In the last two issues of Pitching For The Master I discussed the great subjects of The Authority of Jesus Christ and How to Obtain Fellowship With God. After one has been baptized into Jesus Christ, he needs to be taught about establishing fellowship in a local congregation. Why? Because this is part of the will of Christ.
From the very beginning of the church God has desired for His people to associate and work together on the local level. Most of the New Testament epistles were written to local congregations including the seven churches of Asia in Revelation.
We need the power and strength that comes from our association together in Christ. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we read: “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” This was written to Jewish Christians shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. These Jews were being persecuted by their Jewish brethren who had rejected Christ (see Hebrews 10:32-39). Even during such difficult times, it was important for them to assemble together. These assembles were designed to provoke one another unto love and good works. God intends for Christians to do the same thing today.
Paul Joined Local Churches
Even Paul considered it important to assemble with the people of God. Shortly after his conversion, he joined the church in Jerusalem. “When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 9:26-28). Later, Paul joined the church in Antioch: “Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (Acts 13:1).
On all of his journeys Paul planted churches and even appointed elders in every church. Remember, the Bible is our only authority for all things we do in the name of Christ. Consider carefully the following passages: “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23). “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth” (1 Cor. 3:5-7). “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:” (Phil. 1:1).
Warnings By Paul
When considering joining a local congregation, you need to be cautious. Not every congregation has submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ. Paul gives these warnings: “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.” (1 Tim. 5:22). “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;” (Ephes. 5:11). When we join and support a local work, we share in that work whether good or evil: “You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.” (Phil. 4:15-16). “in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me” (Phil. 1:5-7). “Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth” (3 John 1:5-8).
Bad Associations
Here are some special warnings as to supporting bad characters:
“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11). This does not have to do with engaging in conversation or debate about the will of God, but actually giving financial or moral support to false teachers – those who deny the authority of Jesus Christ and teach things contrary to the gospel.
Young Christians need to know what to look for in a local church. Often people look for such things as convenience, entertainment or social programs. But local churches ought to belong to Christ and serve a spiritual purpose. Here are some things to consider.
Name
Local churches in the New Testament were called by names showing ownership by Christ. They were called “churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16), a “church of God” in 1 Cor. 1:2, or many times simply “the church,” that is, the “bunch” of God’s people in a specific location. These were not exclusive proper names. Of course, denominational names like “St. Mathew’s Lutheran,” etc., would involve one in unscriptural collective action. On an individual basis, in New Testament times disciples of Christ were simply called “Christians”. “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).
Organization
The organization of the local congregation is important. In contrast to complex denominational organizations so prevalent in the world today, the organization of the local church in the New Testament was extremely simple. It consisted of appointing elders in every church: “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23). These elders were to meet specific qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 or Titus 1:5-9. Various local elderships are mentioned several times in the New Testament: "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons” (Phil. 1:1). Elders are mature, highly qualified men, who have demonstrated their ability to lead in their own homes, are men of high morals and have ability to lead others.
Likewise there is another group of men called “deacons” who are highly qualified servants of the local church. Their qualifications are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Of course, every Christian is a servant of Jesus Christ, and as we are all fellow servants, we should submit to one another in the fear of God. None of these functions have to do with “lording it over the flock” which is strictly forbidden by Christ.
These local churches were planted by God and were organized by the wisdom and plan of God. Since these churches belong to Christ, only Christ has the right to determine their organization and work. When they cease to be so governed, Christ has the right to remove their “candlestick”. Man has no right to establish his own organizations and determine their own activities and attach them to Christ. Then it ceases to be what God wants and is supplanted by what man wants.
Formal Worship
One work of the local congregation is to provide for collective worship. This work consists of praying together, partaking of the Lord’s supper, singing to one another, giving into the treasury, and providing for teaching and edification. These are all spiritual collective activities engaged in by the early church.
Edification is provided through both prayer and singing. Speaking of things that happen when the church comes together, Paul wrote: “What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?” (1 Cor. 14:15-16). “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension” (1 Tim. 2:8). Paul wrote in Ephes. 5:19 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;”
These Christians also partake of the “Lord’s Supper” in their assemblies. Paul gave detailed instruction for this in First Corin-thians Chapter 11. We also read that this was done of the first day of the week. Acts 20:7 “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.”
In these assemblies, there was also giving as we have been prospered into the treasury: 1 Cor. 16:2: “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.” 2 Cor. 9:6-7 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Old Covenant vs New Covenant
Just as God authorized certain things to be done in the temple worship in the Old Testament, Christ only has the right to determine what should be done when Christians assemble. Notice what God authorized in the Old Testament: “He then stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king's seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the Lord through His prophets.” (2 Chron. 29:25). God also authorized animal sacrifices, the burning of incense, the observing of certain holy days, and other such things. These things do not pertain to the worship of Christians. Worship under the law of Moses is not to be bound upon Christians. Paul wrote: “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ” (Col. 2:16-17). If the use of instrumental music is authorized by Christ, then we should be able to find where He authorized such use.
How do we know what God wants us to do when we assemble together. It is rather simple. We look at the teachings of Christ and find what He has authorized by precept or commands, by approved examples, and by using our common sense in applying these principles. We know that Christ has not authorized aerobic dancing as worship, nor the offering of animal sacrifices. If he wants us to use musical instruments, where has He said so. It is our purpose to please Him and not ourselves. Show me in the New Covenant that He wants it, and we can do it. Since the use of instruments is popular today, most quickly dismiss any need for having Bible authority for what we practice. But for those who still want to do Bible things in Bible ways, it matters a great deal. It is not a question of what pleases us, but what pleases God. Many do not realize that many religious scholars such as James Pierce (Presbyterian), John Calvin (Presbyterian), David Benedict (Baptist), John Wesley (Methodist), Adam Clarke (Methodist) and many others strongly opposed the use of the instrument in worship to God in Christ. Write for our tract on music in the church.
Submit To One Another
For people of any congregation of Christ to work together successfully, there must be a willingness to submit to one other. One level of submission is that toward leaders (bishops or elders): Hebrews 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”
Likewise, there is the natural submission of the young (those who lack experience) toward the elders (those with experience). 1 Peter 5:5: “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Age doesn’t necessarily make one wiser, but there is an assumption here of spiritual growth by reason of time: Hebrews 5:13-14: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
Another level of submission is toward those who are good workers and get things done in the fear of God. 1 Cor. 16:15-16: “Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), 16that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.” This means that we give special honor to those who work hard in the kingdom of God rather than give attention to those who murmur and complain and do little work.
Besides all this, there must be a general attitude of submission toward one another, and none acting as “Lords” over the faith of others: Ephes. 5:21: “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”
The Role Of Women
Women are forbidden to have a leadership role in the church: 1 Tim. 2:11-12: “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” This would exclude women preachers, elders, or other positions of authority over men. This has nothing to do with the social customs of that time, for reasons go back to God’s original design for male and female (see 1 Corinthians 11:1-11 and 1 Timothy 1:13-15).
As we study the New Testament we see that women had a special role in God’s plan as keepers at home, as teachers of children and other women, as joint heirs in the kingdom of God and workers in the kingdom of God. Notice these passages:
1 Tim. 2:15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Philip. 4:2-3 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 3Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
1 Peter 3:7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
In the body of Christ, each person has a special role, and through our functioning together in Christ we can accomplish the work of the Lord: Romans 12:5-8: “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” That is, every single person has been given talents and is expected to exercise those talents to the glory of God in the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Back To Fundamentals
In the first three issues of Pitching For The Master, I have emphasized some very fundamental issues such as Bible authority, Fellowship With God and Fellowship With One Another. As I pointed out in the first issue, the basic question to all of this has to do with who has the right to tell us what to do. Our preferences and opinions do not really matter when it comes to the things of God. No wonder the religious world is in such confusion today. If we do not respect and submit to a common authority, then religious division is the natural outcome. Unfortunately, there are even some who think that religious division is a good thing and shows the wonderful world of diversity. It is a good thing that we have religious freedom in our country guaranteed by our constitution. Religion should not be forced on anyone by the state. But just because something is legal, that does not make it right in the sight of God. What does God think about religious division among people who claim affiliation with Christ? This will be the burden of the next issue of this paper. I welcome your comments and criticisms of anything that I might write.
FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS
God Desires Such: Heb. 10:24-25, Existence of Local Churches
Even Apostle Paul: Acts 9:16, 13:1, 28:11 cf. Phil. 1:14
Word of Caution: 1 Timothy 5:21-22; Ephesians 5:8-11
Supporting Error: Phil. 4:15-16, 1:5-7, 3 John 8:11, 2 John 9-11
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A LOCAL CHURCH
NOT: Entertainment or Mere Convenience, Large Crowds, Certain Ages
BUT: Scriptural Collective Action
Name: Acts 11:26 “Christian”
Organization:
Elders: Acts 14:23, 20:28 (Qualifications: 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Deacons: Phil. 1:1 (Qualifications: 1 Timothy 3:8ff)
Worship:
Prayer: 1 Timothy 2:8
Lord’s Supper: Acts 20:7
Singing: Eph. 5:19
Preaching: Acts 20:7
Giving: 1 Cor. 16:2, 2 Cor. 9:6, 7
Submit in Matters of Opinion
All to Elders: Heb. 13:17
Younger to Older: 1 Peter 5:5; Heb. 5:13-14
All to Laborers: 1 Cor. 16:15-16
Women to Leading Men: 1 Tim. 2:11-12
All to One Another: Eph. 5:21; 1 Pet. 5:5
Concern for One Another: Romans 12:5-8
Teaches Christians: Acts 2:42
SUCH A CHURCH SHOULD BE “JOINED” Acts 9:26
--- Lindy McDaniel
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