STRIVING TOGETHER
(The New Testament Pattern for the Local Church)
By W. Frank Walton
There is a congregation of Jesus' disciples
meeting nearby. We are interested in your spiritual welfare.
Also, we are sincerely striving to pattern ourselves to be like
the Lord's church that you read about in the New Testament. By
reading this tract, you probably realize the vital importance of
finding a "church home" and being an actively involved member of
it. Soon after Paul's conversion, he came to Jerusalem and
endeavored "to join himself to the disciples" (Acts 9:26). This
tract simply describes what we're trying to do and be for
Christ, according to the Scriptures.
"Church" (Greek, ekklesia) literally means the
"called out ones." It describes a distinctive group of people
with a purpose. It is used mainly in two ways in the New
Testament. Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18).
This is the one universal group or body of people everywhere,
who have obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:47; Colossians 1:18). Such
penitent believers have been called out of the world into a
saved relationship in God's spiritual family. The universal
church depicts a direct, vertical relationship between the
individual Christian and Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:19). Each
saved individual is a "living stone" in this spiritual edifice
(1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:21).
Also, "church" is used of a local group of
Christians who are "striving together for the faith of the
gospel" (Philippians 1:27; cf. Matthew 18:17; Romans 16:16). The
first disciples of Jesus "were together" (Acts 2:44, 46; 4:32).
This is a horizontal relationship with a plurality of fellow
Christians. We are a spiritual team and a loving family. A local
church of Christ should be a mutual edification society, which
enables each member to become the best Christian possible. We
have agreed to come together and do together as a spiritual team
what the Lord wants us to do together. These "together
activities" are for His glory and our spiritual welfare.
Membership in a congregation of the Lord has many spiritual
blessings, as well as mutual responsibilities. By working
together, we are ultimately fitted for heaven.
TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP
Today, Jesus is building His one, universal church
when a person seeks salvation in Christ and complies with the
conditions of God's grace. The seed of the Christ's spiritual
kingdom is His word, which tells the good news of His saving
work on our behalf (Luke 8:11). The gospel seed, sown in a
human heart, produced simply Christians in the first century
(Acts 11:26). A seed reproduces after its own kind. It will
produce the same today. A Christian, a member of Christ's
church, is simply someone who has "obeyed the gospel" (Romans
10:16; cf. 1:5; 1 Peter 1:22). These steps into Christ are found
together in Hebrews 10:22-23.
1. Faith in Christ. The first term or step to
become a Christian is to wholeheartedly believe in Jesus as your
only Savior. A person must realize he has a desperate spiritual
need, that he is a sinner who cannot save himself (Romans 3:23;
6:23). Instead of trusting in yourself, you place your complete
trust and confidence in the crucified and risen Christ (John
8:24; 20:30-31; Acts 16:34; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9). He is the
only way back to God.
2. Repentance from Past Sin. At the same time you
turn to Christ, you turn away from your sin. Repentance is a
change of mind toward sin and self (Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19). Sin
is what crucified Jesus. True repentance produces the "fruit of
repentance," which is a changed life. Sins, for example, of
hatred, selfishness, envy, evil speaking, lying, sexual
promiscuity, adultery, etc. can no longer be continued in
impenitently (Colossians 3:5-10; Ephesians 4:17-24; 1
Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Peter 1:4). Real
repentance is being sorry enough in your heart over your sin
that you stop living in sin and change the course of your life.
3. Confession of Christ's Deity. The next step is
the good confession that Jesus is the divine Lord and Christ,
the Son of the living God (Romans 10:9; Matthew 16:16). This is
a public declaration of loyalty to Him, that all He said and did
is divinely true.
4. Baptism into Christ for the Forgiveness of
Sin. Faith's immersion in water is the occasion of being united
with Christ and cleansed by His saving blood (Romans 6:3-5;
17-18; Galatians 3:26-27; Revelation 1:5). Baptism's purpose is
for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
The old man of sin is buried in that watery grave and a new
person emerges, "raised to walk in newness of life" (Romans
6:4). It is not a symbolic "outward sign of inward grace." Nor
is it a church ordinance to join a denominational church. It is
a command of Christ that is the converting step that produces a
Christian and returns us to God (Mark 16:16; Acts 3:19). This is
the point at which a person is added to the one body, the church
(1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:47).
SIMPLY CHRISTIANS ABIDING IN CHRIST'S WORD
Thus converted out of the world, each one is
simply a Christian and in this name we glorify God (1 Peter
4:16). A Christian literally means "follower of Christ." Each
one of us is individually charged to "remain true to the Lord"
(Acts 11:23). A Christian has a mind through which Christ
thinks, eyes through which Christ sees, a heart through which
Christ loves, hands through which Christ helps, a mouth through
which Christ speaks, and a life through which Christ lives (1
John 2:6).
