IS IT POSSIBLE TO MEET AS A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH TODAY? - A Word of Explanation

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to meet with the first Christians? 

One of the greatest blessings this side of heaven is to gather with others who take God and His Word seriously. We are a group of believers saved by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9) who meet simply around the Lord Jesus, seeking to follow only the directions given in the New Testament. We believe that the church is God's idea. Christians do not meet in congregations merely because it is desirable or helpful, but because the Lord has ordained it (1 Thessalonians 2:14). 

Our Lord Himself first spoke of the church when He declared that He was its builder and would establish it on a sure foundation (Matthew 16:18). He also first spoke concerning the local gatherings of believers (Matthew 18:17). 

There may be some things about a local church like this that would be different to you. We would appreciate a few moments to explain how we meet and why. 

By the way, there are many who meet like this 

You may have heard of names like George Muller, the great man of faith; H. A. Ironside, the famous Bible expositor; Jim Elliot, the intrepid martyr of Ecuador; or W. F. Vine, author of the well-known Dictionary of Expository Words. These met simply according to the pattern found in the New Testament, as thousands do worldwide. There is no division between “clergy” and “laity” in our meetings, because there is no such division in the New Testament. We want to gather simply as Christ's ones in His name recognizing no names that would divide God's people. To be gathered in His name is to meet by His authority, submitting to His Lordship, and following His Word. 

Does the New Testament provide a pattern? 

If you suggested changing any other doctrine, or salvation by faith in Christ, the deity of the Lord Jesus, or the inspiration of Scripture, for example, it would invite strong reaction from Bible-believing churches. But somehow many feel we are free to redesign the church any way it suits us. Yet we have no more right to make a new way of meeting than a new way of salvation. 

At the very outset of the New Testament it is striking that the Lord Jesus and the apostles labored to establish only one institution—the local church. Paul stated, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” (1 Corinthians 3:10). The local church lies at the heart of God's program today. Indifference to the doctrine of the church is certainly indifference to the plan of God. Francis Schaeffer writes, “The church did not sit there as a group of believers with no form. The New Testament form is commanded by God. These norms are not arbitrary—they are God's form for the church and they are to be present in the twentieth century as well as in any century”. 

A New Testament assembly takes the Bible as authoritative and complete 

We believe firmly in the historic doctrines of the church. However, rather than subscribing to man-made creeds, rules, and constitutions, we find the Word of God to be the only infallible statement of Christian faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16). The Scriptures should be appealed to directly in a gracious and humble spirit (2 Timothy 2:25) to settle all disputes, give directives to the assembly, and provide the basis for all public and private ministry. 

A truly scriptural assembly should be composed only of true believers 

By this we mean people who, believing the gospel, have experienced the miracle of new birth, and know themselves to be “children of God by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:26). We are “not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16) and seek to share it with others. 

Unconverted people cannot truly participate in worship or other holy activities of the church, nor could they be expected to support its testimony by holy living. Christians are exhorted not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18), although we should do good to them and show them by our lives that we belong to the Lord Jesus. 

Christ is the gathering center 

Although a local church is a gathering of like-minded believers, no fellowship based on people will work. “Truly our fellowship,” said John, “is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). Matthew 18:20 states: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them”. 

It is so easy to be distracted from Christ, to find ourselves gathering to a preacher, a set of doctrines, a sacrament, or form of church government. This is very different from being gathered to Christ. We want to recognize His headship (Colossians 1:18) in our assembly practically. We believe He deserves this, for it is His church: “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). 

The Lord's Supper occupies a central place 

As the early Christians did, we come together on the first day of each week to “break bread” (Acts 2:42; 20:7). Being a divine appointment, it should never be relegated to a secondary place, or treated as a matter of occasional obedience. It is to be a time of calling our Lord to mind and declaring His death for us. It is observed not as a sacrament administered by a clergyman, but celebrated as described in 1 Corinthians 11. The prime purpose of this time is not to minister to the saints, as in other meetings of the church, but to minister to the heart of God through appropriate reading of scriptures, worshipful hymns, and prayers expressing to God the worthiness of our Saviour. 

What about baptism? 

The word “baptism” is the English form of the Greek word hoptizo, which means to submerse or immerse. All converted people in New Testament times were baptized before taking their place in a local church (see Acts 2:41; 8:12). Christ had commanded that this should be done (Matthew 28:19). The same pattern is observed by scriptural assemblies today. Converts should be taught that baptism is the symbol of their being buried with Christ, and rising (as He rose) to walk “in newness of life” (Romans 6:1-11). 

