellowship by the same deceitful practices that Worldwide is using. It is simply that the issue is not generally over the Sabbath or the Holy Days.

Such practices are being done in the name of being Christian toward one another, but is this what Christ taught? Is this the kind of tolerance God said we should practice toward one another? If not, then where do you draw the line for what you can and cannot mix in a common fellowship?

Begin with Passover

The Passover is a good place to begin learning how to judge and discern where balance and sound mindedness rest. Unlike what the WCG teaches, partaking of the symbols of the Passover at various times of the year is sin. Calling this ceremony by other names, so it can be observed more than once a year, is contrary to the Word of God. Observing the Passover on any day other than the 14th day of the first month, at evening, is being disobedient to the Word of God.

God's instruction regarding this day is quite simple and should not be difficult to understand, regardless of some of the arguments to the contrary! "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover" (Leviticus 23:5, KJV). This does not say it can be any other time than the 14th day of the first month. "And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month" (Ezra 6:19, KJV). It does not say that part of the Passover was kept on the 13th or part on the 15th, but that all of it was kept on the 14th day.

"Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. In the fourteenth day of this month, at even [Hebrew- between the evenings], ye shall keep it in his appointed season; according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it" (Numbers 9:2-3, KJV). These verses about the timing of Passover are not complicated. God instructs that it was to be observed "between the evenings" that are on the 14th and not "between the evenings" on any other day! [For more on this subject, ask for the tape "The Simplicity & Truth About Passover."]

The time we are to observe the Passover should be clear, yet there are many well known ministers who contradict and complicate this truth. Many begin by saying we are to keep the Passover on the same night that Jesus Christ conducted it for the disciples, on the evening of the 14th, which is true. These same ministers then continue by contradicting the fulfillment of the occasion by saying that it was kept a day later, on the 15th, in Old Testament times. They foolishly and unwittingly do as the Protestants do by making Jesus Christ look like a rebellious Son who did not fulfill His Father's word. The truth is that Jesus Christ accomplished perfectly the timing, example and fulfillment of all that pertained to the Passover in the Old Testament. Ministers who teach otherwise are false and have moved away from this truth that was once delivered to them. Even worse, they have deceived many in God's Church to accept their false teachings and have contributed first hand to leading them away from God. The grievous sins of the ministry and the brethren who have followed their false teachings have resulted in their being cut off from God.

If we cannot be in agreement with God on such a basic matter, then how can we ever be in agreement and unity with one another? The answer is that it is impossible, no matter how many bridges we build. If we ever hope to have true agreement and unity with one another, then we must first be obedient to God in basic doctrines and teachings. That is what produces true fellowship with other brethren, because the fellowship is first of all true with God.

The Passover is a good place to begin examining ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28). If we are not in agreement with something so basic, how can we continue with further examination? Passover is the very first observance of the year that launches those whom God has called into the full meaning and purpose He has for mankind. We must begin with Passover before we can enter into the full meaning and purpose He has for mankind. We must begin with Passover before we can enter into unity and agreement with God on a course toward salvation. Passover has always been a focus of attack against God's Church. Some of the greatest heresy leading into false Christianity has had to do with controversy over this subject, so is it any wonder, that in these trying times, it has been attacked again?

Some will quickly agree that what the WCG is doing regarding Passover is contrary to God's clear instruction. To partake of the cup of wine on any day other than the day God says is to be in rebellion against God or in ignorance of His Word.

Practicing or teaching anything other than what God commands is to disobey God. Perhaps we need to be reminded of some very pointed and clearly spoken words about these matters. Although Paul was addressing a different situation relating to Passover, the principle is the same. "For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17, NKJV.) "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?" (verse 21-22). These are direct, stinging words to anyone who would try to mix true fellowship in the Body of Christ with doctrines from sources other than God.

In God's Church we will have differences, but they should not exist in basic doctrines that are sure and steadfast! Differences should not exist in the foundational twenty-one truths that have been revealed to us. If we fail to be in unity with God over these basic doctrines, how can we hope to have any kind of true unity with one another in the Body of Christ? [See the article "What Am I to Hold Fast?"]

Some will acknowledge that what the WCG approves in a mixed fellowship is in error, but some of these same people may not acknowledge that being half a day off or a full day off from the 14th is "all that bad." Where do you draw the line? Is any observance beyond the clear instruction of the 14th permissible? Does it matter to God? If half a day off doesn't matter, what about a full day? If that doesn't matter, how many days can you go from the 14th before it becomes a sin or a doctrinal conflict with the Word of God?

This conflicting problem, regarding the timing of Passover, is so deeply ingrained in some Church organizations that ministers who embrace these false beliefs about that timing are not only tolerated, but employed by them. There are several ministers in the United Church of God, an International Association who believe in an Old Testament Passover being on the 15th day of the first month. Also, there is at least one long-standing council member who believes and teaches it. The Global Church of God, even before it divided, had the same problem. In such cases, these ministers have not been corrected or prohibited from teaching such heresy, let along being fired as they should be! If the leaders in such organizations are going to faithfully uphold the Word of God and seek to protect and properly shepherd the people of God, then they will not only fire such ministers, but disfellowship them as well.

