There is an ongoing movement in churches of Christ to engage in all kinds of unlawful activities by putting it under the umbrella of “good works.” This is nothing new, nor is it unique. Most religious sects are also expanding their definition of “good works”. The influence is so strong that Christians look around and start to think, “Since everyone is doing it, it must be okay.”

This manner of thinking is shown in Israel’s desire to be led by a king rather than by God directly (I Sam. 8:5-6). Desiring to follow what is popular on the earth often results in forsaking the creator. What is wrong with expanding the mission of the church though? The church was founded by Christ (Matt. 16:18) for a specific purpose – to serve as the pillar and ground for God’s truth (1 Tim. 3:15). If we expand the mission of the church, we disregard Christ’s purpose for it.

Many local congregations follow the Biblical pattern of only governing themselves and having Christ as their head (Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:22-23). Still, a local church can be guilty of over-stepping its bounds by engaging in activities beyond what God has sanctioned. For example, the apostle Paul told Timothy to preach that Christians should take care of their own family members rather than burdening the church with that work (I Tim. 5:16). Even though helping needy people is a good work, there are still Biblical limitations on what the church should do. Having established that there are Biblical limitations on what a church should do, let us examine some other ways churches can go beyond their Christ-sanctioned purpose:

Raising our children

Some churches want to have a hand in child rearing, so they provide camps, parties, “trunk or treat” events, gyms and playgrounds.  However, parents are responsible for raising their children, not the church (Eph. 6:3; Titus 2:4). These activities have no direct spiritual application, so why should churches engage in them?

Providing meals

The brethren at Corinth were rebuked for mixing what they could do on an individual level with what the church can do collectively by trying to make feasts a spiritual event (I Cor. 11:22). They were told that they should eat at home as feasting is not a church work!  Until people can see that there is a difference between what the church can do collectively and was can be done individually, we will continue to see more and more local churches taking on unnecessary responsibility at the expense of their Christ-given purpose.

Loving our spouses

Husbands do not love their wives as a “church work”. But that is what happens when a church organizes a date night for couples and supplies babysitters. Husbands can and do handle these things without the oversight of any church!

It is tempting to look at these examples and ask what is the harm? Instead, God’s children should ask if God has authorized these activities. The purpose of the church is specific and spiritual, so it makes logical sense that its authorized activities will also be specific and spiritually grounded. Many people would refuse to go to a church that is doing something obviously sinful. Let us not ignore God’s purposes for the church though. The church is Christ’s (Acts 20:28), and no one has the right to presume to think for the Lord.

Chuck

Many times I have found myself situations where I have let things go because I know the response or correction would fall on deaf ears. This article will try to clarify a few of those things. I want people to know, “I don’t want to be rude, but…

…I am not a pastor!

Yes, I have received calls from hospitals over the years which stated, “Is this pastor so and so? We want you to know that one your members has been admitted and is in room such and such.”  That brief time on the phone is not the proper time to explain this, but a “pastor” is not a synonym for “preacher” in the Bible. Anybody who doubts this should read Ephesians 4:11. The word pastor means “elder, bishop or overseer.” If you read I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, you will find the qualifications be a pastor. Also note that a local church needs two or more men fulfilling the office at the same time (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23, etc.). A preacher could also serve as a pastor, but not all preachers are pastors. I hate to be rude, but I am not a pastor.

…I am not a reverend!

Just like the previous point, we need to be aware that our Lord does not want anyone to wear a title (Matt. 23:8-10). Peter, who was an apostle, told someone who was bowing down to him, “Stand up, I also am a man,” (Acts 10:25-26). There is no room for anyone to elevate themselves. The term “reverend” belongs to our God (Psa. 111:9). I do not want to be rude, but being called reverend is something that just cuts to the heart. Consider how Paul and Silas felt in Acts 14:14-15.       

…it is not my church!

Sometimes people ask me about the church I attend. Often though, the local church is referred to as “my church” during these conversations. I did not start the church – no man did. Jesus established it, and He is the head (Acts 20:28; Col. 1:18). The church belongs to Christ (Matt. 16:18). The local preacher does not own the church in any sense and did not go to the cross to establish it. People who refer to the local church as “my church” might now understand the significance of what they are saying, but Jesus had to sacrifice His life to build this spiritual body, the church. As a follower of Him, I do not want to steal His credit for that.

…I am not part of a ministerial group!

You might be familiar area preacher/pastor/reverend groups. They get together for breakfasts and have “fellowship.” Again, I do not want to be rude, but why would I want to be part of a group whose members promote false, non-Biblical doctrines? Some might construe this as arrogance. But the truth is that we are not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). Certainly we are to love all people as our Lord does (Mark 12:30-31; John 3:16). This does not mean we should condone unlawful behavior though.

…no person(s) sent me here to preach

People wonder how long I will be working in this area before I am reassigned somewhere else. It is even implied that I was sent here by some board to Newburgh. Many do not realize the Bible mentions no organizing body higher than a local church (Phil. 1:1). There is no hierarchy system in the churches of our Lord. Christ is simply the head. If a man wants to preach at a place and he is invited, it’s between him and that local church. I do not want to be rude, but preachers can work wherever they want and the local church can accept or reject whomever they want.    

 My goal in sharing these clarifications is to help us all follow God as He has called us to. Are these distinctions made in the local church you attend? Consider these things.

Chuck