Series: Fundamental Lessons on the Church. Lesson Six,

LOCAL CHURCH AUTONOMY

By Bob W. Lovelace

Dear reader if you have studied lessons one through five you should begin to form a scriptural perception of what a local church of Christ is. If you have not studied the first five lessons we encourage you to do so. One reason being what is said in this study connects directly to the preceding lessons, especially Lesson Four.

A Summary of Points on the Local Church, Lesson Four

Here is a summary of points made on the local church from Lesson Four, "God's Divine Organization ~ The Local Church." If you are not familiar with these important applications to the organization of the local church then please study Lesson Four, Parts One and Two in order to understand the local church as a functioning body.

1. The word "church" (local sense, I Cor. 1:1-2; Philippians 1:1) depicts a body of believers in a particular locale,

A. Note: This is distinguished from the use of the word "church" (universal sense) which refers all Christians everywhere without geographic locale.

B. Note: Joining oneself to a local church distinguishes between "the individual" acting and one acting "collectively" with other Christians to accomplish the work of the local church.

2. The funds with which the church performed collective duties and works came from the contributions of their own member, Acts 4:32-37.

3. There was a plurality (Acts 14:23, "elders" ~ more than one) of elders who were also called bishops or pastors over each local church, Philippians 1:1.

A. Note: There is simply no such thing as "the Pastor" ("singular" denoting an individual, preacher or otherwise, who exercises oversight and control by himself) in the organization God gave to the church.

4. Each local church had its own elders (also called bishops, overseers, pastors and shepherds) whose rule was restricted to the church they themselves were members of, I Peter 5:1-3.

5. The church at Philippi is illustrative of the local church "organization."

The church at Philippi:

1. Had a "HEAD" ~ Jesus Christ, the head of the church (Eph. 5:23)

2. Had a "DOCTRINE" or "LAW" ~ The New Testament, the Gospel of Christ (I Tim. 1:10-11; Titus 1:9)

3. Had its own OVERSEEERS (called bishops, elders, presbyters, pastors, shepherds) ~ (Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23)

4. Had "DEACONS" who served the church ~ (Phil. 1:1; for qualifications see I Tim. 3:8-13)

5. Had a "MEMBERSHIP" ~ that consisted of those referred to as "saints" (Phil. 1:1)

6. Local church organization is given definition through the components of "agreement," "common oversight," "the pooling of resources into a common treasury," and "working to accomplish a common purpose or goal (the work)."

The local church and its work:

1. Agreement to Worship & Work Together: Acts 9:26-28; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:18.

2. Placement Under a Common Oversight: Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; I Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17; I Cor. 11:3; I Tim. 2:12; I Cor. 11:3; 14:34. (*In absence of elders it is the men who have charge of the congregation, I Cor. 11:3; 14:34).

3. The Pooling their own Resources into a Common Treasury: Phil. 4:15; Acts 4:34-37; 5:1-4; I Cor. 16:1-3.

4. Working to Accomplish a Common Purpose (Work) or Goal:

a. The Work of Edification through teaching, worship, and discipline of unruly members: I Cor. 14:26; Acts 20:7; Eph. 5:19-21; Col. 3:16; I Cor. 5; I Th. 5:14; 2 Th. 3:6, 14.

b. The Work of Evangelism: I Thes. 1:8; Phil. 4:15; I Cor. 9:14; 2 Cor. 11:8.

c. The Work of Benevolence to Needy Saints: Acts 4:34-35; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 11:27-30; I Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8-9; Rom. 15:26-27.

What is local autonomy for each church?

The definition of "autonomy" ~ Even though the word "autonomy" is not found in the New Testament the independence of each local church is clearly set forth. When we studied how they ordained elders (bishops) in every church you were looking at local autonomy! The work of the bishops as overseers was the superintendence of the flock among them. Webster's Dictionary gives this definition ~ autonomy 1. "the quality or state of being self governing; esp.: the right of self-government" (Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary). To say that the local churches of Christ are "autonomous" means they have the right or power of self-government, and their work is carried on without outside control. Each church worked according to its own potential and ability.

Some scriptures that emphasize the autonomy of the local church,

1. 1 Peter 5:1-3, "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: [2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; [3] Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."

A. Note: Peter restricted the oversight of elders to the flock (singular, one flock!) among them ("you," pl.). No eldership had the oversight of anything that belonged to more than one congregation! The only jurisdiction that God ever gave any eldership is the oversight of just the "one" church (local) they themselves are members of.

2. Acts 20:28, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

A. Note: This is not denominationalism. It is impossible to build a religious organization consisting of many local congregations under the oversight of a single administrative body by God's simple plan for governing His church! Neither elders or evangelists, separately or in any combination can by God's simple plan find authority for building such religious organizations.

B. Note: Paul addressed the elders of the church at Ephesus. He said the same thing Peter did! He told them the Holy Spirit had made them overseers of "the flock." God could have made it no plainer than this! It is not uncommon today to hear of ambitious elders who take it upon themselves to oversee more than the church they themselves are members of. These men have lost respect for the authority of God's word. They are committing lawlessness in so doing! Moreover, elders in the New Testament never served in the capacity (as elders) of elders over anything but the local church. When elders go outside the authority of God's divine revelation today taking the oversight of human organizations such as homes for unwed mothers, for the aged and orphans they are guilty of lawlessness (I John 3:4). Hear John, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." The word "transgresseth" is translated "practices lawlessness" (NASB). It changes nothing to hear them say, "Oh but we are doing this as 'elders'." No! Elders did no such things in the New Testament because they were restricted in their oversight to the flock among them. Simply put, there is no such thing as elders serving as elders on the board of directors for or overseeing human organizations. The only thing that elders oversee "as" elders is the local church they themselves are members of!

