"Gems" from The Writings Of Ulrich Stadler

The Fellowship of Christ in His Sufferings and Blood

The people of God, the lowliest among all people, are called to one hope. Only in them alone does God manifests His love, for He has purified and cleansed them from all filthiness to be a holy Church, without spot nor wrinkle, but is holy and without blemish.

In this Church every dedicated child or member lives not for himself, but for the Lord and His Church. Each one helps the other. No one seeks his own, but they love one another, each one loving his neighbor as himself. All strive for the truth, and all hate and abandon the world, so that they can be in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. They are bound together with the bonds of divine love, pledged to each other to suffer and die.

The greatest among them is the servant of all. The governing rule of this Church is love given from a pure heart which binds them together in one mind and hope, to the glory of God. They are a blessed seed, their citizenship is in heaven. They serve one Lord, and have one Master, one Shepherd, one faith, one heart, and one baptism. They have the unity of the Holy Spirit, who lives among them for ever and ever.

This is the community of the chosen and anointed of God in the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one heart and one soul. None call anything his own, but have all things in common.

Whosoever is not in this community, who keeps his own goods for future need, his bread shall stink before the face of God, and he shall have his part in the company of the dead where the Lord is not praised. He is dead while still living, and has no God in heaven, for God is the God of peace and unity, and not of discord.

God is pleased where brothers live together and praise Him in the House of the Lord, which House is the Church of God. In this House everything is in order according to His will, and is pleasing to Him.

What Obedience is

How it is Praised and Blessed by God

Proper obedience is a diligent path to the wisdom of God and a reminder of such things that serve to honor God and to do those things with pleasure and joy. This is greater and more acceptable by God than sacrifice.

Therefore the obedience of Abraham was accepted by God as a sacrifice and He blessed him above all peoples. He also blessed the house of the Rechabites when they were obedient to their father Jonadab and would drink no wine when He had forbidden them wine, wherefore God gave to them in abundance. (Jer 35)

Christ, the Truth, was an example of obedience. He has been an influence to all his servants, that they should be obedient unto the Father, even to death. The Holy Spirit testifies in many ways that obedience should be preserved with all diligence, praises it, and commands us to obey the order, customs and laws of Jesus Christ in great trembling. Again He commands us that disobedience must be seriously punished and eradicated from the House of God.

What Disobedience is

How it shall be Punished in the House of God

Disobedience is the sin of witchcraft and stubborn­ness is as iniquity and idolatry. (I Sam 15:23) God has always severely punished disobedience, and has ordered that it should be punished in the House of God.

Paul was diligent in this and commanded that all disobedience should be noted and punished, for all disobedi­ent deserve their just reward, according to the authority and power that Christ gave to His disciples.

Speaking Foolishly in the House of God

By Ulrich Stadler

A God fearing man will always speak from a clear conscience and understanding, his words are carefully weighed. For in a multitude of words there is no want of sin. Every idle word shall be called to account on the Day of Judgement.

Therefore, all filthiness, foolish jesting, or corrupt talk, such as is not fitting, shall be shunned by Christians, for the idle or vain gossip encourages the ungodly nature and life.

Therefore, whosoever can not control his tongue deceives himself and his religion is in vain. For evil communi­cation corrupts good manners. There is more hope for a fool than for a man who is too swift to speak. In the mouth of the ignorant are many corruptible words but the wise will have not pleasure in it. He who hates loose talk suppresses sin.

Therefore, the Christian's speech should be friendly and gracious, and flavored with salt, that he may know what he says and how he answers, that he may not speak evil. For by his words, a man shall be justified or condemned, says the Lord. (Mt 12:37)

Whosoever is modest and moderate in his speech, and keeps the spirit of his words as precious, is an under­standing man and preserves his soul from fear.

Therefore no Christian should let foul words proceed out of his mouth but allow only that which is good and edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers and does not grieve the Holy Spirit, whereby he is sealed unto the day of redemption.

For out of corrupt and idle words arise and grow evil thoughts and temptations, says the Holy Spirit.

The Children of God Speak Truth with Neighbors

In the House of God, each one is to speak the truth with his neighbors, and not to be in the habit of telling a lie. For to be in the habit of telling lies is evil. It is shameful and disgraceful, not something that a wise man would do.

Truly, a thief is better than he who pours out lies, but both will inherit nothing but corruption in the end.

A man with the habit of telling lies is killing his soul, for whoever lies and uses deception can not live or remain with God. He will perish and not escape corruption. This man will not inhabit the New Jerusalem, but will remain outside with his father, the devil, who from the beginning did not abide in the truth, for he is the father of lies.

Therefore shall every Christian speak the truth with his neighbor. Let your yes be yes and your no be no, as it is in Christ Jesus, in Him is found the yes to all God's promises and his followers should be the same.

Whosoever remains in the truth shall dwell in His holy mountain, he shall be blessed of the Lord and receive righteousness from the God of his salvation.

No One should Depend on His Own Under­standing

No one should rely on the understanding of his heart or in his wisdom or be proud of his knowledge. For this reason, God spoke to Israel through His prophet Isaiah: 'Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and think that they have understanding. He shall make their wisdom foolishness and their understanding useless'.

Yes, all who exalt themselves in their understanding shall be brought low and made ashamed, and those who think themselves wise shall be made foolish and darkened in their useless scheming.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit says, 'Do not exalt your­selves in the council of your soul, do not eat up your leaves and destroy your fruit and leave yourself as a barren tree. Do not follow your own council, be not so wise that you destroy yourself.'

Paul admonished the brethren: 'A man may think that he has full knowledge of something yet not know it as well as he should.' (I Cor 8:2) Yes, when one thinks himself wise, says the Holy Spirit, there is more hope for a fool than for him.

Therefore, O devout Christian, seek with humble heart after that which God reveals, for secret things are not necessary for you to know.

Depend not on your own understanding, and do not think that you are wise, but acknowledge the Lord in all thy ways and He shall direct your path. (Prov 3:6)

Gideon made an ephod[1] and all Israel prostituted themselves to it, and it was a snare for Gideon and his family. (Judges 8:27)

What flesh and blood devises is always evil. (Ecc 17:30)