APOSTOLIC TRADITION: NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN CLERGY AND LAITY

Probably the most prevalent and damaging tradition of men among churches of the Lord’s people today is the distinction between groups called “the clergy” and “the laity”. According to this tradition “the clergy” are those normally referred to as “the ministers”, “servants of the Lord” those who are “ordained”, those who are in “full-time Christian work” and who are normally paid for their ministry or service and many are given titles such as “Reverend” or “Father”.

By way of contrast “the laity”, according to this tradition of men, are those who are “ministered to”, “served” by the clergy, “unordained”, employed in “secular work”, and if they do any service in the church it is usually as unpaid volunteers.

But such a tradition was not passed down by the Lord Jesus or the apostles! Rather they clearly taught that the laity (The Greek word LAOS) or “the people” of God and the clergy (the Greek word KLEROS) or God’s  “inheritance”, “heritage” or “appointed lot” were one and the same group of people!!!

The following are just a few examples where God, through His apostles and prophets, refers to believers as “my people” (LAOS) or “the people (LAOS) of God”:

Romans 9:25)  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people (LAOS), which were not my people (LAOS); and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26)  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people (LAOS); there shall they be called the children of the living God.

2 Corinthians 6:16)  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (LAOS).

1 Peter 2:9)  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (LAOS); that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10)  Which in time past were not a people (LAOS), but are now the people (LAOS) of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

All believers are not only called God’s people or LAOS, they are also included in His inheritance or KLEROS!

The Lord Jesus, speaking to the apostle Paul told him that believers would not only receive forgiveness of sins but also inheritance (KLEROS) among them which are sanctified by faith! (Acts 26:15-18

The apostle Paul, writing to the church at Colosse, told them that the Father had made them partakers of the inheritance (KLEROS) of the saints in light.  (Colossians 1:9-17)

And the apostle Peter, writing to elders of the churches in I Peter 5:1-3, clearly instructed them that they were not to be “lords over God's heritage (KLEROS)”, but rather to be “examples to the flock.”   Thus we see that, according to the scriptures and apostolic tradition, the laity and the clergy are not two different groups of people but are two terms used of all believers!

Not only are all believers both laity and clergy, but all are ordained of God! The Lord Jesus, in John 15:16 said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

Not only are we all clergy which have been ordained by the Lord Jesus but we also are gifted by God for ministry! Every believer is equipped for ministry to others in the Body and have thus been made stewards of the manifold grace of God. “As every man (each one) hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”  (I Peter 4:10,11)

The apostles not only taught that all believers are God’s clergy, that they are ordained, that they are ministers but they taught that all believers are also holy and royal priests! See I Peter 2:5&9

The main reason why “burnout” among Christian “pastors/clergymen” has reached epidemic proportions is because this tradition of men has placed such a heavy burden on such leaders which God never intended that they should carry! Ministry is designed by God to be shared by all the members in the body, not just one!

According to apostolic tradition, church leaders were never to be hired by the flock, saddled with all the responsibilities of ministry and fired when they did not meet the high expectations placed upon them!

Rather elders (a plurality of men who are “home-grown” rather than called from elsewhere) are to be recognized by God-given qualifications (I Timothy 3 and Titus 1) and are to serve together as they oversee the flock,  to work with their own hands to meet their own needs and minister to the weak among the flock. (Acts 20:28-35)

When ever God’s simple instructions for His flock are obeyed, both sheep and shepherds flourish. But when traditions of men replace apostolic traditions great damage is done to the shepherds and great havoc is worked among the sheep!  Oh may we have courage to repent of traditions of men and return to the simplicity of apostolic traditions for all of our church practices!

You are invited to comment below or email me at bwood4d@gmail.com

FEATURES OF THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION OF BAPTISM:

We have seen previously that every apostolic tradition is: (1) based on a command of the Lord

 Jesus,  (2) communicated to us by the spoken or written words of an apostle and (3) has been

delivered or entrusted to believers of succeeding generations to be practiced by us.

