Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 10
March 5, 1959
NUMBER 43, PAGE 9a-10

The New Testament Church Today

Warren Rainwater, Pensacola, Florida

In the midst of all the controversy in the church today concerning the work, organization, and worship, is the age old question of, 'what is the church'. This same controversy waged in the third and fourth centuries. Actually many present day problems come from a misunderstanding of the nomenclature of the church. Surely many of the present day issues could be resolved if we would make an investigation with an open heart in these matters.

What is the church? Is it an organization left here on earth with power within itself to meet the needs of men both spiritually and materially? Is the organizational arrangements strong enough to subject nations? Can the church control through her elders the society of a community? Do the elders have full and free power to use any force present to expedite the affairs of the church? Are the elders limited in their activities in carrying out the Lord's work? These and many other questions are at the tap root of the present day problems facing the church. Many of us fail to have the proper perception of the church. A clear knowledge of what the scriptures teach along that line is essential to an answer to our problems.

For this study let us suppose that a congregation has been established and is the only one known of anywhere. This way we can get down to the very core of our controversy. This congregation has been scripturally organized and is carrying on a program of work. We know that this program had to be worked out according to the abilities of the membership. The work of the church and how God wants it done can be seen if we will view the problem from Jerusalem. This congregation is autonomous in the true sense of the word. How does the congregation carry on the work, since there is only one in existence? It can't call on someone else to help carry the load in any way. Can they fulfill the mission of the church? Certainly so! When we see how they can do what the Lord expects them to do as a congregation, then we will have the proper view of the church.

The work of the congregation is threefold. It must engage in preaching the gospel of Christ, doing the work of benevolence, and teaching self. All of this is under the eldership. They are God's appointed directors to see that the work of the church is carried on as the scripture directs. They are controlled by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Now let us see how they can carry out their assignments in the grand task of:

I. Preaching the Gospel — Certainly it is the obligation of the congregation to preach the Word. There is no need to cite scripture to support this proposition. I believe all agree on this point! The question then becomes one of "how". There are many ways and means that can be used. This comes under the authority of the elders.

Radio — The elders may use the radio broadcasting stations as a means. They pay the station for the time used. The station is a tool of the church in carrying out the great commission. The congregation could have its own broadcasting unit under certain conditions. I have seen this in action on a limited basis. Under present conditions it might not be feasible but that does not mean that it couldn't be done under any conditions. This would not give the elders the right to lease the equipment out for hire or to go into a program designed for gain in a material way. If this were carried out as an expedient, it is understood that the elders would have the obligation to meet the required laws of the land. It is possible that the laws could be such that to go into this expedient would be unscriptural and if that be the case of course it be wrong to do so.

Tracts — This is a fine way to preach the gospel and can be used in many ways and places. These tracts can be bought from printing companies or the church can produce them. The necessary equipment can be the property of the congregation. It is all under the eldership. There are many other ways that could be used and the Lord has wisely left the "how" under the judgment of the elders. Please notice that so far no organization has been formed to do any of the work. The organization is God ordained.

Notice how foolish it would be for a few of the brethren to form some kind of company or society to work independent of the elders but necessitating the monies of the congregation to operate! It would be usurping the authority of the elders. It would be creating an entity to exist within the church, yet separate from it in organization. I deny the position that the church has the power to create an autonomous body that can then operate as a unit in or outside of the framework of the local congregation. The only organization that can be created by the church is another congregation and the power is in the Word. Since we find the scriptures silent on how to set in motion anything but another congregation, we know that all societies for preaching the gospel that are created by churches are wrong and sinful.

