- The organization of the church is the place that Satan has started much apostasy.
- Three concepts of church government (plus one hybrid):
- Universal concept: all churches in one unified arrangement (as in the Roman Catholic church)
- Universal oversight
- Universal treasury
- Universal work
- Brotherhood concept: all churches that join one particular conference (i.e. Southern Methodist Conference) are under the oversight of the that group (i.e. Southern Methodist church)
- Brotherhood oversight
- Brotherhood treasury
- Brotherhood work
- Local concept: all local churches are independent and govern themselves (Jesus Christ is the only head)
- Local oversight (I Peter 5:2-4
- Local treasury (I Corinthians 16:1-2
- Local work
- Evangelism- Philippians 4:15-16
- Relieving a church’s own needy members - Acts 4:34-36
- Brotherhood + local church concept: each local church is loosely bound to the convenction (i.e. Southern Baptist Convenction)
- They claim: local oversight, treasury, and work
- In a few things, they also have: brotherhood oversight, treasury, and work
- Examples:
- Baptist Hour radio program (funded by the Southern Baptist Convention)
- Buckner Children’s Home (also funded by the Southern Baptist Convention)
- Examples:
- “Churches of Christ” have attempted this:
- Herald of Truth radio and TV program (many churches sent to one church, which oversaw the work)
- Boles Children’s Home (operated by a denomination called “Churches of Christ”)
- Universal concept: all churches in one unified arrangement (as in the Roman Catholic church)
- Only one concept of church government has been authorized by God: the local church concept.
JJ
December 12, 2010
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