PATTERN THEOLOGY
God wants certain things to be done in certain ways. The church was established in the first century according to His eternal plan. The “pattern” was perfect from the mind of God, just as the pattern for the tabernacle was perfect (Hebrews 8:5) when given to Moses. God also gave a pattern to Noah to build the ark (Gen 6), a pattern to the priests for offering incense (Lev 10), and a pattern to Joshua for taking Jericho (Josh 6). When God’s way was honored, man met with success; when it was not, he suffered punishment.
Unless God changed His nature He still deals in patterns. His patterns must be respected. When His church forsook the pattern, human names and creeds took over. We must have a restoration of the pattern concept, for we shall be judged by it.
If we accept pattern theology we are forced to accept limitations, for patterns limit. They restrict to both right and left, forcing us to accept God’s authority in areas of silence as well as in areas of revelation. Ask for Restoration Principle book by Reuel Lemmons.
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