The Holy Spirit represents Christ on earth 

Of course, it is not enough to recognize the truths of Scripture if we do not act on them. Many claim to be Bible-believing churches, and we thank God for that. But we must seek also to be a Bible-obeying church by the work of the Spirit of God in us. It is of the utmost importance that the Holy Spirit be given His place in the local assembly. His power is the only power for worship, ministry, or evangelism. It is easy to displace Him by substituting human arrangements. It is common in many congregations to have one man to preside as minister or pastor, with activities under his control. However it is the Spirit who is to direct the saints in their meetings (1 Corinthians 12 and 14). 

For the guidance of the assembly, elders are appointed by the Spirit 

From Acts 20:17-38, we see that the terms “elders” (v. 17) and “overseers” (bishops, see margin, v.28) are used of the same individuals and are applied to those who “take heed...to the flock” (v.28). In other words, elders, overseers (or bishops), and pastors (or shepherds) are all describing the same workers in the church. Elder emphasizes their maturity; overseer emphasizes their responsibility; shepherd emphasizes their ministry to heed, lead, and feed the local flock. These men (the words are always used in the plural) are to fulfill the qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Our elders are to be respected, prayed for, and obeyed (Hebrews 13:7,17). 

There is no difference in value between men and women, but there are distinct roles 

The work of Christ has removed all human distinctions of privilege (Galatians 3:28). And every believer, whether male or female, is a priest to God (Hebrews 13:15). As holy priests (1 Peter 2:5) and royal priests (1 Peter 2:9), we can worship and witness all we desire. 

But as in the home, men and women are given distinct roles in the church. Church order, like chronological or alphabetical order, has nothing to do with importance. It has been established by God so “all things [are] done decently and in (according to the) order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). 

Men are to come to church meetings prepared to function publicly as the Spirit leads, representing God to the assembly in the ministry of the Word (1 Peter 4:10-11) or representing the assembly to God in prayer and praise. This is to be done carefully so everyone can add “Amen” (1 Corinthians 14:16). The women are free to speak to the Lord all they wish, however they must do it silently. (They are only silent as far as we are concerned. God hears them, as He does the men who are praying silently). Thus the women have free access to pray and worship as the men do, but are not to usurp authority from the men or act in the church as a representative (1 Corinthians 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:11-12). 

Why do the women wear the head covering? 

God's glory is to be seen alone in the assembly of the saints. In order to do this, the men remain uncovered by not having long hair and by removing any head coverings, because the man is “the image and glory of God” (1 Corinthians 11:7). Any covering on the man would veil God's glory. The women, however, are the stewards of the coverings. 

There are two competing glories in the church. “The woman is the glory of the man” (1 Corinthians 11:7). And “if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her” (1 Corinthians 11:15). Because there are two symbolic glories to be covered, there must be two coverings. The first covering [Gk., penhobion] is the woman's long hair (v. 15b) to hide the glory of the man (the woman herself). The second covering [Gk., katakalupto] is to hide her glory—her own hair. In this way, God's authority is declared in the church. By it the men are reminded that, in their ministry, their glory is to be hidden. The angels are also instructed by it (1 Corinthians 11:10). 

What about membership? 

Strictly speaking, the only church membership spoken about in the New Testament refers to the act of placing a new believer into the Body of Christ. This happens the moment one is saved (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 5:30). We have no member's list, but do receive into fellowship those whom Christ has already received (Romans 15:7; 16:1-2). The whole assembly is happy to receive all who confess Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and Lord; and have a consistent Christian life and testimony. 

Being received into this fellowship means you are ready to embrace the privileges of local church life and willing to accept your responsibilities with us. These include regular attendance at the meetings of the church (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). The exercise of your gift for the up-building of others (1 Peter 4:10). Submitting to one another, especially in obedience to the elders (Hebrews 13:17), and sharing as the Lord enables you in the financial needs of the assembly (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:7) as an act of worship (Hebrews 13:16). You will notice that funds are not solicited, especially not from unbelievers (3 John 1:7). 

But there is so much more! 

