Church Action And Individual Action
There seems to be a misunderstanding among brethren as to the teaching of the New Testament concerning church action and individual action. Many brethren have the idea that the church may do anything the individual does and in our teaching against this erroneous idea, some have swung the other way with the idea that passages directed to the individual cannot be applied to the church.
We contend that some passages to the individual cannot be applied to the church (others can), while all passages to the church may be individually applied.
The commands, "Wives, be in subjection unto your husbands," and "Husbands, love your wives," (Eph. 5:22, 25) are passages directed to individuals and cannot be applied to the church (except as it applies to individual Christians).
The command "Let us do good unto all men" (Gal. 6:10) is an individual command and cannot be applied to the church any more than the above passages in Ephesians.
"Let him labour. . . that he may have" (Eph. 4:28) is a command directed to individuals and does not involve church action.
Second John verse nine teaches the individual not to go beyond the word of God. However, this principle also applies to the church! If an individual teaches sprinkling for baptism, he is wrong. If the church teaches, practices or endorses sprinkling for baptism, she is wrong. The same is true of "be ye doers of the word" (James 1:22.) Although it is directed to the individual, the principle applies to the church. A church that is not working is a dead church! (See Rev. 2:5; 3:16)
Church Action Passages
In the above passages, we can see that some must be limited to the individual, while others, though directed to the individual, may be applied to the church. Now let us note some passages that are directed to the church or involve church action but at the same time also involves individual action.
"As I gave order to the churches of Galatia" (I Cor. 16:1) is a command to the churches concerning laying by in store. However, this involves individual action! (See vs. 2 "let each one of you;" also 2 Cor. 9:5-7).
The contribution to the poor among the saints at Jerusalem was a result of collective or church action, but who will deny that it involved individual action? (Rom. 15: 25-27)
The church pays the preacher, buys literature, provides a meeting place, etc. Does this involve any individual action? If not, where does the church get the resources to do all this?
In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, we learn that the church can: (1) be puffed up (5:2); (2) Mourn (5:2); (3) deliver one to Satan (5:5); (4) glory (5:6); (5) purge out old leaven (5:6); (6) keep company with sinners (5:9-11); (7) judge (5:12-13); (8) eat the Lord's supper (11:21-30); (9) be divided (1:10-13; 11:18).
How is this possible? By individual action! For example, concerning the Lord's supper, we find that it is church action but each one does it individually ("let a man examine himself' I Cor. 11:28). Again, the church may be divided, but it is only by individuals following different men, opinions or doctrines.
This seems to be an elementary question that many are confused about. The church is simply the "called out" of God and consists of brethren. There is work for the local congregation to do, but before it can be done, individuals, must work!
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