'Maintaining the local congregation and its freedom has been the
most serious problem in the Restoration Movement. Leading men,
and men of influence, have decided that greater success can be
achieved when all the congregations are united and work through
a centralized control.' (Gospel Anchor. 'Centralization'. George
P. Estes, March 1992, p. 15) And this is a serious subject, with
far reaching consequences. The organizational structure found
in Roman Catholicism is the ultimate example of failing to see
any difference between the universal church and local congregation.
I. Differences Between Universal And Local:
Jesus is the Head of the universal church (Eph. 1:22-23), as well
as Lord over each local congregation (Revelation 3:19). And that
is all the organizational structure that is found in the universal
church. The universal church has no elders or deacons, for these
offices are only found on the local level (Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23;
1 Peter 5:2). One writer noted, 'The Scriptures give considerable
discussion to the qualifications of the officers in the local
church. There is no mention of an earthly office in the universal
church and no list of qualifications for such an officer. Why
would God so carefully direct the local church in its appointment
of officers but say nothing about officers in the universal church?..There
are no provisions for universal officers under Christ in the church
on earth. Brethren need to guard themselves from thinking of anything
or anybody as such. Editors of papers are not creed writers. Colleges
and publishing houses are not dictators of doctrinal positions.'
(GOT. 'Church Autonomy'. Mike Willis. 9-16-93, p. 2) Roy Cogdill
wrote, 'The New Testament Scriptures are completely silent as
to any universal function of the church and as to any universal
organization through which such a function might be performed.
If God had intended for the church universal to perform any function
upon the earth is it not self evident that He would have been
wise enough to give it a medium or organization through which
to perform that function? The necessary conclusion then is that
since God has given the church only a local
organization--the congregation--He intended for its function or
work to be executed through the local church as a medium.' (Walking
By Faith. p. 86) Even when many congregations helped a congregation
in need, the organization used was the organization found in each
local congregation (1 Cor. 16:1-3). Note: Paul didn't create a
benevolent society which would serve the churches or inform the
congregations of various needs. And neither did he create a organization
with officers larger than the local congregation. This is precisely
why many rightfully oppose any church funded organization, whether
that be an orphan home, college, publishing company, hospital,
etc..For it doing so we are guilty of creating an organization
in the church that is larger than the local congregation.
Concerning the collection mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2: (a)
It was a collection of the funds from the members in Corinth that
was pooled into a common fund. It was more than just the private
saving account of each member, for the day of the week was specific.
Of what significance would this be if the collection was purely
private (the individual can put money away on any day for individual
acts of benevolence). And this was the day on which Christians
assembled (Acts 20:7). In addition, the money was gathered at
the congregational level, for Paul again specifies that he wants
this monetary prosperity already pooled when he arrives. Note:
(a) The Corinthians didn't contribute to the treasuries of other
congregations. (b) The treasury at Corinth didn't belong to the
brotherhood at large. (c) Never do we find congregations contributing
funds into a universal treasury. (d) Their funds remained distinct
from the funds of other churches, even when sent to another church
in need (16:3-4). (e) What a congregation gives, only benefits
that congregation (Philippians 4:14-16). Gene Frost noted, 'If
a church's treasury is to be thought of as a segment of the Lord's
treasury universally, then in essence the church universal gave
to Paul. But not so. He recognized their giving as theirs in particular.'
(Gospel Anchor. May 1981 p. 17)
I do not violate Hebrews 10:25 by failing to meet and worship
with every Christian on the face of the earth. Rather, this passage
only applies to the assemblies of the Christians which with I
am presently worshipping and working. Neither do I have an obligation
to exhort every Christian (which would be impossible). Again,
passages such as 1 Thess. 5:11-15 apply to the members of the
local congregation. The same is true with being in subjection
to the elders (Heb. 13:17), this only applies to my relationship
with the elders of the congregation in which I am currently a
member. Cogdill wrote, 'Because an obligation applies universally
to all Christians does not even hint that it is to be performed
through some universal medium.' (p. 88)
Such is a definite lesson we learn from Revelation chapters 2-3. Here we find a great lesson
demonstrating the reality of congregational autonomy. The sins
and or successes of one congregation in no way tainted or credited
the other congregations in the same geographical region. Jesus
did not direct the Revelation letter to the 'association of churches
in Asia', or the 'church board of Asian churches', or even the
Asian Diocese.
