CONGREGATIONALISM

1
CONGREGATIONALISM

• THE HISTORICAL AND NEW TESTAMENT BASIS FOR
  INDEPENDENT LOCAL CHURCHES

2
RESTORING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES THREE
ASSUMPTIONS

• PROPOSITION 1 REGARDING APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY
• Restorationist, primitivist religious thinking
  assumes that the Apostles were given specific
  authority to define doctrine and set in order
  churches. This authority was perpetuated in the
  inspired writings of the New Testament.
• PROPOSITION 2 REGARDING COMMON SENSE
  HERMENEUTICS
• Restorationist, primitivist religious thinking
  assumes that human beings, through the use of a
  common sense possessed by all, have the ability
  to read texts and reach common conclusions about
  meanings. This empirical, logical type of
  thinking is the basis for all public (as opposed
  to private and subjective) human understanding.
• PROPOSITION 3 REGARDING LOCAL CHURCHES
  (CONGREGATIONALISM)
• Restorationist, primitivist religious thinking
  assumes that the practices of local churches in
  New Testament days rested on apostolic authority
  and that the ordering of churches was
  intentionally designed by God to promote
  uniformity (catholicity) among Christians.

3
Testing the Validity of Pattern Thinking A New
Testament Church

• 1. An organizationPhil. 11 Acts 1423 I Tim.
  3 1ff Titus 15ff.
• 2. An AssemblyHeb. 1025 I Cor. 1115
• 3. TaughtActs 207 I Cor. 1415
• 4. PrayedActs 125 I Cor. 1419
• 5. SangEph. 519 Col. 316
• 6. Lords Supper on 1st DayActs 207 I Cor.
  1120
• Gave on 1st DayI Cor. 161,2 Acts 244-45
• TreasuryActs 51-4
• Relieved Needy SaintsActs 434-35 1129-30 I
  Cor. 161
• Supported PreachingII Cor. 118 Phil. 415-16
• 11. Discipline Unruly MembersI Cor. 51-5

4
THE SCANDAL OF DIVISION

• Aaronic Order 2,000 (4 recs.)Abecedarians (2
  recs.)AbelitesAbenakiAbenaki, Passamaquoddy,
  and Penobscot (2 recs.)AbiponAbkhazian 594,500
  (5 recs.)Aboriginal Evangelical
  MissionsAbyssinian Frontiers Mission (2
  recs.)Acharya's Yoga and Meditation Centre
  5,000 (2 recs.)Acheh (3 recs.)AcholiAchomawi
  (2 recs.)ACLUAcolapissa and Tangipahoa (2
  recs.)Acts Full Gospel ChurchAdai (2
  recs.)AdamitesAdja (3 recs.)Adoniswww.
  Adherents.com

33,800 listings of Christian religious bodies in
David W. Barretts World Christian Encyclopedia
5
A STRATEGY FOR UNITY

• 1. Jesus prayed for unity among his disciples so
  that His message would not be damaged
• John 1723 I am in them, and you are in me. May
  they be completely one, so that the world may
  know that you sent me and that you have loved
  them as you loved me. (ISV)

6
A STRATEGY FOR UNITY

• 2. Unity was commanded.
• 1 Corinthians 110 But I exhort you, brothers,
  by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
  all speak the same thing and that there be no
  divisions among you but that you be perfectly
  joined together in the same mind and in the same
  judgment.

7
CHURCHES LOOKED ALIKE

• 3. New Testament churches looked alike.
• 1 Thessalonians 213-14 (13) For this cause
  also thank we God without ceasing, because, when
  ye received the word of God which ye heard of us,
  ye received it not as the word of men, but as it
  is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
  worketh also in you that believe. (14) For ye,
  brethren, became followers of the churches of God
  which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus for ye also
  have suffered like things of your own countrymen,
  even as they have of the Jews

8
CORINTHIAN 0RDERING

• 4. Uniformity a repetitious theme in
  Corinthians.
• I Cor. 417 For this cause have I sent unto you
  Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in
  the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of
  my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every
  where in every church.
• I Cor. 717 But as God hath distributed to every
  man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let
  him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
• I Cor. 1116 But if any man seem to be
  contentious, we have no such custom, neither the
  churches of God.
• I Cor. 161 Now concerning the collection for the
  saints, as I have given order to the churches of
  Galatia, even so do ye.