II. Benevolence — It seems to me that there is more misunderstanding in this area than anywhere else. It could be because of the nature of the subject. The church has an obligation in this realm as well as in the realm of preaching the gospel. In Eph. the fourth chapter we see revealed the threefold mission of the church. I can't see any reason to take a position that God ordained benevolence to a state of secondary importance. Of course it is known that only those in need are subjects for the attention of benevolence but only those in need (of the gospel) are subjects of the gospel. There might be many years in which a congregation would not be engaged in caring for the needy but when the obligation came to them, they would be duty bound to attend to it. Therefore, we see that it is of importance and we ought to be more concerned about that part of the work. Why would Christ set in the church those mentioned in Eph. with special gifts in order to carry out its mission, if all the acts of benevolence had to be done by individuals only? Just as the local congregation is obligated to preach the gospel to the extent of its ability, it is obligated to do works of benevolence to the extent of its ability. Of course, I know that it is the obligation of the church to first care for its own. However, suppose that across from the church building live two families. One is a member of the congregation but the other is not. Both families are engaged in activities that bring a catastrophe upon themselves. The parents are killed and the children are left homeless. What makes the children of the members of the church sustain a relationship to the church that the other children do not have? The children of both families are below the age of being accountable to God. Surely the church must be obligated to both in the same way. It falls the lot of the elders to see that they are cared for. This can be done in many ways.

These elders can, and this probably is the best way possible, arrange for the children to be adopted into the home of some Christian parents in the church. It could be that under present conditions in the congregation no one would be able to adopt them. The elders could hire some of the parents to keep them and the church pay for the upkeep and all of the expenses of bringing up the child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This would mean sending the children to school and providing for all the necessities of life. The elders would be doing the same thing in this as they would be doing when they hired a preacher to preach for the congregation. If the family failed to teach the children and raise them as they should, the elders could remove the children from their care and make other arrangements. Just as they would if the preacher failed to preach the Truth, the elders can and must make sure that all things are being carried out right. In both cases the church under the direction of the elders is carrying out the commands of the gospel. In one case it is in the field of preaching and in the other it is in the field of benevolence.

Many other methods could be used in doing the will of God in this work. The church could use existing organizations by hiring them for a special service of some kind etc. The church could also provide a place of residence for orphans and hire someone to have charge under the direction of the elders to teach and to train them. This teaching and training would be like unto a Bible school teacher. As long as the training was according to the scriptures, the person could be used but when it became evident that things were out of order, the elders would be required to make the necessary changes. If there were some laws of the state that had to be obeyed in this arrangement, the elders would be obligated to do so unless they were of such nature that it would be against the will of God. In that event they would be forced to stop the arrangement as there are many other ways available to do the work. The elders have no right to hide behind the law of the land in order to keep something that they have started.

Thus we see this work being done as God would have it done and all under the direction of the elders. But what if someone decided to set up an autonomous body within the congregation but have it function free and separate from the control of the elders but must have money from the church to exist? All the elders could do in this case would be to give money. They would have no authority over this activity whatsoever. This can be seen as destroying the power of God's way and setting up at the best a cheap substitute. Again let me say that the church has no scriptural grounds for creating anything but another congregation. The preaching of the Word won't do it so there is no way revealed for a church to have an offspring such as we see today. Certainly if the elders have the inherent power to create an autonomous body that can operate apart from the direction of the creator, it stands to reason that they could maintain support of anything created if they so willed. Creation so far as doing the work of benevolence is concerned is the same as in preaching. If it is needed in one part it certainly would be needed in the other. If it is possible in benevolence, it is possible in preaching. If it is justified in carrying for orphans it must be so in preaching. So if the church can launch a benevolent satellite, it stands to reason that the same inherent power could be used in a missionary balloon. There is no stop to the possibilities once we decide that we have the power!

I think the honest seeker of the Truth can see the vast number of ways available to a congregation in doing the things that God wants done. Nevertheless, God saw fit to give us the organization thru which to operate and if we would attend to using our energy in God's way, much more would be done and much less hard feelings.

Under the heading of edification, we need say but little at this time. The same principle holds true in that area, however. The work of the church must all be under the same government — the elders.

The next step in understanding the issues before us today is when another congregation has been established and they function at the same time in doing God's Will. How can they work together? How does the one affect the other? These and other questions will be answered in another article to follow.