In view of the above, we see that the apostolic tradition of baptism is established by the

commands of the Lord Jesus and the apostles Peter and Philip and delivered to us in the

following scriptures:

Matthew 28:16  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19  Go ye therefore, and teach  (i.e. make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them (baptized disciples) to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I  (Jesus) am with you (disciples) alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of  (in response to the authority of or in obedience to) Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Acts 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the

word. 45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with

Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46  For they

heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid

water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of (in response to the authority of or in

obedience to) the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

From these scriptures we learn the following truths regarding baptism:

(1) The people who are to be baptized are disciples (followers) of the Lord Jesus.

(2) The people who are to do the baptizing are other disciples of the Lord Jesus.  (There is not a line of scripture from the mouth of the Lord Jesus or the pens of the apostles that teaches that the act of baptizing is restricted to male believers, “credentialed” leaders, apostles or elders as has traditionally been practiced.)  Rather the Lord and the apostles clear teach that this responsibility lies upon “disciples” apart from any other requirement.

(3) Being baptized is not an option for any believer but a direct command to be obeyed.

(4) The result of any baptism is that the object of baptism (by definition of the word) is in the medium of the baptism.  Baptism may be done by “dipping”, “plunging” or “burying” the object into the medium or by “pouring” the medium upon the object so that the object is “in” the medium. (Sprinkling a few drops on one’s head does not accomplish this result and so sprinkling is NOT baptizing!)

(5) This next point may be surprising to many Christians, but the medium of the baptism of believers was never specified by the Lord Jesus or the apostles. In all the recorded instances of people being baptized in the NT where the medium is also recorded, it was water.  However, we have also noted that historical records of events do not establish apostolic traditions. Only divine or apostolic commands establish such. While in most instances water is certainly the most readily available and inexpensive substance to be the medium for baptism, we cannot say that baptizing in some other medium would be disobedient. For example, there are believers who live in the desert of the Australian “outback” who baptize by actual burial in soil!  Water is so scarce, precious and valuable that large enough quantities for baptizing are just not readily available. So these folks baptize in soil. The use of  soil is a very apt and appropriate medium for an action which is to portray death, burial and resurrection and is in no way a violation of apostolic tradition!

(6) The order of the divine and apostolic commands are as follows: (1) making disciples, (2) baptizing disciples and (3) teaching those baptized disciples to observe all that the Lord Jesus commands them.   To delay baptism for the purpose of teaching new converts anything is contrary to the divinely established order of these commands!

(7) There is no scriptural basis, reason or excuse for delaying baptism of a professed disciple for any reason!  Every person who professes to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus and desires to be baptized has every right to ask the question asked by the Ethiopian of the apostle, Philip: “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” The apostle made perfectly clear that there was one and only one pre-requisite for baptism, i.e. faith in Christ.  If any preacher, teacher, elder or church leader gives any other answer to such a question than that given by the apostle Philip, they have departed from apostolic tradition in the matter! To delay obedience in the matter of baptism on account of one’s age,  in order to give them further teaching, in order to allow their profession to be tested and proven, or because of some sinful habit over which they have not yet gained the victory is to stand in direct disobedience to the command of God and apostolic tradition!

May we have the humility to bow in obedience to the commands of the Lord Jesus relative to

baptism and the boldness to stand against any and every tradition of men that would run

contrary to His commands!

Just as in assembly/church/ekklesia gatherings,  we all retain and benefit far more from

conversations in which we have been active participants than we do from simply writing or

reading articles or speaking or listening to messages apart from interaction with others

on the subject matter!

So with this in mind,  I invite and encourage your comments, questions, challenges  or

objections to anything written in this blog.  Your interaction on the subject will be beneficial

for both of us and for others who read it. You may enter such as comments below or send

them in an email to me at bwood4d@gmail.com    

WHAT ESTABLISHES AN APOSTOLIC TRADITION?

I  believe that one reason the following four scriptures have been given is to identify for us what apostolic traditions are and what establishes such traditions:

1 Corinthians 11:1)  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2)  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

1 Corinthians 14:37)  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:15)  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 3:6)  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

From these scriptures we learn that an apostolic tradition is:

(a) a teaching  passed down to an apostle, from the Lord Jesus,(I Cor.11:1,2

        & 14:37)

           (b) such a teaching has been delivered to others by an apostle, 

                     (I Cor.11:2; II Thess.3:6)

                      (c) such a teaching has been communicated by an

                             apostle’s spoken word or by written epistle. 

                               (I Cor.14:37; II Thess.2:15)

Some very earnest Christians sincerely believe and teach that some very common church practices are apostolic traditions based solely on records of historical events found in the New Testament.

But does a scriptural historical record of an event establish any apostolic tradition?

You be the judge of the following recorded events in the Book of Acts. Does the record of any of the following 21 events establish an apostolic tradition which we ought always to follow? Check off your answer (“YES” or “NO”) after each of the following and then record your reasons below for any “YES” answers:

(1) Prayer meetings ought to be held in upper rooms because of Acts 1:13,14. 

       Y(   ) N(   )

(2) Everybody at a prayer meeting ought to speak in tongues because of

       Acts 2:4. Y(   )   N(   )

(3) When preaching the Gospel, one should use Joel 2, Psalm 16, Psalm 110 &

       Psalm 132 as their texts because of Acts 2:14-39.  Y(   )   N(   )

(4) Believers ought to continue steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and

       fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers because of Acts 2:42. 

       Y (   )  N (   )

(5) Believers ought to have all things common, selling their possessions and

       distributing to those who have need because of Acts 2:44,45 and 4:32-35. 

       Y(   )   N(   )

(6) Believers ought to meet daily in the temple because of Acts 2:46.Y(   )N(   )

(7) Believers ought to break bread daily from house to house because of

       Acts 2:46.   Y(   )   N(   )

(8) All lame beggars ought to be healed because of Acts 3:1-11.  Y(   )   N(   )

(9) Believers ought to heal every sick person that is brought for healing

       because of Acts 5:12-16.     Y(   )   N(   )

(10) Believers ought to preach the Gospel daily in the temple and in houses

        because of Acts 5:42.  Y(   )   N(   )

(11) Believers everywhere ought to appoint 7 men filled with the Holy Spirit

        and wisdom to care for widows in their city because of Acts 6:1-6. 

        Y(   )   N(   )

(12) Believers ought to pray and lay hands on people so they receive the

        Holy Spirit because of Acts 8:15-17.   Y(   )   N(  )

(13) Every one’s baptism should occur 3 days after their conversion because

        of Acts 9:1-18.    Y(   )   N(  )

(14) Believers should heal all those who are sick of the palsy because of

        Acts 9:33,34.  Y(   )   N(   )

(15) Believers always ought to raise the dead to life again because of

          Acts 9:36-41.  Y(   )   N(   )

(16) Believers ought to preach the Gospel on the sabbath day in synagogues

        because of Acts 14:1; 17:1-4)   Y(   )   N(   )

(17) Believers ought to baptize new converts in the middle of the night

         because of Acts 16:33.  Y(   )   N(   )

(18) Believers ought to remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread

        on the first day of the week, and only then because of Acts 20:7.  

         Y(   )   N(  )

(19) Someone should always preach till midnight when disciples come

        together to break bread because of Acts 20:7.   Y(   )   N(   )

(20) Believers should always gather in an upper room to break bread

        because of Acts 20:8.   Y(   )   N(   )

(21) Believers should always break bread after midnight and then talk

        till day break because of Acts 20:11.   Y(  )   N(  )

How many of the historical events above do you think establish an apostolic tradition?(  )  

If  you think one or more of them do, why that one or those and not others?

Would you then add any other further scriptural requirements (which identify apostolic traditions) to the three I have listed above?  If so,  what would such requirements be and where would they be found in the scriptures?

From another perspective, some of the recorded events above are practical illustrations of obedience to apostolic traditions which are actually taught and commanded elsewhere in scripture!

- Believers ought to continue steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, NOT because of the historical event of Acts 2:42, but because of the commands of the Lord Jesus and the apostles in Matt.28:18-20;  I Cor.11:1,2; II Thess. 2:15 and 3:6!

