Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 10
April 30, 1959
NUMBER 51, PAGE 1,10b-11

Institutionalism -- (No. III.)

E. L. Flannery, Bedford, Ohio

Distinct Function Of The Lord's Church

The church the Lord established is his "religious" institution of the saved, the "called out". We believe the New Testament clearly sets forth its distinctive function, its purpose for existing, and the activities it engaged in to fulfill its institutional purpose: preaching the gospel to sinners, edifying the saints, and, under given conditions, helping the poor saints. The Lord established the church, not to replace other institutions (as family, business, state, schools, remedial institutions), nor to consolidate with them, but to supplement their functions by supplying a function that is missing in all institutions but the church — serving man's spiritual need. After all, God ordained the family, the government, the business world, and other institutions, but in these institutions there is a spiritual deficiency, regardless of how well they may serve society's other needs and desires. This deficiency was met and provided for in the creating of the church, which God foreordained for that very purpose.

We contend the Lord's church should remain separate as a functional unit from other institutions, but that many congregations have already been affected in the same manner American Protestantism has by the social gospel and humanitarianism. Perhaps to a lesser degree as yet, but affected none the less. A close study of the history of the Christian Church reveals how once a drift sets in, just a trend at first, soon becomes a swift-flowing stream of digression. If trends mean anything at all, the church is heading the way Protestantism has gone; the way sociologist say she should go; but the way that is foreign to the revealed pattern in the New Testament.

The study of the patterns of behavior of any institution tell us the functions of that institution. A study of the pattern of governmental behavior in an Indian tribe will reveal the function of government in that tribe. A study of the activities (patterns of behavior) of the New Testament church will reveal to us the function of the New Testament church. We who believe in revealed religion feel that revealed pattern of activity ought to be diligently pursued today. We caution here that oftentimes one may say one thing but act in another way. A study today of the activities a congregation is engaged in reveals what that congregation function is, and tells whether or not her function is identical to that of the New Testament church. Some pay lip-service to New Testament standards, to the distinct function of the church, but their program of activity reveals their departure from the pattern of sound words" (II Tim. 1:13) Sociologists relate that often in their study of a primitive society and its institutions the people will "say" one thing concerning the purpose of certain functions, but that the true reason may be something entirely different. The same is true concerning the investigation of certain practices within a congregation — we may be told one thing is the purpose of certain activity, while the real reason may be very different. For example, the American Christian Missionary Society was said to have been created to preach the gospel more effectively and more efficiently. But what was the real reason? The instrument of music (organ) was said to have been brought into the worship to improve the worshipping of God in praise. But what was their real reason? The institutionalization of the church today is said to be necessary to do benevolent work and to effectively work as a brotherhood. But what is the real reason for it? Is it the pride Brother Brewer spoke of in 1917 and mentioned above? Is it a shifting of personal responsibility? Is it to be impressive and like the "nations round about us"? The sad fact is some even deny institutionalizing the church while they are busy working through various other institutions in doing the work of the church and doing much that was never the work of the church.

What Were The Patterns?

The New Testament records the function of the New Testament church. The local congregation was the only functional unit, the local church, worked, worshipped and how it was organized. It instructs the individual Christian too as to his individual responsibilities in other institutions on earth (family, business, government, etc.), but in this study we are seeking the patterns of behavior (activities) of the functional unit, the local church or the congregation. It would demand another lengthy series of articles to fully develop each point on this subject, which we do not wish to undertake now, because the material has largely been printed in this and other publications already. One of the finest outlines of this Bible pattern we have seen we include in outline form for the reader's close study in establishing patterns to guide the local church in her activities.

