In this series of short articles we have been focusing attention on some basic issues which trouble our churches, by presenting side-by–side (1) the historic, Biblical Reformed view, and (2) the emerging, changing broadening view held by a growing number of people in our churches. This article directs attention to the church, considering what it means to be an obedient church.
(1) The Biblical, Reformed View
In our time of confusion many are asking whether or why we should have a church at all. The compelling answer is not the usefulness of such a body, but the fact that the Lord said, when Peter confessed Him, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. . . .” (Matt. 16:18, 19).
The Lord’s ownership and building of His Church demands that all Christians be part of it and obey Him in it. All members must confess His name before men, as His prophets, priests and kings. Serving Christ by living and laboring together as one body, they are to be the light of the world, glorifying their Father in heaven (Mt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). They must try to win others by bringing the gospel to them. In His Church the Lord has established offices, outlining in His Word the qualifications and dut ies of each, and giving them the necessary authority, to assist and equip the member s of the Church to fulfill their callings in this Christian confession and life (Eph. 4:11–16). Among these offices, the elders of each church are called to rule (Heb. 13:17). Their authority as indicated in the Bible and expressed in our Church Order (Art. 27) is original, and is only delegated for cooperative action to larger, representative assemblies.
The Lord demands that we in obedience to Him seek church unity with all who belong to Him (John 17:17–23; Eph. 4:3ff.), and separate from those who reject Him and his gospel (2 Cor. 6: 14–7:1; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3:6; Acts 18:7; 19:9) both by discipline and, where necessary, by secession. We must labor and pray that the Church may be the “pillar and ground of the truth{ (1 Tim. 3:15), and never compromise that truth by tolerating error so as to permit that church to apostatize into a ““ynagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9; 3:9; Mt.16:23; cf. Westminster Confession XXV, V). The Church and its members, humbly and faithfully serving Christ, know He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and will preserve a faithful church, saved, built up, revived and reformed, by His Word and Spirit until He returns in triumph as Victorious Judge and Savior.
(2) The Broadening View
The church although a spiritual fellowship is also a human social institution like others. It is never perfect in this world but is subject to change and development as it must also adjust itself to a changing and developing society. This change is good, as it is directed by the progressive general revelation of God to mankind, as well as through the Bible.
The old, authoritarian views of the church as well as of the Christian life come from an outdated culture which no longer fits in our time. Today we see Christians and churches are called not to rule and obey, but to live and labor together freely and equally in a loving fellowship, each engaged in service following the example of Christ who is the Supreme Servant. Worship and fellowship are to be shared experiences of celebration, in which there is no coercion and each is free to use his or her gifts and have his or her opinions, varied though they may be, welcomed with respect. The church will not, as it mistakenly did in the past, block progress by trying to enforce conformity to old opinions and separate, condemn and discipline, but lovingly seek to help, win and serve all. The church is called not to serve itself and its members, but the world. Its mission, like that of Christ, the Supreme Servant, is to liberate from every kind of oppression and to redeem all of life. Therefore it has a special duty to the poor and economically disadvantaged, and it must cooperate with other liberating movements in society, also where they try t o. achieve structural changes that will remedy injustice. Sometimes the oppressive structures, resisting change, will have to be broken by force. Even then the church, seeing the Spirit of God working for progress in this way, may be morally bound to support the change.
The offices in the church are functional, to help expedite its service and may be increased or altered as the church may believe ·will be most helpful. The church must try to win the cooperation of all in its service of mankind. Stubborn, reactionary people, who resist the progressive and liberating programs of the church should be ignored and if they persist in blocking progress, may have to be disciplined. We need to move ahead confident that the Spirit will continue to guide the church and all mankind in building the Kingdom of God.