|
|
 |
a Biblical reality
Just as a Christian is not to be a lone-ranger but should be part of a local church, so
also each local church should not exist in isolation from other local churches. The local
church is part of a larger body - the universal church, which includes all true local
churches of Christ. |
|
Thus when we read the Scriptures, we find a rich dynamic of inter-church relations. We find
that local churches cultivated fellowship with each other. They communicated greetings one
to another (Rom 16:16; 1Cor 16:19; Heb 13:24). There was a healthy measure of transparency existing among churches (2Cor 8:1;Col 4:14-16; Rev 2-3). Personal visits and reports were
given to churches individually about God's work elsewhere (Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4; etc).
Moreover, there was a healthy regard of how other churches viewed a particular church
(2Cor 8:24 cf 2Cor 4:2; 2Cor 6:4). The idea that a church should not be concerned about
how other churches view her is foreign to Scriptures.
In addition, letters of commendation were sent from one church to another concerning a
minister of the gospel (Acts 18:27-28).
Furthermore, Christ's gift to one church was not limited only to that church. Even other
churches benefited (Acts 18:27-28; Col 4:10; Rom 16:3-5a; Phm 1:7; 3Jn 1:5-8).
In addition, churches voluntarily engaged in a cooperative effort to meet a specific need
as was the case of the benevolence work for the needy saints in Jerusalem (2Cor 8&9).
The New Testament indicate also that God might use a particular church or churches to be a
model for others churches to emulate (1Thess 1:6-7; 2Cor 8:1-5; 2Cor 8:10).
And the church in Antioch sought the counsel of the church in Jerusalem on a point of duty
(Acts 15:2). And although there is definitely something unique about this incident because
there were living Apostles in the church in Jerusalem, and yet it does lay a general principle that one church can seek the counsel or advise of a more mature church.
Finally, Scriptures indicate that churches prayed for one another (Eph 6:18-20; Col 1:4).
Each church did not just pray for its own concerns but for all the saints.
Therefore, the idea of a church being isolated from other churches is clearly not biblical.
Each local church must live and relate with the larger body of Christ's disciples.
|
|
 |
|
disable pop-ads
| |
|
