1445. The Church, a Localized Organism
The Church, a Localized Organism
"The seven Churches which are in Asia" (Rev_1:11).
There is no doubt, but that the Word of God declares the fact of the local church.
We read of "the Church at Ephesus," "the Church at Smyrna," "the Church at Thyatira," etc. These were all local churches.
What we wish to do now is to consider the relationship of the local church to the Church universal.
If the Church may be spoken of locally, does that local church form a part of the Church as a whole, thus forming a part of one, complete, living organism?
1. Is the local church independent of all other local churches? We answer without hesitancy–"Yes," and "No."
(1) The Church is independent. No other local church, and no group of local churches has any authority whatsoever over a distinctively local church.
In the human body, there is the hand, the foot, the eye, the ear–all of these are localized; so far as authority goes, they function, distinct and separate from one another.
The hand has no authority over the foot; the eye cannot command the ear; neither can the hand, the foot, the eye, and the ear combine and dictate to the lips.
The Church to-day is being wrecked because it is being commandeered by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. This hierarchy is as deplorable under Protestant Boards as it is under Catholic popes.
(2) The Church is interdependent. We mean simply this: churches have a co-operative responsibility.
The hand has its obligation toward the lips; the eye must work in unison with the ear; the feet must act in harmony with the hand. Every member of the body must bear its own burden, but it also must co-operate in bearing the burdens of every other member of the body.
2. Under what law can the local church be both independent and interdependent? How can the local church be wholly free in its actions from the authority of all other local churches, and yet work in gracious co-operative harmony with them?
How can we sustain an independency, and yet cultivate a co-operative dependency?
There is but one reply: Each local church must sacredly sustain its living Head, as its one and only authoritative voice.
The local church must be independent of the directive and dictative voice of all other local churches, or else be in constant danger of breaking its allegiance to Christ.
The local church must remain separate from all other local churches, and subject in all things to the Headship of Christ, if it would seek to sustain a vital and lasting union and communion with all other local churches.
When the local churches follow a medley of commanding voices they must soon become rent with internal strife and separation. Unity can only be secured by a centralized authority; and that authority must be Christ.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR