WHAT
IS A
By Curtis Pugh
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n the New Testament we find certain characteristics or
marks that are essential to all churches of the New Testament kind. A New Testament kind of church is the kind
Jesus started. It is the kind He promised
a continual existence. It is the kind He
is pleased with today. It is His
church. We believe it is the only kind
of church that is acceptable to God. If we would find churches
of the New Testament kind, we must look for those essential marks or characteristics
which we find in the New Testament.
Others have done this and some have left helpful information
behind. For instance, some years ago a
Southern Baptist Convention pastor, J.M Carroll, presented lectures in
different places in the United States on the subject of Baptist history. His lectures were extremely popular among the
Baptists, many of whom were ignorant of their own history. After his death his lecture notes were put in
book form. We quote from the
introduction to Bro. Carroll’s little book, THE TRAIL OF BLOOD. (This little book has been translated into
Romanian and is available free. If you
wish to obtain this little book, contact the address printed on this
booklet.) In the introduction to THE
TRAIL OF BLOOD, Baptist pastor Clarence Walker wrote:
“In any town there are
many different churches -- all claiming to be the true church. Dr. Carroll did as you can do now -- take the
marks, or teachings, of the different churches and find the ones which have
these marks, or doctrines. The ones which have these marks, or doctrines,
taught in God's Word, are the true churches.”
It is clear that Jesus
cannot the founder of all the different “churches.” They have origins different from the church
Jesus founded. They have different doctrines
and different practices from the church Jesus founded. They have different doctrines and different
practices from each other. He founded
His kind of church because He wanted it to be a specific kind of church. He wanted it to have certain characteristics. Since God alone knows best what will please
Him, it is logical that only the kind of church Christ founded can please
Him. It is important that the reader
keep this last statement in mind. God
knows what pleases Him better than we do.
Christ founded the kind of church He wanted. Men may think they know better than Christ
and so they may make changes in Christ’s churches or they may start their own
kind of church, but Christ’s churches are the kind He started. These are the kind of churches that please
Him.
A few words about the
importance of the churches is in order here.
Just as the whole Bible is Christ centered, the whole New Testament has
a second emphasis and that is the churches.
The four Gospels tell us of the ministry of Christ and include His work
in building His first church. The Book
of Acts records how that one church evangelized and many were born from her
through ordained men. The Epistles were
mostly written to individual churches or groups of churches dealing with
doctrinal and practical issues within the churches. Those New Testament books addressed to
individuals were written to men who labored in the churches and in establishing
new ones. The Book of Revelation has in
it seven letters from Christ addressed to seven individual churches and the
rest of the book deals with events, most of which take place prior to Christ
returning to the earth to reign with His bride.
So the New Testament certainly gives great importance to Christ’s kind
of New Testament churches! The words
were addressed to members of churches -
true churches – churches of the kind Jesus founded.
Christ is said to have a
special love for His church (Eph. 5:25). She is so important to Him as to be pictured
as His bride (John 3:29) and to her
as the bride of Christ is given the work of evangelism in connection with the
Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18-20; Rev. 22:17). Today, many would try to live for Christ,
worship and serve God outside of Christ’s kind of churches. Because of the importance of Christ’s churches,
as the New Testament evidences, we doubt whether such worship and service is
acceptable to God and to Christ. After
all, it is in the church that God is glorified through Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:21). Man made organizations glorify the man that
founded them, often bearing his name.
Only in true churches of Christ is the Lord Jesus Christ glorified. What true believer, taught in the Word, would
try to please God outside of a God-approved church?
Jesus said, "I
will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Jesus also promised that His presence would
be with His Churches even down to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20). Because of
these promises of Christ we can expect to find true New Testament Churches in
existence somewhere in the world in our own time. They may not be in every city or even in
every country and you may not have found them, but they exist.
If we would find the
Lord’s Churches we must not judge them according to our own ideas and
preferences (Isa. 55:9). We must judge them according to the Word of
God. They are not to be known by some
special name, for anyone can use a name and claim that name makes them special. They are not to be known by temporary,
external signs, but by those things which are essential and perpetual. They are not necessarily the churches of
Christ because of their great size, popularity, prestige, or political
influence. False churches are often the
most popular and influential. It has
always been true that God’s people are a small number (Luke 12:32; Rom. 11:5; Isa. 1:9; John 6:65-57). God’s remnant has never been influential in
the eyes of the world or the world’s religions.
If God has given you eyes to see the truth about His remnant, you may be
well on the way to locating true New Testament churches. If your eyes are enthralled by size and
worldly prestige, you are deceived already.
Just because some group at the present time has the “advantage” does not
make them Christ’s churches (see Jude
verse 16).