- We ought to continue steadfastly in the fellowship, NOT because of the historical event of Acts 2:42, but because of the calling of God in I Cor.1:9 and the apostolic command to communicate/have fellowship in Hebrews 13:16

 -We ought to continue steadfastly in the breaking of bread NOT because of the historical event of Acts 2:42 but because of the commands of the Lord Jesus and the apostles in Luke 22:19 and I Cor.11:23-26.

- We ought to continue steadfastly in prayers NOT because of the historical event of Acts 2:42 but because of the commands of the Lord Jesus and the apostles in Luke 18:1; 21:36; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18!

-We ought to sell possessions we don’t need and distribute to the necessities of others NOT because of the historical events of Acts 2:44,45 and 4:32-35 but because of the commands of the Lord Jesus and the apostles in Matt.19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 12:33; II Cor.8:9-15!

- Believers ought to remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread on the first day of the week NOT because of the historical event of Acts 20:7 but rather because the Lord Jesus and the apostles command us to do it as often we eat the bread and drink the cup  (i.e. as often as we eat our daily meals!) This is also the reason why we ought to do it NOT ONLY on the first day of the week but daily, NOT because the early believers happened to do it daily (Acts 2:46) but because the Lord Jesus and the apostles commanded us to do so!

Your comments?.... Add them below!

Lemuel asks how biblical ekklesias function and if they exist

Lemuel, a friend of mine, has recently written a number of excellent comments and questions in relation to the earliest posts on the blog relative to what an “ekklesia” is and how it is to function.  There I maintained that an ekklesia was a company of people called out with authority to make decisions together.  Biblical ekklesias did not have “boards”, committees or groups of leaders who gathered together to make decisions “for” the ekklesia!  There were apostles and elders but neither the apostles nor the elders made decisions for the churches! They gave counsel and advice but the authourity and responsibility for making decisions lay with the church gathered together.  See Acts 6:1-7 and Acts 15:1-31

It was in this context that Lemuel wrote the following and I’m going to take the liberty to comment (in blue) within his comments here:
“I see more of what you mean about "ekklesia".

You know, I've never seen such a thing in all my life, and with all my rational thinking behind me, I can't ever see it succeeding, unless the spirit of God is truly there controlling the whole situation.  (You are right, brother!  A biblical church cannot function properly unless the saints are willing to acknowledge practically, and not just theoretically, that Christ is the Head of His church and expect that He will guide His people!  How often have we (people) assumed control and thus usurped control which is not rightfully ours??

Can you imagine a group of drunkards, thieves, robbers, prostitutes,...etc that come to join the church and get saved, but they still have the old mind or old habits of thinking, getting together to make a decision? Most of them, if not all, wouldn't know how to discern His spirit or know His leading, because they don't know Him yet. (Heck, I'm not satisfied with my Christian walk for many times in my trials, I have no clue whatsoever what to do). (I have often thought such things myself, brother! But when I do, I am actually denying many awesome truths that are stated in scripture regarding all believers, even the youngest convert:

-According to the divinely stated terms of the New Covenant, God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2) has guaranteed that He will do all of the following not only for the house of Israel and for the house of Judah (Hebrews 8:8), but also for all Gentile believers who are the epistle of Christ written with the Spirit of the living God in fleshly tables of the heart (II Cor.3:3):

(1) I will put my laws into their mind, (2) I will write them in their hearts: (3) I will be to them a God, (4) They shall be to me a people, (5)  They shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest, (6) I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and (7) Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

The only reason that a biblical church is possible is because God is faithful to His own covenant!!! If such was dependent on our “performance”, our “wisdom” or our “ingenuity” it would be a hopeless cause!  But I would suggest that our doubts that God really meant what He said, and our fears that such just could not work have been at the root of our losing confidence in Him and placing our confidence instead in our own institutions, our own traditions and our own programs! 

May we rather acknowledge to Him when we have no clue what to do and then lean hard upon Him for the wisdom which He has promised (James 1:5) and trust Him to do in us all that He has said He would do!

“And what happens to the elders and apostles? They ought to know God a lot more (and many don't). Do they participate in decision making? I'm assuming they are part of the church body, so they would be included. Instinctively and naturally, the new babes in Christ look to church elders for their leadership.”