Patterns

(c is for command; i is for inference; e is for example)

II Tim. 1:13 I Tim. 1:16; Hebrews 8:5

A. How determined 1. By direct statement or command.

2. By necessary inference.

3. By approved (or disapproved example. II These. 3:9; I Pet. 5:3; Phil. 4:9; I Cor. 11:1.

4. By conditional promises and warnings. (Perhaps this could be a part of No. 1)

B. For assembly Heb. 10:25(c); Acts 11:26(e); 2:46(e)

1. Exhorting, Heb. 10:25 (c)

2. Teaching, I Cor. 14 (c and i)

3. Praying, I Cor. 14:16 (i); Acts 20:30 (c); I Tim. 2:8 (c)

4. Singing, Col. 3:16 (c); Eph. 5:19 (c)

5. Laying by in store:

a. To help the poor, I Cor. 16:1-2 (c); II Cor. 8,9; Acts 11:29.

b. For other scriptural purposes - by inference only.

6. Eat the Lord's Supper, I Cor. 11:20-34 (c)

7. On these last two the day is specified:

a. On No. 5, I Cor. 16:1-2 (c)

b. On No. 6, Acts 20:7 (e)

8. Consider Acts 14:27 (e); Acts 15:4, 22, 25 (e)

9. Instrumental music, entertaining, et al, not named.

C. For helping poor saints 1. Duty, I Cor. 16:1-2 (c)

2. Collecting the funds, I Cor. 16:1-2 (c); Acts 4:3437 (c); II Cor. 9:5(e); See also II Cor. 8, 9.

3. Distributing funds, Acts 4:35 (c); Acts 6:1-8 (e and c); Acts 11:27-30 (e); Acts 24:17 (e); Rom. 15:25-28 (e); II Cor. 8:19-24 (e); I Cor. 16:3-4 (e).

4. Some the church should not help:

a. I Tim. 5:4,8-16 (c)

b. II Thess. 3:10 (c)

D. Supporting preachers, elders, teachers, etc.

1. Duty, I Cor. 9:1-14 (direct statement); Gal. 6:6; (c); I Tim. 5:17-18(c).

2. Collecting funds, I Cor. 16:1-2 (1)

3. See also II Cor. 11:8-11.

E. Organization

1. Not formally set forth.

2. Deacons, Acts 6:1-7 (c); Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3.

3. Elders, Acts 11:30 (e); I Tim. 5:17(c); Acts 20:1735 (e and i); see also Acts 14:23; Eph. 4:11-16; Phil. 1:1; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 5:1-4; Titus 1; I Tim. 3.

4. Teachers, Acts 13:1 (e); Eph. 4:11-16.

5. Preachers, Acts 11:26 (e); Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 13:7.

6. Consider I Cor. 12; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18; I Cor. 3; II Cor. 8:19,23.

7. Organization other than the local congregation is not named.

Conclusions

In light of this study we feel justified in drawing the following conclusions:

1. Controversial issues should be discussed objectively, thoroughly, sincerely.

2. Terms used in any controversy need to be carefully defined and delimited.

3. The church has a distinct function as an institution and should not consolidate with other institutions nor permit them to encroach upon her functions or drain her financial resources.

4. The institutional church, featuring the social gospel, recreational and other secular activity, has no New Testament authority for such activity.

5. Protestant churches having become institutionalized have lost their influence in religion her leaders admit.

6. It is therefore doubly foolish for brethren to urge such a course for the church today seeing there is no New Testament authority for it, and that Protestantism admits such a course on their part was a "spiritual" failure.

7. For brethren to say "there is no pattern" implies the church is free to chart her own course based on human judgment, and embraces the sociological evolutionary concept of the church and religion.

8. Brethren opposing the institutionalization of the church of the Lord are not opposing other institutions as such, but are insisting the church as a functional unit (the local congregation) was set up by Christ with prescribed, specific, and distinct functions, and should never he pulled or pushed into functions that are not hers.

9. It is futile to deny the church is being affected by institutionalization, for trends in some quarters and open practices and activities in others confirm the validity of this conclusion.

10. Finally, sincere Christians must take their stand on the word of God and the revealed patterns. It is not a question of "Who is right?" but a question of "What is the right answer? What is the truth in this matter?" Then learning truth, "hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard" from God's Holy Word. (II Tim. 1:13; I Pet. 4:11; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Tim. 4:2-4.)