In our exploration of the organization of the Church of Christ, we delve into a fundamental aspect: how the church functions according to New Testament teachings, as opposed to hierarchical structures found in other denominations like Catholicism or Protestant branches.
In the New Testament, every church was autonomous, self-governing, and not beholden to a central authority like the Vatican in Catholicism or a national or regional board in many Protestant denominations. This autonomy is a distinctive feature of the Church of Christ, rooted in the practices of the early Christian church.
Ephesians 4:11-12 serves as a foundational scripture for understanding church roles: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Each role serves a specific purpose in edifying and equipping the church community.
- Apostles: In the first century, apostles like Peter played significant roles, but the concept of a ‘Pope,’ as seen in Catholicism, is alien to the New Testament.
- Prophets: These were individuals with the gift of prophecy, often manifesting through miraculous gifts, crucial in the early church’s growth and development.
- Evangelists: Evangelists or preachers, distinct from pastors or elders, focused on spreading the gospel. The role of an evangelist, as highlighted in scriptures like 2 Timothy 4:1-5, is primarily to preach the Word, reprove, rebuke, and exhort.
- Pastors: Also known as elders or bishops, pastors are akin to shepherds of the congregation. Their authority is confined to their local congregation, and they are selected based on specific New Testament criteria (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1). They are not infallible and can be corrected as per scriptural guidelines.
- Teachers: These roles involve imparting biblical knowledge and understanding to the church community.
- Deacons: Deacons perform various service roles as helpers and administrators within the church.
- Members: Each member of the Church of Christ is likened to a body part, playing a unique role in the church’s life (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Active involvement and contribution to the church’s work are expected from every member.
The Church of Christ emphasizes a structure that mirrors the organization seen in the New Testament. This means no external governing body or hierarchical system like in denominational churches. Each congregation is self-governing, with elders, deacons, and members collaboratively working in their respective roles, guided by the New Testament.
Understanding these roles and the scriptural basis for each is crucial in grasping how the Church of Christ operates. It’s about aligning as closely as possible with the New Testament model, ensuring that all practices and organizational structures adhere to biblical teachings. This commitment to scriptural accuracy and avoidance of man-made hierarchy and creeds sets the Church of Christ apart in its organization and function.
Discussion Questions and Answers 7
- Who is the head of the church of Christ (Eph. 1:1:22-23)? Who is the head of the Catholic Church?
- Christ is the head of his own body, the church; the “pope” is the head of the Catholic Church.
- How has Protestantism mimicked the unscriptural organization of the Roman Catholic apostasy?
- Denominations have regional, national and universal hierarchies that tap into the authority of the local church to direct its own work and expends its own treasury.
- What does “local congregational autonomy” mean?
- It is the concept of self-rule, according to the New Testament pattern in which each local church was authorized to make its own decisions apart from any organization’s power.
- Does the history of the church of Christ include apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:19-20)?
- Yes, but all the apostles are dead and the offices unfilled and the absence of miraculous abilities makes prophecy impossible.
- Consider 2 Timothy 4:1-5. What are evangelists to preach? What does it mean to be “ready in season and out of season”?
- They are to preach the Word and stand fast when their message is popular and when it is not.
- Some churches forbid their preachers to do any secular work while others demand it. What is the proper scriptural position?
- Preachers may supplement their income with secular work but also may expect to earn their keep from the members of the church.
- Give the four terms that can be used interchangeably with “pastors”. What is their role, according to 1 Peter 5:2-3? What does this include?
- Elders, presbyters, bishops, and overseers. They are to shepherd local churches and be examples to the flock. It includes providing spiritual feed, corrective discipline, and watching out for wolves.
- Catholicism appoints one bishop to rule all the churches of a region. Give the scripture that authorizes this plan.
- There is none.
- Why is it important for the elder to be married and have children (1 Tim. 3:4-5)?
- We learn from this part of his life how he will manage the church of God.
- How does the church deal with preachers who teach error?
- They should be rebuked and exposed if they will not correct their error.
- Would the concept of congregational autonomy be violated if many churches sent their funds to one centralized eldership who made decisions about how to spend it? Why or why not?
- Autonomy would be violated because the authority over the treasury of all these churches would be shifted to an outside eldership.
- Do you have a copy of the official creed of the church of Christ? What is it called?
- The church’s creed is called the New Testament.
- Give the scripture that requires preachers to be schooled and ordained by some artificial standard.
- There is none.