S. WHAT IS THE CHURCH ?
WHAT IS THE CHURCH ? The following article is by David Anderson. I found it to be most helpful in clearing up some misguided thinking, so I wanted to share it with you.
Several days ago a writer said he used to have great home meetings which may have been “church,” Yes they were, I believe.
Friends, I am spellbound that in reading the Scriptures, there is - nothing – about starting churches nor planting churches nor organizing such. No one is referred to as a church planter. No one is told to do such. No core group is seen waiting to become a church. Hmmmm. This isn’t just an insignificant detail! The tremendous reality here is that Jesus himself will build his church, as promised. No one needs to start one or plant one because its already been done once and for all. The divine arrangement is: (1) to preach the gospel to all and then (2) to meet AS the church.
I am unaware of any first century Christians going out to “plant, start, or organize churches” according to such terminology. Rather, they sought first to preach the good news then to encourage the new converts to meet as the church.
Very simple, is it not? First, they preached:
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5). And then they met together as the church.
“When ye come together therefore into one place…” (1 Corinthians 1:20).
“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place…” (1 Corinthians 14:23).
“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Furthermore, if we were ordered to “start” churches, surely there would be minimum requirements or specific instructions as to what this would entail. Surely there would be some mention of a “core group” somewhere waiting to attain “real church” status. Most assuredly would someone, somewhere be referred to as a church planter. The modern plan for “starting churches” is, I believe, from the same factory that gave us the clergy, written creeds, and church buildings. When they speak of starting churches what they actually mean is starting a – parish – where everything will essentially be centered around the pastor, officers, and the building.
It should also be noted that no one in biblical history is ever said to have “joined a church.” WOW! This is because membership goes into effect at conversion. Yet “starting churches” and “joining churches” is just about all that I hear about these days.
All of us desire the same thing – to see more conversions and to see Christians meeting as the Church. My problem is that I do not know of a single “church planter” who is able to immediately travel around the country to help churches “get started.” (This is not to imply that such persons do not exist.) Yet we receive hundreds of letters from folks desiring to immediately start a church. In summary; (1) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Assemble in His Name. (3) Exercise your gifts for the good of others. (4) Preach the Word and let this wonderful cycle begin again.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). A church, we have observed, simply means a gathering, group, or an assembly. A church we learn from the Scriptures consists of believers assembling together to enjoy the benefits of association. These benefits are not limited to any number. Even two can associate together. They can mutually assist, admonish, or reprove each other. When the Lord commands his disciples not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, he requires that they should associate as far as they have opportunity. The precept is as binding on two as on two hundred. These can continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers (Acts 2:42); and the abundance of the one may be a supply for the other’s want.
There is no good reason why two or three believers, who have not an opportunity of meeting with a greater number should not assemble as the church and continue in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. Indeed it is their duty to do so. It certainly cannot be shown that elders or deacons are essential to the existence of a church. While it is true that the apostles ordained elders (older ones to be shepherds or pastors) in every church, the churches must exist before elders can arise from them. The apostles appointed elders from within the churches that had already been established. They did not import religious professionals from the outside to be elders. Churches were churches before elders were appointed. Many think a church cannot be a church unless it has a building and a clergyman. In Acts, we see that churches were planted without elders. Elders were raised up and appointed in those churches. In areas where scattered saints settled, they would meet together, forming new churches. A new church can be formed by existing saints in the area, whether or not elders are present. The apostolic pattern for church planting involves planting churches and appointing elders from within congregations after these saints mature.