The Church Is Still Scriptural
When the Lord established His church on the day of Pentecost, he gave to the world a new concept of religion. Founded by Him upon Him with only Him as its head, the church was and is a unique organism. It is fashioned in such a way as to satisfy every relationship and meet every need of Christ's followers.
During the early years of the church's existence it was guided by the inspired apostles, John 16:13. As these men and others upon whom they had laid their hands began to die, complete guidance was given to the church by inspired writers. By the end of the first century, all of the inspired books of the New Testament had been written. These scriptures have since then formed the basis of authority for Christ's church in all things.
What I have thus far said is not new by any means. Everyone in the Lord's church is supposed to know these things. Yet, in recent times one is made to wonder. The rapid rise of many schemes, projects, plans, and ways to do the Lord's work separate from the church causes us to wonder if brethren still view the church as scriptural!
Indeed, one sometimes wonders if some even take the time to consult what the scriptures teach. Someone comes up with his fresh hatched pet project and begins to whip up brotherhood interest in it. He then needs big financing, so instead of being bothered about the scriptural method of funding the Lord's work or whether he is transcending the bounds set for the churches by the Lord, he organizes a board of directors and goes on a fund raising drive throughout the brotherhood. In place of asking "What does the Bible say," the question comes "How much will you give?" We are made to feel that if this project fails, the church will go under and so another cog of denominational machinery begins to turn.
The time has come to cry out: Brethren, the church is still scriptural. If we will just work the Lord's work by scriptural means in, by, and through the church we will be able to preach the gospel to the whole creation and do everything else the Lord has commanded us to do. And mind you, we will be able to do it without resorting to the brassy sound of publicity agents. If we aren't careful we are going to collapse under the sheer weight of useless organizational machinery.
The sooner we get back to the sufficiency of the church to do the work of the church, the sooner we will be living up to the high standards of that which began at Pentecost. Yes, the church is still scriptural.
— 7014 Darien, Houston, Texas 77028 — (Copied from "The Darien Loop News", November 3, 1968, Vol. 13, No. 42. Submitted by Donald Willis)