The Church And The Individual Christian
There is needless widespread confusion over the difference between the church and the individual Christian. This confusion does not arise with reference to the primary acts of obedience that salvation might be granted. All seem to agree that the individual must obey whether the church as a whole be right or wrong. The confusion does not exist in the matter of the judgment before Christ. All are agreed that there is a difference, that the individual will stand or fall on his own action or merit even though the church may be just the opposite, that in the judgment the individual's actions will not be judged to be the church in action and the church's actions will not be considered as the individual's actions. See Ephesians 5:25-27; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Corinthians 5:10.
The confusion exists in the realm of the duties, work and organization among Christians and churches. The same theory, though opposed in application, is held by two erroneous and extreme parties within the churches of Christ. Those who advocate that churches fulfill their obligations by contributing to and operating through human institutions base their theory on the proposition that THE CHURCH CAN DO ANYTHING WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN CAN DO. The other extreme party contends that individuals cannot contribute to and operate through any human institution which might be classed as religious in nature, basing its contention on the proposition that THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN CAN DO NOTHING EXCEPT THAT WHICH THE CHURCH CAN DO. The former theory has been promulgated by many, possibly the outstanding promoter being Brother G. C. Brewer. The latter theory has many promoters, possibly the outstanding one of this generation being Brother Carl Ketcherside.
The Christian's Relationships
The individual Christian has many relationships of life ordained of God with conditions and regulations set forth in the scriptures. One of these relationships is with and within the church. To say, however, that the church has the identical relationships of the individual would place the church in the awkward and unscriptural position of engaging in everything material, especially if that material thing has any connection with religious affairs. The other extremist will likewise be in an unenviable position which he really cannot accept. If the individual can do only what the church is authorized to do he will be cut off from some of the most solemn relationships and obligations.
In the above diagram five relationships are outlined which belong to the Christian. The church may sustain a relationship to the other four but in no instance is it the same relationship which the individual sustains. The Christian is taught in Romans 13:1-8 to be in subjection to such higher powers. The church will observe the regulations of the higher powers concerning ownership of property, etc. But, the Christian may occupy some civic office or position, such as teaching a school which is maintained by the government, an honorable occupation. (Titus 3:14.) This the church cannot do; for she would then have church and state combined a practice which does not necessitate exposure here as false. Brother Brewer is now publishing a paper which opposes this kind of thing.
The individual always sustains some relationship in a family. It may be that of child, parent, husband or wife. The Lord has given each member of the family specific obligations with reference to his relationship. (Col. 3:18-21.) However, the church, of which every person in the family may be a member, does not and cannot sustain the same relationship to the members of the family. The church cannot by any stretch of the imagination sustain the same relationship as the husband in his family. Fathers are to nurture their children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), but such is not the obligation or right of the church.
The scriptures obligate the Christian to an economic relationship: "But if any provideth not for his own, and especially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Tim. 5:8.) He is limited to that which is honorable in such provision. (Rom. 12:17.) There is no scriptural teaching, however, for the church's engaging in business. It is generally recognized as a true principle that the church should not be engaged in business enterprises, yet when human institutions engage in such business and ask churches for support the principle is forgot by many. Individuals may engage in many businesses which have a charitable or spiritual aim, but this will not justify the church's engaging in it and contributing to it any more than the church is justified in moving over into the realm of government or family. This relationship is the center of the confusion about the church and the individual, hence will deserve attention in further headings of this article.
Some social relationships of the individual Christian are detailed in 1 Timothy 5:10: hospitality to strangers; washed the saints' feet; relieved the afflicted. The church may have some relationship to strangers and to the afflicted. But she does not sustain the same social relationship as does the individual. If so, there would be a general church foot washing. This act never belonged to the church as such. It was a social custom for the individual Christian.
The spiritual relationship must not be omitted. The individual is a member of, worships with, works with and is edified in the church. (Eph. 4:1-16.) However, the fact that he is a member of the church and has many duties and obligations therein does not cause the church to be equally related to his other relationships. For example, my being a member of my family does not make the other members partners in my occupation. A man might be a citizen of this nation while the rest of his family are aliens. In like manner a man can be a member of the church, at the same time sustaining a relationship to all these phases of life, without the church having any such relationship to them.