Even in the days of the
apostles some men left the truth (Acts
15:24; 1 John 2:19). They formed
their own kind of “churches” with their “disciples” (Acts 20:30). Some of these,
along with other defectors from the truth, gradually became the Catholic
group. This group later split into the
eastern and western branches. Later in
history the Protestant Reformation occurred.
At that time several men founded churches according to their own beliefs. They had their own ideas and
preferences. They had many beliefs and practices
that were identical to the Harlot. All
of them believed in baptismal regeneration.
They all practiced infant baptism for salvation. They brought this idea, and others, along
with them when they were excluded from the Harlot church. These men did not follow the Bible regardless
of what you may have heard. Neither did
their churches. Neither do their
churches follow the Bible today. They
all teach and practice the soul-damning doctrine of baptismal
regeneration. They “baptize” infants –
admittedly without Scriptural instruction or example. The churches these “reformers” founded were
their own and not Christ’s churches.
These Protestant churches which exist today cannot be Christ’s churches
because they (1) were founded by some man other than Jesus Christ and (2)
preach a false gospel (see 2 Cor. 11:4
and Gal. 1:6), have different officers, different governments, etc.,
etc. Today’s more recent man-made
churches are not the churches of Christ because they came out of these
Protestant daughters of the Harlot. It
is impossible to bring a clean thing out of an unclean thing (Job 14:4). Because of this impossibility a “reformation”
of the Harlot (making an unclean thing clean) was not and is not possible! A genuine reformation did not take place for
the filth of the false gospel of the Harlot still clings to the man-made
churches which came out of her. Not only
was and is a reformation impossible, none was needed! Christ had His churches on the earth so that
it was not necessary to clean up (reform) the Harlot to make her Christ’s
church. So we conclude that the
“Protestant Reformation” accomplished no real good. It did produce some “churches” with less
detestible doctrines and practices in the opinion of the world, but they are
still the daughters of the harlot and are themselves harlots according to the
Bible. (Rev. 17:5). The famous ”Protestant Reformation” only
produced more false churches – it did not produce Christ’s kind of New
Testament churches. Any student of
history will verify this for they know that the churches of the “Protestant
Reformation” do not bear the marks of the churches of the New Testament.
In his book Bro. Carroll listed eleven marks or
characteristics of true New Testament Churches.
These are Scriptural marks. These
are essential marks. Christ’s churches
have borne these marks down through the centuries since He established the
first one. The true churches of Christ
bear these marks today. We are convinced
that in our time this kind of church is to be found among the people called
Baptists. This is because of the (1)
origin of the Baptists and (2) the doctrine and practice of mainline Baptists
down through the centuries. We are convinced
that some Baptist churches bear these eleven essential marks of New Testament
churches. We are equally convinced that
not all “Baptist churches” are true New Testament Churches. Any group can call themselves a “church.” Any “church” can call herself
“Baptist.” Unless a church bears the
essential marks of a
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HE FIRST MARK OF A
It is not enough just to say that Christ is the Head
of a church! He must actually be the Head!
He must direct the activities and work of the church. If Christ is not the Head of a church, He is
only a figurehead. If Christ is not the
Head of a church, He has no real part in that church. In order to be the Head of a church, Christ’s
Word, the Bible, must be obeyed. If we
would follow Christ, we cannot omit any part of the Lord’s instructions to us,
nor can we add to them.
There are two errors into which men fall relative to
the Headship of Christ over each church.
Some would substitute a pope.
They may not call him or her a pope.
They may call him or her a pastor or a teacher or a prophet. It does not matter what he or she is called,
if his ideas are followed instead of the instructions of Christ, he is a
pope. Many “churches” today follow the
teachings of some long-dead “pope” and are loyal to his interpretations of the
Bible or to his additional “revelations” than they are to the simple words of
the Bible. The second error is tradition
and this error is more subtle.
Traditions - Baptist traditions or traditions of the Harlot and her
Protestant daughters – it does not matter the source. They all result in false worship. They are the commandments of men and are not
according to truth (Matt
The origin of religious traditions can universally be
traced to paganism and idolatry. If the
Bible is clear on anything, it is this: Christ’s church, His bride, is to be
pure from idolatry (1 Cor.
One thing is absolutely clear. A church that is ruled by anyone or anything
other than Christ and His Word is not a New Testament kind of church. It is something else. Whether pope or tradition, anything or anyone
that is followed other than Christ becomes the head of a church. Such a replacement means that the church has
become another kind of church. It is not
Christ’s church for He is not the Head of it.
He did not build that kind of church.
He is not present in her meetings for she lacks His authority.
Christ gave to His churches certain rights or
authority. He did not give them
unlimited authority, but specific authority.
This authority relates to the job He gave the churches to do while He is
away. The first kind of authority Christ
gave to His churches is judicial authority: by that we mean the authority to
judge. Churches have only limited
judicial power (1 Cor.
The second kind of authority Christ gave to His
churches is executive power. This
executive power is unlimited so that we can say that true Churches are
executive in nature. By that we mean
they are responsible to carry out the instructions of Christ who is to be the
Head of each church (Luke
There is a third kind of power and that is legislative
power. Churches do not have legislative
power! Christ did not give them
legislative power. We mean they do not
have authority to make rules and regulations.
Christ is the lawgiver! They
cannot change the rules, instructions and commandments given by Christ. They have no right to change the ordinances
or any of the teachings of the Bible.
They have no right to change the Scriptural practices of the churches,
or to make innovations in the worship of God.
In their evangelism they must use only the methods of the New Testament,
that is, the methods Christ and His apostles used. They have no authority to make innovations or
to follow the inventions of men.
Christ established a church just as He promised He
would do (Matt.
A church established in connection with anyone other
than Jesus Christ is not His. A church
that does not obey the New Testament certainly does not have Christ for her
head. A church without Christ as her
head is not a New Testament kind of church.
Christ is both the Head and Founder of His New Testament kind of churches.
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HE SECOND MARK OF A
To accept the Bible as
the only rule of faith and practice means that the Bible alone is the source
and standard of truth. Additional
“revelations” which are claimed by some people are not accepted as the Word of
God in New Testament churches. Visions
and dreams, “tongues” etc., of this modern era are not received as God’s
messages. The teaching (doctrine) and
practice of a true Church must be according to the Bible. The rule of faith and practice of New
Testament churches is not the approved dogma of some established religion. It is not the teaching of some seminary, institute,
or university. It is not the dogma of
some self-proclaimed “prophet” or “teacher.”
It is not the dogma of any association, convention, union, or other
extra-biblical, man-made organization of churches. It is not a man-made confession of faith. (Such confessions may be good, but they
cannot be authoratative. They cannot be
the standard of judging truth.) Only the
Bible is authoratative! Only the Bible
is the standard of determining what is truth.
Neither can a true church select only certain portions of the New
Testament to believe and obey. All the
Bible is the Word of God and all is profitable (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:16).
All of it is to be believed.
Sound Baptists believe
that you must have “chapter and verse” for everything believed, everything
taught, and everything done in a New Testament church. It is to the Bible, the whole Bible, and the
Bibe alone they appeal for their doctrine and
practice. A church which follows
the Bible is better than one that does not.
We do not mean that the people are better, but that the church is better
because it is obedient to God. New
Testament churches must base their doctrine and practice on the Bible. If a true church discovers that she is
teaching or acting contrary to the Word of God she is constrained by her
Biblical principles to change them so that she conforms to the Bible.
New Testament churches
believe a great many things in common with many other churches, but they
believe more. They believe all the
counsel of God and, like Paul, are committed to proclaiming it even though it
makes them unpopular (Acts 20:27). Any church which does not have as its only
rule of faith and practice the Holy Bible is not a New Testament kind of
church.
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HE THIRD MARK OF A TRUE
CHURCH: “Its name—‘CHURCH,’ ‘CHURCHES’ (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 22:16).”
Christ’s churches have
been called by many names down through the centuries. Most often these have been nicknames. These nicknames were given with the purpose
of slandering Christ’s simple congregations of Scripturally baptized
belivers. The important thing here is to
note that Christ’s churches have never sought prestige by claiming for
themselves great and pompous names. They
have never sought for worldly or worldwide recognition. They have never worked for power and
prestige. They never have and never will
fit in with the current popular “mega-church mania.” They have never sought for official status
with any government as an official “state church.” “Disciples,” “the Way,” “sect of the
Nazarenes,” “Christians” and “churches” are the terms used in the New Testament
for those congregations which are Christ’s.
From their beginning, the doctrine of true churches has been called
heresy by worldly religionists (Acts
24:14). This is to be expected in
every century. Those who stand for Bible
truth stand against humanism in all its shapes.
When the churches were
first established there was no need for distinguishing names. Then all churches were Christ’s true
churches. However, with the apostasy of
some, even in the early days of the churches, distinctions had to be made (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 John 2:19). The simple Bible-believing churches of Christ
remained content to exist without claiming prestigous names for
themselves. They would rather be right
doctrinally and right with God rather than popular. They were content to let the world call them
by whatever nickname was popular at the time.
Down through the years some have been called Paulicians after Paul who
was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Others have been named for the region in which they were strongest. Some were slandered for their pure lives by
being called Cathari or “pure ones.”
Overall they were accused of being “ana-baptists” which means
re-baptizers. They were called this
because they insisted on baptizing aright all those who came to them from other
groups. (They refused to accept the
baptisms of churches which were not of like faith and practice with them. Refusing to accept the baptisms of different
churches is the continued practice of Christ’s churches in our time. Sound churches accept as valid only baptisms
administered by churches of like faith and practice with them.) So today, New Testament churches are willing
to be called by an abbreviated form of “ana-baptist,” that is “Baptist.”
