Do We Need the Local Church
Dear Christian friends,
Yesterday, I read an article titled “Why I am not a member of a `local church.'” The article was prefaced by the editor: “We would like to have been able to print letters from readers in defense of the traditional church norms, if such can be done biblically. However, thus far, no champion has yet arisen to vindicate the institutional churches from the biblical challenges raised.”
The writer of the article basically argued that the various local churches he has seen have all been unbiblical in their structure, run by unbiblical leaders, and not holding to a biblical standard. Therefore, he should not join himself to them. He began with elders, noting that the Bible says that elders must be blameless, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, hospitable, etc. He does not believe the elders of the various churches he has visited meet these requirements.
Next he goes into the order of church services in light of 1 Corin. 14:26. “Where is it to be found that one man is to dominate a gathering of saints?” His conclusion is that the various churches he has visited are not true New Testament churches but worldly religious clubs. “You wish me to become a part of a local church? Gladly! A local religious group? No!”
I agree with most of the author’s criticism’s of many local church fellowships. Often, elders are ordained who do not meet biblical standards. Often, meetings are dominated by a single person. Often, there are unbiblical practices.
But what does the New Testament say about our involvement in an organized Church fellowship? Hebrews 10:24-25 says “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” Later we read, “obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your soul” (Heb. 13:17). If I am not part of local church, there is nobody who has rule over me, watching for my soul. Therefore, I cannot obey this command.
How does the New Testament describe the “assembling of ourselves together” which some have forsook? In Acts 1 we see 120 believers gathered in an upper room. At the end of Acts 2, we read “they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house….” In Acts 5 we read “and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch” and “daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” In Acts 6 they appointed seven deacons.
I don’t have space to go into everything the New Testament has to say about church life, but it is clear that the “assembling of ourselves together” described in Acts and the epistles involved organized meetings, ordaining of elders and deacons, and church discipline.
What should we do if we see things that are unbiblical in our fellowship? There was plenty wrong with the Corinthian church. They argued about whether they should follow Paul or Apollos. One of their members was involved in fornication. They were suing one another in court. They used the spiritual gifts improperly. They took communion improperly. Paul wrote the church to correct them. But he never suggested that people should leave the church, even if the elders did not obey his instructions.
What are we to do about unbiblical practices in our fellowship? 1 Tim. 5 says, “Rebuke not an elder but intreat him as a father.” We can, in humility, bring these matters to our church elders. We must pray for them. Other than that, you can either stay or find a different fellowship that seems to be more biblical. This option did not exist in the early church. All fellowships submitted to the same leaders — the apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 16:4).
Most cities in the U.S. have at least one biblical fellowship. But you might live in a small town or rural area where there is no fellowship that can truly be called Christian. Stay away from fellowships whose leaders deny the basic tenets of our faith, are not walking right with God, or are abusing their authority (1 Peter 5:3). If God has called you to live in a place where there is no true “church,” He probably wants you to help start one by gathering together the true believers in your area and bringing others to Christ.
To summarize, the New Testament command is that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and that we are to place ourselves in submission to leaders who watch over our souls. The New Testament example is that of believers meeting together in a regular and organized manner with leaders who exercise church discipline when needed but do not abuse their authority.
Coming Events
EVERY FRIDAY 7 PM. Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. Meet at Vineyard, 7th St. and Harrison, San Francisco. Call (510) 531- 5325 for more information.
EVERY SATURDAY Noon. San Francisco or Berkeley witnessing. Call (510) 531-5325 for more information.
Saturday March 15, March 29 12-6 PM San Francisco Worship Rally. Market at Grant (between 3rd and 4th St.) Call (510) 531-5325 a few days in advance to confirm location.
March 26-30 Easter Outreach, Reynosa, Mexico. Contact Calvary Commission (210) 843-8451.
Summer Short Term Outreaches–Albania, El Salvador, New York, etc. Contact Forward Edge (360) 574-3343.
Summer Short Term Outreaches for Youth–Romania, China, West Indies, Ukraine, San Francisco. Contact Shake the Nation (800) 642-4719.
JULY 4-12 SOS-SAN FRANCISCO. Set aside this week for our 18th annual outreach to the people of San Francisco.
Ministry News and Needs
On January 4, after many days of rain, the sun came out. We held a six hour worship rally at the corner of Grant and Market in downtown San Francisco. Tom Burnowski and the “Children of the Rock” ministered through music. Thousands of people walk by this location, mostly shoppers. Many people are hardened to the gospel, often because of bad experiences with the church, religious confusion, and the deceitfulness of sin. We preached and gave out hundreds of tracts, but mostly ministered through music. The music helps to soften people’s hearts and demonstrate the joy we have found in knowing Jesus. Please pray that God would open many hearts to the gospel in this location.
I spent several days including New Year’s Day with our lawyer, Russell Davis, making thousands of photocopies and putting them together so we could file our appeal on January 2. Russell and Tim Biddle, who prepared the appeal, have already donated well over 100 hours of legal time. I think they are doing an excellent job. We hope to have an answer from the U.S. Court of Appeals around April. Please pray for these judges, that they would grant the temporary injunction we are seeking in order to stop the permit denials and citations.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We now have a second banner to use on the streets. We still need some new gospel signs. We have several openings for Chris tians to live in our ministry house. We are looking for radical Christians with a desire to reach the lost. Also, we still need more workers to help us on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. I hope you can join us for one of these outreaches. Call us for details.
Our Tape of the Month is Discipling New Believers by Ron Radachy. We need to help new believers get started in their Christian walk and get established in a local fellowship. Ron and his wife Judy are Directors of the Oasis Ministry in Hollywood, CA and organize the annual SOS-Hollywood outreach.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
