Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
January 4, 1968
NUMBER 34, PAGE 1-2a

The Local Church

Herschel E. Patton

It is an easy thing for people to swing from one extreme to another. In an effort to avoid liberalism and maintain the ancient order of things, some have seemingly "run past Jerusalem to Jericho." I believe this has happened to some in their efforts to dethrone the "Churchanity" idea or denominational "Church of Christ" concept that many have.

Indeed, the church of our Lord is not a denominational body comparable to "The Methodist Church," etc. To speak of "Church of Christ" congregations indicates that it is. This is somewhat like speaking of the car of Herschel Patton car. So speaking, suggests a Herschel Patton brand of car instead of a car possessed by (belonging to) Herschel Patton. The church (small c) of Christ (capital C) simply refers to something called "the church" that belongs to Christ. In the Scriptures, that called "the church" is said to be saved, blood-purchased people (Acts 2:47, 20:28). The word "church" is only one term, among many, that is used to depict these people. They are pictured as the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13, Heb. 12:23, 28), the body of Christ (Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:22-23), the house or family of God (I Tim. 3:15), vineyard of the Lord (Matt. 20:), fold of God (Jno. 10:16), bride of Christ (Rom. 7:4, Rev. 19:7-8), etc. Each of these expressions depict some characteristic of these people.

The word "church", from the Greek "ekklesia," literally means "called out" and is translated church, congregation, and assembly. The word, therefore, suggests a group, body, or the aggregate of God's "called" or "saved" people. One "called" — "saved" person is not and cannot be either "the" church or "a" church (I Cor. 12:14). All of the "called" constitute the church of Christ, the kingdom of Christ, the house of God, or family, the body of Christ. The church in a given place (I Cor. 1:2) is composed of such "called" ones.

The church in a given place is characterized by an organization (Bishops-overseers, deacons-special servants, and saints — Phil. 1:1), has a common treasury (I Cor. 16:2), and assembles for mutual worship and edification (I Cor. 11: Heb. 10:25). Such a church (congregation) can have servants (Rom. 16:1), messengers (II Cor. 8:23), and saints can join (Acts 9:26-28, 8:1) it and, therefore, be assembled or associated with it (Acts 11:26). It can experience persecution (Acts 8:1) and know rest from such (Acts 9:31).

There is always danger of so emphasizing the congregation as to make it our prime interest-our prized party, and even manufacture the whole body of saints (the universal church) into an ecclesiastical body comparable to the denominations of our day. When this is done, "Churchanity" is manifested rather than Christianity. People become converted to a party or group rather than to Christ. This is an evil that must be scrupulously avoided.

To avoid this danger, some have almost completely disowned the group, congregation, church idea. In fact, the word "church" is anathema to them. One brother seeks to have a new translation of the Scriptures made that would eliminate the word "church". Another decries the idea of urging men to "become members of the church," declaring that one cannot do such — that the church does not have members. This, I think, is a case of running past Jerusalem to Jericho.

The word church suggests "group," "assembly," or "congregation" and to be a part of the church is to be a part (member) of the group, assembly, or congregation. The assembly (church) that protested Paul's preaching in Ephesus was made up of many members (Acts 19:41). Christians are said to be "members one of another" (Rom. 12:5, Eph. 4: 25). If teaching and admonishing one another (Col. 3:16) presupposes a congregation, then being "members one of another" would also suggest a congregation or group of members. Paul wrote "for the body is one and hath many members... so also is Christ" (I Cor. 12:12). If our physical body is one, made up of many members, and this pictures the church, then it is a group or body of many people (members). The church is God's building (temple), made up of "living stones" (I Cor. 3:9; I Pet. 2:5). His temple has stones; His body has members, and His kingdom has citizens. There is nothing wrong in urging men to become members of the Lord's church (assembly), members of His body, citizens of His kingdom, or stones in His temple. True, the Bible does not say in so many words, that certain ones became members of the church or stones in His temple, but this is exactly what happened when they obeyed the gospel. Too, there is nothing wrong in regarding one a member of a local congregation, for this is exactly what a saved person is who has "joined himself to the disciples" in a given place. In fact, Paul has direct reference to members of a local congregation when he said to the Corinthians. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (I Cor. 12:27).

In an effort to de-emphasize the "church" idea, some say the scattered Christians from Jerusalem "went everywhere preaching the word, not establishing churches." But, they did establish churches (Acts 11:19-21,26). We could say, if we wanted to emphasize their work rather than the results, that they "went everywhere sowing, not "reaping". But, we ought not to make such a statement disparagingly of reaping. Reaping is a natural result of sowing. Likewise, establishing a church in a given place is the natural result of preaching the word in that place: Paul said to the Corinthians "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel," but he was not trying to minimize baptism or say it ought not to be done. People were baptized in the places where he preached, a few by his own hands. He realized baptism would be a natural result of preaching the word. Likewise, we should not speak disparagingly of establishing churches, or trying to get one to become a member of the church. When we go forth preaching the word, these results will naturally follow. In fact, leading one to be a member of the church or establishing a church in a place, is simply the evidence of the preached word.

Truly, we should emphasize "preaching the word," but let's not speak and act as if something questionable has been done if someone says a church was established, or sets out to accomplish that end. Becoming a member of the church building the church, or being a servant of the church are not impossible or questionable things. It is good. It is Scriptural. But, let us make sure we know what the church is and not idolize the group or make it into a denomination.

— Lawrenceburg, Tenn.