9
THE ORDERING OF CHURCHES

• 5. Timothy and Titus were to set churches in
  order.
• 1 Timothy 314-15 These things write I unto thee,
  hoping to come unto thee shortly (15) But if I
  tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou
  oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God,
  which is the church of the living God, the pillar
  and ground of the truth.
• Titus 12-5 In hope of eternal life, which God,
  that cannot lie, promised before the world began
  (3) But hath in due times manifested his word
  through preaching, which is committed unto me
  according to the commandment of God our Saviour
  (4) To Titus, mine own son after the common
  faith Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the
  Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
  (5) For this cause left I thee in Crete, that
  thou shouldest set in order the things that are
  wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I
  had appointed thee

10
HISTORICAL UNIFORMITY OF THE CHURCH

• 6. Early Christians assumed uniformity in a
  catholic church.
• I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of
  heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ his only
  Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy
  Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
  Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried
  he descended into hell the third day he rose
  again from the dead he ascended into heaven, and
  sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
  Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the
  quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost
  the holy catholic Church the communion of
  saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection
  of the body and the life everlasting. AMEN.
• Apostles Creed (2nd century)

11
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• Ephesians 122-23 And hath put all things under
  his feet, and gave him to be the head over all
  things to the church, (23) Which is his body,
  the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

THE CHURCH IN EPHESIANS
12
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• Ephesians 39-11. 21 And to make all men see
  what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from
  the beginning of the world hath been hid in God,
  who created all things by Jesus Christ (10) To
  the intent that now unto the principalities and
  powers in heavenly places might be known by the
  church the manifold wisdom of God, (11)
  According to the eternal purpose which he
  purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord . . .(21)
  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
  throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

THE TOTALITY OF GODS WISDOM
13
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• Ephesians 219-22 Now therefore ye are no more
  strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with
  the saints, and of the household of God (20)
  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles
  and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
  chief corner stone (21) In whom all the
  building fitly framed together groweth unto an
  holy temple in the Lord (22) In whom ye also
  are builded together for an habitation of God
  through the Spirit.

THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD
14
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• Ephesians 411-16 And he gave some, apostles
  and some, prophets and some, evangelists and
  some, pastors and teachers (12) For the
  perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
  ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ
  (13) Till we all come in the unity of the
  faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
  unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
  stature of the fulness of Christ (14) That we
  henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
  fro, and carried about with every wind of
  doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
  craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive
  (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
  into him in all things, which is the head, even
  Christ (16) From whom the whole body fitly
  joined together and compacted by that which every
  joint supplieth, according to the effectual
  working in the measure of every part, maketh
  increase of the body unto the edifying of itself
  in love.

A GLORIOUS FUNCTIONING UNIT
15
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• Ephesians 523-26 For the husband is the head of
  the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
  church and he is the saviour of the body. (24)
  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ,
  so let the wives be to their own husbands in
  every thing. (25) Husbands, love your wives,
  even as Christ also loved the church, and gave
  himself for it (26) That he might sanctify and
  cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

THE COLLECTION OF THOSE WHO ARE SAVED
16
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• Colossians 118 And he is the head of the body,
  the church who is the beginning, the firstborn
  from the dead that in all things he might have
  the preeminence.

COLOSSIANS
17
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• 1 Peter 25 Ye also, as lively stones, are built
  up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to
  offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God
  by Jesus Christ.

1 PETER
18
GRASPING THE GRANDEUR OF THE CHURCH

• Hebrews 1218-29 For ye are not come unto the
  mount that might be touched, and that burned with
  fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and
  tempest, . . . (22) But ye are come unto mount
  Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the
  heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company
  of angels, (23) To the general assembly and
  church of the firstborn, which are written in
  heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the
  spirits of just men made perfect, (24) And to
  Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to
  the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better
  things than that of Abel. (25) See that ye
  refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped
  not who refused him that spake on earth, much
  more shall not we escape, if we turn away from
  him that speaketh from heaven (26) Whose voice
  then shook the earth but now he hath promised,
  saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only,
  but also heaven. (27) And this word, Yet once
  more, signifieth the removing of those things
  that are shaken, as of things that are made, that
  those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
  (28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which
  cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we
  may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly
  fear (29) For our God is a consuming fire.

