The Church: Importance, Unity, & Divisiveness
CHAPTER 26: Of The Church
(Parts 0ne through Three of Eighteen)
The chapter on the Church is the longest in the Confession. That means we’ll be on this one for a while. That it is the longest is interesting to me, especially in our day and age, when so many who profess faith in Christ, have nothing to do with His Church. While there have been times in Christian history when there have been a greater number of church members who were not Christian, there has never been a time in Christian history when more who profess faith in Christ reject His Church.
Why is this? Faulty evangelism that presents Jesus as the answer to all my “felt needs.” If joining a church isn’t one of them—out goes church. Individualism. It is the predominant world view in our culture. Non-denominationalism, and it’s illegitimate child: anti-church membership. When individual local churches are accountable to no one but themselves, why should those who attend feel the need to be accountable to the church?
Besides the fact that the longest chapter in the Confession is about the Church, look at the New Testament. Many books were written to churches (rather than to individuals). If individuals wanted to hear from an apostle, where did they go to hear the latest letter? Church. Look at how many commands in scripture cannot be obeyed except in a church (e.g., James 5:14). Is there church discipline apart from the Church? Do people receive the sacraments apart from the Church—and if they do, are they legitimate?
Might the Church be more important to God than it is to a good many of His people?
(Part Two of Eighteen)
There many “churches” but only one “Church.”
The true, universal, and “invisible church” is made up of all the elect of God, who have been, are, and ever will be saved. The Church belongs to Jesus (Matthew 16:18b), and He is His Church’s Head (Colossians 1:18), which scripture calls “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom of His Bride, another name by which the Church is called in scripture (Ephesians 5:22-32).
The “visible church” is made up of those who profess faith and/or those who associate themselves with a local church, whether they are actually born again or are not. Those who are only members of the visible church, but not of the “invisible church,” are not children of God.
The “invisible church” is pure in Christ, but the “visible church” is a mixed multitude at best. Nevertheless, believers must unite themselves in local churches even though there is no perfect local church. As much as is possible, local churches must seek to restrict their membership to professing believers, whose profession of faith is not discredited by their lifestyles (Titus 1:16).
(Part Three of Eighteen)
There are many churches, and not a one of them (this side of Heaven) is pure. All are a mixture of truth and error, just as each of our lives is the same mixture. There are, however, churches that have far more truth than error, just as there are churches that have far more error than truth. Some actually degenerate to the point that they are “synagogues of Satan” (Revelation 2:9).
The responsibility of all believers is to unite with the local church near them that is most characterized by truth and has the least error. The cardinal truth is Christ (John 14:6), the true gospel (Ephesians 1:13), and the Word (Psalm 119:142). And these three are indivisibly one. While we must not unite with a church that errs in these central and essential matters, we must abhor division over secondary issues about which orthodox men of God disagree. We must refuse to divide Christ’s body over petty personal preferences. And we must humbly seek the Lord’s wisdom to discern the difference.
Titus 3:10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition…
Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
What too many do not understand about the Church
CHAPTER 26: Of The Church
(Parts Four through Six of Eighteen)
There is but one Head of the Church: Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18). It is not only incorrect for any other—whether he be man or angel, to claim to be the head of the Church—it is blasphemy committed by an antichrist. Anyone who exalted in this manner is exalted above, and therefore against, Jesus (who is the Head of the Church), and against the Father (who has appointed Christ as the Head of the Church Ephesians 1:21-22). By this supreme and sovereign appointment, Christ has all power for the calling, institution, order, and government of His Church.
Pompous men who sit on golden thrones, allow themselves to be called “vicars of [substitutes for] Christ,” and allow people to bow before them and kiss their rings are not the only offenders. Beware of any person—whether he be a pastor, elder, deacon, or a member of any congregation—who thinks that he or she is essential to the Church. There is one Head, and that Head is Christ Jesus.
Christ has ordained people to serve in various roles of servant-leadership in local churches, but these are never heads of the Church, for there is but one Head, Christ Jesus. Servant-leaders, though they are given by Christ as gifts to His Church, are but servants of the one and only Head.
