08 WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

U. G. Wilkinson—To have a church, we must have a covenant (Hebrews 8:8-13; Ephesians 2:19-22). In its foundation there must he apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). I speak of the church in the aggregate. There must be a kingdom with a King, laws, subjects, territory. The King is Christ the Lord (Acts 2:36; Revelation 17:14). The laws are the require* ments of the New Testament, the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). The subjects and territory are all those on earth who practice “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Together with the “innumerable company of angels and the spirits of just- men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22-28; 1 Corinthians 15:25-28). The church is the first dominion (Micah 4:8; Daniel 7:27). That part of the kingdom which is on earth. The house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). Household of God (Ephesians 2:19). Jesus built it (Matthew 16:18-19). The constituent parts of the church are: elders, evangelists, bishops, deacons, members, male and female. All enter by baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13; John 3:5; Galatians 3:26-27). Officers are set in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28). The evangelist is the public preacher of the gospel (2 Timothy 4:1-6). The bishop is the overseer, the deacon the servant (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). All these are also called elders, which appears to be a general term applied to all those in the church who, by reason of age, wisdom and experience, are entitled to give counsel and rule. But perhaps most often used to designate the bishops or overseers. As to the members, men and women had different gifts, and should each exercise their gifts according to the proportion of faith (Romans 12:4-8). But in the brief time allotted to me, I shall speak especially of the relationship of woman to the church, and her work as such. Many brethren seem to have been unable to find but two passages- of scripture in the New Testament referring to woman and her work—1 Corinthians 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-12. Neither of these say what she shall do, but what she shall not do. They appear to have concluded she can do nothing, and hence, by foolish objections, have prarticaily paralyzed the influence and work of our godly women. But we find women are commanded to teach (Titus 2:3-5). She is told whom to teach, and enough work laid out for her to keep her fully employed, if she would be at it. The classes she may teach are evidently other women and children. For this teaching she is peculiarly fitted by nature. These classes certainly need much teaching. And how far better would the world be if they received it. If our godly women would be busy at this work, they would have no time nor inclination to usurp the plaee of man. But, in fact, I know of no women in the body of Christ who are attempting to or even desire to take the place of man. Those who seem to so think are scared before they are hurt. But must this teaching necessarily be done privately? Where does the Bible say so? May not such teaching be done as Scripturally collectively as any other teaching? If not, why not? If I or any other evangelist can make our work as teachers more effective, by systematizing it and planning it, and having classes and audiences to teach all at once, why may not a woman do so, too? Shall she wait for accident and chance to throw opportunities in her way, which may never come? Where does the Bible so demand? This is the way the sluggard does. The diligent in business and everywhere else arise and create opportunities, and make good use of them as they pass.

Let the women get busy, and be about their Master’s business, and as they are commanded, teach the young women, etc., and let ignorant hobby-riders quit paralyzing their work, by continually demanfling that they do nothing- Brethren, if I am wrong in this, show me where. (Time expires).

G. H. P. Showalter—What constitutes the church? The church of Christ consists of those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ. All enter the church in precisely the same way, whether Jews or Gentiles, bond or free. All are by one Spirit baptized into the one body of Christ. The local church consists of a congregation of Christians in any community regularly engaged in the worship according to God’s requirements on the first day of the week.

I do not believe it necessary for a local congregation to have elders, evangelists, bishops and deacons, in order for it to be a New Testament church. A collection of Christians, among whom there are no elders, no evangelists, no bishops or deacons, may be properly termed a church, according to New Testament usage. Paul and Barnabas traveled in Asia Minor and established churches. They returned later, visited these churches and appointed elders and deacons. The church existed before the appointments made by these evangelists.

Elders, deacons, evangelists and bishops are an outgrowth of a healthful church. These are developed in the church, and when material is developed in this way, it should be used in the building of God. These officials are made such by the Holy Spirit, because the course of life that qualifies them for their work is given under the direction of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 20:28; Acts 14:22-23). The church at Jerusalem, immediately fallowing the day of Pentecost, had no elders, other than the apostles, and deacons were appointed later (see Acts 6:1-8).

Activity should characterize all the members of the church. There is no place for an idle man in the kingdom of God. All should be busy. There is an abundance of work for all to do. No one is so limited in ability as not to be able to accomplish something in the name of Christ. Not only is it necessary for us to ennoble our characters and purify our lives by a practice of those virtues which adorn the character of the people of God but a missionary spirit should characterize all Christians. I am in favor of a far greater activity along the line of missionary work in the church.

We frequently hear much in regard to woman’s work in the church. This problem is readily solved when viewed in the proper light. If all the women in the church would do one-half of what they know to be their duty, they would have all they could do, without spending time inquiring into things that are speculative, or risking their activity on territory that is doubtful, or restricted to men. If most men would do one-tenth what they are able to do and know to be their duty, they would be too busy to write volumes in discussing the exact line.that separates the work intended for women and that which, in the New Testament, ifr restricted to men.

A. B. Lawrence—God has always had a representation on earth. The church is now God’s representative, his dwelling place on earth. It is the household of God. We are all king3 and priests unto God. None are ahead of others in power or authority. The local church must have leaders, elders; but I do not believe they enjoy such distinction, as did the first elders.

Lee P. Mansfield—I differ with some of the others on two pojnts. 1. Brother Wilkinson stated we can not have a church now like the one in the days of the apostles, for we can’t have apostles in the church now. But every local church now has apostles in it, in the same sense in which local churches then had them. 2. Brother Lawrence stated that God required all service in the temple. This is a mistake. God wants laborers. Let every one’ do something. Members of my body work for the good of my body.

C. R. Nichol—A woman may fill any place in the church, except that of elder, deacon, or preacher. The best way to settle this question is to tell her what she is prohibited from doing, and let her do all the rest. Elders and preachers should lay out the work for them. Give them something to do.

J. C. White—A church is a body of baptized believers. We can have the same church they had in the apostolic days. The women can take the lead, if there are no men to do so.

W. E. Morgan- -A church of Christ is composed of a converted membership engaged in faithfully following God.

Cleddie Wallace—A church of Christ is a church that keeps the laws of God.

J. H. Mead—A church of Christ is a church that is apostolic in practice. Churches the apostles established were loyal.

C. R. Nichol—Were all the churches established by the apostles loyal? What about the church at Corinth? Was it loyal?

M. M. Young—I do not think the church at Corinth was loyal. A woman is not allowed to be a leader nor public teacher. 

C. R. Nichol—Corinth, with all its sins, was not cut off. May we do what some of these New Testament churches did, and still be loyal?

R. L. Whiteside—I have never been able to give a definition of a church of Christ so as to include every one that the Lord would recognize as his, and exclude every one that he would not recognize. We do not know where the dead line is, but we do know what a church should be. We ought not to quit a church until God does. A man can be in the church and in a sectarian body at the same time.

G. W. Harvey—You can no more find a perfectly loyal church than you can find a perfectly loyal man. Churches are made of men. They can’t be better than the material.

C. R. Nichol—Each man and each church has its own conception of loyalty. What passes for loyalty in one place is condemned in another.