If we asked the same questions about the timing of the Sabbath, we would come to a quick conclusion. Why do people have trouble discerning God's instruction regarding one day out of the entire year? This is far more important some are willing to admit. Yet there is a spirit and attitude that is growing amongst some brethren that this is being too picky or that God's instruction is too vague on the subject. Some former brethren do not seem to fear changing the observance of Passover to late afternoon on the 14th or on the 15th at even. Paul was quite clear about what was to be passed on to the Church. "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;" (1 Corinthians 11:23, NKJV.) Did those Corinthians observe the Passover on the night following Christ's betrayal or on the same night? Did they observe the Passover at exactly the same time it was observed in the Old Testament?

Jesus Christ was betrayed on the night of the 14th. The Corinthians observed Passover on that same night. Everyone should fear to change what the scripture makes clear. Some don't fear! Others don't fear mixing fellowships together that are not in agreement about Passover and other foundational doctrines.

The unity of fellowship concerning the 14th Passover is a good place to begin examining ourselves. From there we should move on and see if we are in agreement with the observance of the remainder of the Holy Days. Brethren are even in disagreement about Pentecost, which pictures who we are. There is conflict about the proper timing of when Pentecost is to be observed and over the understanding of our unique calling as firstfruits. Today, people want to go back to a Monday observance or keep it a week later in certain years, as in the year 2001. What about the rest of the truth that God has revealed to us in this end time? Are we in unity with God concerning those foundational truths, and are we being faithful stewards of what God revealed to us from the beginning?

True Fellowship

God's word makes it clear how brethren should reach out to help others who are scattered. Brethren have no right to choose some other method that contradicts scripture. Indeed, we should be motivated with a deep desire to help others who are scattered, but we must do it God's way.

Those who are working to "build bridges" are generally quite sincere in what they are doing, but they are sincerely wrong. Sadly, there are many others at the other side of the pendulum who simply have no motivation or desire to reach out to others. Although these people may give lip service by acknowledging that there are scattered brethren, they are lacking in constructive purpose or practical application to honestly help them. These people do not understand what it means to be our brother's keeper.

What is the best way to seek true fellowship with one another and truly reach out to give help and aid to other scattered brethren? It is not accomplished by building bridges that allow false doctrine to easily find its way in among brethren. Mixing different doctrines and beliefs in a common fellowship is not how God's Spirit functions. On the contrary, God's Spirit leads us into greater unity of doctrine and belief in order to bring us into unity with him.

God's Spirit actually works to expose false doctrines in order to help lead brethren to repentance so they can come to a closer unity with Him. We are either moving toward the light or we are moving away from it towards darkness. There is no middle ground.

If we fail to stand fast in sound, basic doctrine, we will not be able to lend help to brethren who have become deceived or who are being swayed by unsound teaching. Our fellowship must first be right with God if we hope to have good and right fellowship with one another. Brethren cannot successfully mix or bind together fellowships that oppose each other doctrinally. When basic beliefs are not the same, no amount of bridge building will make them compatible or bring about unity of fellowship. It only creates confusion and serves to spread deceit and sin within the Church, which is part of the ongoing abomination that is working to destroy the Temple of God.

God makes His instruction clear regarding such efforts. It is basic, and it is sure! "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14, NKJV).

Some might say, "But if they are scattered brethren, isn't it right to bring them together in fellowship?" Yes, if they are desirous of coming together in fellowship in order to draw closer to God in unity of spirit and oneness of mind, as they hold fast to the foundational truths that God revealed to us from the beginning. If brethren are willing to examine their own ideas and beliefs by the Word of God, and change where they are wrong, then it is clear that such a brother is seeking to move toward the light. If, on the other hand, brethren are close minded and insist on holding onto their false beliefs, and/or only want others to believe their doctrines, then the answer is a resounding NO! We must learn to judge such matters. Please read this paragraph again and be certain you understand the distinction.

We have a common fellowship with one another and with God when we are first and foremost in agreement with God. Doctrines about the Sabbath and Holy Days reflect much about our relationship with Him. Even Passover reflects our true relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Not only is the timing of Passover critical to that relationship, but so is our acknowledgment of (confession, i.e the wording in the KJV) and active love for the whole Body of Christ. If we fail to have fellowship with God in these basic doctrines, then we will certainly not be able to have true fellowship with one another.

We should not foolishly attempt to create something God forbids by walking contrary to basic truths. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:11, NKJV). "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:5-7, NKJV).

We cannot create or build something that God refuses to build. As we hold true to God, others who are drawn to God in true fellowship with Him will automatically be drawn together in fellowship with one another. Then, and only then, can we have true fellowship. We should reach out to help scattered brethren, but it is their choice whether they will yield to being drawn together into a common fellowship with believers who are seeking to obey their God or not. True unity comes only in spirit and in truth, otherwise it is a false unity which will not produce Godly fruit.

