Sunday, June 22, 2014 am
BACK TO BASICS – 19
The ONE True Church – 3
Identifying a True Church of Christ
A
study of the New Testament church is VERY fundamental to our faith.
There is so much misunderstanding about what the church is as
well as its various characteristics.
If we were to properly grasp what the Bible teaches about the
church, much of the religious divisions that exists between brethren as
well as in so-called “Christendom” could be avoided.
That is why we want to give considerable consideration to this
important BASIC subject.
We
have both identified the church and examined when the ONE true church
began. But we also find in
scripture, frequently, references to churches that meet in various
locations. We call these
local churches (or congregations).
While we have noted that the church in its universal sense is
about relationship with God (& Jesus and Holy Spirit), and that it has
no earthly organization, we find that local churches DO have
responsibilities. In
understanding these responsibilities, we can set out to find a church
that truly does belong to Christ.
a.
What is a local church?
While the universal church is about relationship with Christ, the local
church is a group of saints
(membership therein is based upon an understanding of their being saved
and thus a part of the universal church) who join together in a given
locale to do the work God has prescribed to be done collectively.
b.
Local churches do exist.
In examining scripture we find many of the epistles written to
churches –
1 Cor. 1:2, Galatians 1:2 – churches of Galatia, 1 Thess. 1:1, “the
church of the Thessalonians”
Romans 16:16, “the churches of Christ greet you.”
Revelation 1:4, “to the seven churches of Asia”.
c.
Local churches enjoy a direct relationship with Jesus
– consider Revelation 1-3.
Rev. 1:9-19 describes a vision John has of 7 lampstands with “one like
the Son of Man” in the midst of them.
That “Son of Man” is Jesus, and the lampstands are the 7
churches.
NOTE: It needs to be observed that each local church exists
independently answering directly to Christ.
Christ is its head (1 Cor.
12:27). This is important to
understand because EACH local church needs to follow Him!
d.
Some are unsound, or in
danger of losing their relationship with Christ.
IN Revelation 2 &3, each local church has an individual message.
Within many of the messages are warnings of their danger in
relation to Christ if they do not repent of wrongful conduct and
attitudes (Rev. 2:5, 3:15,16, etc.).
From this and an examination of what the church is in scripture,
we learn that if a congregation is not following God’s pattern, we
should not bid it Godspeed.
a.
Consists of Christians in ONE location – as the term “church” is used locally, it has
reference to location. But
is more than just that. It is a group that has joined together and that
comes together.
b.
There are many of them
– Galatians 1:2, Rev. 1:4, Romans 16:16.
Contrast this with the ONE universal church.
c.
Each church is independent and autonomous.
By independent we mean that it is not tied to any other
congregation on earth. When
making decisions, a church examines God’s word and determines what is
right and wrong and does that which is right.
It doesn’t matter what other churches think – only what the Lord
thinks.
By autonomous, we mean self-governing.
In the Bible each congregation had its own organization
(consisting of elders, deacons and saints) and did not answer to any
earthly organization higher than itself.
There were no earthly headquarters, churches that sponsored works
on behalf of several congregations, human organizations created to do
their work, etc. We will
examine this in much greater detail in a future lesson.
d.
We join a local
congregation–
Acts 9:26-28 records Paul after his conversion seeking to “join the
disciples” at Jerusalem.
They were hesitant, but Barnabas stood up for Paul and he was accepted.
In this text we find that one joins himself to a local church.
Another thought: A local church can deny membership.
Just as the church was hesitant to accept Paul (until they were
sure he was truly a disciple), so a church can deny membership to
someone they believe to be in sin who refuses to repent.
A study of church discipline also factors into this – as we are
to withdraw from those who cause divisions (Rom. 16:17), those who are
living immoral lives (1 Cor. 5:4-6), or those who walk disorderly (2
Thess. 3:6), etc.