Parallel Lines Of Duty
There are occasions when the church, the family and the individual may move or operate in parallel lines of duty before God. This does not mean that one is encroaching upon the work of the other; instead, it means that they are not doing so, possibly complementing the others. Certainly, it does not imply that the work is identical. A line cannot be parallel to and identical with another at the same time. Hence the following diagram is not given with the intention of arguing that the work of the church and the individual is the same in some respects or that one encroaches upon the other's work seeking to substitute for that work of another. The opposite is the purpose. The individual may carry on work which is parallel to that of the church, but such work be not identical with that of the church, without seeking to take from the work of the church or becoming a rival to the church.
The passages cited in the diagram teach that every individual Christian is to study the scriptures, pray to God, show his faith by benevolence and have a part or fellowship in evangelism. According to the scriptures the family is to have a part in these matters also. The church is taught to engage in these activities as well. Thus they function on parallel lines, but the activity is not necessarily the same. The way some would have it the church can take over the function of scripture study. They want the churches to support human organizations established by individual Christians because they teach the Bible in such colleges. The individual is fulfilling his own obligation by going there to study, or the parent is partially fulfilling his obligation by sending his child there to study. The college when operated as an individual enterprise is not an encroachment upon the church. It is individual action on the part of educator and educated. Within the same realm an individual Christian may contribute to it. But when it attempts to put itself under the support of the churches, that college has moved from its parallel line of individual function and has encroached upon the church.
An easy demonstration of the difference between the individual and the church in parallel matters is to be found in the requirements for prayer. The individual is to pray in secret. This cannot be true of the church in her prayers. Yet, both the individual and the church is to engage in prayer, parallel but not identical. Men can see this, but they fail to recognize such difference in the matter of teaching and study of the scriptures. They want to place church supported orphan homes, missionary societies, Herald of Truth, and colleges on the same basis as papers which are purely individual private business enterprises used as a medium of teaching truth. If the churches form a cooperative or some other form of organization, to which they contribute, through which they seek to carry out their obligation to teach, then it is wrong. Such churches will have moved from their line of duty and will have encroached upon the individual's parallel line of duty in teaching. Papers and colleges belong in the individual's economic relationship of business, it is not the church's business but is the individual's. (See first diagram.)
The individual has an obligation in benevolence, no matter what the church does or does not do (see diagram). In doing this the individual may operate, commit himself to, send others to, and contribute to homes for the aged, infirm, orphans and delinquents if they are operated on honorable and righteous bases. Support of no kind could be encouraged to one of these individual enterprises of an economic and social nature which seeks to leave its individual line of duty and get into the line of church work, receiving its support from church contributions. The church has its definite pattern of benevolent work in the scriptures: distribution to those of its number in need (Acts 6:1-6) and contribution from one church to another which is in need. (Acts 111:29.)
When an individual goes along in partnership with another in evangelizing, the two receiving funds from individuals, from churches, forwarded through messengers, they are doing exactly what Paul and his companions did and taught. They do not have a human organization in which or through which to operate, such as the missionary societies. Missionary societies are human organizations formed for the inherent purpose of doing the work of the churches. It is not merely an evil of which the society could be stripped. It is the inherent life of the institution. The individual preaches the gospel, the church is to support the individual who preaches. When the work remains on such simple parallel lines there is no confusion and violation. But when an attempt is made to bring the lines together in a human organization, violation, confusion and division is the result.
May the time come when brethren will recognize the parallel lines of duty with reference to scripture study and benevolence: a time when they will cease trying 'to make the parallel lines of individual and church duty converge in the human institutions such as colleges and Homes. When this is accomplished the confusion will cease, and we can press forward with a concerted effort in the cause of Christ.
Let the individual Christian fulfill his obligation in all his relationships of life, without trying to involve the church in them; and let him encourage the church in all her work as set forth by the Lord. In this way peace and harmony will prevail, God will be glorified, souls will be saved, eternal life will be gained.