The Work Of The Church
Since the church was planned by the God of Heaven, the only way we have of knowing anything concerning the church is to turn to the divine plan of God as it is revealed in the scriptures. The church, as designed by God, is a portrayal of the wisdom of God. This is clearly shown in Ephesians 3:10: "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." So long as the church remains as God designed it, the wisdom of God will be manifested to the world. However, if the organization, worship, or work of the church be charged or altered in any way, the wisdom of him who does the changing is manifested — not the wisdom of God. To illustrate: Suppose an architect designs a beautiful five-room home: If the pattern is followed by those constructing the home, it will show the wisdom of him who designed it. If the cottage is used for the purpose for which the architect designed it, it will continue to make known his wisdom. However, if those constructing the home fail to follow the pattern, the house would show the wisdom of those making the alterations. And, if someone tries to make the little cottage serve as a hotel or to house twenty or thirty people, an addition will have to be made to the original design. Then it would not be the beautiful little home designed by the architect. The addition or "shed-rooms" would change the looks completely.
So it is with the church of our Lord. It is adequate to accomplish the work for which it was designed. God equipped the church to do its work — to serve its purpose in the world. So long as the church is left exactly as it came from the hands of God, it will make known the wisdom of God, and it can effectively do what God ordained for it to do.
Is There A Pattern For The Work Of The Church?
To say that there is no pattern is to say that man may alter and change the workings of the church as he sees fit. This would produce an institution fashioned by the ingenuity of man. It would picture the wisdom of man instead of God. This is exactly what has happened in the denominational world. It is exactly what is happening in the church today. Those who argue that there is no pattern for the cooperation of congregations have forsaken the plea of the New Testament authority for all that we do in service to God.
What Is The Work Of The Church?
The work of the church can be summed up under three heads: (1) Evangelization, (2) Edification, and (3) Benevolence. (Eph. 4:12: 1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 6:1-6: 1 Cor. 16:1-2.) Anytime the church, as such, engages in anything other than these it prostitutes the purpose of the church. Had God intended for the church to do any other work, he would have said so in his word. Yes, there is a divine pattern for the mission of the church. Many will say, "There is a pattern for what the church is to do, but there is no pattern for how the church is to do this work." If there is no pattern as to how the work of the church is to be done, then it is impossible to violate any pattern. Hence, any and every arrangement of man would be acceptable. 'Who is ready to accept such an idea?
How Is The Work To Be Done?
God organized and equipped the church to do the work he intended the church to accomplish. God did not organize or equip the church to function in the universal sense. The only unit of organization known in the scripture is the local or congregational unit. Each congregation was a separate unit. The church universal has no earthly organization through which it may work. No! Not even one congregation can become an agency through which other congregations may do their work. Thus, all the work of the church is to be done through the local congregation. Each congregation is to work under the oversight of its own elders. (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2.) No congregation can direct or control the affairs (worship or work) of any other congregation. If the elders of one congregation can direct and control a part of the work of hundreds of other congregations, why cannot these same elders direct and control the worship of these other congregations? Doing the work of the church through local congregations is not only being questioned today, but it is being violated. This is being done by many congregations' pooling their funds in the treasury of one congregation and that one congregation's doing a "brotherhood" work. The contributing congregations have no control or oversight of the work. The congregation doing the work claims complete authority and oversight of the program of work. This destroys congregational autonomy. Furthermore, the congregation doing the work becomes dependent upon other congregations to carry out the program of work. If other congregations do not continue to contribute to the congregation doing the work, the congregation doing the work (sponsoring church) will have to stop the work. This destroys congregational independence. The receiving congregation becomes dependent instead of independent. The contributing congregations, instead of overseeing and controlling the work, turns the direction and oversight over to the receiving congregation.
Therefore, the "sponsoring church" type of congregational cooperation violates God's plan of congregational independence and autonomy. God has ordained that each congregation do its own work to the best of its ability.
Can Congregations Cooperate?
The Scriptures furnish us examples of congregational cooperation: (1) The church at Philippi sent assistance to Paul while he was "in Thessalonica." (Phil. 4:15-16.) (2) A plurality of churches cooperated in supporting Paul while he preached the gospel in Corinth. (2 Cor. 11:8.) Here are two examples of the way congregations cooperated in preaching the gospel during the days of the apostles. This manifests the wisdom of God. If man becomes dissatisfied with God's way and makes other arrangements, then man's wisdom will be manifested — not God's wisdom...
God's people cooperated in benevolence: (1) These of Antioch sent help to the brethren in Judaea. But the record says they "sent it to the elders." (Acts 11:29-30.) Question: Who were "the elders" over the "brethren which dwelt in Judaea"? Was there only one eldership in Judaea? To answer is simply to see what shows forth the wisdom of God. I think all will agree that God's divine plan was that each congregation have elders. (Titus 1:5.)
(2) Churches in Macedonia and Achaia cooperated in sending relief to the saints in Jerusalem.. (1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8 and 9.) God's plan is plain and simple. Teach congregation cared for its own needy. When the need exceeded its ability, other congregations sent relief to it (the congregation in need). I believe God's plan will work today. Those who make other arrangements apparently think their way is better than God's way. They set forth their own wisdom rather than God's wisdom. Yes, congregations may cooperate today exactly as they did then. The way they did it then was effective and it is still effective. It is simply a matter of our doing things in God's way or in man's way. I choose to follow God's plan, and I plead with all brethren to do likewise.