A thought on Church Organization.
The denominational world presents a complexity in church organization. Generally, the local churches are but units in a super-organization. In some denominations, the local church cannot even select its own preacher. It has to be subservient to the "conference," "bishop" or "superintendent." When one studies those "things that are written," he soon learns that there is no Bible authority for such organizations. In Christ's church every congregation is independent of all others, subject only to the authority of Christ.
Every church of Christ is a self-governing body, free to carry on its own affairs and work under Christ and the apostles. This power of self-government is carried out through elders (who are also called "bishops" and "pastors") in every church. Note that it is not a plurality of churches under one bishop, but rather, a plurality of bishops in every church! The only organization the New Testament authorizes through which to do church work is the local congregation, under its elders, and with deacons as special helpers (Phil. 1:1).
The scope of the elders' authority is clearly indicated in I Pet. 5:2, "Tend the flock of God which is among you. exercising the oversight." The oversight of the elders begins and ends with the local congregation:" the flock ... which is among you." In no way and under no circumstances may their authority extend beyond the confines of the local church. This divine limitation upon the elders' power forever separates the churches and prohibits, any effort to tie them together under some super-organization with its accompanying influences and evils. It must be remembered that it was the violation of this principle which led to the great apostasy and the formation of the Roman hierarchy. (Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Thess. 2:3-12). To ignore this truth is to substitute human wisdom for the "things which are written."
Perhaps if all churches were organized in this manner many of these controversies would cease to exsist.
Perhaps if all churches were organized in this manner many of these controversies would cease to exist. Ah, that it were so. The only difference is you confine the trouble to the local congregation. I was an Episcopalian an appointing Priests has merit and am now a Baptist and selecting Pastors has merit. In both, in most cases, you still have a regional or national organization that oversees them, which is good and bad.
Worst is the local assembly with no outside checks, as is the case with some churches. Then you can get the Jim Jones mindset and drift dangerously from Christ into pastor worship.
Even in the time of Peter and Paul, they were like a governing body that instructed the local churches- as all the Epistles show. So a truly independent church is actually not biblical.
"Every church of Christ is a self-governing body, free to carry on its own affairs and work under Christ and the apostles. This power of self-government is carried out through elders (who are also called "bishops" and "pastors") in every church. Note that it is not a plurality of churches under one bishop, but rather, a plurality of bishops in every church!" ~ PFKEY
Exactly. I agree with those who have described the founding of America as "the flowering of the Reformation". There are hundreds and hundreds of origional writings / primary documents, in addition to The Declaration of Independence, where America's Founding Fathers spoke against the tyranny of men in both church and state.
When one studies the history of New Testament "church government", one can readily see that the bottom-up, checks and balances, Republican form of limited government that America's Calvinist Framers gave us, is based straight out of the New Testament CHURCH GOVERNMENT example. [Acts 6:3; 1:15, 22, 23, 25; 2Cor.8:19, etc.]
Paul, Barnabus and Titus are shown as installing the elders that were chosen by the congregations [Acts 6:3-6; 14:23 and Titus 1:5].
Mat 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Jesus' was warning his disciples against the elite class of "professional interpreters" of Scripture and tradition who loved pretentious titles and positions of influence.
Scripture indicates that church officers in the New Testament were chosen by the whole congregation, and that final governing authority in NT churches rests with the whole church.
The reasoning behind that is that [1] accountability to the congregation provides a safeguard against temptations to sin. [2] some degree of control by the entire congregation provides a safeguard against the leadership falling into doctrinal error. [3] government works best with the consent of those governed. In addition to those, there is another reason for restricting the authority of church officers [4] the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture and the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers (the regenerate).
The NT affirms that all regenerate Christians have access to God's throne in prayer and all share as members in a "royal priesthood". [1 Pet.2:9; cf. Heb. 10:19-25; 12:22-24] show that all Christians have some ability to interpret Scripture and some responsibility to seek God's wisdom in applying it to situations.
All have access directly to God in order to seek to know his will.
The NT allows for no special class of Christians who have greater access to God than others. Therefore it is right to include all believers in some of the crucial decision-making processes of the church. "In an abundance of counselors there is safety."
Paul says to the whole church congregation: "Pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom whom we may appoint to this duty." (of servant aka deacon)
The apostles had the unique authority to found and govern the early church, and they could speak and write the words of God. Many of their written words became the NT Scripture. In order to qualify as an apostle someone had to had seen Christ with his own eyes after he rose from the dead and had to have been specifically installed/appointed by Christ as an apostle.
In place of living apostles present in the church to teach and govern it, we have instead the writings of the apostles in the books of the NT.
Those New Testament Scriptures fulfill for the church today the absolute authoritative teaching and governing functions which were fulfilled by the apostles themselves during the early years of the church.
Because of that, there is no need for any direct "succession" or "physical descent" from the apostles.
In fact it was not the Jerusalem apostles who ordained Paul and Barnabas, but people in the church at Antioch who laid hands on them and sent them out. [Acts 13:3] Ordaining is ultimately from the Lord, himself [Acts 20:28; 1Cor.12:28; Eph.4:11].
*
James Madison, who has been called "The Father of the Constitution," was clearly influenced by the Christian religion and particularly Reverend John Witherspoon's Calvinism. His views on law and government reflect his theological insights on Church and state.
http://www.sar.org/sarmag/RF3.html