IF for the sake of purity a church can and SHOULD withdraw from one,
then it is NECESSARILY CONCLUDED that they can refuse membership to one
who fits in an ungodly category or poses a threat to the church.
Eph. 5:11, “Have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
e.
Some human judgment
involved – a
true church (congregation) of Christ desires to follow Him in every
aspect. As such she will
freely and willingly accept anyone who is a child of God.
BUT, being comprised of humans we cannot read hearts, so it is
possible that one is admitted to a local church that is not saved in
God’s eyes (unfaithful to Him, hypocrites, liars, etc.).
NOTE: I REPEAT: Efforts need to be taken to avoid this - we try to
follow God’s standard in our considerations.
BUT, far too many churches today will accept anyone to their detriment.
Consider the warnings to the churches of Thyatira and Pergamos
that both tolerated false teachers and immorality in their midst.
f.
It can have divided in its midst – 1 Corinthians 1:10 says, “Let there be no divisions among
you”. It is clear from the
letter that there were divisions - but the goal is to overcome those
divisions and achieve true unity.
This is only done if all respect God’s authority.
g.
One may be saved and not be part of a local church
– I hesitate to say this because of
its abuse. God
desires that all saints find and join a local congregation.
It is essential to doing all that He commands of us.
BUT there are times when one might be in a saved relationship
with God and not part of a local church.
What about the Ethiopian Eunuch who was baptized in the
wilderness? (Acts 8:39)
Paul sought to join Jerusalem (Acts 9:26) just prior to that he was not
a member of a congregation.
3 John 9-10 describes ungodly Demetrius putting out of the church those
who were godly.
But NOTE: In scripture ANY example of Christians not part of a local
congregation is ALWAYS
a temporary circumstance.
Perhaps one moves into a community and visits several congregations
before committing to one.
Perhaps one has resisted false doctrine, ungodly leaders, etc. and is
told to leave a congregation.
Until he finds (or starts) another congregation he could still be
in a saved relationship with God.
h.
Death affects membership
– when one dies, he/she is no longer a part of that congregation he was
a member of. The local
church is an earthly body with a spiritual mission.
BUT, even though he dies, if he is in the Lord, he is saved and
thus still part of the church universal (Rev. 14:13).
III.
How to identify a TRUE
Local Church
a.
Much of what we are
about to say is preliminary and will be discussed in more detail in
future lessons.
Understanding what a local church is, one might ask “HOW do I find a
church that does belong to the Lord?”
This is a legitimate question when we consider the hundreds of
different denominations each claiming to be the church of Christ.
And even outside of denominationalism, there are churches that
engage in contradictory practices (one does one thing, and the other
does the opposite). They
CANNOT both be true, so how do we find the TRUE church?
THE answer is: We look at it according to God’s word – according to
God’s standard. This is
where the lessons on authority are applied.
b.
Consider its respect for
God’s word –
one of the first things I would look for is what a church’s attitude is
toward the Bible. Do they
view the word of God as inerrant, relevant (applies today) and complete?
Many churches today either add to God’s word or take away from
it. IF a church has a creed
book (Methodist Discipline, Book of Mormon, Baptist manual, etc.) that
tells you IMMEDIATELY that what they do is adding to God’s word.
LEAVE immediately and keep searching!
The Lord’s church will NOT fear investigation of its teachings and
practices according to scripture.
Let us be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 – search the scriptures.
WE should also consider how a congregation appeals to God’s word in its
teachings. Too many churches
today are using less and less scripture, and more and more of man’s
philosophies and stories.
c.
Consider how it identifies itself – a name is important.
It serves as a marker of identity.
In scripture we find various names:
- Church of God – 1 Cor. 1:2
- Church of Christ – Romans 16:16
- The church at… - 1 Thess. 1:1.
These recognized the Lordship of Jesus (as is borne out in the
letters), but the identity had to do with where they were located.
Such names ALL describe relationship with its owner.
Jesus purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28, Eph.