But it is not the name
which makes a church a true church of Christ.
Three things are essential for a church to be a true church: she must
have the (1) proper origin, (2) correct doctrine and (3) Scriptural practices –
it is these marks we are considering in this article which display the
character of of Christ’s true churches.
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HE FOURTH MARK OF A TRUE
CHURCH: “Its
polity--CONGREGATIONAL--all members equal (Matt.
20:24-28; Matt. 23:5-12).”
Each New Testament church
is a democracy under Christ the Head (Acts
1:26; 6:5; 15:22). That means that
every member, young or old, male or female, rich or poor, educated or
uneducated, free or slave, it matters not, each member has an equal voice in
determining what the church does and does not do. It is wrong for one person to seek to rule a
church (3 John 1:9-11). A New Testament church does not have as it’s
head a dictator. Dictatorial powers can
be held by one man or a committee or board of some sort. Sometimes a rich man will try to be the head
of the church. Christ’s churches do not
have such dictators for their head. Even
the apostles were not dictators nor absolute rulers (2 Cor. 1:24) and neither are the officers of New Testament
churches.
Jesus taught His church that they were all equals. That is true in Christ’s churches today. Each may have different gifts and therefore different responsibilities, but all are equal. All the members are “brethren.” Titles such as “doctor,” “reverend,” “father,” and such like are evil because they destroy that equality (Matt. 23:8). All members in fellowship with a New Testament church have an equal vote. That vote is to be exercised in business meetings, in the calling of a pastor and the dismissal of a pastor for just cause, in the selection of deacons, in determining who shall be admitted to membership in the church, and in the exclusion and restoration of wayward members, etc. (Acts 1:15-26; Acts 6:1-6). Pastors, deacons or other groups within a “church” which take away the democratic rights of the members of a church are thieves and unless they genuinely and publicly repent, should be excluded from the church. Officers in a church are to be servants (Matt. 20:25-27; 2 Cor. 4:5; Eph. 6:6; 1 Cor. 9:19). They are not to be lords nor are they to be treated as such (1 Pet. 5:3). Even the apostles were not regarded as having lordship over the brethren (2 Cor. 1:24).
A New Testament kind of church is not a “republic. A “republic” is a form of government where the members elect a few from among them and these few make the decisions. Neither is a New Testament kind of church an “oligarchy.” An “oligarchy” is a government where power is in the hands of a few, perhaps in a board which chooses its own successors so as to perpetuate its own existence. Neither of these styles of government can be found in the New Testament. Simple, every-member democracy is the kind of government of a New Testament kind of church. In this way power is kept from the hands of a few. It is true that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Pure democracy is the best guard against corruption!
Paul wrote in Romans 12:17 that we are to “…Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” In light of this verse, secret meetings of the congregation or any portion thereof are seen to be contrary to the teaching of the Word of God and should not be allowed. The New Testament indicates that unbelievers were allowed in the meetings of the churches in the days of the apostles (see 1 Cor. 14:23, 24 for example). Paul testified that the ministry of Christ and His first church were done in the open for all to see (Acts 26:26). Why should we think it necessary to operate differently than our Lord and His first church operated?
Of a certainty, any church which does not practice real congregational government in its affairs is not a New Testament kind of church. Christ’s churches have a congregational or democratic church government. Anything more is without Scriptural basis.
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HE FIFTH MARK OF A TRUE
CHURCH: “Its members--only saved
people (Eph. 2:21; I Peter 2:5).”
Babies cannot be baptized
into the membership of a New Testament church for they are not believers and faith is required for baptism.
(Acts
Being the child of
believing parents does not qualify a person for baptism and church
membership. Having grown up in a
Christian home and in church does not qualify a person for baptism and church
membership. Attendance at catechism
classes does not qualify a person for baptism and church membership. Performing some kind of physical response to
an appeal at the close of a religious meeting does not qualify a person for
baptism and church membership.
Experienceing some kind of ecstatic or unusual religious experience does
not qualify a person for baptism and church membership. Conversion (true repentance, faith, baptism,
a changed life) – these are the outward evidences of the new birth. Apart from this new birth - the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit - no
person is qualified for church membership.
Mere words of testimony from a candidate for membership will not suffice. In the New Testament evidence was required before a doubtful candidate was received into membership (Acts 9:26). Biblical evidence of regeneration must be seen in the life of the individual. A church which carelessly admits unsaved people as members has ceased being a true church where spiritual sheep are fed the Word of God. It has become a synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9; Rev. 3:9). It will be observed that such a “synagogue” will soon have as its chief business the entertainment of spiritual goats. There will be much talk about the Word of God, the worship of God, evangelism, etc., but this is merely a smokescreen. It is the way of the flesh to substitute carnal religious activity in the place of flesh-mortifying genuine spirituality. These synagogues of Satan shall fill up their time and occupy themselves with musicals, recitals, theatricals, sports, parties, feasts, holiday celebrations, political endeavors, denominational organizations and other activities which are pleasing to the fleshly minded. These things they must do to keep the spiritual goats happy and in attendance (at least part of the time) at the “church.”