Obviously in a paper like this it is not possible to deal fully with all the issues involved in church life. But as we seek the truth in God's Word, the Holy Spirit delights to show us more. The Apostle Paul stated the two-fold wonder of God's blessings to the human race: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:8-9). 

May the Lord help us all to enter more fully into these twin treasures: what we have in the cross of Christ and what we have in the church of Christ!

WHAT CHURCH SHOULD I JOIN?

What Church Should I Join?

Many of you here tonight have recently been converted to God. A few weeks ago you were asking the all-important question “What must I do to be saved?” And this you had answered by the Word of God telling you, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16: 31). You have believed, and you are saved, for God was as good as His Word. As young believers, other inquiries now rise among you, and among these, as some of you have expressed it, is the question:

What Church should I join? Or where, and with whom, can I have Christian fellowship?

This is a very important question, and I am glad to know that many of you are deeply exercised before God about it. Next to your soul's salvation and your individual walk with Him, nothing can be of more importance than to be guided aright in the matter of “Church Fellowship”. Your decision in this will have an abiding effect on your afterlife, either for good or evil. Many seem to think it does not matter much where they go, or with whom they have fellowship, provided they get on smoothly; and consequently they make it a matter of their own choice, “what Church they join”. Or, as it happens very often, they just drop in where they have been in the “habit” of going, and where, perhaps, their parents are “Members”. Now this would be all right, if God had left it an “open question”—a thing to “please themselves” about. But if He has given His will on the matter, it surely becomes every one of His people to find out what that is, and then unhesitatingly to do it.

In seeking to answer your question—”What Church should I join?” I would impress upon my own soul and yours, the absolute necessity of being guided wholly and solely by the Word of God. Men's ideas and advises are of no use here; not even the counsel of a pious parent. The Word of God, and that alone, must answer the question. And this makes it at once simple and easy; for if God has told me in His Word where, and with whom I am to have Church Fellowship, it ceases to be a question of what I think or what my friends think, or what any man says, and becomes a question of “What saith the Lord?” Where does He say I am to be, and where does He forbid me to go? That's the point to get settled first of all. And then, no matter how much opposition may arise to hinder you, or how much failure there may be around you, you'll have the consciousness that you stand where God has commanded you, and have in your soul the testimony that you are pleasing Him. And what can be put into the balance against that? Nothing, no, nothing! For if you have the witness that you are pleasing God, and that He is on your side, it will make you as bold as a lion, even if earth and hell be engaged against you.

We will open the Book then—the precious Book-the “lamp to our feet”—the “light to our path”—and see what God says about the Church, and who they are that compose it. When once we get to know this, there will not be so much difficulty left about the “joining”.

First of all then—the word “Church” is never used in the Scriptures as the name of a building used for religious purposes, as many of us from our childhood have been accustomed to use it. It is always used in connection with persons, and signifies “called out” ones. Turn to Acts 20:28. There we read of “the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood”; and again, “Christ . . . loved the Church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25).

Here we see Whose the Church is, and at what a cost it was purchased. It is the “Church of God” not the Church of a nation, a country, a creed, or a person, but “of God”; purchased by the precious blood of Christ, and the object of His everlasting love. Like the merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, sold all to buy it. The Lord Jesus gave Himself to obtain the Church for His Bride, to be the sharer of His glory forever. It is spoken of in the New Testament (and not found in the Old at all, save in-type) under the figures of a Body, a Temple, a House, a Bride, and a City. It is called the Body of Christ, the Temple of God, the House of God, the Bride of the Lamb, and the Holy City, New Jerusalem (see Ephesians 2:22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:15; Revelation 21:2-9).

Of His Body, Christ risen and glorified is the one and only Head. For God hath made “Him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is His Body” (Ephesians 1: 22-23); and, “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist, and He is the Head of the body the Church” (Colossians 1:17-18). To Him the Church is called to be in subjection, as the wife is to her husband, (Ephesians 5:23-24) and to Him alone.

No Pope or Archbishop, no Council, or Assembly, has any divine warrant to legislate for the Church of God. They have never been called to issue bulls, frame canons, or devise laws outside the Word of God, for her obedience. Her Head yet lives, seated at the right hand of God, to nourish, sustain, and rule His Body. The Spirit of God dwells within each member, uniting them to the Living Head and the Word of God containing all His counsel is in our hand. What more need we?

