The Lordship Of Christ 3

The Lordship Of Christ 3 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 exMethodists 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 mismanagement, 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)