3. 1 Cor. 16:1-4, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. [2] Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. [3] And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. [4] And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me."

A. Note: These passages give instruction to Corinth about the benevolence (gift) to be sent to the needy saints (Christians) in Jerusalem. The text deals with the local church's work in benevolence. You will find more information on this matter of fellowship in 2 Cor. 8-9; Romans 15:25-28. The contribution from each local church belonged to that specific church. Paul says "your" liberality when referring to Corinth's gift (I Cor. 16:3). Moreover Paul says their gift was to be delivered by the messengers they approved of (I Cor. 16:3). The "messengers" were men not a Sponsoring Church. There was no Sponsoring Church that received funds from Corinth and other churches and then by centralizing through that one church sent funds to Jerusalem.

4. Philippians 4:14-16, "Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. [15] Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. [16] For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity."

A. Note: This text deals with the local church's work in evangelism. Here we see a local church in its relationship with those whom it supports and helps who preach the word. The collective work of the church in evangelism does not just apply to the assemblies for edification (I Cor. 14:26). At times its work involved "sending" support to a preacher elsewhere (Phil. 4:14-16; 2 Cor. 11:8). Philippi supported Paul when he departed from Macedonia. The New Testament pattern for churches supporting preachers elsewhere is for the church to send directly to the preacher. There was no Sponsoring Church involved that received funds from other churches, and then by centralizing through that one church sent Paul's support. No church could claim that Paul was "their" evangelist to be supported therefore if any church wanted to support Paul they'd have to send to them first and let them be responsible for sending support to Paul. God's simple pattern refutes the Sponsoring Church arrangement.

Question: What do elders oversee?

Dear reader they watch for the souls and oversee all of the work of the local church. That's their function as bishops or overseers (*For specific definitions of elder, bishop, shepherd, pastor, presbyters see Lesson Four). The relationship of the members to their own elders is stated in Hebrews 13:17, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." Elders labor among the members; they will have to admonish members who need it. (I Thes. 5:12). No member is exempt from the duty of submitting to the oversight of the elders of the church. They oversee by the authority of the word, the New Testament. Elders are men who know the word and properly apply it (Titus 1:9). Look above now at the chart above, "The Local Church and its Work." Right there are the things elders oversee. There is simply nothing about the church that does not fall under their oversight. Here are the things that they oversee that they do not delegate to the elders of another church!

Elders oversee:

1. The acceptance process of those desiring to place membership with and work with the church (Acts 9:26-28).

2. The treasury of the church (Acts 4:34-37; I Cor. 16:1-3).

3. The work of edification through worship, teaching, preaching and the discipline of unruly members (I Cor. 14:26; Acts 20:7; Eph. 5:19-21; Col. 3:16; I Cor. 5; I Th. 5:14; 2 Th. 3:6, 14).

4. The support of evangelists at home and abroad (I Thes. 1:8; Phil. 4:15; I Cor. 9:14; 2 Cor. 11:8).

5. The work of benevolence to needy saints, both members and elsewhere (Acts 4:34-35; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 11:27-30; I Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8-9; Rom. 15:26-27).

.

Thus the entire work of the church along with watching for the souls of the members is under the oversight of the eldership. What Peter said (I Pet. 5:1-3) he said to elders not those who were just preachers! The same can be said for Paul's instruction in Acts 20. It too was to elders not those who were just preachers. Preachers are referred to as evangelists in the scriptures (2 Tim. 4:5; Acts 21:8). They serve the church by giving the proper instruction it needs. They preach to save the lost and to promote spiritual growth among the saved. From time to time someone will ask about what to do with preachers who are "taking over" the church. Some patterns of apostasy such as the Boston Movement have worked that way. Often times there will be a couple of preachers (men) who decide to set up their own oversight and run the church to suit their will. This is easier to do in churches where there are no elders appointed. These begin to make plans and institute them without consulting the men of the congregation. In a church where there are no elders appointed the men take charge of the congregation (I Cor. 11:3). When the men of a congregation see such as this taking place then they need to get on the ball. They must confront the covetous, deceitful ungodly among them and plainly state that they know what they are doing is unscriptural (I Thes. 5:14). Moreover if they must tell them if they do not repent they will be withdrawn from by the church. Withdrawal is a work of the local church! (See I Thes. 5:14; 2 Thes. 3:6, 14; I Corinthians 5:4-7, 13.). A church lacking in knowledge and spiritual strength becomes easy prey for such men! When there are elders then what Paul said in giving their qualifications applies to such. Elder's qualifications include this admonition, "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake" (Titus 1:9-11). Don't be so naïve as to think that such isn't taking place today!

The simplicity of God's plan for governing His people is:

1. Each local church was to have its own elders, Acts 14:23.

2. There was a plurality (Acts 14:23, "elders" ~ more than one) of elders who were also called bishops or pastors over each local church, Philippians 1:1; Acts 20:17 cp'd. verse 28; Titus 1:5 cp'd. with verse 7.

3. The elders have the "rule" or oversight over "one flock" and that is the local church they themselves are members of, I Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28.

Elders commit lawlessness (sin):

1. When they oversee any church other than that which they themselves are members of.

2. When they oversee as elders any other organization than the local church they themselves are members of.

Dear reader we have come once again to the close of an important lesson on the church of Christ. Our appeal is that we desire all to go back to the New Testament as God's pattern for His church. His pattern for the government of His church through the organization of the local church is plain enough. The problem is not that people cannot understand this. The problem is with those who do not want this! In the first century there are no collectives of churches of Christ under one eldership or administrative body. Perhaps we can interest you in the next lesson, Lesson Seven, "The Local Church And Benevolence."

Back to the Table of Contents

Home