Any church which accepts as members those people who do not give genuine evidence of an inner change of heart cannot be a New Testament church (Matt. 3:7-9). A New Testament church is composed of professing believers whose lives give evidence of a genuine spiritual regeneration – a new birth in the inner man. Anything else is a different kind of church.
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HE SIXTH MARK OF A NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCH: “Its
ordinances--BELIEVERS' BAPTISM, FOLLOWED BY THE LORD'S SUPPER (Matt. 28:19-20).”
Christ gave to His church
ordinances. He did not give them
sacraments. Sacraments are rituals with
saving ability. Ordinances are memorial
observances. They cause the children of
God to seriously remember and contemplate the finished work of Christ and they
display the Gospel of Christ to the world (1
Cor. 11:26). They picture the
finished work of Christ. The ordinances
are the Gospel in picture form.
Christ gave to His church
two and only two ordinances. He did not
give any others. Marriage in the church
is not an ordinance. Last rites are not
an ordinance. Being burried in sacred
soil is not an ordinance. Christening
babies is not an ordinance. Dedicating
babies is not an ordinance. The ritual
washing of feet is not an ordinance. The
wearing of robes or other special
clothing is not an ordinance. The
ceremonial washing of pots and the dedication of buildings are not ordinances. Nor are any other rituals, traditions, and
ceremonies which are popular with the religious world. The two church ordinances are baptism and the
Lord’s supper.
These two ordinances are
church ordinances. They are not pastor
ordinances nor deacon ordinances. By
that we mean that neither the pastor nor the deacons have control or authority
over these ordinances. It is the church
that must decide (vote) as to who is qualified to be baptized and be admitted
to church membership. Neither the pastor
nor the deacons nor any other group within a church has that authority. It is the church who must authorize the
pastor or another Brother to administer baptism. Similarly, it is the church who must
authorize the pastor or another Brother to administer the supper. These two ordinances are church ordinances in
that baptism is a prerequisite to church membership and the door to it. Baptism and church membership are only
related to a “local” church. A person
cannot Scripturally hold membership in more than one church at a time. The Lord’s Supper is to be observed by a
“local” church only so that discipline can be maintained (1 Cor. 5:11; 11:20).
Non-members of a church cannot Scripturally participate in the supper.
Scriptural baptism
includes (1) a Scriptural candidate, (2) a Scriptural motive, (3) a
Scriptural mode, and (4) a Scriptural
administrator. If any one of these four
requirements is lacking, the act is invalid.
Only believers are Scriptural candidates, that is, only they are
qualified to be baptized (Acts 8:37).
Thus those “baptized” in infancy are not Scripturally baptized. There is neither Biblical commandment nor
example for infant baptism. Those who
“baptize” babies do so because they attribute to baptism a saving ability, thus
their motive for baptism is unscriptural.
All agree that immersion in water (not in grape juice or some other
liquid) is the original and therefore Scriptural mode. Thus pouring or sprinkling are not Scriptural
modes. Those “baptized” by the Harlot or
her daughters (Rev. 17:5) are not
Scripturally baptized for they are not His bride and therefore lack Christ’s
authority. A church which receives the
unscriptural “baptisms” of apostate or man-made “churches” cannot be regarded
as a virgin bride of Christ which ought to be the goal of every church and
every pastor for the church he serves (2
Cor. 11:2). Such a “church” has
polluted herself with the Harlot and her daughters (Rev. 18:4). Such a polluted
church is not a true church and cannot be regarded as a Scriptural
administrator of baptism. And no person
can be Scripturally allowed to partake of the Lord’s Supper until he has been
Scripturally baptized. This is the
pattern of the whole New Testament.
Thus those with polluted “baptisms” are not eligible to partake of the
Lord’s Supper.
We have often heard of
parents preserving the possessions of a child who had gone away from home
exactly the way the child left them.
They wanted the child’s things to be exactly the way he wanted them when
he returned. We can understand
that. We can identify with that. We can understand the friends of Christ
wanting to preserve the ordinances of Christ just as He left them to His
churches (John 15:14). What we cannot understand is one of Christ’s
friends wanting to change the things Christ left to us. But there are some who would say it does not
matter as to the candidate, the mode, the motive or the administrator of
baptism. They say that sincerity is
enough. The details of baptism do not
matter. Others would omit one or more of
the requirements for baptism as stated above.