We need to examine the fruit of our past. What is it that has always bound us together with others in the Body of Christ? It is God's Spirit that has led us to the same common beliefs. When people choose to believe something different from what God has revealed to us, then our fellowship changes. All of us have lost family or close friends or both to different beliefs. As these things happened, we learned that what we once shared and what drew us together in the first place was what we had in common with God. Hence, our unity and oneness with God always comes first if we are to have true fellowship and unity with one another.

Some are even trying to build a common fellowship with people who have only the seventh day Sabbath in common, but not the Holy Days. Just because someone has the day in common does not mean God has called them to a special fellowship with Him as firstfruits. Brethren who try to develop such a fellowship with people who have not received a calling from God, and therefore do not have access to His Spirit, are working in vain against God's purpose. We have found Sabbatarians in various parts of the world, but this does not mean they are called of God at this time. If they are called of God, then they will leave their false ideas, such as speaking in tongues, and will be drawn to the truth of the Holy Days and will embrace them. Some of these people have been found in Russia in recent years, but are they forsaking their practice of speaking in tongues and accepting the Holy Days? Are these people truly called to the first resurrection? We must be able to judge such matters, or we will begin to cheapen our special calling because we will not be able to grasp just how great it is.

Those who are working to build bridges with others who are not called of God or with those who believe false doctrines are indeed making the same kind of fatal mistake that those prisoners of war made in that old movie "Bridge on the River Kwai." They are building a bridge that only aids the enemy.

The Second Extreme

That old World War II movie can also serve to point out another great deception that is working to destroy part of the Temple of God. This second extreme within the Church is only going to be addressed briefly, but it should be given deep consideration.

The prisoners in that old movie began to take their eyes off of the reality of the time that was upon them. They failed to deal with the reality of imprisonment as they should have. In war there are codes of conduct that prisoners are to live by and perhaps even die by. Most certainly, they were not to become so deluded by their focus on the "work" and project before them that they would go so far as to fail to grasp how that could strengthen the enemy. Their efforts were misguided and served only to make their reality something different than what was true.

There are organizations and brethren who will not face the reality in which they find themselves. Instead, there are many who become so focused on special projects, doing "the work" and organizational planning that they begin to turn away from the reality in which we are living. People begin to believe that their reality is something different than what is true. They no longer see us in a time of scattering, war, lamentation, and continuing desolation of the Temple of God- if indeed they ever did. Being deluded from true reality weakens brethren by giving them a false sense of security and preventing them from repenting of a Laodicean spirit.

Unrepentant Laodiceans are filled with pride about their efforts and vision for the Church. There are too many brethren and ministers who believe they have turned the tide of destruction that has been at work to destroy the Church. They refuse to believe that our condition continues to worsen. If we cannot admit to the realities before us, then our focus will be flawed and fully misguided.

There is really no need to address this condition any further, because those who refuse to acknowledge the truth will only scoff and fully disregard what is being said. Those who know this to be true will have to decide what they are going to do as a result of this understanding. Can you afford to acknowledge it is true, but take no action? This is the time for making difficult decisions and keeping focused on the battle before us [Ask for the two part series on "Focused In Reality."]

Seeking Balance

The Church is being attacked by pride, apathy, and complacency on the one hand and false doctrines on the other. Seeking true balance by righteously judging matters with the Word of God is more challenging than ever. Yet this is what we must do. We are being tried, tested, and sifted by this very process. Will we seek to do things God's way or try to do them our way?

Ignoring scattered parts of the Body of Christ is sin. Too many brethren in larger organizations settle into a comfortable zone of denial, complacency, satisfaction, and/or superiority over others. Yet others are trying to resurrect the "Work" of the past- seeking to rebuild what has mostly been destroyed- seeking to recapture the "glory" of days gone by. This focus is generally on "growth and good news about numbers," usually in publications or programs. Brethren are further misled to focus inwardly on a narrower part of the Body by being told lies about peace and safety in their midst. These are not times of peace and safety, but of destruction, tribulation, lamentation, and war. We should be told the truth that this is the time to fight for our very survival!

Others, who have broken away from such hypocrisy and are beginning to be turned toward care and concern for others in the scattered Body, are discovering new obstacles in their paths. They are learning that these are turbulent times for God's people and not a time of peace and safety. They are learning that building bridges with doctrinally mixed groups of brethren is neither bringing true unity nor producing a common purpose. Such efforts will consistently remain unsettled, unfulfilled, fractious, and spiritually delinquent.

So, what are you building, and how are you working toward it? The Temple of God needs no bridges. The Temple of God is a single structure of which we are all to be a part. "In whom [Jesus Christ] all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:21-22, KJV).

We are warned to be careful of how we build. "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (1 Corinthians 3:9-10, KJV).

Building God's way produces pleasant fruit. It gets rid of confusion and division and produces what we all desire. We want unity and harmony of spirit in a family consumed with love. Do you remember the words we heard so often in the past? "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalms 133:1, KJV). That unity can only come when we build the way God instructs us, not in the way that we think is right.