You are absolutely right, brother. Elders and apostles are part of the Body and, because they have been longer on the road, they go before and set an example for others to follow, and can give wise counsel. So yes, younger ones have the benefit of their example to follow and their wisdom to heed. But they are not to be rulers who “lay down the law” requiring others to bow to their decisions!

In all probability, I'm completely in the dark as to what the TRUE meaning of God's "ekklesia", "group", "board meeting", "gathering", "meeting" or whatever you call it is (for I don't think it matters what it is called, but what ever God providentially ordains is meaningful).
So describe then what actually happens in such a TRUE ekklesia...

Brother, let me be clear in my terms… there are many TRUE ekklesias/churches composed of born again, blood bought children of God in just about every community across this great land and around the world. They are TRULY God’s people and members in Christ’s Body. But, sad to say, the practices of many true churches are not biblical practices.

But, for the last two millennia, the Lord has been building His church and where ever people have heard the Gospel, become disciples of the Lord Jesus and then listened to Him, obeyed what He has commanded and taught others to do the same, such ekklesias which are biblical in their practices have been the result!  They have always been known by the practices we find recorded in Acts 2:- they that gladly received his word are baptized,- they continue stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine, - they continue stedfastly in fellowship, - they continue stedfastly in breaking of bread, and - they continue stedfastly in prayers,- the Lord adds to the church those who are saved (men do not add anyone to a biblical church they simply receive those whom God has received Romans 15:7).

And, when they assemble together, practices like those described in Hebrews 10:24 & 25; I Peter 4:10,11 and I Corinthians 11:24-26 are common among them:

Rather than forsaking the assembling of themselves together as the manner of some is…..     

- they consider one another to provoke (or stir up) unto love and to good works and - they exhort one another: - as they see the day approaching they long to do these things more and more, - they have fervent love among themselves,- they gladly extend hospitality one to another,- as each one of them has received, they also minister those gifts one to another as good

stewards of the many-sided grace of God, (they do not look to one or a few to do all the ministering) - So whenever anyone speaks they are to do it as the speaking of God, and- As anyone serves, they are to do it out of the ability which God has given so that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.- They eat meals together in their homes and as they do, they remember the Lord Jesus.

“Do you know where any such ekklesia exists?    Lemuel”

Yes, brother, I personally know of a few here in S. Ontario and have heard of many others and I have been praying for years that the Lord would multiply such gatherings across our county until there would be such gatherings within walking distance of everyone in our county!  Where ever there are brothers and sisters who long to embrace apostolic traditions, I long to encourage such to begin doing just that in their own homes with other saints who may live just down the block or around the corner!

Would you seriously consider that the Lord might want such an ekklesia in your home?

Doug Comments on the Church: Part Two

My friend, Doug,  continued,   “I would be very curious if you have put together (from SCRATCH) your own theory as to how a biblical body should be put together under the headship of Christ and what passages of Scripture do you use to get there....     How do you handle the passages that others try to use to prove otherwise?    I would be fascinated to see your model.     As soon as I complete Acts and ask my co-teacher to take the next session, I am going to "flesh out" my thoughts on paper and create what I see as the biblical model and try to show how it is Biblically the closest I can come and practically how logical and wise it would be to "organize" in this way....     I will share it with you for critique when I get it done.”

Brother, theories or opinions are like noses, everybody has one! So my theory would be no better than anyone else’s. But what the Lord Jesus and the apostles taught us is of utmost importance.

First of all, I don’t believe it is our job to “put a Biblical body together under the headship of Christ”, for God has already done that!  We are never instructed in scripture to “plant”, “institute”, “organize” or “put together” such a body. We are simply instructed to “keep” (guard) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  (Eph.4:3)   When a baby is born, it’s physical body is complete. It’s unity is already established. It is not yet mature but it is complete.

The church is God’s creation, He has established its unity and our responsibility is to guard the unity of that body (not create it!)

