THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST

by Bill Jackson

(part 3 of 4)

Chapter 3

THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

The local church today is the only scriptural presentation of the

Body of Christ that operates in the world today.

The existence of any other Christian organization or ministry is

justified solely because of its scriptural relationship to the local

church.

If these sentences are true, there are many Christian

organizations, ministers, and ministries that are either void of

divine authorization or else have so overstepped the grounds of

scriptural validity that their "success" can only be attributed to

human ability, not to the power of God.

Such a conclusion is strong, but it is intended to be. It is

time for us to examine God's priorities for doing His work on earth,

and endeavor to scratch out all that which, by not giving full

allegiance to His program, can be clearly seen to be only the result

of man's abilities and pride.

When we examine all ministries and ministers in the light of

their scriptural relationship to the local church, we must include

all: from Bill Jackson to Billy Graham, from the local Christian radio

station to the electronic churches of Oral Roberts, Rex Humbard and

Jerry Falwell. Whatever sparkling Christian entertainment and honest

Gospel preaching comes from these sources is immaterial; the only

question is: Do they fit into God's revealed plan for the propagation

of the Gospel, the local church? Do they thereby bow to the Lordship

of Christ?

All evangelism should be local church centered and geared to

build up the local church. Of course, more than one local church can

combine to reach a city, but the emphasis on the local church should

always be maintained. Care must be taken that local churches involved

are truly representative of the Body of Christ (that is, that they

have saved memberships). It must be stressed that Christ's mission to

evangelize is only complete when those won are brought into a

fellowship where they can be truly taught His Word (Matthew 28:20;

Acts 2:42).

It is possible for a ministry, begun under the auspices of a

local church, to become a thorn in the flesh to other local churches.

A local church can begin a bus ministry, and then branch out to

the extent that it is taking young people right from under the noses

of other fundamental churches. This is destroying the concept of the

local church, while encouraging unscriptural competition. We've heard

of children waiting on a street corner to find out which church is

giving away the best prize for Sunday School attendance that morning.

Rather than aiming your outreach into other communities where

there already is a fundamental church, it would be better to sell your

buses and reach your community for Christ. Just because a ministry is

under the control of a local church doesn't make it scriptural; it

loses this designation when it usurps the integrity of another local

church in another community.

It is possible for a radio or TV ministry to usurp the local

church. Listeners should continually be encouraged to attend a local

Gospel-preaching church, and all folks who write in, for decision or

support, should be channeled into a local church. Radio and TV

preaching should never be scheduled to conflict with Sunday services

but listeners should be told where they can hear the Gospel.

When people get saved through radio or TV evangelism, it is

difficult to get them to leave the program they were saved through to

attend a local church, especially if the times conflict. Many folks

find it more comfortable and convenient to have a radio or TV program

as their "local church".

It is unethical to solicit money from members of local churches

unless the ministry is a ministry to the local church. In too many

cases, local churches cannot compete with the glamour of TV programs;

and extra offerings, if not tithes, go to the more exciting ministry.

If you were able to compare the size of your pastor's house, car and

bank account with that of most TV evangelists, you'd think twice

before making sacrificial gifts to these electronic churches.

What makes a local church a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ?

It is when it is a true earthly representation of the Body of Christ;

when it is composed of true believers attached to the Head of the

Church. The one basic necessity of a local church is a born again

membership.

There are Christians who remain members of liberal churches.

These, while a part of the universal Body Christ, are not in a local

Christian church. To recognize liberal churches as local Christian

churches is an affront to Christ. Christians in these churches should

obey the Bible and come out. However, many want to stay in, and we

who know the truth should encourage them to come into a local church

where they can be taught His doctrine and have real Christian

fellowship.

There are many reasons given (all bad) why Christians stay in

non-Christian churches. Most widely used is that they stay to win the

lost there to Christ. The fact that those who come out are more

successful soul-winners would shoot down this argument if it had not

already been demolished by scripture (II Corinthians 6:14). Obedience

is the basis upon which a successful Christian witness can be built.

"Whither Methodism?", a periodical published by several ex-

Methodists in Ireland, gives twelve reasons why a person stays in an

apostate church:

1. I like to disobey the Word of God (Ephesians 5:11; II Corinthians

6:14-18).