HEBREWS
19
INTENTIONALITY OF GODS PLAN

• Hebrews 85 Who serve unto the example and
  shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
  admonished of God when he was about to make the
  tabernacle for, See, saith he, that thou make
  all things according to the pattern shewed to
  thee in the mount.
• Hebrews 101 For the law having a shadow of good
  things to come, and not the very image of the
  things, can never with those sacrifices which
  they offered year by year continually make the
  comers thereunto perfect.

20
INTENTIONALITY OF GODS PLAN

• Acts 744 Our fathers had the tabernacle of
  witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed,
  speaking unto Moses, that he should make it
  according to the fashion that he had seen.

THUS . . . EXCLUSION OF ALL THINGS NOT AUTHORIZED
BY GOD
21
INTENTIONALITY OF GODS PLAN

• Hebrews 714 For it is evident that our Lord
  sprang out of Juda of which tribe Moses spake
  nothing concerning priesthood.

THUS . . . EXCLUSION OF ALL THINGS NOT AUTHORIZED
BY GOD
22
CONGREGATIONALISM IN HISTORY

• Is this focus a distortion of Gods intent?

2. Modern interest in non-denominational
independence
3. Central concern of the Reformation--Names Alte
rnates EpiscopacyApostolic Succession
PresbyterianismCalvins Christian
Commonwealth Congregationalism, Independency,
Separatism
4. Most important principle in American
religious historythe New England Wayseparated
churches and moral nation. Unto a Good Land
23
Salem Covenant of 1629

• We covenant with the Lord and one with another
  and doe bynd our selves in the presence of God,
  to walke together in all his waies, according as
  he is pleased to reveal himself unto us in his
  blessed word of truth.

24
The Watertown Covenant July 30, 1630

• For in the End of the Day, after the finishing of
  our Publick Duties, we do all, . . . Promise, and
  enter into a sure Covenant with the Lord our God,
  and before him with one another, by Oath and
  serious Protestation made, to renounce all
  Idolatry and Superstition, Will-Worship, all
  Humane Traditions and Inventions whatsoever, in
  the Worship of God and forsaking all Evil Ways,
  do give ourselves wholly unto the Lord Jesus, to
  do him faithful Service, observing and keeping
  all his Statutes, Commands, and Ordinances, in
  all Matters concerning our Reformation his
  Worship, Administrations, Ministry, and
  Government and in the Carriage of our selves
  among our selves, and one another towards
  another, as he hath prescribed in his Holy Word.
  Further swearing to cleave unto that alone, and
  the true Sense and meaning thereof to the utmost
  of our Power, as unto the most clear Light and
  infallible Rule, and All-sufficient Canon, in all
  things that concern us in this our Way.

25
CAMBRIDGE PLATFORM OF 1649
26

• CHAPTER I.
• Of the form of Church-Government and that it is
  one, immutable, and prescribed in the Word of
  God.
•       Ecclesiasticall Polity or Church Government
  (1), or discipline is nothing els, but that Forme
  order that is to be observed in the Church of
  Christ vpon earth, both for the Constitution of
  it, all the Administrations that therein are to
  bee performed.       2 Church-Government is
  Considered in a double respect either in regard
  of the parts of Government themselves, or
  necessary Circumstances thereof. The parts of
  Government are prescribed in the word, (2)
  because the Lord Iesus Christ the King and
  Law-giver of his Church, is no less faithfull in
  the house of God then was Moses, (3)who from the
  Lord delivered a form pattern (4) of Government
  to the Children of Israel in the old Testament
  And the holy Scriptures are now also soe perfect,
  as they are able to make the man of God perfect
  thorough-ly furnished vnto euery good work and
  therefore doubtless to the well ordering of the
  house of God.       3 The partes of
  Church-Government are all of them exactly
  described in the word of God (5) being parts or
  means of Instituted worship according to the
  second Commandement therefore to continue one
  the same, vnto the apearing of our Lord Iesus
  Christ as a kingdom that cannot be shaken, untill
  hee shall deliver it up unto God, enen the
  Father. Soe that it is not left in the power of
  men, (6) officers, Churches, or any state in the
  world to add, or diminish, or alter any thing in
  the least measure therein.       4 The necessary
  circumstances, (7) as time place c belonging
  unto order and decency, are not soe left unto men
  as that under pretence (8) 2 of them, they may
  thrust their own Inventions vpon the Churches
  Being Circumscribed in the word with many
  Generall limitations where they are determined
  in respect of the matter to be neither worship it
  self, (9) nor Circumstances seperable from
  worship in respect of their end, they must be
  done vnto edification in respect of the manner,
  decently, and in order, according to the nature
  of the things them selves, Civill, Church
  Custom. (10) doth not euen nature it selfe teach
  you ? yea they, are in some sort determined
  particularly, namely that they be done in such a
  manner, as all Circumstances considered, is most
  expedient for edification so, as if there bee no
  errour of man concerning their determination, the
  determining of them is to be accounted as if it
  were divine.
• Notes
• 1. Ezek. 43, 11 Col 2, 5 I Tim. 3, 15 2. Hebr 3,
  5, 6 3. Exod 25 40 4. 2 Tim 3 16 5. I Tim 3 15
  I Chron 15 13 Ex 20 4 I im 6 13 v 16 Heb 12 27 28
  I Cor, 15 22 6. Deut 12 32. Ezek 43 8. I Kings
  12. 31 32 33 7. I Kings 12 v 28 29 Isai 29 13.
  8. Col 2 22 23 Acts 15 28 9. Matt 15 9 I Cor 11
  23 c 8 34. 10. I Cor 14 26 I Cor 14 40 I Cor 11
  14 I Cor 11 16 I Cor 14 12 19 Acts 15 28.