Similiarly there are some who would say it does not matter what kind of
bread or drink is used in the supper.
Some preachers in America are so liberal and care so little for the
things of Christ that they say the Lord’s supper can be observed by eating a
McDonald’s hamburger and drinking a coke!
They too say sincerity is enough.
They say it does not matter what elements are used in the supper. We do not know, but we do not think these are
true friends of Christ.
We believe that the
Supper, like baptism must meet four requirements to be a valid and Scriptural
observance of the ordinance Christ left.
There must be (1) Scriptural participants, (2) a Scriptural motive for
eating and drinking, (3) Scriptural elements, and (4) a Scriptural
administrator. Briefly stated (because
of lack of space) we believe the Bible teaches that Scriptural participants are
the members in good standing of one New Testament church. The Scriptural motive for eating the supper
is to proclaim the Lord’s death. It is
the communion of a church with her Head.
It is NOT the communion of believers one with another. Such a thing is not taught in the New
Testament. The Scriptural elements are
unleavened bread and wine. The Scriptural
administrator is a New Testament church.
Ordinarily the Supper is administered by the pastor, but in the absence
of a pastor, the church may authorize a Brother to administer the supper
because the ordinances are church ordinances and not tied to any specific
office within the church.
The supper instituted by
the Lord consisted of wine and unleavened bread. We know the bread was unleavened because
Christ instituted the supper very near the time of the Passover feast. During that season it was forbidden even to
have leaven in the houses anywhere in Israel (Exodus 12:15). No leavened
bread was available! Furthermore we know
that the bloody sacrifices of the Lord could not include leaven (Ex. 34:25). If this was true of natural sacrifices, how
much more is it true of the one true sacrifice of Christ’s own body and blood! We know that the Jews have consistently used
wine from the beginning as the only drink at the Passover meal. We know that wine and not grape juice was
used because the grape harvest was in August or September. The Lord instituted His supper in the
spring. No grape juice was available
then! Lacking refrigeration, the Jews
allowed their grape juice to ferment and so to be conserved. When fermentation is complete the leaven is
dead. The wine is poured off its lees
and the wine is clear and free from leaven.
This procedure which is a part of wine making is alluded to in Jeremiah 48:11. Leaven pictures sin, particularly the sin of
hypocrisy (Luke 12:1). To picture the body and blood of Christ using
elements containing leaven is to picture the body and blood of Christ as
sinful. A sinful Christ could save no
one. Because of the significance of
these things, the elements are important as they “preach” in a visible way the
Gospel of Christ.
We do not understand
those who wish to change the ordinances of Christ for ease, pleasure or
comfort. Some who call themselves
“Christians” have changed the mode of baptism.
They have said that immersion is not dignified, that it is unpleasant,
that it is inconvenient, etc., and thus have justified to themselves changing
it to sprinkling or pouring. Others have
changed the elements in the Supper and have given various excuses for doing so. Rather than use wine, some have preferred
grape juice, but there is nothing symbolical about grape juice other than the
fact it symbolizes the sin of hyprocisy for it is filled with leaven. Some have given as a reason for changing the
misuse of alchohol. But who would dare
say that the small amount of wine consumed by an individual in the Supper is
the abuse of alchohol. People will use
considerably more alchohol in cough medicine without a thought, but then refuse
to obey the Bible in the use of wine.
They will do for their physical bodies what they will not do for their
souls. One of the most ridiculous
excuses ever heard for ceasing to use wine was that the wine tasted bad! Have the people of God become so
pleasure-loving and so in love with comforts and ease that they cannot stand
the taste of wine? Was not the cup which
Christ drank for His people a bitter cup?
Even Israel from ancient times was required to eat bitter herbs along
with the Passover lamb (Ex. 12:8; Num.
9:11). Besides all that, where did
we get the idea that the Lord’s Supper – the remembrance of His awful suffering
and death – should be suited to the effeminate tastes of soft, modern
“Christians?” Those who claim to be the
friends of Christ and yet who do not obey Him we think are not true friends (John 15:14).
But we do know most certainly that to change the ordinances into soul-saving sacraments or to claim that through the observance of rituals grace is bestowed on the participant is to pervert the Gospel of the grace of God. A church cannot be a true church of Christ if she preaches a false gospel of works whether in words or in the ordinances which picture the Gospel.
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HE SEVENTH MARK OF A NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCH: “Its officers--PASTORS AND
DEACONS (I Tim. 3:1-16).”
A hierarchy of ministers,
priests, prelates, metropolitans, cardinals, etc., etc., is unknown to the
Bible. Two and only two ordained offices
are known to the Bible. Those two
offices are pastors and deacons. The
office of deacon was instituted only in the church when the number of members
was extremely large and there was a genuine need for such a position. The church existed prior to the existence of
this office and a New Testament church can exist without a deacon or deacons
today if they are not needed. The office
of deacon is subject to the oversight of the pastor (Acts 20:17, 28). These
offices were usually filled in the Bible by God raising up men from within the
congregation. He enabled them to do the
work to which He called them.
