Author : Keith Sharp
A young Christian who is a Facebook friend joined the discussion group, “Unity of the Churches of Christ.” Under the heading “Recent News” it stated:
THE PLAN!!!
1) Get all the Churches of Christ to set aside a portion of money each month and combine it at the end of the year to house some people or feed the hungry. JUST DO SOME COLLECTIVE GOOD
2) Get a summit of 3 elders from each church together to discuss the “issues” that separate us and try to come together and overcome that which has divided us.
This seems to be a group of very young, idealistic Christians who mean well. And who could possibly oppose the unity of all God’s people (John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6)? Furthermore, far older Christians have long advocated similar plans.
Alexander Campbell advocated that congregations throughout America start an organization to collectively evangelize the world. That certainly was advocating “collective good.” With his enormous influence, he was able tog et brethren to begin the American Christian Missionary Society in 1849. Campbell was elected first President. The result: the Lord’s church in American was divided, and the Christian Church denomination began.
Constantine, the first “Christian” Emperor of the Roman Empire, got most of the bishops of the Empire together in A.D. 325 to work out their differences. This was the Council of Nicea, and the document that resulted, the Nicene Creed, was a major step in the formation of the Catholic Church.
Hmmm. I think I see a pattern emerging, and I’m certainly not talking about the New Testament pattern! (2 Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 8:5).
Let’s take a calm look at these two proposals. Will they help bring about unity?
The unity of the Spirit, the only kind of unity I’m interested in, has, as one of it’s seven principles, “one Lord” (Ephesians 4:1-6). Jesus Christ “is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). He declared, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). We must have authority from Him for all we do (Colossians 3:17). Those who act without His authority, no matter how well intentioned and even if they have “done many wonders” in His name, will hear from Him on the last, great day, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23)
There is absolutely no authority from the Lord Jesus Christ for “all the Churches of Christ,” or even two churches of Christ (local congregations), to do anything collectively. The independence, autonomy (self-government) of each local church is one of the most basic principles of the New Testament concerning church government. Elders oversee the local church where they are members and nothing else (1 Peter 5:1-2). Local churches may indeed cooperate with one another in scriptural endeavors as long as each congregation maintains full control of its own work (e.g., Acts 11:19-22, 27-30).
The two collective works proposed were “house some people or feed the hungry.” On the surface that sounds good. But is it really? Unless the Scriptures teach us to do something, it’s not good, regardless of how good it seems to us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It seemed good to Uzzah to save the ark of the covenant from falling and being broken, but when he touched it he died (1 Chronicles chapter 13; cf. Numbers 4:4-6,15). Individually, we can do lots of things the local church cannot do (1 Timothy 5:16). Church work is Christians working collectively in a local (1 Corinthians 1:2), spiritual relationship (John 18:36; Romans 14:17; Ephesians 1:3,22-23). The mission of the church is to lead the world to Christ by preaching and teaching of the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; 1 Timothy 3:14-15). Housing and feeding the world’s poor is not the work of the church. In fact, if the church renders benevolent aid to sinners, it is in fellowship with sinners (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).
What about a “summit” of “3 elders from each church”? Whoever made this proposal needs to get out into the field and see small, struggling congregations that have no elders yet or who only have two. Who’s going to represent them? Shall this “summit” of elders draw up a creed to unify all “Churches of Christ”? Well, then we’d have the collective work of all the congregations and the human creed, and we could boast that we are the human denomination that has a scriptural name! But so does the Church of God denomination (1 Corinthians 1:2), but, since it has a human creed and organization tying the congregations together, it’s still a denomination.
If these elders draw up a plan for unity that is not taught in the New Testament, shall we follow them? The apostle Paul warned that from among the elders “men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:17,30). The shepherds (elders) have a Chief Shepherd over them, and the shepherds have no right to lead where the Chief Shepherd does not (1 Peter 5:1-4).
Where is authority from the Lord to have a summit of elders to bring about unity? Don’t say Acts 15. The only elders at that meeting were the elders of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:4,6). They maintained congregational autonomy. The first time a meeting such as the one proposed was held was A.D. 325, the Council of Nicea.
I appreciate the desire for unity, but the plan proposed would just foster more division and result in a human denomination being formed.
So let me put forth an alternative proposal.
Now I plead with you, brethren, 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 (1 Corinthians 1:10)
And how can we all speak the same thing and have the same mind and same judgment? “If any speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11).
Wow, how simple! Now, why hadn’t anyone thought of that? Did you never hear, “We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent”? Good plan, huh?