(Part Five)
The true Church (made up of those who are truly born again by the Holy Spirit) has been given and entrusted to Christ by His Father (John 17:6). The Church (remember that it is the people, not the institution) is called out of the world (John 15:19) to follow Christ (Mark 8:34) through the ministry of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), the Bible, by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5). The members of the Church (all true believers and followers of Christ, not just those who unite in membership with a local church) are called and expected to live in obedience to God, as prescribed by His Word, the Bible.
This obedience, as it relates to the Church, includes uniting with a local church—not as spectators, but as active participants, and yes, as members. Members of local churches are to serve one another for mutual edification and encouragement, as well as for the good of the corporate body (Romans 12:4-5).
Members (and all are called to be members) are to join in corporate worship and prayer. They are to obey those called by God to lead the church (elders), unless the elders are leading contrary to Scripture (Hebrews 13:17).
(Part Six)
All believers are members of the true Church, even though many in our day stubbornly refuse to unite with a local church either by attending and participating, or by rejecting the call to join as official members of their churches. There are only two reasons for a true believer to refuse to join a local church.
The first possible reason is ignorance. This ignorance may be due to a lack of instruction. Worse, it may be due to incorrect instruction in one of the many churches that do not have membership, and in fact criticize membership as being “unbiblical” (which it is not). In either case, those who refuse membership may do so because of ignorance.
The second reason is insolence, which is an individualistic resistance to accountability. If one is not ignorant about the importance of membership, what other reason is there?
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
While that verse clearly puts a responsibility on elders to watch out for the souls in their care, as those who must give an account to God, the church members also have responsibilities—which we will get to next time.
Why members are responsible
Chapter 26: Of The Church
(Parts Seven through Nine of Eighteen)
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
While this verse clearly puts a responsibility on elders to “watch out for” the souls in their care, as those who “must give an account” to God, the church members also have the following responsibilities:
The first responsibility of church members is to “obey and be submissive to their elders,” unless, of course, the leaders are commanding the people to do what God forbids, or forbidding the people to do what God commands. Honestly, how often does that happen? And care must be given not to pretend that if the elders are leading in a way that merely goes against a member’s preference, the member must not take the bold leap of accusing the elders of leading contrary to God.
The call to “obey and submit” is not a call to blindly follow the elder’s lead in a cult-like manner. But usually when people resist the leadership of their elders, it is over petty things. If you are praying for them, then trust that God is leading through them.
(The second responsibility next time. )
(Part Eight)
Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
The second responsibility this verse places on members is: Follow the elders’ lead in a manner that enables them to lead joyfully, rather than with grief. In other words, support them rather than running interference against them.
Blatant rebellion is obviously wrong, but there are subtle ways in which members give elders grief. Passive resistance. A complaining spirit. Refusal to be supportive and helpful. Not showing up every time the church is gathered for worship and prayer, for no good reason other than being too busy with everything other than church. Failure to pray for the elders. Making the elders chase them by not responding to their requests to speak with them. Listening to gossip. Not tithing. Not serving. Refusing to become members. These and many more such attitudes and actions cause elders to be grieved for the sheep.
And God’s Word says that is unprofitable for the members!
(Part Nine)
Church members are “members of one another” (Romans 12:5), and as such share a connection and responsibilities. As no “member” of my physical body is exempt from being connected and responsible to the rest of my body, neither are church members to be disconnected or deny responsibility to the body of Christ—though many do. When cells in a physical body become independent, living only for themselves, those cells are cancerous. In the same way, believers who isolate themselves or are irresponsible toward the Church, are not only in sin, they do damage to themselves and to the body.
Therefore, “as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:4-5). And since the Holy Spirit has gifted every member of the body with spiritual gifts, though they be varied, let us willingly agreed to operate together, serving one another, and “stirring one another up to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Bonus Thought: Why do we need to be told this? The first Christians in Acts 2:42-47 did these things and more without any instruction. Could it be that they were more sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit than modern-day Christians?
The Holy Spirit leads the Church using the Holy Scriptures and spiritual leaders in the Church
Chapter 26: Of The Church
(Parts Ten through Twelve Of Eighteen)
God has given the Church both the holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and instruct. Armed with these gifts, every church has everything it needs carry out God’s will in its particular situation.
