"THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"
Changes In Church Organization
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous study we saw that churches in the New Testament when
completely and scripturally organized had a two-tier system...
- cf. Php 1:1
a. Bishops (also known as elders, pastors), of which there always
more than just one, who oversaw the local congregation
b. Deacons ministered to the congregation under the oversight of the
bishops
2. The authority of the bishops (elders, pastors) was limited...
a. To the flock of God among them, i.e., the local congregation - cf.
Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:2
b. Thus each congregation was independent and autonomous, while
submitting to the apostles' doctrine - cf. Ac 2:42; 1Co 4:17;
14:37
3. Over the years, many have not been content with the New Testament
pattern...
a. Soon after the apostles died, changes in the organization of the
local church occurred
b. Despite later efforts to reform or restore the church, similar
changes continued to occur
[In this study we shall review these changes and to suggest their
significance...]
I. CHANGES IN THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
A. ANCIENT CHANGES...
1. In the New Testament, churches that had elders (bishops) never
had just one...
a. There was always a plurality - cf. Php 1:1; Ac 20:17
b. This certainly prevented a one-man rule over a church
2. But things soon changed; as noted by the Holman Bible
Dictionary...
a. During the second century A.D. churches came to have a
single bishop, and then that bishop came to exercise
oversight over nearby rural churches as well as the city
church so that his ecclesiastical territory became known as
a "diocese" or "see" ("eparchy" in the East).
b. Bishops of churches that had been founded by apostles were
said to be in succession to the apostles, and hence their
teaching was held to be authentic and their authority
collegial.
c. By 400 A.D. in the West, the bishop of Rome began to assume
extraordinary authority above other bishops.
3. According to A. T. Robinson's Word Pictures: "Ignatius shows
that in the early second century the office of bishop over the
elders had developed, but Lightfoot has shown that it was not
so in the first century."
B. MODERN CHANGES...
1. Many denominations have simply adopted the later changes in
church organization
a. Some go back to 400 A.D., and emulate an organization
similar to Roman Catholicism
b. Others go back to the second century A.D...
1) And have a three tier system of bishop, elders, deacons
within a congregation
2) Or where a bishop or group of bishops (presbyters)
oversee a number of churches
2. Some who sought to restore New Testament Christianity later
adopted changes that are not much different than what occurred
in the past
a. The International Church of Christ developed a hierarchy of
control over churches that emulates the structure found in
Catholicism and other churches
b. The sponsoring-church concept adopted by many churches of
Christ has the same effect as changes which occurred in the
second century (elders in one area overseeing other churches
or areas)
[One might wonder whether such changes have any importance. My response
is yes, for several reasons...]
II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCH CHANGES
A. THEY REFLECT AN ATTITUDE...
1. It reflects an attitude toward the Scriptures and the Lord
a. That we are free to change whatever we desire
b. That we can come up with a more efficient plan of church
organization and church cooperation than the Lord
2. The same attitude that allows changes in organization leads to
changes in the work, worship, and doctrines of the church
B. THEY CHANGE THE PURPOSE...
1. Remember, organization (design) reflects purpose
2. Change the organization and you change the purpose
3. E.g., in the NT organization of the local church, the purpose
of the elders is to watch and feed the flock over which the
Spirit has appointed them
4. When elders become overseers of other churches or works in
other areas...
a. They are no longer shepherds, but administrators
b. They presume authority in areas they have not been given
c. They take on works they really can't oversee (at least,
effectively)
d. Their purpose as God's shepherds has changed!
C. THEY UPSET THE BALANCE OF POWER...
1. Changes in organization upset the "balance of power"
2. Other than the authority given the inspired apostles, no man or
group of men were given more authority than the elders of a
church - cf. He 13:17
a. Their authority was limited to the church (flock) "among
them" - Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:2
b. A plurality of elders in one congregation also kept them in
check
3. But when changes in church organization occurred...
a. It became possible for one man to control one or more
churches
b. It became possible for a group of men to control a group of
churches
4. Thus authority over churches which ought to rest in Christ and
His apostles now becomes vested in uninspired men!
D. THEY INCREASE THE SPREAD OF ERROR...
1. Finally, the Divine wisdom to slow the development of error is
hindered
2. Some changes in church organization were an attempt to restrain
error
3. But whenever you have an organizational structure above the
local church, the potential for error's spread multiplies!
a. If error creeps into a local church, it is less likely to
spread if each congregation remains independent and
autonomous
b. But if error creeps into a hierarchy like those developed in
the second century and later, it can quickly spread to
churches expected to submit to the hierarchy
CONCLUSION
1. Church history illustrates the danger of making changes in the
organization of the church...
a. Changes in organization leads to changes in work and worship
b. Lack of respect of authority regarding organization is usually
accompanied by lack of respect for other doctrinal matters
2. When Jesus said, "I will build My church", He knew the best way to do
it...!
a. The New Testament reveals how He did it through His apostles
b. A clear pattern concerning the organization of churches in the New
Testament reveals its simplicity and evidence of Divine Wisdom
If we are content to "continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..."
(Ac 2:42), then we will make sure that we follow their ways in Christ
pertaining to the organization of the local church!
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