27
Chapter 1

•       Ecclesiasticall Polity or Church
  Government, or discipline is nothing els, but
  that Forme order that is to be observed in the
  Church of Christ vpon earth, both for the
  Constitution of it, all the Administrations
  that therein are to bee performed.

28
Chapter 1

• 5 The state the members of the militant visible
  church walking in order, was either before the
  law, Oeconomical, that is in families
  patriarchal or under the law, National or,
  since the comming of Christ, only
  congregational. (The term Independent, wee
  approve not ) Therfore neither national,
  provincial, nor classical.       6 A
  Congregational-church, is by the institution of
  Christ a part of the Militant-visible-church,
  consisting of a company of Saints by calling,
  united into one body, by a holy covenant, for the
  publick worship of God, the mutuall edification
  one of another, in the Fellowship of the Lord
  Iesus.

29
What is a Church of Christ?Good Question

• I Cor. 417For this cause have I sent unto you
  Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in
  the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of
  my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every
  where in every church.
• I Cor. 717But as God hath distributed to every
  man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let
  him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
• I Cor. 1116But if any man seem to be
  contentious, we have no such custom, neither the
  churches of God.
• I Cor. 161Now concerning the collection for the
  saints, as I have given order to the churches of
  Galatia, even so do ye.

30
Testing the Validity of Pattern Thinking A New
Testament Church

• 1. An organizationPhil. 11 Acts 1423 I Tim.
  3 1ff Titus 15ff.
• 2. An AssemblyHeb. 1025 I Cor. 1115
• 3. TaughtActs 207 I Cor. 1415
• 4. PrayedActs 125 I Cor. 1419
• 5. SangEph. 519 Col. 316
• 6. Lords Supper on 1st DayActs 207 I Cor.
  1120
• Gave on 1st DayI Cor. 161,2 Acts 244-45
• TreasuryActs 51-4
• Relieved Needy SaintsActs 434-35 1129-30 I
  Cor. 161
• Supported PreachingII Cor. 118 Phil. 415-16
• 11. Discipline Unruly MembersI Cor. 51-5

31
THE LIMITATIONS OF AUTHORITY

• 1. An organizationPhil. 11 Acts 1423 I Tim.
  3 1ff Titus 15ff.
• 2. An AssemblyHeb. 1025 I Cor. 1115
• 3. TaughtActs 207 I Cor. 1415
• 4. PrayedActs 125 I Cor. 1419
• 5. SangEph. 519 Col. 316
• 6. Lords Supper on 1st DayActs 207 I Cor.
  1120
• Gave on 1st DayI Cor. 161,2 Acts 244-45
• TreasuryActs 51-4
• Relieved Needy SaintsActs 434-35 1129-30 I
  Cor. 161
• Supported PreachingII Cor. 118 Phil. 415-16
• 11. Discipline Unruly MembersI Cor. 51-5

32
Singing

• Eph. 519Speaking to yourselves in psalms and
  hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
  melody in your heart to the Lord. . .
• Col. 316Let the word of Christ dwell in you
  richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing
  one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
  songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
  Lord.