“Professionalism” in the ministry was unknown. The idea that a man can attend a Bible
institute or seminary and by that be qualified to preach and to pastor is not a
Biblical concept at all. It is the way
of the world and not the way of God, and it has done great harm. Moses and Paul were educated men, but before
God used them, He “reeducated” them in the desert. God is still training His servants in His
way!
These two offices are
limited to men only. Women are to be
silent in the churches and therefore cannot serve as preachers, pastors,
teachers of men, pastors, etc. (1 Cor.
14:34, 35). The men who fill these
offices are to be servants of the church (2
Cor. 4:5; Matt. 20:27; Matt. 23:11; Mark
9:35; 1 Cor. 9:19). The Greek
word “deacon” means a servant. While the
deacons are to be concerned with the physical and financial needs of the
people, the pastors ought to give themselves to the ministry of the Word and to
prayer (Acts 6:4). It is the job of the pastor to feed the sheep
(John 21:16). He is not a pope nor is he to exercise
lordship over the congregation which he serves (1 Pet. 5:3). The office of
pastor is not that of an overlord or administrator. He is to be settled among the people he
serves, to share their joys and sorrows, to experience the same standard of
living as they enjoy or endure, and is to care for the people as a father for
his family although he is only another Brother.
These officers are
necessarily subject to the discipline of the church in which they serve. Sins committed by deacons or pastors, like
those of any other member, can result in their exclusion from the church. The church has executive authority over these
two ordained officers. They serve at her
pleasure. If they do not, they are
untouchable overlords and will become corrupt in their offices. The love of money, prestige, power, etc.,
will consume them and destroy both their ministries and their churches.
Any church which has a hierarchy of overlords whatever they be called is not a New Testament church.
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HE EIGHTH MARK OF A NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCH: “Its work--getting folks
saved, baptizing them (with a baptism that meets all the requirements of God's
Word), teaching them (‘to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you’)
(Matt. 28:16-20).”
God has given to His
churches all that is needed to do His work (2 Tim. 3:17). The Word of
God is all that is needed to accomplish the work God gave to His church. Psycological tricks, emotional manipulations,
entertainments, charismatic personalities, musical talents, and high-pressure
tactics do not accomplish the work of God.
All the man-made, humanistic Arminian tactics in the world will not add
one person to the number God has elected to salvation. He will save His elect. They shall “come” (John 6:37). In the salvation
of His elect God uses legitimate and Scriptural means and has given His
churches work to do. The work of God
given to His churches is three-fold: (1) Scriptural evangelization, (2)
Scriptural baptism, (3) Scriptural teaching of converts in New Testament
churches. The Spirit of God working in
connection with the preaching of the Word of God is what accompishes the work
of God! This work does not require
magnificent buildings, worldly entertainment, shows, or a professional church
staff. The proof that none of these
things are necessary is this: none of the churches of the New Testament had any
of these things, yet they accomplished the work of God in their places! Churches which become entangled with huge
buildings, worldly programs, spectacular entertainment and paid professionals
become slaves to such things and cease doing the work Christ intends for His
Churches to do. We believe this is true
of both individuals and churches (2 Tim.
2:4).
Any church which is not involved in doing the three-fold work of Christ in Christ’s way cannot be a New Testament kind of church.
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HE NINTH MARK OF A NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCH: “Its financial plan—‘Even
so (TITHES and OFFERINGS) hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the
gospel should live of the gospel’ (I
Cor. 9:14).”
A New Testament church
must be autonomous (self-governing).
This is the whold New Testament pattern.
It also must be self-supporting in whatever measure is possible. Sometimes churches become destitute and need
financial help. Perhaps at times they
need the supply of ministerial help. A
church may need special help at critical times in their existence. That is
one thing. But continually
depending on other churches for money is not God’s way of finance.
Pastors are to be paid by
the church that they pastor. This is
right and Biblical. However, sometimes
it is necessary that pastors work at secular employment. Paul worked a few times as a tentmaker to
meet his own needs and the needs of others.
Church members, regardless of poverty or riches, need to be taught to do
their part in supporting their church.
The tithe is an equal burden among the members. Churches are not to be robbers. They are not to require their members to contribute
more than is right. Churches are not to
engage in business schemes, bazzars, carnivals or other means of making
money. Neither should they ask the world
to help them pay their bills. Surely if
God is in a church and what it is doing, He can from the members raise the
funds needed to sustain the work through tithes and offerings. Churches, like families, should not attempt
to live beyond their income. To do so is
bad business and eventually those who go this way will come to ruin.