As there is but one Head, so also is there but one Body (Ephesians 4:4). It is composed of many members, differing in rank and attainment, even as in our natural bodies we have the eye, the hand, the foot; but though many members, yet only one Body (1 Corinthians 12:20). “for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Each member has a place and sphere assigned to him by God. The unity is God-made, and God-sustained. Man never formed it, and he can never break it, because its keeping is in the hands of God-it is divine. By forming many and varied sects, man may ignore or deny this unity; but that in no way annuls it. The Church, viewed as the Body of Christ, is one in spite of all man's failure and schism. It embraces every child of God, north, south, east, and west, by whatever name they may be known among men. They are all redeemed by the same precious blood. They are sealed and indwelt by the same Spirit, and encircled and enlocked by the same Almighty Arms of Love. And they are to be in the same glorious home throughout eternity. These are everlasting links between saint and saint and they shall know no decay, though, sad to say, they are oftentimes disowned here, while others of man's making take their place.

Dear young believer, this is the Church as spoken of in the Scriptures. Begun on the day of Pentecost by the descent of the Holy Ghost— at present being gathered out from the nations of the earth through the preaching of the Gospel. Having no earthly inheritance or potentate—separate— alike from Jew and Gentile—One New Man—One Holy Church—the Bride of Christ— to be completed and presented to Him when He comes.

Of this Body (the only one mentioned in the Scriptures) you are already a “member” you have already been “joined” to it. Nothing on your part can make you any more a member than you at present are. And you cannot “unchurch” yourself. By the act of God you became a member of the Church which is Christ's body on the day of your conversion, and you'll continue so for all eternity. Hallelujah!

Part of the members of this Church are now absent from the body, and “present with the Lord”. Others are for the present, living in the world among men, and must needs live in some city, town, or country. It is not the will of God that they should remain isolated one from another, for His Word has said—”Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is” (Hebrews 10:25). The Christ-life within each of them also craves for fellowship with other members in whom the same life dwells, for “we are members one of another”. Their association must therefore be one of life, and not mere outward uniformity—and the dead— that is the unconverted cannot have any share in it, for what fellowship has life with death, or light with darkness? Clearly none whatever. Therefore it is impossible that anything like true fellowship can exist in those Churches where the living and the dead—the children of God and the children of the Devil—are massed together. God distinctly forbids that such should be, in the words-”Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness…Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (2 Corinthians6: 14-17). The tares and the wheat are to grow side by side in the world until the end. The field is the world and not the Church. See Matt. 13.38) But in the Church of the living God the unsaved should have no place: they ought to be “without” (see 1 Thessalonians 4:12; Colossians 4:5).

It was so at the beginning. We find in the New Testament there were local Churches, such as the Church at Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), the Church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:12), the Churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:2), and the Church in the house of Nymphas (Colossians 4:15). These Churches consisted of believers, and believers only. They were gathered into a divinely constituted fellowship, in subjection to Christ as Lord, the pattern of which remains for us to follow. They received all* whom the Lord had received, even those who were “weak” and required “support” (see Romans14:1; 1 Thessalonians5:14); and to have been narrower than this they would have become a sect. In their assemblies they worshipped God, guided by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14.); they observed the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week, (Acts 20: 7) but we hear no word of any “presiding minister” or “elder” at the head of the table. They owned and received the gifts of the risen Christ—evangelists, pastors and teachers; but they did not choose, elect, or ordain their own ministers. Nor was there any such person known in these Churches as the modern “minister”, who is chosen by the congregation to do all the preaching, teaching, and shepherding of the flock. At Antioch there were five teachers (Acts 13:1), and at Philippi several Bishops (Phil.1:1) in one church. How would that do now-a-days? What would become of “the minister”? These Churches owned and obeyed those whom God had fitted to rule (Hebrews13: 7-17) They exercised godly discipline towards the erring, and if any one among them became guilty of holding and teaching evil doctrine (Revelation2: 17-20), or of immoral practice (1 Corinthians 5: 11), they put away the offender.

[The only warrant for the rejection or exclusion of any believer from Church-fellowship is, that he be guilty of any of those sins specified in Scripture for which God excludes him (see 1 Corinthians 5: 11-13; Romans 16: 17; Titus 3:10).]

Such are a few of the characteristic features of the Churches mentioned in Scripture, and they are the patterns of what Churches ought to be till the Lord come. I have no more right to devise a new order or fellowship in the Church of God, than I have to make a new way of salvation. God has given both in His Word, and it endureth forever.