Secondly, as far as scripture is concerned there is only one body (The church which is Christ`s Body, Eph.1:22,23, which He said He would build is the only body in which we need to have membership.)   A church in your town or mine is not a “body”, but such churches are part of the Body of Christ.  Otherwise we would have many bodies with one head!   Scripture only speaks of “membership” in the context of a body which has a head.  Only two such are mentioned in the Bible:  (1)our physical bodies have members (eyes, ears etc) I Cor.12, and (2) the Body of Christ has members, believers in the Lord Jesus who are in vital union with the head, Christ.  So “church membership” as the term is most commonly used today, i.e. membership in a local congregation, is not a scriptural idea at all, but simply an invention used to exercise control by dispensing “membership privileges” to those who wish to “sign up”.  I am not a member in any church or gathering of saints except the one I was made a member of the day I got saved!  Nor do we seek to have any control over other saints by inviting them to “become members” of “our church”!  The church is NOT ours at all!

Thirdly, in order to “keep/guard” the unity of a living body  (a little baby’s body or the body of Christ) we need to recognize what that body is ( a living man).  Then we need to recognize that the proper functioning of that living body needs care (in keeping with its design)  and that the health of that body can be threatened, endangered or crippled by abuse or lack of proper care.

I believe that the commands and instructions of the Lord Jesus which he gave to the apostles are the divine guide for the care of Christ’s Body.  The church which is Christ’s body, the church in your town or mine, and the church in your house or mine will thrive as those instructions are followed and obeyed. But when a baby is “cared for” by instructions created and suited for a corporation, the baby will suffer from severe neglect and abuse.  (Precisely what happens when “church” is organized, operates, and functions according to traditions of men rather than according to apostolic traditions received from the Lord Himself!

Traditions of men, which are designed to guide the functioning of corporations, bring horrible abuse upon members of Christ’s body. After long exposure to corporate traditions, many believers are atrophied from lack of use or paralyzed from abuse, joints with other members of the body are dislocated, disease is common and communication with the Head is almost non-existent! So the only way for believers to begin to function in a healthy manner as members of Christ is to purpose to listen to Jesus, obey whatever He has said and then teach others to do the same.  (That’s basically the idea of the “great Commission”!)

“Church services”, “worship services”, clergy/laity distinctions, denominational distinctives are a few of the traditions of men that are foreign to scripture. In their places believers are to assemble together to minister one to another (Hebrews 10:24,25) as good stewards of the grace of God which is given to each one (I Peter 4:10,11),   the people of God (LAOS) I Peter 2:10 are the same group of people as God’s inheritance (KLEROS or clergy) over which elders are forbidden to be lords! (I Peter 5:3) The use of any names which distinguish Christians one from another or which exclude others from their fellowship are forbidden. (I Cor.1:10-13)  Pastors/elders/overseers are males who are “homegrown” and thus well known by the believers they serve (not unknown and imported from elsewhere). They are recognized by God-given qualifications (I Timothy 3 and Titus 1) NOT hired according to preferences of the sheep and they work diligently with their own hands to meet their own needs and also to be able to support weak ones among the sheep(Acts 20:33-35). Finally, elders do not function alone. No NT church had only one elder. Rather the churches which resulted from the ministries of the apostles were guided by a plurality of elders who laboured together to care for the flock.

So, Doug, (and other readers of this blog)… as you look for and seek to be involved in a church which is thoroughly biblical in its practices,  which of those mentioned above would you embrace?  What other practices taught by the Lord Jesus and the apostles would you include? How can you begin to make such apostolic traditions part of your own lifestyle today? As you, personally, obey what the Lord has shown you, how might He bring you into contact with others with similar desires?

Doug Comments on the Church (Part One)

Doug, a friend of mine wrote the following comments in a couple of recent emails and gave me his permission to use his comments here. Doug currently serves as a deacon and teacher in a church whose location and denomination need not be disclosed:

“I have been thinking a lot about church too, but for different reasons.  I am teaching through Acts and though it is a transitional book, I find that there are some "traditions of men" that are tied back to Acts 6.   I have yet to find other solid passages in scripture that teach that the "congregation" should be electing its overseers/shepherds/elders etc. The idea of (our denomination’s) congregation rule is a biblical stretch at best. It seems scripture supports elders (qualifications given by Paul) overseeing the church and maintaining adherence to the truth of scripture.                                         