Ultimate loyalty to Jesus Christ demands that we
abide only in His word and "not exceed what is written (John
8:31-32; 1 Corinthians 4:6). Proof that we love God shows when
we seek to do only as Scripture directs (1 John 2:3-5). Faith
that pleases Christ must come from His word (Romans 10:17). So,
we must have revealed, divine authority for all we believe and
practice. This is established, as with the weekly partaking of
the Lord's Supper, by direct command (1 Corinthians 11:23-26),
approved apostolic example (1 Corinthians 10:16) and a
necessary, logical inference (Acts 20:7). Christ has all
authority and commands every aspect of our new life by His Word,
which are all of the New Testament Scriptures (Matthew 28:18,20;
Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:37). The New Testament is a
complete and perfect guide. Just as the early church continued
steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42), it should be
our only rule of faith and practice in both our individual lives
and in the collective worship and work of this local church. As
idealistic truth seekers, we want to restore the apostolic
purity and simplicity of New Testament Christianity. This is
sure and safe. It is spiritually satisfying and unquestionably
right. The religious creeds and traditions of men are shifting
sand and do not please God (Matthew 21:25; 15:13).
Abiding in Christ's Word means we should respect
the distinction that the Word makes between individual action
and responsibility, in contrast to group action and
responsibility (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Timothy 5:16). As individual
Christians, each one of us has family (Colossians 3:18-21;
Ephesians 5:22-6:4; 1 Timothy 5:8), social (Matthew 7:12;
Galatians 6:10; James 1:27; Colossians 4:5; 1 Peter 2:12), and
economic (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; Colossians 3:22-4:1)
responsibilities that are not part of the assigned collective
work of a local church. The work of this local church is
spiritual, proclaiming God's truth that saves and sanctifies the
eternal souls of men (1 Timothy 3:15). It is not political,
economic, social, recreational or secular education. Good,
wholesome social activities fall within the responsibility of
the homes of individual Christians, not the collective mission
of the local church.
LOCAL CHURCH ORGANIZATION
Out of faithfulness to Jesus, His Word teaches us
to work together in a local church. Each Christian voluntarily
chooses which congregation he can "be of the same mind and
judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10), to join in its work and worship.
We should strive to have qualified overseers or elders who lead
and shepherd the flock (Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy
3:1-13). With the elders, deacons as special servants aid in
expediting church work. An evangelist works with a church to
proclaim the good news of salvation, to convert sinners and
build up the saints (Acts 21:8; 8:5-13,26-40; Ephesians 4:11; 1
Timothy 4:1-5). Teachers should be dedicated, skilled
communicators of God's word in upbuilding Bible classes (Acts
13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
The only collective organization revealed in the
NT is the local church. Church organization begins and ends with
the local church, which is independent and autonomous from all
other churches (1 Peter 5:2; Revelation 2 & 3). There is no
hierarchy or organizational "harness" to combine local churches
together in collective, team action. Only the local church has
collective function and organization, such as a treasury and
assemblies for worship and Bible teaching. The one universal
church is a brotherhood of individual Christians (1 Corinthians
12:12,27), not a congregationhood of local churches.
THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF THIS CHURCH
(1) Uplifiting Worship
Worship is an act of reverence and adoration
directed to God. God wants acceptable worship done "in spirit
(proper attitude) and in truth (proper act)" (John 4:24). In
worship, we must seek to please God first and not just
ourselves. The proper spirit is joyful reverence and thankful
adoration (Colossians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:7). We "come
together" (1 Corinthians 11:19) to engage in the proper acts of
worship that are prescribed in the New Testament.
1. Weekly Partaking of the Lord's Supper. On that
solemn night of Jesus' betrayal, He instituted a simple memorial
feast of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, which
represents His crucified body and shed blood given for us
(Matthew 26:26-29). He says, "Do this in remembrance of Me"
(Luke 22:19). The early disciples, by apostolic authority, were
regularly gathered together on the first day of the week to
break bread (Acts 2:42, 20:7). Every week has a first day, which
is the day of His triumphant resurrection (Mark 16:9). So, we
should partake of the Lord's table as often as the first day of
the week occurs. This is a unifying family memorial, as we
remember together and publicly proclaim to the world all that
Jesus did for us on the cross (1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:26). We
examine ourselves and rededicate ourselves to Him and His great
gospel cause, to which He gave that ultimate measure of devotion
(1 Corinthians 11:27-28).
