What's So Important About the Local Church? (Part 2)

From Voice, May/June 2014. Used by permission. Read Part 1.

Biblically independent churches strive to be loyal to Christ and His Word rather than to any organization. However, the First Century apostles of Christ also encouraged cooperative interdependence between local churches.

• Greetings were extended throughout all the New Testament between independent churches, indicating a relationship with other churches in other regions (example in Romans 16:23).
• Paul instructed the church at Rome to assist Phoebe in her visit from Corinth (Romans 16:1-2).
• Paul instructed the churches of Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia to collect offerings for the poor believers in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 8:1; 9:1-2; Romans 15:25).
• Barnabas was sent by the Jews of the church of Jerusalem to be an encouragement to the Gentiles of the church at Antioch (Acts 11:22-24).
• The Gentiles in Antioch sent an offering to help the Jewish believers in Jerusalem during a famine (Acts 11:28-30).
• An inter-church conference was held in Jerusalem in order to clarify doctrinal teaching regarding what is to be the true understanding of salvation (Acts 15:1-21).
• After the inter-church conference in Jerusalem, Paul and others were sent to inform the new churches in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of the resultant teaching (Acts 15:22-23).

• The independent local church in Thessalonica had a loving concern for all the brethren in Macedonia (1 Thessalonians 4:10, 5:27).
• Local churches in Macedonia financially assisted Paul in his efforts to start a local church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:8-9).
• The local church in Philippi financially assisted Paul in his efforts to start a local church in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:15-16).
• The same New Testament letter was to be distributed and read in groups of churches (Colossians 4:16 [Colosse and Laodicea were 32 miles apart], Galatians 1:2).
• Paul says that there were similarities between local churches regarding customary practices found in all of them (1 Corinthians 4:17, 7:17, 11:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:14)
• One church planting team who accompanied Paul was from many different places (Acts 20:4)
• Gaius was commended for assisting itinerant ministers (3 John 5-8)
• Titus was a regional overseer, problem solver, leadership recruiter for the island of Crete and was accountable to Paul in the process (Titus 1:5)

How do we put these kinds of activities that we see in the New Testament into practice today? We in IFCA International have established an organizational structure to coordinate and encourage joint participation in mutual activities and ministries (interdependence). IFCA International provides this while guaranteeing the autonomy of the local church (independence). IFCA International churches are identified by a common doctrinal position, in contrast to today’s ecclesiastical scene which is marked by doctrinal carelessness and attempts at unity through minimizing Scriptural convictions. We maintain doctrinal integrity and the independence of the local church, but we do so without an exclusive spirit of isolation. We enjoy the fellowship, encouragement, and associations among our member churches, organizations, and individuals. But we also admit that not everyone is convinced about the validity of our organization, nor is everyone convinced that local churches are even necessary.

Regular meeting is essential

Some today suggest that regular attendance at a local church is optional. But the passages that were cited above demonstrate that autonomous New Testament local churches met regularly under the direction of Scripturally qualified leaders, with the Bible taught and prayers and worship offered and the ordinances (baptism and the Lord’s table) practiced and discipline exercised among an identifiable roll of members, with love practiced in the form of genuine fellowship. That’s what a local church is and does. And meeting together regularly is essential in order to fulfill all of that.

Additionally you see the importance of regularly gathering with a local church in Hebrews 10:24-25. Written to Jews who had professed Christ but were considering returning to Judaism because of their persecution, Hebrews has six strong warning passages. Hebrews 10:26-39 is the fourth warning passage.

Immediately before that fourth warning are three exhortations, each beginning with “let us…” (used three times in Heb. 10:22, 23, 24). The third exhortation begins: “let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” The word for “consider” is a serious word also used in Hebrews 3:1 where we are commanded to “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.” Consider Christ, consider one another. That’s serious business.

And for what purpose are we to consider one another? We are to seriously consider stirring up love and good works in our brothers and sisters. The verb “stir up” is a strong word which also can be translated “sharpen, irritate, or provoke.”¹ It means we are to focus habitually on sharpening the love and good works in other Christians. That is the most basic definition of Christian fellowship.

Then Hebrews 10:25 continues. It tells us where all of this activity is to take place: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” The idea of forsaking is abandoning and the idea of assembling together is being gathered together as believers, in a church. The argument is that we must not forsake regularly gathering in a local church, where we are to continually consider how to stir our brothers and sisters to love and good works.

The Hebrew Christians who received this epistle were considering abandoning the local assembly of believers. They were reminded in Hebrews 10:25 that it is absolutely vital for each of them to regularly meet with other Christians in a local church. Church attendance was considered to be important in the New Testament. And it most certainly is important today.

Conclusion

Questions regarding the forms and methods that each local church will adopt are legitimate to ask and differing answers are acceptable. There are many ways each independent, autonomous local church can determine they will meet, provided they meet:

1. under the direction of Scripturally qualified leaders (elders, deacons)
2. with the Bible taught and prayers and worship offered, and
3. with the ordinances (baptism and the Lord’s table) practiced, and
4. with discipline exercised among an identifiable roll of members,
5. with love practiced in the form of genuine fellowship.

Differences in the forms that a local church will take and the methodology they will choose to utilize are acceptable. What is not acceptable is abandoning the local church altogether or ditching it in favor of a virtual, web-based Christian community and hanging out with a couple of your friends on Sundays drinking coffee and engaging in stimulating conversation. That may be enjoyable, but it is not a local church.

Regular attendance and sincere involvement in a faithful Bible-teaching local church is important.