How can a congregation be in submission to an overseer/pastor/bishop/ elder/shepherd that they elect and can throw out if he preaches the stuff they don't want to hear?   Excellent point, Doug!  I agree entirely. There can be no genuine following of a shepherd by the sheep who have hired him and have the ability to fire him!  But an excellent example of biblical and godly leadership and how believers are to respond to it is found in the case of Stephanas’ house and Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian saints regarding them. 1 Corinthians 16:15)  I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) 16)  That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

How can any one man - certain (denominations and associations) tout "one man" / God's man as a pastor - have all the gifts mentioned in scripture?  No man has all the gifts, therefore all members of the body are needed.  If Christ is the HEAD, then all the other body parts have a function and make up a complete and functioning organism (not organization).   You are absolutely right on this as well, brother!

I think my next step is to draw up a graphic picture (I am a visual learner) of what I think a "church" should look like as I see things depicted in Scripture.   However, if there is ONLY one way for a biblical body to function, then I believe Christ would have made it very clear in scripture through the Holy Spirit.    But, like other truths that appear to be the mysteries of the word, maybe it is there, but we just don't want to accept it because we have our traditions we are comfortable with...   ya think?”  Doug, I do think that the Lord Jesus has given us just one way for a biblical church to function. The apostle Paul taught that one way consistently in all the churches. The only reason why we find it so difficult to recognize that one way is that we have all been raised in a religious system which presents “church” as a smorgasbord.  (If you don’t like “church” as it is served up in one place you can choose any of a multitude of different options offered down the street or in the next town! There are a wide of “worship styles”, “music styles”, “programs” and “doctrinal statements” which are offered.  But the following are traditions which were integral to the religious experience of almost all of us:
- pulpit ministry/monologue preaching is the centre piece almost everywhere,  (If you didn’t hear a “sermon" most would not believe you had been to church!) 
- a clear distinction between a clergy class of ministers and the laity is also almost universal. (If the group you are part of doesn’t have some form of “full-time Christian worker” with “credentials” to prove it, your “group” cannot possibly be a church! 
– the ownership, or at least the regular use of a large building (with a sign!) in which meetings are convened is considered to be an absolute essential if you are going to “have church”! and  
- the regular receiving from the congregants of monetary collections which are used mainly for  maintaining the buildings and supporting the “full-time ministers”.

But, not one of these traditions were  received from the Lord Jesus or His apostles and biblical churches today function quite well without any of them!

Here’s another perspective on the issue of whether there is ONLY one way for Biblical churches to function…..

I recently received an invitation to a gathering of people “interested in doing church differently”. The invitation did not specify from what these folks were interested in differing as they did church.

Certainly there are many Christians and others who have been hurt, disillusioned, abused, bored or dissatisfied with whatever their previous experience of “church” has been. It is understandable that such are looking for a change!  It reminds me of a very similar situation with marriage in our culture! Many whether still married, separated, divorced or not yet married are very dissatisfied with what they have experienced in their own marriages or have observed in those of others. It is understandable that such are looking for a change!

But as Christians, born again believers in Jesus Christ who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, what would or should be our response if we received an invitation to a gathering of folks interested in doing marriage differently??   Do we not recognize that marriage was God’s idea and that there is one way to “do marriage” and that that one way is now prescribed by a few basic non-optional, transcultural and universal traditions from the Creator?  I might very well be sorely criticised by some for being so “narrow” for saying so, but I firmly believe the following about marriage:                                                                                                                  
- It is a human relationship, (ruling out bestiality)
- It is a heterosexual relationship,   (ruling out sodomy)
- It is a non-incestuous relationship,  (ruling out incest)
- It is a non-adulterous relationship,  (ruling out adultery)
- It is a marital relationship  (ruling out pre, post and extra marital relationships)  and
- It is a monogamous relationship, (ruling out polygamy)

In like manner, why should it seem strange to us that when it comes to “church” that God should also have some basic, non-optional, transcultural and universal traditions by which all churches which own Christ as their head should follow?

Some more of Doug's comments and my responses in the next post. Now it's YOUR turn! What are your thoughts, experiences and conclusions from your own study of scripture? You can comment below or send an email to me at bwood4d@gmail.com.