Just because one has been accepted as a faithful Christian in
one congregation doesn't mean that other congregations must respect
this decision. The church in Jerusalem questioned Paul's faith,
even though he had been accepted by the Christians in Damascus
(Acts 9:19,25-26). Becoming a Christian doesn't automatically
make you a member of every congregation. The opposite is also
true. Members unjustly withdrawn from by one congregation aren't
automatically excluded from the fellowship of other congregations
(3 John 5-10). Points to Note: No universal agency on earth exists
which determines who is and who isn't a faithful Christian. These
questions can only be determined at the locally (1 Cor. 5:1-5
'When ye are gathered together'-i.e. this can only be done at
the local level. The universal church can't withdraw from anyone!
The same is true with Matthew 18:15-17 and 2 Thess. 3:6-15. These
passages can only be fulfilled by the local congregation.
Only the local congregation selected preachers and sent them (Acts
13:1-3). Only the local congregation selected elders/deacons (Acts
6:1-3). The universal church never paid a preacher. Only the local
congregation gathered for worship and observed the Lord's Supper
(Acts 20:7). Please note that there is absolutely no structure
or scripture given for the universal church as an organized body
to preach the gospel, expose error, etc..
If error is taught in the congregation of which I am member, then
I had better speak out--for I am accountable (Revelation 2:14
'I have a few things against you'). But note: The church in Ephesus
or Smyrna was not accountable, was not told to repent for the
error that was being tolerated in another congregation. This demands
a distinction between the local congregation and the church universal.
The church in Beaverton needs to stand for the truth, expose error,
and be aware of the errors heading in our direction (Acts 15:1).
But we not are responsible for every error or false position that
is being held by professed believers in other parts of the country.
1 Corinthians 1:10 would be impossible to fulfill if it demanded
that we agree with everyone who claims to be a Christian. In fact,
in our lifetime we will never meet every Christian in the universal
church. This passage is addressed to a congregation. The only
real 'unity' that we have a say in is the unity that exists at
the local congregation. Jesus did not set up an earthly
organization whose job it was to keep every congregation in line.
Each congregation must determine its own line of fellowship (Rev.
2:2) For as noted above, we can only withdraw from the unfaithful
which we come into contact. In other words, church discipline
is really only practically seen at the local level. Jesus is the
only one who removes people from the universal church, but such
remains to human eyes as something that is unseen. Please note
that no human organization exists which tells congregations who
they can and who they can't fellowship. In addition, no passage
exists which commands one congregation to unconditionally accept
any other congregation which professes to follow Christ.
The following comments should be carefully pondered and applied: 'The Christian in the congregation enjoys every provision of the grace of God, every divine relationship, every privilege, promise and responsibility that is assigned to the members of the church of God or provided as such. Each congregation constitutes the "body of Christ" (1 Cor. 12:27 'Now you are Christ's body'); the "family of God" (1 Timothy 3:15), the "temple of God" (Eph. 2:19-21); and the "church of Christ" (Romans 16:16) as completely and sufficiently as though it were the only such congregation on earth. If, indeed, there were just the one, it would not lack any characteristic or feature of the church universal.' (Cogdill p. 89) 'Each congregation, being independent of every other congregation, is to function as though it were the only church on earth. Its efforts are not dependent upon the efforts of any other church, neither diminished nor limited by the activities of any other. With a mission to reach the lost, the world is its field of endeavor. It is not limited to the community immediately contiguous to it, but must be concerned for the lost everywhere. The churches identified in the New Testament were not careful to support the preaching of the gospel ONLY in their own communities but wherever they had the opportunity (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 1:5; 4:15-16). The idea that the local church is related only to its own community in evangelism is a perversion of the Lord's purpose in the church.' (Gospel Anchor. 'A Diocesan Concept Of The Church'. Gene Frost p. 14 (334).
The above concepts are essential to grasp. For the human justification for institutions such as the Missionary Society arose from the belief that the local congregation does not have the tools to evangelize outside of its own area. They didn't believe that the local congregations could get the job of evangelizing the world done without any additional arrangement. But when I read the New Testament I find local congregations, without any additional organizational structure evangelizing the First Century World (Acts 8:4; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; 15:2; 19:9-10).
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church Of Christ/644-9017