Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
November 9, 1967
NUMBER 27, PAGE 6b-7a

Work Of The Church

Tom Oglesby

Many times I am asked a question similar to the following: "Do you mean to teach that the church cannot buy a bottle of milk for a starving, hungry baby?" My answer to questions like this one is simply: "It depends on what agency the church is working through in providing the needs of a hungry child.

Recent discussions have convinced me that questions such as the one above and much of the prejudice that has been aroused by religious demagogues in the present controversies could have been avoided by the use of more precise and correct language in dealing with the mission of God's people. So often, when we speak of the work of the church, what we are actually talking about is the work of the local church. However, in its correct sense, the term "work of the church" actually covers far more than the work of a collective group of Christians in a particular location.

The word church, of course, comes from the Greek word ekklesia which simply means an assembly. The word church, as used in connection with New Testament Christianity, may be rightly defined as the baptized body of believers or simply as God's people. When we talk about the work of the church (God's people), we are not just talking about the work of the local church.

God's people (the church) are to perform the work He has set before them, using the two agencies He has provided. These are: (1) the individual Christian and (2) the local church. Some would speak of this as being the church at work distributively (as individuals) and the church at work collectively (as local churches. ) Now this question presents itself: How can we know which agency God wants us to use in performing a particular work such as the one mentioned in the question above? The answer is very simple. We turn to the Word of God for precept, example, or inference.

As far as General benevolence (assistance to all men) is concerned, the Bible is very clear. The obligation rests on the individual! (James 1:27; Gal. 6: 10; Matt. 25) There is not a command, example, or inference in all of God's Word teaching that the local church is to be involved in benevolent assistance to those who are not saints. The passage is simply not there which authorizes such. If we try to shift an individual obligation to the local church, we bring ourselves into direct conflict with the Doctrine of Christ.

Can the church (God's people) take care of the needs of starving infants? Why certainly so! But only using the agency God has directed, this being the individual child of God. We cannot, without punishment, exceed Divine Authority even in performing such a noble deed.

104-A Elm Hill St., Glasgow, Kentucky 42141