THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
                           by Bill Jackson
                            (part 3 of 4)

                              Chapter 3

             THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST AND THE LOCAL CHURCH

     The local church today is the only scriptural presentation of the
Body of Christ that operates in the world today.
     The existence of any other Christian organization or ministry is
justified solely because of its scriptural relationship to the local
church.
     If these sentences are true, there are many Christian
organizations, ministers, and ministries that are either void of
divine authorization or else have so overstepped the grounds of
scriptural validity that their "success" can only be attributed to
human ability, not to the power of God.
     Such a conclusion is strong, but it is intended to be.  It is
time for us to examine God's priorities for doing His work on earth,
and endeavor to scratch out all that which, by not giving full
allegiance to His program, can be clearly seen to be only the result
of man's abilities and pride.
     When we examine all ministries and ministers in the light of
their scriptural relationship to the local church, we must include
all: from Bill Jackson to Billy Graham, from the local Christian radio
station to the electronic churches of Oral Roberts, Rex Humbard and
Jerry Falwell.  Whatever sparkling Christian entertainment and honest
Gospel preaching comes from these sources is immaterial; the only
question is:  Do they fit into God's revealed plan for the propagation
of the Gospel, the local church?  Do they thereby bow to the Lordship
of Christ?
     All evangelism should be local church centered and geared to
build up the local church.  Of course, more than one local church can
combine to reach a city, but the emphasis on the local church should
always be maintained.  Care must be taken that local churches involved
are truly representative of the Body of Christ (that is, that they
have saved memberships).  It must be stressed that Christ's mission to
evangelize is only complete when those won are brought into a
fellowship where they can be truly taught His Word (Matthew 28:20;
Acts 2:42).
     It is possible for a ministry, begun under the auspices of a
local church, to become a thorn in the flesh to other local churches.
     A local church can begin a bus ministry, and then branch out to
the extent that it is taking young people right from under the noses
of other fundamental churches.  This is destroying the concept of the
local church, while encouraging unscriptural competition.  We've heard
of children waiting on a street corner to find out which church is
giving away the best prize for Sunday School attendance that morning.
     Rather than aiming your outreach into other communities where
there already is a fundamental church, it would be better to sell your
buses and reach your community for Christ.  Just because a ministry is
under the control of a local church doesn't make it scriptural; it
loses this designation when it usurps the integrity of another local
church in another community.
     It is possible for a radio or TV ministry to usurp the local
church.  Listeners should continually be encouraged to attend a local
Gospel-preaching church, and all folks who write in, for decision or
support, should be channeled into a local church.  Radio and TV
preaching should never be scheduled to conflict with Sunday services
but listeners should be told where they can hear the Gospel.
     When people get saved through radio or TV evangelism, it is
difficult to get them to leave the program they were saved through to
attend a local church, especially if the times conflict.  Many folks
find it more comfortable and convenient to have a radio or TV program
as their "local church".
     It is unethical to solicit money from members of local churches
unless the ministry is a ministry to the local church.  In too many
cases, local churches cannot compete with the glamour of TV programs;
and extra offerings, if not tithes, go to the more exciting ministry.
If you were able to compare the size of your pastor's house, car and
bank account with that of most TV evangelists, you'd think twice
before making sacrificial gifts to these electronic churches.
     What makes a local church a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ?
It is when it is a true earthly representation of the Body of Christ;
when it is composed of true believers attached to the Head of the
Church.  The one basic necessity of a local church is a born again
membership.
     There are Christians who remain members of liberal churches.
These, while a part of the universal Body Christ, are not in a local
Christian church.  To recognize liberal churches as local Christian
churches is an affront to Christ.  Christians in these churches should
obey the Bible and come out.  However, many want to stay in, and we
who know the truth should encourage them to come into a local church
where they can be taught His doctrine and have real Christian
fellowship.
     There are many reasons given (all bad) why Christians stay in
non-Christian churches.  Most widely used is that they stay to win the
lost there to Christ.  The fact that those who come out are more
successful soul-winners would shoot down this argument if it had not
already been demolished by scripture (II Corinthians 6:14).  Obedience
is the basis upon which a successful Christian witness can be built.