If a local church is indeed a church, Christ will supply it with leaders who will hold the biblical offices of Elder (ruler) and Deacon (servant). These leaders have the responsibility (at minimum) to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and exercise church discipline as needed.
As church leaders have the responsibility of holding church members accountable, so church members have the responsibility to see that their leaders are leading according to the Scriptures and in the Holy Spirit.
(Part Eleven)
Leaders in the Church are gifts from Christ to the Church (Ephesians 4:11). They must be gifted by the Holy Spirit to fulfill their ministries. Leaders must be recognized as having been ordained by God before being ordained by men. Man’s ordination is really nothing more than recognition of God’s ordination.
While every church does not follow the same protocol in ordaining officers of the church that we do at GBC , here are some general guidelines that may be worked out somewhat differently in other churches.
(1) The elders of the church notice a man appears to be called by God to either the office of elder or deacon.
(2) The elders will give the man opportunities to serve to confirm God’s call of giftedness.
(3) The elders will examine the man, including determining whether his wife supports him in a call to the ministry. The elders may seek references from outside the church as well.
(4) The elders will present the man to the congregation, seeking their affirmation, as well as taking note if there are any who are opposed.
(5) Assuming all is well, the man should be publicly prayed over with the laying on of the hands by the elders, thus ordaining the man to the ministry.
(Part Twelve)
The following is Paragraph 10 of the Chapter in the Confession entitled Of The Church—verbatim. It speaks for itself:
“The pastor is called to give himself constantly to the service of Christ by serving Christ’s church. He is to give constant attention to the ministry of the Word and prayer. He is to watch over the souls of the people in the church. He is to do this as in earnest, as one who must give an account to Him. It is the obligation of the churches to whom pastors minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to see that, as they have ability, they give of their own possessions to support their pastors. This is necessary so that pastors have all their material needs met, so that they do not have to become entangled in secular affairs and employment. It is also necessary that the pastors have enough so that they may exercise the gift of hospitality toward others. The law of nature requires this and the Lord Jesus has expressly ordered that those who preach the Gospel should have their livelihood supported through their Gospel ministry.”
(1 Timothy 5:17-18 & 1 Corinthians 9:13-14)
In addition, under ideal conditions, the church, particularly the deacons and additional staff, should do all they can to free the pastor from taking care of the temporal needs of the church (Acts 6:2), so that the pastor can give his attention to the ministry of prayer and the Word.
Looking for a perfect church?
Chapter 26: Of The Church
(Parts Thirteen through Fifteen of Eighteen)
John Calvin wrote: “Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, there a church of God exists, even if it swarms with many faults.” Preaching, therefore, is essential if a church is to be considered a church. While it is in vogue these days for so-called “life-coaches” to give “talks” in so-called churches, pastors of true churches preach the Word. Pastors are called to “preach the Word, in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:1-2)—which means all the time!
It is most typical for there to be one of the elders (often referred to as the pastor) who is most gifted to do the majority of the preaching; he is not the only one who may preach. Other elders should be able to preach (1 Timothy 3:2), and willing to so when the need arises, regardless of whether they are particularly gifted. In addition, other men in the body who are gifted by the Holy Spirit and recognized by the church as able to preach, may and should.
While possessing “pulpit gifts” may make preaching more engaging, we must remember that the power is in the Word itself—not in the preacher. Therefore, while we may prefer to hear from some preachers more than others, ultimately it doesn’t matter who is preaching, so long as he is faithfully preaching the Word of God.
Let us all learn to listen intently to what the Holy Spirit is saying through the preacher, no matter who the preacher is, or the level of preaching expertise he may have.
(Part Fourteen)
The Confession rightly reminds believers that we are “obligated to join ourselves to particular local churches when and where we have opportunity to do so.” Friends, the popular notions that “there are no good churches” [not true!], or “I can’t find a church” [usually only because you are either not looking or have an unreasonable expectation of a church before you will join it] are just plain nonsense!
Which of us is better than Jesus? Does He absent Himself from a church because they are not perfect, or because they do not agree with you on everything? No. Then are your standards higher than His?