5:25-27). It is His body
(Eph. 1:22-23)
IT is also the God the Father – Eph. 3:10-11 says it was according to
His purpose. NOTE: God
planned it, but Jesus died for it.
We also realize that Jesus IS God, and as such that could be
included in passages that make reference to “the church of God” or
“churches of God”.
IF a church has a name that is of man’s origin, it usually means that
man has included his ideas of what the church is – Baptist,
Episcopalian, Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Mormon, etc.
If they can’t get the name right, how can trust what they teach?
NOTE: Just because a church
has a Biblical name does NOT necessarily mean it is the Lord’s church.
Plenty of churches call themselves the “church of Christ” but
when you begin to examine other aspects, it is clear that they are NOT!
So we begin with the name, but we certainly do not end there!
d.
Consider its
organization
– we have already emphasized that the local church is the only unit we
find in scripture. You do
not find any organization larger than a local church in scripture.
IF a congregation claims to be part of a body that is larger than
itself, its organizational structure is wrong!
There are many denominations that have earthly headquarters –
Mormons appeal to Salt Lake City; Jehovah’s Witnesses to the Watchtower
Society; United Methodists have their annual conferences
(local, central and general);
Catholicism has the Vatican and a super-organization; Various
Baptists are affiliated with “Conventions”, etc.
Also, some churches pool their resource or create human organizations to
do the work God gave the local church.
We will examine this in much greater detail next month.
it has a local government.
In the Bible we read of elders (bishops), deacons and saints.
Phil. 1:1.
Elders are shepherds of a local congregation – Acts 20:28, 1 Peter
5:1-2, etc. They must meet
high standards (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9).
There is ALWAYS a plurality.
Deacons serve under the elders and must also maintain a good and
exemplary standard) (1 Tim. 3:8-13).
There are no presiding bishops, popes, distinction between bishops and
pastors, etc. God’s
organization is simple and very local.
e.
Consider its worship
– we have extensively discussed proper worship when we assemble as the
church. It is simple
and every act involves the heart.
There are 5 acts of worship:
1) Lord’s Supper – to be observed only on the first day of the week –
Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 11:23-26
2) Giving – 1 Cor. 16:1-2.
Also exclusively on the first day of the week.
It is a free-will offering of the members – not fundraisers,
businesses, etc.
3) Singing – without instrumental accompaniment.
Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15
4) Preaching and teaching – Eph. 4:11-16; Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 4:17, etc.
Many of the epistles were written to churches instructing them.
5) Prayer – 1 Cor. 14:15-17,
Acts 12:5
Worship in many places today has turned into entertainment and
additional acts that are not mentioned in scripture.
Many worship services are designed to provoke emotions to the
neglect of truth. Let us
never forget that our worship is about God.
f.
Consider its work – the concept that the world has of the church now is that it is
primarily a social relief organization and designed to cater to “the
whole man”. But in scripture
you find the work of the church is very limited – there is evangelism
which is the primary focus; edification – which in scripture is ALWAYS
spiritual in nature; and limited benevolence – churches helping needy
brethren and at times needy congregations in other places.
There are rules with which this is to be done.
If a church today is about social activities and entertainment it is NOT
the Lord’s church
g.
Consider its terms of admission and fellowship
– there are many different plans of salvation being taught today.
The majority of the denominational world teaches “faith only”.
The Bible teaches not “only faith” but also repentance,
confession and immersion for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 1 Peter
3:20-21; Acts 22:16, etc.)
This plan is integral to those who are added to the number of a local
church. If a
church is teaching a different plan of salvation it is a “different
gospel” (Gal. 1:6-9) and should be rejected.
h.
Other considerations
– a local
church has a local treasury and practices its discipline locally.
There may be other considerations, but if you weigh these elements, you
will find the Lord’s church and you can serve God with confidence.
Here, we strive to follow this pattern in all that we do.
May God be pleased with what we do and may we always strive to be
the church of Christ. Think
about it.