Articles
Is God's Pattern Enough?
(February Theme: Authority... In Church Organization)
A preacher was having a study with a man about salvation, the church, all of the common topics. As the preacher comfortably answered every question scripturally the man struggled to find more arguments. Finally, exasperated, the man exclaimed, “But, it’s just too simple, there has to be more to it than that!”
This man’s problem is one that many have today. It was not that he didn’t understand God’s will on these things. It was that it just wasn’t enough for him. He was so influenced by the complex and carnal patterns of the religious world that he couldn’t accept how straightforward and simple God’s pattern was. By his reasoning, it just wasn’t enough to be effective.
When people think this way about God’s pattern it is ultimately because they have a carnal (or “natural”) mindset instead of a spiritual one. “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Cor. 2:14). How do I inhabit a spiritual mindset? The answer, contextually, is to intently search the mind of God that He has revealed in His word! How weak is the faith which thinks that Scripture is not enough (2 Tim. 3:16; cf. Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 2:2)!
God’s pattern has always been enough — from the beginning to now (Heb. 8:5). Are we willing to accept that pattern and follow it? If yes, that means we’re immediately and unapologetically abandoning every unscriptural method (or “pattern”) that has become commonplace in much of the religious world. On the other hand, it means we are unquestioningly doing things God’s way no matter how “simple” it seems.
So What Is That Simple, Sufficient, Scriptural Pattern?
- All organization we find in the Bible is on the local level.
Never in the New Testament is there prescribed an earthly headquarters for the church. This greatly contrasts with the religious world at large today (Roman Catholicism has the Vatican; the mormon headquarters is in Salt Lake City; Methodist’s supreme governing body would be the annual Methodist Conference; etc.).
The New Testament pattern is for local churches to be autonomous. What that means is the Chief Shepherd, authority-giver, decision-maker of every and any church is Jesus! Truly, if this pattern is sufficient, what else do we need? If anything our “headquarters” would be heaven.
All throughout Acts we have several clear examples of local churches being guided authorized by no one or no thing other than God and His Word. The church in Corinth wasn’t to be guided by the church in Jerusalem, but by God’s word. The Galatian church wasn’t led by the Philippian church, but by God’s word. The Thessalonian church wasn’t commanded by the church in Antioch, but by God’s word!
“But if we do it that way evangelism will be impossible!” The 1st century church didn’t need church boards or missionary societies to convert people. Scripture was enough!
2. That local organization consists of a divinely delegated leadership, roles, etc.
Christ is the King (Mt. 28:18-20; Col. 1:13), the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4), and head of the body - i.e. the church (Col. 1:18). He is the one who makes the rules and has all authority. Through Scripture, He has delegated authority to certain roles in the local church.
“…To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons…” (Phil. 1:1). In this verse (along with many others) we find the roles that reside in the local church. [1] “the saints in Christ Jesus” describe all who have put on Christ and are part of His body (cf. Acts 9:13). [2] “Overseers” or “pastors/elders” would be the ones who Jesus gave the responsibility of shepherding over a local church. They would feed and protect the flock, ultimately giving an account for this service (Heb. 13:17). [3] “Deacons” would be the men who are fit and equipped to serve the congregation in a greater capacity than other saints. They take care of responsibilities within the church so that the elders can devote their time to teaching and shepherding.
That’s it! Now, someone might say, “But wouldn’t it be more effective if you already had successful leaders from one congregation to just make decisions for another to spread the success?” The 1st century Christians didn’t need that to be successful in the work of the Kingdom. They had the pattern God had given which was sufficient!
3. That local organization acts and works through a spiritual focus, not an earthly one.
To suggest that this pattern isn’t enough to function is to completely dismiss the 1st century church’s achievements under it. The church doesn’t need and has never needed earthly enticements for the Gospel to be effective. Whether that be in our work, worship, evangelism, fellowship, etc.
Paul said that all creation had heard the Gospel within the 1st century (Col. 1:23). They didn’t need gyms, fellowship halls, or instrumental music to attract people to church. They let God’s desire shape their worship, not the world’s. They followed God’s pattern for the work of the church, not a corporate pattern. They let God define who and what they could fellowship, not the world’s “helpful” ideas.
May our faith be strong and enthusiastic enough to trust God when He says that all we need is His pattern!
