Day 336

Of the Church.

Chapter 26, Paragraph 13.

“No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.”

Scripture Lookup

Matthew 18:15-17

Ephesians 4:2,3

Reflection

Too many times someone gets offended in a church. It could be something someone said, it could be a decision of the leadership, or it could be that not enough people said hello to them that causes the offense. And too many times it seems easier to the offended to start afresh at another church in town. But is it the right thing to do?

Life in the church is not all sunshine, lollipops, and roses. There will be times when we get on each other’s nerves. We will be sinned against. We will sin against others. When we journey together as a church, we must remember to “ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves…” (Phillippians 2:3).

While working through an offense, our instinct is to avoid everything and everyone involved. Assembling with the saints to worship God may be the last thing we feel like doing. Unless this church proves to be a false one, though, it is still governed by Christ. Obedience to his commands are not optional no matter how we feel. Until the matter is resolved, we are still called to fellowship with the saints to whom we are joined.

Questions to Consider

• When should you leave a church?

Day 335

Of the Church.

Chapter 26, Paragraph 12.

“As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.”

Scripture Lookup

1 Thessalonians 5:14

2 Thessalonians 3:6,14,15

Reflection

When looking to join a church, what do people usually look for? Sermons they agree with, friendly relatable people, programs to plug in to. How many, if asked, would say they were looking for accountability?

Christians are called out of this world by Christ. They are commanded to not walk alone, but to walk with other saints in a local church. By joining together, they mutually encourage one another. They rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those that weep. They speak to one another in “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19). They teach and admonish one another.

However, there are times when confrontation needs to occur. Action needs to be taken for unrepentant sin. Sometimes, fellowship has to be broken and discipline enforced. This is the duty of the church. When we join a church, we don’t just receive the happiness of being together: we become answerable to the government of the church.

Accepting and submitting to the authority of the church is not easy. It means we are vulnerable to those we worship with. What if we get hurt? When we remember who the head of the church is and how He has demonstrated His love for us, we gain the reassurance that whatever command He gives, it is good. Jesus commands us to place ourselves under the authority of a local church. This is good.

Questions to Consider

• How would you counsel someone who claims to be a Christian, but does not want to formally be a member of a church?

Day 334

Of the Church.

Chapter 26, Paragraph 11.

“Although it be incumbent on the Bishops or Pastors of the Churches, to be instant in Preaching the Word, by way of Office; yet the work of Preaching the Word is not so peculiarly confined to them; but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved, and called by the Church, may and ought to perform it.”

Scripture Lookup

Acts 11:19-21

1 Peter 4:10,11

Reflection

Who gets to preach? Could any man get up and deliver a sermon? Should only those who are pastors be allowed to preach?

While pastors ought to preach to their people, the role of preaching is not limited to ordained ministers. There are men who may not have had training or have been called to an office within the church, but have been gifted with teaching and preaching. In giving these men a chance to display their skills, the church is further strengthened and edified by the preaching done in her midst.

While the church should recognize those with the gift of preaching, it should be careful not to thrust any man into that position quickly. The recognition of a layman’s gift for preaching should come after a time of observation, and it should be the decision of the whole church. This way the preaching of the word is kept in high regard, not to be taken lightly.

With the rise of popularity among Calvinists for public preaching, it is important that measures be taken among churches to approve and call men who are gifted for preaching. While all are called to share the Gospel, not all are meant to be preachers. Having the church recognize some for preaching the word will ensure that these men are held accountable and that those who are gifted are able to use their gifts.

Questions to Consider

• Does your church recognize any laymen that have the gift of preaching?

Day 330

Of the Church.

Chapter 26, Paragraph 9.

“…And of a Deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by Prayer, and the like Imposition of hands.”

Scripture Lookup

Acts 6:3,5,6

Reflection

What is a deacon? Sample a smattering of churches, and you might find that not all agree on what a deacon is. Some churches give deacons the position that the Bible calls “elder”; they make decisions regarding the spiritual health of the church. Others view deacons as little more than janitors. Who is right?

The Bible gives an example of the purpose of deacon in Acts 6. The physical needs of some in the congregation were not being met. However, the apostles could not neglect the teaching and preaching of the word in order to fulfill this need. Thus men were selected to serve as deacons. They took care that those in their midst were fed. So today, deacons serve the church, ensuring that the  material aspects of the church are covered.

Need for churches to be as careful and considerate of their appointing deacons as they do elders. “Can’t anyone serve tables?” you may ask. Yes, most anyone can, but when it comes to serving the physical aspects of the church, there are those appointed by Christ that are well-suited to such a task. Thus the church needs to mutually agree to the appointing of deacons, giving the same attention to prayer as they did to appointing elders. Deacons are to be ordained to their office, not swept up into it because somebody has to do it.

