Over the years, and in increasing amounts today, I am meeting people who are disgruntled, hurt, rebellious and as a result have removed themselves from the local church. Preferring to start a ‘house church’ or keep to meeting informally, the church is robbed of these gifts and blessings to the Body. None of us are benefitted from this scourge and somebody has to say or do something to stop this from escalating!
Courtesy of Ps Bruce Chant, Executive Pastor of One Church Perth, here is our response:
THE CHURCH
In recent times we have observed a strong trend in the body of Christ to reject what is the historical and biblical view of “The Church”. As the leadership of One Church, this is our response to what we see as erroneous and dangerous beliefs about what Church is/is not.
LOCAL CHURCH & UNIVERSAL CHURCH
Firstly, we must understand the difference between the Local Church and the Universal Church. The UNIVERSAL church refers to ALL believers who are truly saved and belong to Jesus. The LOCAL church is the local body of people who gather for worship under specific leaders, and in specific places and times. We are the UNIVERSAL church because of our relationship with Jesus and we become part of a LOCAL church by conscious decision. Because of this, it is the Local Church that takes on great significance for us all.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE CHURCH?
In the New Testament the Greek word used for “church” is Ekklesia (Matthew 16:18). Ekklesia literally means “called out ones” but it is correctly defined it is “a gathering of governmental assembly”.
The Ekklesia is a governmental assembly and this was the term Jesus chose to use to describe the gathering of His followers. Importantly it reveals Jesus’ intent for the Church. The church is designed to 1) carry His authority and establish His rule on the earth (Eph 1:22-23), 2) be the vehicle by which our loyalty to Christ is displayed (preeminence) (Col 1:17-18) 3) be a people who carry out the mandate to rule (Genesis 1:26), 4) understand our assignment, and who are organized and structured according to the warfare we wage (2 Cor. 10:4-5)
WHAT MAKES THE CHURCH THE CHURCH?
Some will say two or more Christians gathered in a lounge room or café is the church. Is it? We say NO! According to the Bible these are the specific characteristics that the local church needs to display in order to be the church:
- 1. CHURCH MEMBERS MUST BE BORN AGAIN (1 Corinthians 12:27, Acts 2:41-42)
To be part of the church you must be born again, which is an inward work of the Holy Spirit. Whilst the local church service is open to those who don’t know Jesus, only those who are saved are ACTUALLY the church.
- 2. THE CHURCH HAS QUALIFIED LEADERSHIP (Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 5:17)
The New Testament is clear that the church has recognized qualified and responsible leadership. This is a key issue that has many reacting and revising in their minds what the church is, often attempting to remove leadership from the picture. However, without local church leadership biblically there is no local church. Without local church leadership the multiple New Testament references to leadership (Elders, Pastors, Apostles) makes no sense.
- 3. THE CHURCH GATHERS FOR PREACHING AND WORSHIP (John 4:23-24, Acts 5:42)
We know Ekklesia is the name of the church and it means in its basic form to “gather”(Hebrews 10:25). The reason we gather is to meet with the head of the church, Jesus. We meet with Him through worship and the preaching of the Word of God. The result of doing that is for the local church to be encouraged, equipped and matured. (Ephesians 4:12-13).
- 4. THE CHURCH ADMINISTERS THE CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES (1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Acts 2:38)
An ordinance is a practice that demonstrates the believer’s faith. There are two “ordinances” that the church administers, as established by Jesus: Communion and Baptism. These are recorded as being carried out in the context of the local church.
- 5. THE CHURCH IS UNIFIED BY THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 4:1-3)
The Unity of the Spirit refers to the local church agreeing on and being unified in the some key issues, such as the church’s vision and assignment, core doctrines, God-appointed leadership. The important things are not up for negotiation and it is on these matters we unify in heart and purpose. This eliminates the “free-agent” view of church that many have today.
- 6. THE CHURCH DISCIPLINE FOR HOLINESS (1 Corinthians 5:1-9)
The local church has a mandate to discipline those that willfully seek to claim the name of Jesus but live outside of His expected moral standards. Church discipline is pastoring and leading the church lovingly and redemptively by addressing observed sins in people’s lives. (Heb 12:5-11). Many false beliefs about the church are a reaction against this biblical practice.
- 7. THE CHURCH OBEYS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS TO LOVE (Matthew 22:36-39, Acts 2:42-47)
The true church is known by what they love. Additional to loving God, the church also loves, cares for, and shares with one another. The world knows we are serious about our love for God when it sees us love one another (John 13:35).
- 8. THE CHURCH OBEYS THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Great Commission is the call to go into all the world and make disciples, i.e. it is the impetus for all evangelistic efforts. The local church is the primary means God designed that all people, everywhere, are reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are discipled.
Where these characteristics are present, we see a local Church as described in the Bible. Where one or more of these are absent however, then we would say that such a group is not a biblically functioning New Testament church.