Return to study on Authority in the Lord's Church

Sunday, May 29, 2005 am

THE CHURCH AND HUMAN ORGANIZATIONS

                In times past we have noted how important the church is to God.  Ephesians 3:10 tells us it is a manifestation of God’s manifold wisdom.  Because of that we need to respect its boundaries as outlined in God’s word.  To go beyond those boundaries is to make the church something different than what God intended it to be.  That is why in all that we do seek authority and a pattern in God’s word.  Far too many in the world today have no real idea what God intended for the church to be.  They assume that all they are doing is acceptable without turning to the Bible to ensure that it is done “in the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17) and “as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11).  As a result we have hundreds or perhaps even thousands of different churches doing whatever they want to do, regardless of what the Bible says.  They are engaged in works that we find nothing about in the Bible, they worship following patterns foreign to scripture and they have organizational structures that violate the autonomy and independence God intended for every local congregation.

                Not too long ago lessons were presented dealing with our independence and autonomy, as well as a scriptural study concerning how congregations cooperated in the first century.  We have noted that we try to follow that pattern in all that we do.  Lord willing, in future lessons we will examine in greater detail the various works God has given the church to do (Evangelism, edification, benevolence and worship).  But today we want to talk about what happens when the church turns to human organizations to accomplish its works.

I.                     What Do We Mean By Human Organizations?

a.        What is an organization?  Several definitions

                                                   i.      American Heritage Dictionary -  1) the act or process of being organizing; 3) Something made up of elements with varied functions that contribute to the whole and to collective functions; an organism.; 4) A group of persons organized for a particular purpose; an association: a benevolent organization.  5) A structure through which individuals cooperate systematically to conduct business.

                                                  ii.      For our purposes, we will use a definition found in Walking by Faith (Cogdill) – “A body of persons formed into a whole consisting of independent and coordinated parts, especially for harmonious or united action.”

b.       What is a human organization? 

                                                   i.      In the same source, “Such a body formed by man, governed by man, apart from divine origin or authority.” (Homer Hailey)

                                                  ii.      We live in a society filled with organizations.  Obviously we are not concerned with most of them.  Human organizations have every right to exist and are needed to accomplish whatever their goal or task might be.

                                                iii.      Our concern in this lesson has to do with the relationship between human organizations and the Lord’s church.  There are many churches, even among churches of Christ who have created or turned to existing human organizations to accomplish the work God intended the local church to do OR what they perceive the work of the church to be (going beyond the realm of God’s authority).
Thus a human organization as we use the term is any organization OTHER THAN the local church itself that becomes affiliated with a church by means of support or oversight.  In other words, the church has a say in how the organization is governed OR they financially (or otherwise) support the organization.

c.        Examples of human organizations

                                                   i.      Church supported schools and colleges.  Often in the name of edification (building up the saints) some churches will create schools as an alternative to public education.  They will teach both secular and doctrinal subjects thus, as they say, catering to the whole man.  This becomes a human organization WITHIN a church.
Other schools and colleges are created by men who are “Christians” as a separate organization.  They in turn solicit funds from various sources including churches so that they can continue to exist (it takes money).  When churches support such institutions (in the name of edification) they are supporting a human organization OUTSIDE the church.

                                                  ii.      Church supported benevolent institutions.  Many churches have made it their mission (or on of their primary goals) to become benevolent organizations.  They often create organizations to cater to specific benevolent needs within society.  In some instances, a church will actually create an organization to do this work and often they solicit funds from other churches to support and expand the work.  This is creating a human organization WITHIN the church.
At other times, many churches may get together and create an organization to do a specific work.  They will organize this work either under the eldership of a specific congregation or a board consisting of members from the various churches involved. OR individuals will create an organization based upon a good work and solicit funds and be supported by churches.  This becomes a human organization OUTSIDE the church.
NOTE: The question is NOT whether such is a good work or not.  In times past we have talked about these things.  Our concern is with the authority of such organizations where the church is concerned.

                                                iii.      Church supported missionary societies or evangelistic efforts (Gospel Advocate).   In the name of evangelism, many churches set up organizations to sponsor missionaries or programs designed to preach the gospel on a grand scale.  Some churches pool their resources to create an organization for publishing material to be sent out to the masses. 
AGAIN: The question is NOT whether or not it is a good work, but is this method following the Biblical pattern.  Churches can publish and distribute material (bulletins, tracts, websites, etc.) without violating autonomy & independence.  Churches can (and should) support preachers.  BUT do they need another organization to accomplish that?

d.       In this lesson we will show that such organizational structure is unscriptural and sinful because of what it does to the pattern of the local church and in this lesson I will show you why.

