Purpose & Principles of a Local Church, Part 3

Introduced by Pastor Ed Vasicek. Read Part 1 and Part 2.

Here is the last part of our “Purpose and Principles” document, developed and unanimously approved by our 1996 Elders’ Board. It grapples with what we consider to be reasonable and the proper balance in matters of how we conduct services, when we separate, and political activity. It continues to explain what makes our church distinct from both mainline churches and other evangelical churches. This line in particular grips me: “Our concern is that we are headed toward involving our people in edification and ministry, not matching anyone’s model.”

Views on Ministries

Flexibility Toward Ministries

We believe ministry forms and patterns are not Biblical absolutes. We recognize the need for patterns of ministry and for variety in ministry. We must constantly evaluate whether an existing ministry adds to the edification of our body or whether it is merely a shrine to the past. We must also be cautious about establishing new, on-going ministries or practices; many events may be worthwhile on a one-time or occasional basis or for a limited time. We must flex based upon fruit, workers, and current needs. Therefore, we feel free to eliminate practices no longer productive, no matter how long-standing. We recognize that edification is a varied process which is not necessarily limited to existing methodology.

Ministry Style

The style of our ministries is open to change. We freely draw on various styles based on who the Lord has placed in the local body and what we sense is most edifying. Although we value both our heritage and creative newer approaches, we consider them our servants, not our masters. Our concern is that we are headed toward involving our people in edification and ministry, not matching anyone’s model.

View Regarding Varied Ministries

We want to discourage “tunnel vision” when it comes to ministry. We value every ministry, while recognizing some as more crucial than others.

Evangelism

The other of the two great purposes of the local church [the first being edification] is evangelism, the proclamation of the Gospel in our world. We believe that the command given to the eleven disciples in the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” necessarily means both evangelism and edification. (Matthew 28:19) Just as we cannot successfully evangelize the world without a mature, built-up body, neither can we become a mature body without sharing the gospel. In the area of corporate evangelism—which simply means those times when we work together as a church to reach the lost—we hold the following principles:

Every body of believers must be responsible to its own community first. To the church in Jerusalem, this meant witnessing to Jerusalem before reaching out to all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) For our church, this means that we will not substitute world missions for local outreach. We will do both.

Corporate evangelism is basic to personal evangelism. This is seen in two ways. First, our effectiveness in individual witness is related directly to the strength of our body life. Jesus said, “Love one another that all men will know that you are my disciples.” Second, the witness of two or more establishes truth more effectively than the witness of one. Sometimes men will only be convinced if they see several people witnessing together for Jesus (e.g., Paul and Barnabas). (John 13:35; Deuteronomy 19:15)

Presenting the gospel to the unsaved is to take place primarily in the world not in the church. While we certainly do not exclude non-believers from church gatherings, most of our contacts with them are outside the church. Rather than preaching salvation messages to the saved, we prefer to send the saved out to seek the lost.

The primary target for evangelism should be adults and consequently whole households. The biblical models we see for evangelism usually involve the salvation of adults who then reach their spouses and children. (Acts 16:15, 31-34) This does not mean we should not try to reach children, but it does mean that our efforts are more likely multiplied when we focus on adults rather than children.

The church is responsible to identify those who are especially endowed by God as people who can carry the good news into the community and beyond—”even to the remotest part of the earth.” While not implying that other members of the body are released from the responsibility to witness, we do recognize that God has gifted and chosen some as evangelists and missionaries. (Ephesians 4:11) We bear the responsibility as a church to identify, train, encourage, and in some cases, support the work of evangelists and missionaries from among our people.

New believers should be integrated into the life of the church as soon as possible. This is clear given our emphasis on edification.

Today’s church must develop its own contemporary structures and approaches to evangelism utilizing the principles and purposes just stated as biblical guidelines. We believe that some evangelism techniques which may have been effective at one time are not as effective today. This means that we seek new ways to transmit the gospel more effectively. “Sermons from Science” is an example of an approach that combines the gospel with a format that can reach people in our community today.

Interaction With Other Churches and Ministries

We do believe that the broader evangelical church has much to offer us. We, therefore, interact with solid churches, quality magazines, and solid inter-church movements, campaigns, and outreaches. In seeking to “salt the earth,” we can join with people of various faiths to promote common cause items so long as we do not convey the image of endorsing the beliefs of those involved or that our differences are unimportant. In such cases, what unites us is a common cause not a common faith. Our level of cooperation with other churches shall be dependent upon the nature of the project or ministry and the beliefs of other churches involved. In matters that address detailed doctrinal issues (such as Bible conferences, prophecy conferences, etc.), we expect a higher level of agreement than in matters addressing evangelism. In matters of moral issues, the level of agreement is based on the issue itself. In both doctrinal and evangelistic cooperative efforts, we would like to see leaders and counselors who hold to the basic fundamentals of the faith, such as:

• Inerrancy, inspiration, and sole, absolute authority of the 66-book Bible;
• Trinity, deity of Christ, personality of the Holy Spirit;
• The virgin birth;
• The sacrificial, atoning work of Christ on the cross and His physical resurrection;
• The return of Christ (second coming);
• Salvation by grace through faith apart from rituals or good works;
• A literal heaven and hell.

In matters involving more doctrinal instruction, we would be concerned with many issues, such as the nature of the church, principles of interpretation, the security of the believer, the work of the Spirit, or the literal interpretation of Genesis. Again, the determining factor will be the issues discussed. We go on record as opposing the World Council of Churches because it is composed predominantly of non-Bible-believing churches. We can work with conservative churches in denominations affiliated with the WCC if we are satisfied with the individual church’s footing.

Political Activity

We recognize our calling as salt and light to the earth. (Matthew 5:13) This means that we seek to persuade men by telling the world the truth about God’s hatred of sin, His inevitable judgment, and the good news that Jesus died for the salvation of those who believe. (2 Corinthians 5:11) At times, this means that we speak out concerning the sinfulness in our society, such as when we publicly condemn abortion. We also recognize our residence in a free and democratic land. The issues debated in the public square today cry out for moral direction, which can only be found in the unchanging truth of God’s Word and the love of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is right and proper that our people, as dictated by their conscience, should participate fully in the democratic process of our governance. If they speak out, let them speak with grace and truth. If they seek office, let them serve selflessly and righteously, while always remembering that a believer’s citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20) We, as a body, choose to refrain from endorsements or denouncements of particular candidates or political parties. We do so because we do not wish to be unequally yoked to ideologies and movements, which while appealing for evangelical support, are not truly Bible-based or accountable to the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 6:14)