Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 10
August 28, 1958
NUMBER 17, PAGE 4-5b

The Church Is All Sufficient

Roy E. Cogdill

It should be clearly and easily seen that the principle of the ALL SUFFICIENCY OF THE CHURCH is directly and necessarily involved in the present controversy over "congregational cooperation". If churches of Christ can scripturally build and maintain other organizations than the church to do the work which God has commanded the church to do, then the church as the Lord built it is not sufficient to accomplish His purpose. If the church as God has built it is sufficient to accomplish His purposes and do what He has commanded it to do in this world, then other organizations do not need to be built by the church in order to accomplish the work which God designed the church to do. This is a simple fact which all can see if they will look honestly at the matter. Brother Guy Woods, leading Gospel Advocate exponent, has affirmed in two debates the right of churches of Christ to "build and maintain benevolent organizations" as a means of cooperating in doing their benevolent work. He defended it as scriptural in a third debate at Birmingham. He insisted in the Birmingham debate that he believed in the all sufficiency of the church and yet contended that building another organization is essential and necessary in order for the church to carry out its work of benevolence. This can readily be seen as the height of inconsistency.

The matter of what Christian individuals can build and operate as individuals, or what private enterprises can be patronized by the church in buying services does not enter the discussion. But vitally involved in whether or not the church is all sufficient as God has designed it to do what God commands the church to do is the issue of whether or not the churches can build other organizations than the church for any work which God has given the church to do or for any other reason for that matter. It is our contention that the only organization that God has designed, Christ has planted, or the Holy Spirit has revealed in the sacred scriptures to do the work the Lord wants the church to do is the local church or congregation. It is further our contention that the congregation, out of the resources supplied by its members, under the direction of its own elders, through the ministration of its deacons or special servants, is charged with doing every work that God has assigned to the church and that it can do so; and that if we will teach the congregations to function in their own capacity, most of the present dissention about building other organizations will cease and strife will end. It should be understood, of course, that the New Testament teaches that if through any kind of emergency a congregation has a need greater within its own activity or responsibility than it is able to meet out of its own resources, then other churches can help to supply that need until it is met. This is to be done through the congregational structure or organization however with the elders of the congregation in need overseeing its distribution. (Acts 11:27-30). Each congregation took care of its own under its own elders. As long as the church at Jerusalem had the resources to do so, it supplied the need of its own members. (Acts 2: -4: - 6:) They built no other organization to do so but accomplished their work through the organization that God gave — the congregation. It is no more necessary in providing a place for the shelter of those who have none, the necessaries of life for those who are destitute of them, or personnel to care for those who are unable to care for themselves, when they are the charge of the church, to build another organization to do this work than it is necessary for the congregations to build other organizations in order to function fully in the performance of their work of edification or evangelism.

When the congregation provides a place for shelter, the necessaries of life, and care for those who need it, they have not established another institution or organization any more than they do when they provide a place for Bible classes necessary facilities and teachers to teach them. We have always insisted that the Bible school arrangement is not another organization but simply a functional arrangement of the church in doing its work. A gospel meeting — held a mile or many miles from the meeting house, when the place, necessary facilities and personnel are furnished to hold it by a congregation, does not become another institution or organization but it a functional arrangement of the church in the work of evangelism. Why, then, will brethren insist that when the same kind of arrangement is made for the work of benevolence that it must be another organization or institution? This is indeed the "anti" position which they so often accuse others of holding.

In God's scheme of things for man's salvation He has made every needful provision and to contend that another organization, relationship, or arrangement is necessary to accomplish His purposes is to impeach His wisdom and charge Him with failure. This is unbelief and grows out of a man's trusting in himself, walking in his own ways or putting his confidence in human wisdom.

Christ Is An All Sufficient Savior

In accordance with the eternal purpose of God, Christ is a sufficient savior in His perfect example, complete atonement, and constant advocacy. None other is needed, none other is permissible. All others are precluded. (I Pet. 1:18-20. Heb. 2:10. Heb. 5:9. Web. 7:25-27. Heb. 10:9-10. Heb. 9:26.)

In the same way and to the same extent in accordance with God's eternal purpose the Holy Spirit has given us in the scriptures a sufficient and perfect revelation of God's will and our duty. It is sufficient for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. It has been given completely and finally, once for all — one time for all time to come. None other is needed, nor is any other permissible. It is sufficient for the conviction and conversion of the sinner and for the guidance of Christians. To preach another or to add thereto means to stand under the anathema of heaven. (II Tim. 3:17-17. II Pet. 1:3. Gal. 1:6-11. II John 9-11. John 12:48. Jude 3.)

Who will deny that in the same way and to the same degree, in accordance with God's eternal purpose, Christ has built for us a church which is perfect and sufficient in message, worship, mission, and organization? No other organization is needed to accomplish the work of evangelism, edification, or benevolence which God has commanded and assigned the church to accomplish. No other is needed and indeed no other is permissible. We have no right to lay unholy hands upon it to remodel, revamp, perfect, or enlarge to include any other organization or arrangement. Every effort to do so is born of unbelief, irreverence, and disregard of God's wisdom and will. (Eph. 3:8-11; Eph. 1:23; Dan. 2:44; Dan. 2:35; Heb. 12 :27-28)

If the church is sufficient in organization, then in the congregation, the only organization which God has given the church, every privilege can be enjoyed and every obligation to God through the church can be fulfilled. God's ways are sufficient and God's ways are best. Any other way is condemned.