The confession states “when and where we have opportunity.” In the US, we have opportunity. People in third-world or non-Christian countries may not have a church near them to join. They have a reason to be in a “house-church.” The only reasons people here opt for that is because they do not understand what the Church is, how important it is, or, they are isolating themselves unbiblically. Proverbs 18:1 says, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” Refuse to be that person.
(Part Fifteen)
The Confession rightly reminds believers that we are “obligated to join ourselves to particular local churches when and where we have opportunity to do so.” Why is this so important? Study the New Testament and see how many instructions (and commands) you cannot obey if you say “No” to uniting with a local church.
James 5:14 says if anyone is sick, call for the elders of the church. How can you do that if you are not in a church? And please do not deceive yourself into thinking that the father in a family house church is a church elder. There are other commands, including the sacraments. Baptizing each other in the bathtub is not baptism, nor is family communion what the New Testament commands. The sacraments are to be administered by duly ordained officers (elders and deacons) in a church. There are other similar commands that cannot be carried out correctly in a so-called house church, when the reason to “do church at home” is because people are rebelling against the biblical concept of the Church.
Lastly, God ordained local churches as microcosmic manifestations of the universal Church because the universal Church is too large to relate to, submit to, serve in, etc. God ordained local churches and He expects us to be connected—through membership.
Disputes, Prayer, and Associations
Chapter 26: OF THE CHURCH
Parts Sixteen through Eighteen of Eighteen
Just because the true Church is exclusively comprised of believers and local churches are mostly believers, that doesn’t mean there are no problems between members. The Confession (chapt.26, par.13), explaining scripture, instructs us that individual believers involved in a dispute are commanded to try to resolve disputes among themselves. Believers involved in disputes among themselves must not boycott church. It is the very place they need most to be.
If the dispute cannot be solved between the members, and if the church though the leadership must settle the dispute, the members must submit themselves to the rule of the church.
The modern idea of simply “changing churches” because of a dispute is altogether unbiblical. This action results not only in disputes being left unresolved, but in the members involved missing incredibly important lessons to be learned about differing instead of demanding, and submitting instead of departing. In the end, the work of grace in the church is short-circuited in favor of personal preferences (most of which tend to be quite petty).
Who says the Confession doesn’t address anything practical?
(Part Seventeen)
As Jesus said, His house (the Church) is to be a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). To that end, Christians united together in a local church need to be committed, not only to serving one another, but to praying with and for one another. Beyond praying only for our local church, since all believers are members of the universal church, we ought also to pray for the Church around the world.
Let us do this in our private times of prayer with the Lord. Let us do this in family prayer times. And let us understand the role of corporate prayer in the Church. Though prayer meetings are typically the least attended meetings in most churches (they are usually in a dead heat for last place with evangelism efforts)—they should be the heartbeat of the life of a healthy local church.
How will this change from miniscule attendance to massive attendance? Not by guilt-inducing brow-beating. That may produce a flash of change from time to time, but it is always short-lived. The way to see prayer become a greater part of the life of the local church is by praying. Let those who pray, pray that others will have hearts to join in. And then let those who pray invite (challenge?) others to join them. When that catches, it will produce meaningful, lasting change.
In the meantime, “God have mercy on Your Church for our lack of zeal in prayer.”
(Part Eighteen)
Local churches are not islands unto themselves. Historically, Baptists have said “No” to the idea of local churches being under the spiritual “jurisdiction” of a body outside the local church. However, Baptists have historically affirmed “associationalism,” in which local churches live in cooperation with other like-minded churches. Being associated with a larger body of churches provides fellowship, cooperation, counsel, and accountability to the local churches.
Fellowship may take the form of churches joining together for worship services, prayer meetings, retreats, etc. Cooperation may happen as churches unite in missions projects.
Counsel is available for churches experiencing difficulties. They can call on leaders from sister churches to pray for, and offer counsel in the midst of troubles.
As for accountability, while the association has no “jurisdiction” over the local church or its leaders, if a local church veers in an unhealthy direction or into false doctrine, the association may challenge the local church. If it is determined that the local church is in error and will not repent, the association may then dismiss that local church from membership in the association..
Truly associationalism is a blessing—which we enjoy as members of the Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals (FIRE), particularly with four other FIRE churches in our county.
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