33
SINGING

• IS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC REALLY SUCH A BIG ISSUE?
• Should we divide churches just because of
  instrumental music?

IT SEEMS PRETTY MINOR ME
APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY IS A BIG ISSUE!!
34
THE LIMITATIONS OF AUTHORITY

• 1. An organizationPhil. 11 Acts 1423 I Tim.
  3 1ff Titus 15ff.
• 2. An AssemblyHeb. 1025 I Cor. 1115
• 3. TaughtActs 207 I Cor. 1415
• 4. PrayedActs 125 I Cor. 1419
• 5. SangEph. 519 Col. 316
• 6. Lords Supper on 1st DayActs 207 I Cor.
  1120
• Gave on 1st DayI Cor. 161,2 Acts 244-45
• TreasuryActs 51-4
• Relieved Needy SaintsActs 434-35 1129-30 I
  Cor. 161
• Supported PreachingII Cor. 118 Phil. 415-16
• 11. Discipline Unruly MembersI Cor. 51-5

THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE THAT DIVIDES
35
THE LIMITATIONS OF AUTHORITY

• 1. An organizationPhil. 11 Acts 1423 I Tim.
  3 1ff Titus 15ff.
• 2. An AssemblyHeb. 1025 I Cor. 1115
• 3. TaughtActs 207 I Cor. 1415
• 4. PrayedActs 125 I Cor. 1419
• 5. SangEph. 519 Col. 316
• 6. Lords Supper on 1st DayActs 207 I Cor.
  1120
• Gave on 1st DayI Cor. 161,2 Acts 244-45
• TreasuryActs 51-4
• Relieved Needy SaintsActs 434-35 1129-30 I
  Cor. 161
• Supported PreachingII Cor. 118 Phil. 415-16
• 11. Discipline Unruly MembersI Cor. 51-5

THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT DIVIDES
36
WILL BIBLICAL CONGREGATIONALISM WORK IN THE
MODERN RELIGIOUS WORLD?

• Benton Johnson, Dean R. Hoge and Donald A.
  Luidens, Mainline Churches The Real Reason for
  Decline, First Things, March, 1993, pp. 13-18

37
The Question What Makes People Remain Faithful?

• In our study, the best predictor of church
  participation turned out to be belieforthodox
  Christian belief, and especially the teaching
  that a person can be saved only through Jesus
  Christ. Virtually all our baby boomers who
  believe this are active members of a church.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A CHURCH WHERE PEOPLE
BELIEVE SOMETHING!
38
Finding the Way to Restore Vitality to Churches

• Jane Lampman, A Return to Primitive Christianity
  in a Modern Age, Christian Science Monitor,
  March 6, 2003.
• As many seekers have set off in recent years to
  pursue spirituality outside the bounds of
  organized religion, another trend has quietly
  emerged within and across Christian
  denominations a return to orthodoxy. . . . It
  is perhaps most visible in the least expected
  placethe liberal mainline churcheswhere many
  renewal groups are taking an assertive stance,
  seeking to replace what they consider secularized
  theology and political activism with biblical
  authority and evangelical fervor.

39
Two Steps to Finding the Way

• Thomas Oden Drew University, The Rebirth of
  Orthodoxy Signs of New Life in Christianity (San
  Francisco Harper Row, 2003).
• Oden notes a return to classic Christianity
  based on a willingness to think with the early
  church about the sacred text and a return to
  Christian tradition as defined by the sacred
  texts of scripture, the ecumenical councils of
  the first five centuries, and the teachings of
  the fathers of the first millennium.

40
Two Steps to Finding the Way

• Thomas Oden Drew University, The Rebirth of
  Orthodoxy Signs of New Life in Christianity (San
  Francisco Harper Row, 2003).
• 2. Learning to say no to false doctrine.
  
• There is an avid new interest in setting
  boundaries for Christian teaching.

41
Two Steps to Finding the Way

• 1. A Return to Apostolic Teaching and Practice

2. Setting Boundaries and Saying NO
READY TO FOLLOW THIS PATH?
THIS AUTHORITY PRINCIPLE DEMANDS CONSISTENT
ACTION
42
THE BIBLICAL AND HISTORICAL QUEST FOR AUTHORITY

• 1 Peter 411 If any man speak, let him speak as
  the oracles of God if any man minister, let him
  do it as of the ability which God giveth that
  God in all things may be glorified through Jesus
  Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever
  and ever. Amen.