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Letters of Recommendation
In the New Testament Christians who were being sent to preach
the gospel or were moving to another place were given letters of approval.
This would allow them to immediately begin to fellowship with believers
in their new area of residence or missionary work. 1Cor. 16:3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 2Cor. 3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? They were not given a diploma, a BS, MS, a PhD, a secret handshake, a golden cross or fish jewelry, a WWJD bracelet, giant print bible with genealogy pages or any other thing. They were given a letter of introduction, recommendation or approval, to introduce and reassure those whom they were meeting for the first time of their orthodoxy in Christian doctrine. Note: There is nothing wrong with geting a Christian education. The Apostle Paul was a Biblical scholar, however Peter and Andrew were simple fishermen (Matthew 4:18) and Amos (O.T. prophet) was a shepherd and a gardener. (Amos 7:14) God can use anyone who will fully commit to doing his will. The topical tests and Bible links at the top of the page will give you plenty of free Christian material to learn. If you desire a more formal and traditional online Christian education click here. > Biblical Studies
Two or Three References (Witnesses)
2Cor. 13:1 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” A letter of approval with at least two witnesses to testify to their faithfulness in serving Jesus was all that was required. Having this letter permitted them to partake of communion with the saints in another town area or country and participate in their other activities. 2Th. 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” If they were going to reside in the area for some time they would also receive help in finding work. Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 1Th. 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, The brothers and sisters who were moving about the empire and outer lands at that time were not coming to obtain a cushy job in the church. They were coming to work, earn a living, raise families, fellowship with other believers and to contribute to and help the ministry in that area. So,
we at CT6 and TMI are following the biblical procedures and doing
the same thing as they did, namely providing a Letter of Recommendation
to those who have a good understanding of basic Christianity and whose
lives can be vouched for by at least two other strong Christians. (They
need not be ministers, educators or full time church workers. They just
need to be people who can meet the same requirements as the applicant.)
To be certified you must have at least two people who will vouch for your Christian walk for the past four years. 1Tim. 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 1Tim. 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. Newer Christians (Less than four years in our opinion) are welcome to take the test and will receive a completion certificate for doing so, but not the letter of approval for Christian workers.The scripture says that no one in leadership may be a novice. The bible forbids a new convert or one who has been untested for a reasonable period of time from serving in leadership. 1Tim. 3:10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Heb. 11:17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, Rev. 2:2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. Testing does not happen overnight and there is surely more to it than this little biblical knowledge quiz. True testing is how a person conducts themselves in difficult circumstances. True testing takes time and we have chosen four years from the biblical and secular norms. Is. 48:10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Most of us have numerous trials and tribulations during a four year time period and people, especially other strong Christians can take note of how we endure during those periods of God testing us. Those are the reasons for us requiring references before granting a letter of approval. Even the disciples were not sent out on their own until they had spent 3 ½ years with Jesus. Should we do less? Since Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time we will not do less, but a little more as we previously said, making the time requirement for observation four years. Even in the secular world it takes this amount of time to go through high school or to obtain a bachelors degree. Very often an apprenticeship to become a journeyman craftsman also takes four years or more. Look at the length of time it takes to become a medical professional. Should we do less for Christ? 2Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Tim. 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. The purpose of this written testing is that in these, what we believe to be the end times, there are many false religions and false prophets gone out in to the world and deceiving many. Even Jesus said that false prophets would proliferate in the end times. Also, the focus here is not so much on teaching but on assesing what a person already knows through their time of being a Christian. Our desire is to give some credibility to the learning already done whether in college, in church, in bible studies, in home groups or just reading the bible and other books at home.
John 16:13-14 NIV But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he
will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to
come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making
it known to you. Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. 2Tim. 3:1-7 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. We hope that those who complete this test with a 100% score and have at least two references will be true grown believers who are able to eat the meat of the Word and also share it with others. This is not a phony degree from a diploma mill, but a right hand of fellowship document of approval. At the very least those who pass the written exam will have been exposed to biblical truth and can use that for future spiritual growth. Gal. 2:9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.
Authority
You might ask; by what authority do you offer biblical tests
and letters of approval in doctrine?
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