2. I want my children to be lost forever.

3. I like to support rummage sales rather than soul winning.

4. I like to support the program of the World Council of Churches.

5. I want the social Gospel to be preached.

6. I want to be popular with my worldly friends and relatives. (James

4:4).

7. I want what little faith I have to be completely torn down.

8. I like my apostate denomination more than I love Christ.

9. I want my money to help build the synagogues of Satan.

10. I don't want to bear the reproach of Christ (Hebrews 13:12).

11. I want to be a partaker of the plagues of Revelation 18:4.

12. I want the fellowship of wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew

7:15).

What is the job of the local church? Scripturally, we are told

that it is to edify (build up) itself (Ephesians 4:16). This entails

co-operation, not primarily among the members (although this happens)

but with the Head. There is a marvelous co-ordination within the

human body that protects and nourishes each member as the members,

nerve cells and blood vessels co-ordinate with the head and perform

their separate functions. Needs of the body are met as parts of the

body respond to the head, and only vital union with the head keeps the

body, and every member thereof, a viable entity.

The protective impulses in the human body are marvelous to

behold. One day I was playing softball with a group of boys; I was

pitching so they could get hitting and fielding practice. I threw the

ball in to one boy, and he lined it straight at my throat. Being less

than 60 feet away, it took only a fraction of a second for the

softball to reach me, but in that time my eyes sent a message to my

brain that the softball was coming; my brain told my hand to go up and

protect my neck and my hand, not considering the damage it might

suffer, instantly obeyed. The result was that I had a badly bruised

hand, but, as I thought of it, I was more and more awed by the actions

of my body to protect my uncomely neck (I Corinthians 12:23).

My hand, upon receiving the order from the head to move quickly

to protect my neck, might have had second thoughts, "why protect that

scrawny neck? It never does anything useful. I am a hand. I can

type, play the piano, do useful things. That ball is coming fast and

I might be injured. Anyway, I scratched the neck yesterday when it

itched; it is the left hand's turn to do something." This could

happen if each member were not under the complete control of the head.

Besides self-edification, it is the duty of the local church to

evangelize, both by utilizing the gift of evangelists to the church

(and caring for and helping these I Corinthians 9:14) and by obeying

the command of the Lord Jesus to preach the Gospel to all. Thus, with

every joint supplying what God's purpose for that joint is, and in

complete and vital union with the Head, the body functions. Its total

operation is wholly dependent on and fully subservient to the Head.

This is the Lordship of Christ in the local church.

In its day-to-day operation, there must be absolute obedience to

the Head. This is probably easier to realize than the same obedience

in its month-to-month business meetings. It is unfortunate that, in

these, we have often managed to reach absolute zero in practical

obedience to the Lord.

Have you ever heard a church officer quoting from the Bible to

back up a proposal he was making? If Bibles are carried into a

business meeting, they are put aside after the brief devotional time.

Then the REAL business of the Kingdom is discussed.

The Head of the Church is usually invited to be present during

the opening prayer, and then politely asked to wait outside during the

business session.

If you think these are idle statements, consider this: How many

times do we make plans then ask Him to bless? Who is the Head?

A church may decide it needs a building. This is not an

impossibility, but certainly not as much a necessity as contemporary

progressive evangelicalism thinks. So we start a building fund, and,

after a month, there is $600 in it. That's not enough, so we decide

the way out is to get a loan. (Where do we find this option in the

scripture?) Then we can't make our loan payments, so we cut down on

our missionary budget (this always gets the axe first). Who could

manage better without money, a missionary on the field, or your pastor

who could get a part time job? (Horrors, don't suggest that. He's a

clergyman and couldn't get a job!) Then, in some churches, the way

out seems to be a yard or garage sale (Not very scriptural, but better

than starving the missionaries). Or, as has actually been done,

soliciting the help of the unsaved. So we formulate a plan, assume it

to be God's will (didn't we vote for it?), don't get enough help from

God, so we starve the missionaries and end up asking His enemies to

help in His work.

You would not think this to be extreme if you had received the

letters I have from Bible-believing churches who, through mis-

management, ambition and extravagant plans have been backed into

corners just like the above.

Obedience to the Head of the Church will deliver us from this.

Many Christians have problems concerning which local church they

should join. The context in I Corinthians 12 talks about God's order

in the local church; verse 18 says, "But now hath God set the members

every one of them in the body as it hath pleased Him."

