Is the New Testament church authorized to participate
- Slides: 6
Is the New Testament church authorized to participate in these works? • • Support of human institutions Sponsoring church arrangement Unlimited Benevolence Social Gospel INSTITUTIONALISM & THE LORD’S CHURCH Mt. 7: 20 -23
Support of Human Institutions Human Institution – An organization devised by man which exists to carry out a work under human oversight. Examples: Orphan’s homes, missionary societies, colleges, church schools, etc. Is the church sufficient to do its work? � � � Benevolence - Acts 11: 27 -30 Evangelize the lost - Acts 13: 1 -5 Edify the saints - Eph. 4: 11 -16 No other work is given for the church No other organization is given for carrying out that work than the church. It is presumptuous for us to go outside the pattern of how God wants the church to carry out its work (Heb. 7: 14)
Sponsoring Church Arrangement Sponsoring church arrangement – churches sent money to a sponsoring church for a specific work Each local church was to be autonomous – overseen locally (Acts 20: 28, 1 Pet. 5: 1 -2) � Sponsoring churches violate church autonomy How was benevolence accomplished? (Acts 11: 27 -30) Church at Antioch → Saints in Judea How was evangelism accomplished? (Acts 13: 1 -4) Church at Antioch → Paul & Barnabas
Unlimited Benevolence was limited in scope � Needy saints in Jerusalem (Acts 11: 27 -29) � Widows indeed (1 Tim. 5: 3 -5, 8 -9, 16) Church was not to be unnecessarily burdened! Doesn’t Gal. 6: 10 direct us to help the alien sinner? � Context tells us this was the responsibility of the individual (See v. 7 -9)
Social Gospel Ex. ) Church schools, secular training, gymnasiums, youth activities, sports teams, etc. The Lord’s church is a spiritual body � Work of the church: Evangelism, Edification, Benevolence Definition of Fellowship – Participation, communion, sharing in (1 John 1: 1 -4) � Fellowship is spiritual in nature, not physical Christians reprimanded for coming together to partake of the Lord’s supper as a common meal (1 Cor. 11: 20 -22 )
Follow God’s pattern for the church Mt. 7: 20 -23 – Follow the pattern! We’re not supporting: � Human institutions � Sponsoring churches � Unlimited benevolence � Social Gospel But are we: � Evangelizing the lost? � Edifying the saints? � Supporting limited benevolence?