     "Whither Methodism?", a periodical published by several ex-
Methodists in Ireland, gives twelve reasons why a person stays in an
apostate church:

 1. I like to disobey the Word of God (Ephesians 5:11; II Corinthians
6:14-18).
 2. I want my children to be lost forever.
 3. I like to support rummage sales rather than soul winning.
 4. I like to support the program of the World Council of Churches.
 5. I want the social Gospel to be preached.
 6. I want to be popular with my worldly friends and relatives. (James
4:4).
 7. I want what little faith I have to be completely torn down.
 8. I like my apostate denomination more than I love Christ.
 9. I want my money to help build the synagogues of Satan.
 10. I don't want to bear the reproach of Christ (Hebrews 13:12).
 11. I want to be a partaker of the plagues of Revelation 18:4.
 12. I want the fellowship of wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew
7:15).

     What is the job of the local church?  Scripturally, we are told
that it is to edify (build up) itself (Ephesians 4:16).  This entails
co-operation, not primarily among the members (although this happens)
but with the Head.  There is a marvelous co-ordination within the
human body that protects and nourishes each member as the members,
nerve cells and blood vessels co-ordinate with the head and perform
their separate functions.  Needs of the body are met as parts of the
body respond to the head, and only vital union with the head keeps the
body, and every member thereof, a viable entity.
     The protective impulses in the human body are marvelous to
behold.  One day I was playing softball with a group of boys; I was
pitching so they could get hitting and fielding practice.  I threw the
ball in to one boy, and he lined it straight at my throat.  Being less
than 60 feet away, it took only a fraction of a second for the
softball to reach me, but in that time my eyes sent a message to my
brain that the softball was coming; my brain told my hand to go up and
protect my neck and my hand, not considering the damage it might
suffer, instantly obeyed.  The result was that I had a badly bruised
hand, but, as I thought of it, I was more and more awed by the actions
of my body to protect my uncomely neck (I Corinthians 12:23).
     My hand, upon receiving the order from the head to move quickly
to protect my neck, might have had second thoughts, "why protect that
scrawny neck?  It never does anything useful.  I am a hand.  I can
type, play the piano, do useful things.  That ball is coming fast and
I might be injured.  Anyway, I scratched the neck yesterday when it
itched; it is the left hand's turn to do something."  This could
happen if each member were not under the complete control of the head.
     Besides self-edification, it is the duty of the local church to
evangelize, both by utilizing the gift of evangelists to the church
(and caring for and helping these I Corinthians 9:14) and by obeying
the command of the Lord Jesus to preach the Gospel to all.  Thus, with
every joint supplying what God's purpose for that joint is, and in
complete and vital union with the Head, the body functions.  Its total
operation is wholly dependent on and fully subservient to the Head.
This is the Lordship of Christ in the local church.
     In its day-to-day operation, there must be absolute obedience to
the Head.  This is probably easier to realize than the same obedience
in its month-to-month business meetings.  It is unfortunate that, in
these, we have often managed to reach absolute zero in practical
obedience to the Lord.
     Have you ever heard a church officer quoting from the Bible to
back up a proposal he was making?  If Bibles are carried into a
business meeting, they are put aside after the brief devotional time. 
Then the REAL business of the Kingdom is discussed.
     The Head of the Church is usually invited to be present during
the opening prayer, and then politely asked to wait outside during the
business session.
     If you think these are idle statements, consider this:  How many
times do we make plans then ask Him to bless?  Who is the Head?
     A church may decide it needs a building.  This is not an
impossibility, but certainly not as much a necessity as contemporary
progressive evangelicalism thinks.  So we start a building fund, and,
after a month, there is $600 in it.  That's not enough, so we decide
the way out is to get a loan. (Where do we find this option in the
scripture?)  Then we can't make our loan payments, so we cut down on
our missionary budget (this always gets the axe first).  Who could
manage better without money, a missionary on the field, or your pastor
who could get a part time job?  (Horrors, don't suggest that.  He's a
clergyman and couldn't get a job!)  Then, in some churches, the way
out seems to be a yard or garage sale (Not very scriptural, but better
than starving the missionaries).  Or, as has actually been done,
soliciting the help of the unsaved.  So we formulate a plan, assume it
to be God's will (didn't we vote for it?), don't get enough help from
God, so we starve the missionaries and end up asking His enemies to
help in His work.
     You would not think this to be extreme if you had received the
letters I have from Bible-believing churches who, through mis-
management, ambition and extravagant plans have been backed into
corners just like the above.
     Obedience to the Head of the Church will deliver us from this.
     Many Christians have problems concerning which local church they