II.                   The Church Contrasted with Human Organizations

a.        The church is divine (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 3:11) – Jesus built it, God planned it from eternity.
Human organizations are man made and designed to serve man’s desires and concepts.  They are NOT eternal in either purpose or beginning.

b.       The church demonstrates the wisdom of God – Ephesians 3:10.
Human organizations demonstrate the wisdom of man (Isaiah 55:9, Proverbs 14:12).

c.        The character of the church is seen in its membership.  It is made up of the saved – Acts 2:47, 20:28, 1 Corinthians 1:2
What about human organizations?  Their membership is often not exclusively Christians, but anyone they hire to do the work that needs to be done.
Can a church use its resources to support unbelievers?

d.       The church is ruled by divine authority.  The Bible speaks of the church and governs its pattern.  (1 Corinthians 4:17)  We can turn to God’s word and KNOW what He would have us to do.
What about human organizations?  Where is the authority for such?
Many organizations are created claiming to be fulfilling God’s will, but they are relying on what God has NOT said (silence).
NOTE: This is one of the biggest arguments made to justify these organizations – “God has not specifically forbidden such, so it must be acceptable.”  Appealing to God’s silence is a dangerous thing and one to consider in light of passages such as 1 Corinthians 4:6 (not to think beyond what is written) or Colossians 3:17 (do all in the name of the Lord).

e.        The church has a divine mission – to worship God, support the preaching of the gospel, build up its saints and some instances of benevolence. (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Human organizations OFTEN have as a mission that goes beyond what God has authorized for churches to do and be a part of.

f.         The church awaits its final destiny before God (1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:24)
What of human organizations? Along with the world they will be done away with.

g.       Because of these reasons, we KNOW God is pleased with the Local Church?
What about human organizations?  At best, we are guessing and hoping God will overlook the fact that we have taken matters into our own hands since, “the end justifies the means”.

III.                 Why Churches Cannot Support Human Organizations

a.        They violate the autonomy of the local church.  By their very nature they infringe upon each congregation being self-governing.  Churches involved in human organizations either surrender their autonomy in the work of the organization or if they are sponsoring it, they are usurping authority over other congregations that are supporting the work.

b.       They violate the NT pattern for the church.  I am firmly convinced God had a reason for local congregations to be autonomous & independent.  Human Organizations change that simple pattern.   Often they change the work of the church by doing works that are not authorized by the church in the first place.  They always change the structure of the church in that field.

c.        Another concern is that they cloud the distinction between what the church and the individual can do. 

                                                   i.      As already stated, that many of these organizations are doing a good work is not questioned.

                                                  ii.      Nor do I question that these are good works that NEED to be done.  And at times organizing is the best and most expedient way to accomplish such tasks.

                                                iii.      But the question is – should the church or individuals be doing these things?  In the Bible there is a great distinction between the two.  Consider 1 Timothy 5:16.
Often times passages that are directed toward individuals are used to justify collective action (James 1:27, Galatians 6:10).  You CANNOT scripturally do that!  What applies to one does not necessarily apply to the other – CONTEXT determines the intended subject!

d.       By their very creation they say the church is insufficient to accomplish God’s purpose for her.  OR that there are other and better ways to do its work.  Does ANYONE really want to go there?

e.        When churches support these organizations they are allowing another organization to do the work God gave them to do personally. 

                                                   i.      In essence they are “hiring” someone else to evangelize for them or do their benevolence. 
Or they allow themselves to be “hired” to do someone else’s work.

                                                  ii.      This is a problem that members need to guard against as well.  You cannot give to the church on Sunday and think that you have done all you need to do – that is just the beginning.

                                                iii.      We must guard against relegating the church to nothing more than a place to worship and to raise money for organizations to do what God intended the church to do.

Thus we can see that human organizations have no place in the church.  Friends, please understand.  We do not reject these organizations just to be difficult or different.  Nor do we minimize the value of their good works.  They are good works that NEED to be addressed and supported by Christians as we each have opportunities.  But they are simply not authorized in the Bible and thus they should not be found in any way as a part of the Lord’s church here.  You can call us legalistic or “anti” or old fashioned or whatever, but that does not change the fact that God’s word has no place for such things in the Lord’s church.  If we truly believe that the church that Jesus built is sufficient and a manifestation of God’s wisdom we will accept her as she is in God’s word and do the work (and only that work) which God gave her to do.  It is just that simple.  PLEASE, open your Bibles and look for yourself.  The purity of the Lord’s body and possibly your soul are at stake. 

Leave the rest of the good works to individual Christians whose lives ought to be “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).  Think about it!