A church which cannot pay
its own bills needs to reduce their overhead until they can meet their
obligations from among themselves.
Pastors ought not to become
beggars whether before the world or before other churches. This is dishonoring to Christ! He is the Head and Bridegroom of each church.
He is responsible to supply the needs of His virgin bride. Neither should a church of Christ adopt the
attitude of the world and the world’s churches with regard to a visible display
of wealth. The world’s churches display
their wealth in magnificient buildings, expensive clothing, jewelry, fine furnishings,
costly equipment and other things which impress those who are worldly
minded. It must always be remembered
that a church is made up of the members.
A church is not the building, the equipment, the furnishings, the
automobiles or other things regarded as important to the world and its
churches.
Any church that resorts
to the ways of the world and the world’s churches for its fnancial needs is not
a New Testament kind of church. New
Testament churches strive to be self-supporting in their finances.
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HE TENTH MARK OF A NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCH: “Its weapons of
warfare--spiritual, not carnal (II Cor.
10:4; Eph. 6:10-20).”
False churches, that is
the Harlot and her harlot daughters and “the abominations of the earth,” their
pastors and other officers hate the truth.
They hate Christ’s true churches which stand for the truth (Rev. 17:5, 6). Worldly religious organizations make use of
political maneuvering, political connections, political pressure and the
currying of favor of this world’s governments.
False churches are determined to have the approval of the world’s
religious groups and the world’s governments regardless of the cost. They are worldly minded and seek after the
things of the world. They form
extra-biblical alliances to further their goals. They mean harm to Christ’s New Testament kind
of churches. They will use their worldly
influence with the government to make things difficult for religious groups who
refuse to have a part in their ecumenical projects for Christ’s churches have
ever opposed the union of churches into one organization. They resort to intimidation, threats, lies
and even inciting men to do physical harm to those who disagree with them. It is observable that every man-made
religious organization of churches eventually falls into the trap of promoting
the union of churches into one world-wide “church.” In their unions they sink to the lowest
common denominator and thus come to promote ecumenicalism. Thus, eventually, false churches and their
organizations become active against those who oppose the union of all
religions into one ecumenical
church. Such are the worldly weapons of
worldly religionists. Those who possess
this persecuting spirit toward the followers of Christ demonstrate that they
themselves are without the new birth.
They prove that they do not know the Lord Jesus nor His Father (John 15:18-21, John 16:1-3).
But God has given His
churches greater weapons than those of the world’s churches. They are enumerated for us in Eph. 6:13-18. The use of these spiritual weapons has been
demonstrated in the lives of those New Testament preachers and saints who
walked this way before us. Those weapons
are “truth,” “righteousness,” “the preparation of the Gospel of peace,”
“faith,” “salvation,” “the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God,” and
persevering “prayer,” and “supplication.”
Any church which uses the weapons of this world cannot be a New Testament kind of Church. New Testament churches use New Testament weapons to accomplish the work of Christ.
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HE ELEVENTH MARK OF A NEW
TESTAMENT CHURCH: “Its
independence--separation of Church and State (Matt. 22:21).”
“What has Christ to do
with Caesar?” This is ever the watchword
of the Lord’s true New Testament kind of churches. The Bible teaches and true churches require
that their members be good citizens of the country in which they find
themselves. They are to be obedient to
all the laws of the land unless those laws are contrary to the Word of God (1 Pet. 2:13-17, Acts 4:18,19).
But that same Bible teaches that the various governments of this world have no control over the churches in their doctrine, their worship or their service to God. Neither are the Lord’s churches to join themselves to this world’s governments. Neither are they to receive financial support from the government. When they do so they cease to be the servants of Christ for the governments of this world require obedience of their partners (Rom. 6:16, 1 Cor. 7:23, 1 Pet. 2:19). Let those whose hearts are inclined to worldly things seek the prestige, favor, power, and political connections which governments are willing to exchange for control over those churches who join with them.
But a church is guilty of spiritual adultery and cannot be a New Testament kind of church if she is joined to a governmental power. This was the case with Israel (Isa. 30:1-3; Rev. 17:1,2; Hosea 8:9, Ezek. 16:23-35). Surely it is no different in the case of churches.
Christ’s churches are subject to Christ as their Head. In doing so, they cannot be subject in spiritual matters to any government. Thus they are to be independent of governmental control whether civil government or the government of some religious institution.
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ONCLUSION: The Word of God is clear. Regardless of what a church may try to claim,
if that church does not measure up to the essential characteristics of the
churches of the New Testament, that church is not a
If you are vitally interested in being a member of a New Testament kind of church and cannot locate one in your area, we invite you to contact us. We will do our best to help you locate such a church. If such a church does not exist in your area, we will be happy to do what we can to see that one is organized there for the glory of Jesus Christ and the spiritual well-being of the children of God! Amen.
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