When any one was converted he did not require to ask, “What Church should I join?” for there was only one Church in each place, and he there and then became identified with it.

For example, in Jerusalem there were one hundred and twenty disciples on the day of Pentecost in an upper room. Three thousand more were converted, and we read, ”the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls,…and all that believed were together” (Acts 2:41-44). And this was not only on the “special occasion” of that “great Revival”, but ”they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:43), “and of the rest durst no man join himself unto them” (Acts 5:13).

There were no unconverted “young communicants”, no “dead members” in that Church. They “durst not join themselves to them”, The ungodly Jews carried on their religion in the temple headed by the high priest and his “colleagues”, who condemned the Son of God, even as the unconverted religious people do now in their churches and chapels. But the young converts could have had no fellowship with such persons, and I'm sure neither would you. Like Saul of Tarsus, you would have gone to the disciples, and been received to their fellowship as he was (see Acts 9:2-28). You see your path would have been plain then. It is very different now. Numerous sects are spread over the face of the earth. The church and the world are mixed up together, and when God's newborn babes open their eyes, it is not to look upon the Church as it was in the beginning, but Sect after sect is named after their founder, their creed, or their country. And all contending for the mastery—who'll be the greatest.

What is to be done? That's the point: and we must fairly face it. Here in —, you have most of the leading sects represented, and you wish to know which of them you ought to join. Well, the simplest answer to your question is, “Which of them is according to the Word of God? Which of them answers to the pattern given in the Book?”

Let us test them and see. The leading churches are far from the mark. They allow the unconverted to sit at the Lord's Table—there can be no doubt about that. If you question this, just go up to some of them and ask the plain and legitimate question, “Is your soul saved?” and you'll see. They choose their own ministers, some of which are unconverted beyond all doubt. They have one man set up who acts as evangelist, pastor, and teacher, and for this he receives a stated salary— in short, is “hired” to do the people's religion. He says all the prayers, gives out all the hymns and does all the preaching. No matter who else may be called of God to speak or pray while they are at “public worship”, they dare not do it, else they would be turned out. The Holy Ghost must act through “the minister”, or not at all. And all this honour is conferred upon him, because he is an “ordained man”. That is, because the hands of some other of his fellow ministers were once laid upon his head, in imitation of the apostles—which most honest men now see to be a sham. These are serious obstacles to anyone whose desire is to please God and obey His Word, by “joining”, or having church fellowship in such places, are they not? Then there are others, who make “water baptism” the door of admission into the church, and have no room for the Spirit's guidance in worship or the exercise of all God's gifts in ministry. This is sectarian, and apart from the Word of God. Others gather on “the ground of the one body”, and exclude many of God's people who are walking in the truth. This is highly sectarian, and strongly condemned in the Word of God (see 3 John 10). What then is to be done? Where can we go? Must we out of many evils “choose the least”? Certainly not! We must have the right thing—the God-appointed church fellowship and order, or none. Surely nothing less will satisfy a true-hearted saint who wants to do the will of God in this matter.

Well, then, find out if there are any believers gathering in the name of the Lord Jesus, and having Him in their midst, according to Matt 18:20. Who have left all Sects and parties, with their names, creeds, and traditions, because they are contrary to Scripture, and who have returned to the first principles of the Church of God. Who have no name but that of Christ; who are gathered according to the divine pattern, who have room for the exercise of all His gifts, liberty for all the operations of His Spirit, and have His Word alone for their creed. This is what is commanded in the Book, —this is what we see was practiced in the early churches—and this is your place. Shrink not from taking it, and when you have taken it, “continue steadfastly” in it—hold it fast. Those so gathering may be but a “little flock”; poor and despised compared with the crowd of religious professors around them. But Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name there am I in the midst”; and surely it is better to be where He is, than in the crowd without Him.

Let those who thus gather make no pretensions to be “the only people of God”, for this they are not, so long as there are saints in the sects around them who nevertheless are dear to God, and will be in the same heaven for all eternity. Let us love such as brethren, who are one with us in Christ, although the systems they are mixed up in we must ignore. And having gained the right position in Church fellowship, let us live in the right condition in fellowship with God, and so walk among men as to commend the truth to every man's conscience in the sight of God. May He help us individually so to do. Amen. [By John Ritchie].