The verb "set" indicates action upon a passive person, and this

teaches us it is not our responsibility to "pick a church", i.e. one

of our choice. People have many reasons for joining a church, from

the nearness to their homes to the looks of the pastor. However,

scripture teaches that members are set in the body by God Himself.

Are we then to lie in our beds Sunday morning waiting for God to

translate to us a church? No, we see in this passage that members are

set in the body "as it pleases Him." Since we know that God's will

(or pleasure) is plainly set forth in the Bible, we must, prayerfully,

find a church that fits scriptural prerogatives.

The first necessity is a born again membership. A church that

does not require vital Christian conversion for membership is not only

not a church in the New Testament sense; it is a group into which God

could not guide you; a group every Christian should shun.

We are given a good idea of the activities of a true church in

Acts 2:42. Here, the nearly-saved Christians were baptized, "and they

continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in

breaking of bread, and in prayers."

The whole counsel of God should be taught in a local church.

Believers should be urged to be scripturally baptized after true

conversion. There should be a strong emphasis on teaching Bible

doctrine. In such a church a Christian can have true fellowship,

participate in the Lord's Supper, and have prayer with like-minded

believers.

A church that God would be pleased for you to join would exercise

and honor scriptural church discipline, and be obedient to the Lord in

worship and service.

It is not up to you to pick a church. Rather, it is for you to

study His Word and walk with Him. He will give you positive guidance

from His Word.

If you join a church, and then that body falls into a problem

area and begins to embrace unscriptural teaching or action, it is your

duty to disassociate yourself, and to plainly testify of your

scriptural reasons. If you do not have scriptural reasons, don't

leave. Don't leave a church because they called a pastor you don't

like, or started a project you don't agree with but for which there is

no scriptural taboo. If scripture is violated, it is your duty to

leave that church as by continuing to fellowship with vital evil, you

become yoked to that which is wrong and you thereby disobey your Lord.

Be willing to lovingly tell of scriptural problems, as God may

use you to restore brothers who are overtaken in a fault (Galations

6:1).

A Christian's primary allegiance is to the Lord. Whose disciple

he is, and then to the local church to which his Lord has directed

him.

Church discipline - when did it die? In I Corinthians 5 the

church was told not to keep company with the man who was guilty of

fornication and was put out of the fellowship. Has this sin, along

with the others mentioned, passed away or are local churches afraid to

discipline for one reason. If we discipline a member, he'll go across

town to another church.

Discipline is not meant to be punitive, but restorative. It must

be exercised impartially and definitely or the integrity of the

Lordship of Christ, ruling in the local church by the Word of God, is

sadly abused. Paul gives example of church discipline, from public

rebuke to delivering a man to Satan for the destruction of his body.

In the old days, churches had discipline benches on which those

being disciplined sat for a period of time before full restoration.

That must have embarrassed them, you say. Yes, it did; no one likes

public punishment, and it is clear in the bible that public punishment

is what church discipline is all about. (See II Thessalonians 3:14).

What about ex-communication? Is it scriptural? this seems to be

the case in I Corinthians 5, and if restoration is aimed at, it seems

to be in line. But often the excommunicated person just goes across

town to another church, or moves away from town to start from scratch

in a new church. Because this new church is trying to grow, it often

welcomes with open arms even those known to have had discipline

problems in previous churches. In most cases, the new church has paid

dearly for this with the new member causing as much problem as he did

in his old church.

If a Christian is scripturally ex-communicated by a church, it is

clear what the attitude of other Christians should be. This person

should not be treated as an enemy and actual efforts at restoration

should be made. An actual instance that demonstrated the laxity of

the enforcement of church discipline took place when a young couple

who were scripturally ex-communicated from a church settled elsewhere

in the U.S., and were not scripturally restored. They had a part in

two church splits and then were welcomed in responsible positions in

Christian service.

Church discipline should be honored among churches of like faith.

Reading Matthew 18:18 in context seems to be stressing the fact that

scriptural discipline is exercised by a local church in obedience to

Christ. Another local church failing to honor that discipline is

abrogating the Lordship of Christ.

Entered by Sherie Bennett for S.O.N. (Salvation Online Network)

Edited by D. Moore (Computers for Christ #11)


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