Questions
I read with much interest your article “Autonomy of the local Church (2)” in Jan. Issue of Meditate on These Things. Thanks for your discussion on the topic which remains one of the major sound doctrines of New Testament Church (Church of Christ) which some have erred. Please may you discuss more on “Church Autonomy/Cooperation” by these my Questions:
(1) Local Churches hosted by a local Congregation on evangelism mission in an area termed or known as “Gospel Meeting” Is the practice Scriptural Cooperation of N T Church?
(2) Gospel Preachers with gospel support from Churches come together preaching in an area by Radio, TV. or any other means. Is such joint work by individual Preachers Scriptural?
Are Churches involved in supporting the preachers in Scriptural Cooperation?
Answers
Thanks for the good, practical questions.
The evangelistic work of each local church is completely under the control of the elders of that local church (1 Peter 5:1-2). Even in a congregation without elders, its evangelistic work is under the oversight of the men of that church (Acts 13:1-3). It is good for one congregation to share scriptural teaching with other congregations as long as the one congregation maintains entire control of the work (Acts 11:22-23). Thus, it is good for a local church to have a gospel meeting, lectureship, etc. and invite members of other churches to come. But there is no scriptural authority for representatives of a plurality of congregations to meet together to plan a “gospel meeting” or any other work. This is the first step in the formation of an evangelistic association like Baptist churches.
It is scriptural for preachers to work together in an evangelistic effort (e.g., Acts 13:2-3; 15:36-40; 20:1-6; 21:8). However, I could not be part of an organization – a group of disciples with oversight, common resources, and a common work – of such men for evangelistic purposes, for the local church is the organization the Lord has specified to do the work of evangelism (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 6-8).
