Is there a pattern for the church?
Posted on April 14, 2007
Filed Under Matt Clifton, The Church
by Matt Clifton
There are as many different views on the meaning of scripture, it seems, as there are groups that claim to follow Christ. In any given town, one will find building after building emblazoned with the name of a different denominational body. All claim to follow Christ and honor His word. Invariably, however, the groups are in disagreement with one another in fundamental areas of doctrine and practice. The prevailing division between these groups is evidenced by the various names carried on the signs of each building. These names signify something about their beliefs, practices and origins.
But these names also signify division. As quoted by Tom Holland, H. Richard Niebuhr of the Evangelical and Reformed church wrote, “They (denominations) are emblems”¦of the victory of the world over the church”¦the history of schism has been a history of Christianity’s defeat”¦Denominational Christianity”¦offers no hope to the divided world.”aa With so many names, signifying so many differences in beliefs, how can a lost and dying world have confidence that those who claim to follow Christ actually know what they are doing, and what they are talking about in terms of salvation?
Paul warned against the wearing of different names. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul says he has heard that there were some among them who were aligning themselves with a particular preacher of the gospel (1 Cor. 1:12). Some were saying they followed Paul, some Cephas, some Apollos, and some Christ. But Paul pleads with them rhetorically, “Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:13). Those following different preachers in a sectarian fashion would attempt to cause division. But the church, being the body of Christ (Col 1:18), cannot be divided! It cannot be sectioned off into splinters, and still be “one body” (Eph. 4:4). Paul told these Corinthians that they should all agree and have no divisions among themselves, and be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10).
Some will define the differences in practice that divide us today by the practice itself. For instance, some will say the churches of Christ are divisive because they insist on the necessity of baptism. The churches of Christ may say that the Independent Christian Churches are divisive because they use mechanical instruments of music in worship. The Missionary Baptists may say that the other Baptist groups are divisive for the way they handle mission work. All of these differences, though, can be summed up in one overarching problem: How we view the authority of scriptures.
Some groups claiming Christ as their head see little in the scriptures in the way of a “pattern” by which the church is molded. Groups on this end of the spectrum see places to add their own practices, and change the ones seen in scripture. Others see patterns in scripture where they do not exist and seek to bind them on others, such as certain times for meetings, observances of certain days, and adding requirements (such as the number of cups, etc.) to the Lord’s supper that God did not intend.
If we are to give a valid definition for “the church,” it must be one found in the pages of the scriptures. Likewise, the practices and beliefs of “the church” must also be found in the authority of Holy Scriptures. As Ealy states, “the Bible affirms that we can understand it (Eph 5:17) and”¦that we are under obligation to understand it alike (1 Cor. 1:10; John 17:20-21; Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 1:6-9).aa
Perhaps the best argument outside of scriptures for the existence of a “pattern” for the church can be found in simple logic. If no pattern exists, then that must mean man can do whatever he likes in worship. If there is a pattern, then it must have come into existence by the hand of God, and not the hand of man. If a divine pattern exists, then, it is man’s duty to seek it in obedience to Christ (John 14:15).
Writing on the topic of a pattern for the church, Wharton says the first century church of the New Testament can provide a template for the church in this present day and age.
A pattern, then, may be thought of as like unto a mold into which lead is poured and each time the same image is reproduced. Biblically speaking, the pattern concept should produce the idea of distinct doctrinal identity. Consequently when the New Testament pattern is used for building twentieth century church they will identify with those original apostolic churches which conformed to that same doctrinal pattern. The pattern principle thus becomes the restoration principle for first century Christianity.aa
So what is the church? According to the scriptures, the church is the body of Christ (Col. 1:18). It was purchased with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). The church is the saved (Eph. 5:32). There is no name members of the church are said to wear, other than the name of Christ (Acts 11:26). There is no name the churches of Christ are said to wear, other than the general names of Christ (Rom. 16:16) and God (1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 20:28). These names refer to the one church. Christians are sheep, and Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Heb. 13:20). As His sheep, Christians are owned by the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-12). What right do the sheep have to divide themselves, or to call themselves by names not given by the Shepherd?
In regard to the names religious bodies in the United States wear, Goebel Music relates this amusing, and yet to-the-point story:
A certain religious group was raising funds to build a church building. As they knocked on one door and told the gentleman their purpose and also their plan, he finally said, “All right, I will make a donation to the building program, if you will erect a sign that says, “˜This is the Church of Christ.’” They immediately said, “We cannot do that.” To which the man replied, “Well, I’ll tell you what. I’ll still make a donation if you will erect a sign that says, “˜This is not the Church of Christ.’” They said, “No, we cannot do that either.” Guess what? They left without a donation.aa
This indeed seems to be the attitude among many denominations. They are quick to place a man-made name on themselves while rejecting the name of Christ only, but certainly do not want people saying that they are not part of the body of Christ!
So how does one sort out the church of the New Testament from among the many diversions from the truth in the world today? The answer, as suggested previously, is in how one views scripture. Congregations that view the Word of God as inerrant and totally prescriptive for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3) will attempt to pattern their practices after those found in the New Testament. They will practice only what is prescribed, and avoid that which is not. Only when we seek to worship God in the way He has commanded can we truly be called Christians. And only when we practice, worship and believe as God has prescribed can we claim to be “the church.”
With the goal of adhering to God’s word only as a source of truth, we must hold true to the Bible definition for the church. The church of Christ worships as commanded, exemplified, or necessarily inferred from God’s word alone, devoid as much as is possible from human invention and tradition.
Does the group you worship with hold to the Bible only as a source of worship and practice?
a- Holland, Tom. “The Church of the New Testament” in The Church: Renewal or Ruin? The 59th Annual Harding University Bible Lectureship. Austin, TX: Firm Foundation, 1982.aaa
- Ealy, Gary. The Church: How It Can Be Identified. In The Church: The Beautiful Bride of Christ, Thomas B. Warren, Garland Elkins, eds. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1980.aaa
- Wharton, Edward C. The Church of Christ: A Presentation of the Distinctive Nature and Identity of the New Testament Church. West Monroe, LA: Howard Book House, 1987aaa
- Music, Goebel. Behold the Pattern. Colleyville, TX: Goebel Music Publications, 2001.aaa
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