should join.  The context in I Corinthians 12 talks about God's order
in the local church; verse 18 says, "But now hath God set the members
every one of them in the body as it hath pleased Him."
     The verb "set" indicates action upon a passive person, and this
teaches us it is not our responsibility to "pick a church", i.e. one
of our choice.  People have many reasons for joining a church, from
the nearness to their homes to the looks of the pastor.  However,
scripture teaches that members are set in the body by God Himself.
     Are we then to lie in our beds Sunday morning waiting for God to
translate to us a church?  No, we see in this passage that members are
set in the body "as it pleases Him."  Since we know that God's will
(or pleasure) is plainly set forth in the Bible, we must, prayerfully,
find a church that fits scriptural prerogatives.
     The first necessity is a born again membership.  A church that
does not require vital Christian conversion for membership is not only
not a church in the New Testament sense; it is a group into which God
could not guide you; a group every Christian should shun.
     We are given a good idea of the activities of a true church in
Acts 2:42.  Here, the nearly-saved Christians were baptized, "and they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers."
     The whole counsel of God should be taught in a local church.
Believers should be urged to be scripturally baptized after true
conversion.  There should be a strong emphasis on teaching Bible
doctrine.  In such a church a Christian can have true fellowship,
participate in the Lord's Supper, and have prayer with like-minded
believers.
     A church that God would be pleased for you to join would exercise
and honor scriptural church discipline, and be obedient to the Lord in
worship and service.
     It is not up to you to pick a church.  Rather, it is for you to
study His Word and walk with Him.  He will give you positive guidance
from His Word.
     If you join a church, and then that body falls into a problem
area and begins to embrace unscriptural teaching or action, it is your
duty to disassociate yourself, and to plainly testify of your
scriptural reasons.  If you do not have scriptural reasons, don't
leave.  Don't leave a church because they called a pastor you don't
like, or started a project you don't agree with but for which there is
no scriptural taboo.  If scripture is violated, it is your duty to
leave that church as by continuing to fellowship with vital evil, you
become yoked to that which is wrong and you thereby disobey your Lord.
     Be willing to lovingly tell of scriptural problems, as God may
use you to restore brothers who are overtaken in a fault (Galations
6:1).
     A Christian's primary allegiance is to the Lord.  Whose disciple
he is, and then to the local church to which his Lord has directed
him.
     Church discipline - when did it die?  In I Corinthians 5 the
church was told not to keep company with the man who was guilty of
fornication and was put out of the fellowship.  Has this sin, along
with the others mentioned, passed away or are local churches afraid to
discipline for one reason.  If we discipline a member, he'll go across
town to another church.
     Discipline is not meant to be punitive, but restorative.  It must
be exercised impartially and definitely or the integrity of the
Lordship of Christ, ruling in the local church by the Word of God, is
sadly abused.  Paul gives example of church discipline, from public
rebuke to delivering a man to Satan for the destruction of his body.
     In the old days, churches had discipline benches on which those
being disciplined sat for a period of time before full restoration.
That must have embarrassed them, you say.  Yes, it did; no one likes
public punishment, and it is clear in the bible that public punishment
is what church discipline is all about.  (See II Thessalonians 3:14).
     What about ex-communication?  Is it scriptural?  this seems to be
the case in I Corinthians 5, and if restoration is aimed at, it seems
to be in line.  But often the excommunicated person just goes across
town to another church, or moves away from town to start from scratch
in a new church.  Because this new church is trying to grow, it often
welcomes with open arms even those known to have had discipline
problems in previous churches.  In most cases, the new church has paid
dearly for this with the new member causing as much problem as he did
in his old church.
     If a Christian is scripturally ex-communicated by a church, it is
clear what the attitude of other Christians should be.  This person
should not be treated as an enemy and actual efforts at restoration
should be made.  An actual instance that demonstrated the laxity of
the enforcement of church discipline took place when a young couple
who were scripturally ex-communicated from a church settled elsewhere
in the U.S., and were not scripturally restored.  They had a part in
two church splits and then were welcomed in responsible positions in
Christian service.
     Church discipline should be honored among churches of like faith.
Reading Matthew 18:18 in context seems to be stressing the fact that
scriptural discipline is exercised by a local church in obedience to
Christ.  Another local church failing to honor that discipline is
abrogating the Lordship of Christ.

 Entered by Sherie Bennett for S.O.N. (Salvation Online Network)
 Edited by D. Moore (Computers for Christ #11)