Principles and Practices of the Regular Baptists
AUTHOR: | Oliphant, James H. |
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Chapter XXI: Church Organization By: Elder E. D. Thomas. Christ said to Peter, Matthew 16:18: "Upon this Rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." We look carefully for the foundation for this church, and find that, according to Paul, he declares "other foundations can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." The Catholic idea of Peter being the foundation is here contradicted. Paul also gives us the idea of the church under the figure of a building - "ye are God's building." And, again, in his Ephesian letter, he declares "ye are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, in whom (Christ) all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." The word church and body are interchangeably used by divine writers to express the called out, or separated condition of those who bear the title of being the church of Christ. Paul says: "There is one body (church), and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism. one God and Father of all." With these facts to govern us in our investigation, we turn to the language of Christ in John 17: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." With what follows in this chapter, we are forced to the conclusion that the church he referred to, that he would build, is here under consideration, and its destiny mapped out. Now turn to Paul's first letter to Timothy 3:15: "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." This is the church that Christ gave himself for, that he might sanctify and cleanse, and present to himself a glorious church without spot or blemish. In this church Christ has fitly set every gift, and under the government he has given, ever subject of his divine grace is to be governed; subject one to another in the church for Christ's sake. This church becomes the custodian of his ordinances to keep them as delivered by the apostles, and see that they are administered by the proper officers at the proper time, and to sit in judgment over those who speak, and see whether they speak as the oracles or not; hence the power to receive members who give evidence that they are lively stones, ready to be built up a spiritual house; for the one Spirit, as they are called in the one hope of their calling, must characterize all the material, or no communion can be realized, for what communion is there between light and darkness, between Christ and Belial, between he that believeth and an infidel. And also, this church has power to execute the law of Christ against offenders, who shall not inherit the kingdom of God. They are classified by the apostle in his letter to the church of God at Corinth, 6th, chap., where he says: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." God's house must be kept clean; it is for the Holy Ghost to dwell in, his sacred temple. The popular idea of a church must be wrong: that it is a place for unregenerate sinners to become Christians. The church, nor her ministry, nor both combined, can make fit material for such a building. The material of which this temple is built is God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained for his church to walk in. Christ said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." From this promise, it is clear that the church or kingdom, and the gospel and ministry that preach it are inseparable. The law is to go forth of Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. It can not be doubted, from the foregoing, that the gospel has been preached in its purity, and the church has practiced according to it, from the days of Christ down to the present time. We pause and ask, where is that glorious gospel he said shall be preached ? It must be in the world, for the end is not yet. We can not find it by name, for, like the seven women in Isaiah, that should lay hold on one man, saying, "we will eat our bread and ware our own apparel, only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach." Those so anxious to call themselves by Christ's name look very much like it. Denominational names have generally arisen from some peculiarity belonging to them, making them to differ from the order or faith of the people they were formerly identified with, or from assuming to themselves a faith and practice entirely new or differing from any religious body before them. And now, dear reader, let me lay down a rule to govern us in this investigation that is fair, from the promises in the New Testament: Any church, no odds what name it claims, that does not manifest the first love, found in the primitive church of Christ for every principle of faith therein taught, so as to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, and have no fellowship with them who teach otherwise, but rather reprove them; and also, that love that can not bear to see one of Christ's ordinances neglected or mutilated, or seek to please the world by conformity to its vain wants, rather than the meek and lowly Savior's conduct, whose example they must follow, you may be sure, if the candlestick, as the Spirit was pleased to call the church in Revelations, ever was there, it is removed, as threatened by the Spirit to the church of Ephesus. Look around you and see who is willing to commune with everybody who will commune with them, and knowingly violate the command, "Come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you." Christ's church can not admit of change in law or order. Look and see who is ever on the change to keep up with the fashion of this wicked and adulterous generation. Know ye not that this kind of friendship with the world is enmity to God? Our understanding of the church of God we are willing to submit to the scrutiny of the seeker after truth as in Jesus revealed. But two bodies are known in the scriptures: One is represented as the bride, the Lamb's wife, and is but one body, to him; "he that hath the bride is the bridegroom," says John the Baptist, and so say we. The other is Babylon, signifying confusion , represented by a woman capable of making the nations drunk with the wine of her fornication, her worldly greatness, riches and honor - making kings, rich men, mighty men, noble men, worship at her shrine and submit to her beastly reign. But God has said, "Come out of her my people, that ye partake not of her sins, and receive not of her plagues." Dear reader, are you seeking a home in the church of God? The task may seem difficult to you, but the home in God's house is so richly provided with the good things of his kingdom, that one day in his courts is better than a thousand spent in rebellion against him. I will, in the light of truth now before me, give some direction to our young ministers to guide them in constituting churches of a local character: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, must govern in every case of constituting in one body; Christ must be acknowledged head and lawgiver by obedience to him and him alone. One faith means agreement; two can not walk together except they are agreed. One baptism means, one understanding of its use, taking the yoke of Christ upon them, to be united in the one body, one action, that of being buried with Christ by baptism; one officer, performing the action by the authority of the church of Christ, acting under the commission, baptizing believers in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Agreement in these particulars will enable them to judge properly who to receive, and how to receive, into their fellowship. When a number of brethren and sisters, in good standing in churches holding these points sacred, are willing to letter out for their convenience, those thus lettered out can meet and agree to call by petition on as many ordained ministers and churches as their convenience will admit of, setting their day to meet and their place of meeting, when the ministers and deacons whom the churches may appoint will meet at the time and place signified; the brethren petitioning for the constitution will call upon some of the ministers or elders present to open service by singing and prayer, followed by a sermon appropriate to the occasion; after which the council of elders and deacons will become organized by electing one of their number Moderator and another Clerk. Those wishing to be constituted will then submit their faith as expressed in the form of articles, scripturally sustained, as they believe, by the Word of God on the various points involving fellowship; and, also, such rules of decorum, as they agree shall govern them in time of worship and business, so their Moderator can keep order in the house of God as ordained in all the churches of the saints, and reprove them for violating their covenant, if necessary; their names, male and female, attached to it, as agreeing in the fear of God to maintain for his name's sake. The council will then examine their faith, as expressed in their articles, and also their ability to keep up the order of God's house, by regularly assembling, and whether they have one or more of their number suitably qualified for the office of deacon, each with a wife qualified to act with him in the office, according to Paul's instructions to Timothy. These things being found to exist, the council can retire for consultation, and if agreed that it will be for the promotion of God's glory, the spread of the gospel and the spiritual happiness of all concerned, they will meet them and unite in prayer for God's blessing to rest upon them and his cause; after which, a song may be sung and the right hand of fellowship extended by the council to all the members of the newly constituted church, acknowledging them as an independent local body or church, subject to Christ. They can then appoint a Moderator, extend the invitation to receive members, keep up the order as delivered to them. In conclusion, on this subject, I exhort you, as you love God, so manifest it by loving his people, his laws, his house, his ministers; never let your worldly concerns prevent you from doing your duty by your own management, nor let family ties control more than the Lord; they will sometimes conflict; deny self and self interest, and trust him who has said, "No man hath left father and mother, wife and children, houses and lands, for the kingdom of heaven and my sake, but shall receive four fold more in this life, and in the world to come everlasting life." "My soul shall pray for Zion still, While life or breath remains, There my best friends, my kindred dwell, There God my Savior reigns."
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