2. Prayers. The Jerusalem church continued
steadfastly at all times in "the prayers" (Acts 2:42; 4:24-31;
12:12). Praying together "in one accord" (Acts 4:24) draws us
together before God's mighty throne at the center of the
universe (Revelation 4:2-11; 8:3-5). We express common devotion
and pour out our common concerns. We all stand in need of God's
help. The elements of prayer are: praise of God (Matthew 6:9),
thanksgiving to God (John 6:11), confession of sin (Ezra 10:1),
intercession for others (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and supplication for
our needs (Philippians 4:6).
3. Singing. The early church was together
"praising God" (Acts 2:47). Together, we "with one voice glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:6). In
our congregational singing, we are "speaking to one another in
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in your hearts
to God" (Ephesians 5:19). The instrument we use is our heart,
which makes melody when reflecting on all the great things our
great Lord has done for us. Singing is the rousing music of the
soul, the enthusiastic outpouring of a grateful heart to God.
Vocal singing is the only music in worship specified and thereby
authorized by the New Testament (Acts 16:25; Colossians 3:16; 1
Corinthians 14:15; Hebrews 2:12, 13:15; James 5:13).
The apostles and the New Testament church never
used mechanical instrumentals of music in worship. "There is no
record in the New Testament of the use of instruments in the
musical worship of the church" (Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, p.
1163). "A cappella" comes from Latin meaning, "in the style of
the church." Historian Curt Sachs observed, "All ancient
Christian music was vocal. `We need one instrument: the peaceful
word of adoration, not harps or drums or pipes or trumpets,'
said St. Clement of Alexandria around 200 A.D." (Our Musical
Heritage, p. 43). Mechanical instruments of music were used in
the Old Testament Temple worship, along with animal sacrifices
and the burning of incense (2 Chronicles 29:25, 26:18; Psalm
66:13 ). The old Jewish covenant was done away with by the new
covenant of Christ (Hebrews 7:11-12; 8:13; Galatians 3:24-25).
Hence, there is no authority in New Testament worship for
mechanical instruments of music. We are content to do Bible
things in Bible ways, limiting musical worship to vocal music in
song.
4. Preaching. The early church heard the
proclamation of God's word in their assemblies (Acts 15:30-32;
20:7-11; 2 Timothy 4:2-5). Faithful preaching includes "the
whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). When we listen to gospel
preaching, we bow in our hearts before God's living voice in
Scripture. We should listen to God with worshipful respect, in
awe and reverence (Nehemiah 8:2-6).
5. Giving. The early church pooled their material
resources and "laid them at the apostles' feet" (Acts 4:34-35).
Contributions into the local church treasury are taken up every
first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2). The NT doesn't
legislate tithing (giving 10%) like the OT. A Christian has
given up "all his own possessions" (Luke 14:33). We're simply
stewards of our material possessions that God has given to us to
enjoy and use to His glory. Jesus is Lord of our pocketbook.
Generous giving to support the Lord's work is the fruit of
those who have "first given themselves to the Lord" (2
Corinthians 8:5). How liberally we give is a direct indication
of how much we appreciate all the Lord has done for us (2
Corinthians 8:9). We give of our freewill "as each may prosper"
(1 Corinthians 16:2), knowing that "God loves a cheerful giver"
(2 Corinthians 9:7). Supporting the Lord's work is investing in
spiritual treasure, which can have eternal effects (Matthew
6:19-21).
The pooling of funds in the church treasury is
used to support only what a local church is authorized to do in
doing the Lord's work in the Lord's way. For example, Paul
limited who the church could support out of its treasury (1
Timothy 5:9-16). A church supports the preaching of the gospel
by sending support directly to preachers (Philippians 4:10-18; 2
Corinthians 11:8). There is no authority for one church to turn
its money over to another church to do evangelistic work for the
sending church. A church may buy goods and services to help it
fulfill its authorized work of assemblying for worship and
teaching the truth. Also, we read that a church's benevolent
work out of the collective treasury is limited to the temporary
relief of needy saints (Acts 2:45; 3:6; 4:34-35; 6:1-6;
11:28-30; 1 Corinthians 16:1). Individual Christians have the
broader benevolent duty to help all men who have a benevolent
need, as opportunity and resources permit (Galatians 6:10; James
1:27).
(2) Proclaiming the Gospel to the Lost
We support an evangelist locally and others in
various parts of the world to spread the good news of Jesus to a
lost and dying world. The evangelistic mission of this church is
lovingly sharing the gospel of Christ with lost sinners (1
Thessalonians 1:8; Acts 8:4). Man's greatest problem is sin. His
greatest need is salvation from this sin. The gospel of Christ
is the only solution for redeeming man. This church exists to
help equip each member to be a diligent soul-winner for Christ,
so we can better "proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us
out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
(3) Edifying Saints By Teaching Truth
This local church of Christ is divinely chartered
as "the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), and
not of secular fun and frolic. This congregation is a mutual
edification society to promote spiritual growth (Acts 9:31).
Such a spiritual mission excludes turning aside and diverting
time and resources to social, recreational, economic or
political enterprises. God gave the apostolic and prophetic
Scriptures, along with evangelist, pastors and teachers "for the
equipping of the saints" (Ephesians 4:11-16). This spiritual
body building enables each member to be more like Christ in
every way (v.15). Bible classes for different ages and sermons
are systematically arranged to help different students learn
more of the doctrinal foundations of the faith. Bible lessons
from the pulpit and in the classroom should deal with practical
instruction on how to apply God's transforming truth to every
aspect of life: at home, at work, at school and in the world
dealing with others. Such a Bible-oriented focus helps build up
each member to become the very best Christian possible (Acts
20:32).
(4) Corrective Church Discipline
Membership in this church means that we are
spiritually our brother's keeper. The Lord puts us together in
the local church to encourage each other to do right. We should
hold one another accountable to live a Christian life. If a
Christian errs from the truth, the loving response is to go and
try to turn them back (James 5:19-20). This is part of the
mutual assistance we render to help each other go to heaven. A
Christian can so sin that he can fall from grace and be lost
(Galatians 5:4). Members who live in impenitent sin can be a
corrupting influence in a local church (1 Corinthians 5:6). In
Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira were miraculously struck dead in
church for lying and hypocrisy. This shows the Lord does not
want His church stained by impenitent, sinful conduct.
The Scriptural procedure for corrective discipline
is first private, individual discussion and warning (Matthew
18:15; Luke 17:3; Hebrews 3:13; Romans 15:14). If this doesn't
correct the situation, others are called in to help establish
the facts and persuade the erring brother to change (Matthew
18:16). If this doesn't avail, then the whole congregation is
informed in order to bear maximum effort in persuading a member
to return to the right way (Matthew 18:17). If this doesn't
solve the problem, then the rebellious member is marked and
disfellowshipped (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:14).
This severe action should impress them with the seriousness of
sin. Hopefully, it will prompt them to repent before it is
everlastingly too late. Also, church discipline sends a sobering
message to other members to not flirt with sin (Acts 5:11; 1
Timothy 5:20).
CLOSE BROTHERLY RELATIONSHIPS
One of the most wonderful benefits of being a
member of a local church is that we are part of a loving,
spiritual family (1 Peter 1:22; 4:8). God made in us the need to
receive and give love. Our assemblies should not be a gathering
of familiar strangers. We're "members of one another" (Romans
12:5). We're involved in each others lives.
Consider the many "one another" commands in the NT
we endeavor to obey. We are of the same mind with one another,
that we are all fellow brethren of like precious faith, working
together in common cause for the Lord (Romans 12:16; 15:5). We
strive to love one another and through love serve one another
(John 13:34; Galatians 5:13). This promotes mutual acts of
warmth and caring. We seize opportunities to seek the highest
good of each other. We submit to one another in seeking the
other's good first (Ephesians 5:21). We should show forbearance
with each other's weakness and foibles (Ephesians 4:2). We
accept one another as we are, in order to help each other grow
(Romans 15:7). We strive to positively encourage and build up
one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). As a mutual edification
society, we work to encourage the best in everyone. We take time
to honor one another in affectionate brotherly kindness (Romans
12:10). We take time to lovingly greet one another, letting each
brother and sister know that we are glad to see them (1 Peter
5:14). We bear one another's burdens, helping each other through
life's toughest challenges (Galatians 6:1-2). We should pray
for one another at their point of spiritual need (James 5:16).
We are commanded to admonish one another, warning each other of
the dire consequences of sin (Romans 15:13).
"And let us consider one another in order to stir
up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching"
(Hebrews 10:24-25). We need each other. We ought to regularly
assemble at every possible opportunity to give and receive
spiritual encouragement. There's no limit to the good that can
be done by right minded people, working together in a local
church, doing the Lord's work in the Lord's way.
Our sincere invitation is: "If you go with us, it
will come about that whatever good the LORD does for us, we will
do for you" (Numbers 10:32). Please visit us. Contact us at
WFrankWalton@juno.com.
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