Deacons tend to not receive much praise. They do not speak at conferences, or write books, or are prominent in the worship service. Yet they are an indispensable office to the functioning of the local church. They are not to be treated any less than elders.

Questions to Consider

• What is the role of deacon in your church? How are they chosen?

Day 329

Of the Church.

Chapter 26, Paragraph 9.

“The way appointed by Christ for the Calling of any person, fitted, and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the Office of Bishop, or Elder, in a Church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the Church itself; and Solemnly set apart by Fasting and Prayer, with imposition of hands of the Eldership of the Church, if there be any before Constituted therein;…”

Scripture Lookup

Acts 14:23
1 Timothy 4:14

Reflection

The local church consists of members. It also consists of officers, those ordained by Christ to lead the public worship of God and administer discipline. One of the offices is that of an elder. Elders of a church are not imposed upon a local church. They do not come and serve for a couple years and then are whisked away to another part of the country by an overseer. The office of elder is not a mantle that anyone can take upon themselves. The process for calling an elder looks quite different according to the Bible.

All power and authority necessary for the running of a local church Christ has given to the local church. When it comes to appointing elders, the members of the local church are to mutually agree to installing someone to that office. This is not a light decision to be made. Prayer and fasting are to be undertaken. If there are fellow elders, then they ought to lay hands upon the man set apart to be an elder.

When you first join a church, it may seem that the elders in the church are in a league of their own. Yes, they do have a different position than the other members. Yet they are still fellow members, recognized by the membership for the office. They have been appointed by Christ, but the local church has a role in granting that authority contained in the office of elder.

Questions to Consider

• How do elders get chosen in your church?

Day 328

Of the Church.

Chapter 26, Paragraph 8.

“A particular Church gathered, and completely Organized, according to the mind of Christ, consists of Officers, and Members; And the Officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the Church (so called and gathered) for the peculiar administration of Ordinances, and Execution of Power, or Duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the World, are Bishops or Elders and Deacons.”

Scripture Lookup

Acts 20:17, 28

Philippians 1:1

Reflection

When it comes to the local church, everything ought to be done in decency and in order. Worship is to be conducted, and discipline is to be administered. Who decides the order of worship? Can anyone call the congregation together to act upon a matter of discipline? Imagine some churches where there is not a clearly defined leadership. Conflict, discussions revolving around trivial matters, long and tedious meetings. How long would such a church last?

Christ has appointed officers within the church to carry out the ordinances and powers of the church: elders and deacons. These officers are chosen by the local church; they are not thrust upon them by an outside entity. Elders and deacons equip the church to walk in obedience to Christ, as they enable the church to worship Him corporately and publicly.

These offices sometimes get confused in Baptist churches. Rather than elders and deacons, there is the pastor, and then there may be a deacon board or a board of trustees. Deacons tend to take on the role of elders, and general committees take up the role of deacons. Some members may cling to these structures because it’s all they’ve ever known. However, tradition is not what we rely on for our church government. We must get our instructions in organizing the church from the head of the church Himself. Jesus has told us in His word that the church offices consist of elders and deacons.

Questions to Consider

• What offices does your church have? Why is it structured that way?

Day 327

Of the Church.

Chapter 26, Paragraph 7.

“To each of these Churches thus gathered, according to his mind, declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is any way needful, for their carrying on that order in worship, and discipline, which he has instituted for them to observe; with commands, and rules, for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.”

Scripture Lookup

Matthew 18:17, 18

1 Corinthians 5:4, 5, 5:13

2 Corinthians 2:6-8

Reflection

“Only God can judge me.”

This is often heard by unbelievers who insist on remaining in their sin. But what about believers? Is it true that only God can judge a believer? If someone joins your local assembly as a member, then falls into repeated sin with no evidence of repentance, what should the church do? Should the unrepentant one simply say, “Only God can judge me!” and everyone goes their own way?

It is true that only God knows who has been regenerated or not. But God also uses the church as a means to correct and rebuke those in her midst. Sometimes, such correction means removing the membership of some people, effectively putting them outside the assembly of believers. If there is an issue of discipline in your church that requires action, the church does not need to seek out permission from a church several towns over in order to enact it. The authority and power to regulate worship and discipline has been given to each local church by the Lord Himself.

Sadly, many churches today do not value the authority they have been given. Too often the requirements for membership are few and far between, and discipline is practically non-existent. This has consequences for the spiritual health of the church. Unchecked sin can poison the well-being of the congregation, so it is important that the church fairly, but firmly administer discipline when necessary.

Questions to Consider

• Is church discipline practiced by your church?