Gospel Order, Pt. 4

Organizing the New Testament Church

The unity of the church is one of its credentials from heaven: "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John 17:21. This oneness is not merely an agreement as to doctrine, but a unity in "walk," a maintenance of harmony that calls for the exercise toward one another of "lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Eph. 4:2, 3.

It requires no "endeavor," no lowliness, no devotion, to destroy the unity, and to walk independently of one another. But the endeavor and study of the members of Christ's church is to "keep the unity." The New Testament church, like the Old Testament church, is a unit. It is not a mass of detached fragments, but one people. No more closely are all the members of a local company of believers bound together in the local church, than all the churches are bound together in fellowship in "the church," which is "his body." "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Eph. 4:4, 5.

Christ, the Good Shepherd, gave his life for the sheep; not to set them wandering each his own way, but to gather them together. "Other sheep I have," he said, "which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." John 10:16. It is the wolf only that "scattereth the sheep," in order that he may destroy them. Verse 12. Whatsoever spirit tends to detach the members from one another and to separate them is of the enemy, and not of the Good Shepherd.

All the teaching of the New Testament emphasizes the organic unity of the church of Christ. It is "the household of God," "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Eph. 2 :19-22.

In the architect's plan of a building, every part has its organic relation to every other part in making up the one complete structure. So the church, made up of parts, is "framed together," and "builded together," and "together groweth " unto one holy temple in the Lord.

As needful for the building up of the church and the maintenance of its unity to the end of time, the Lord set in it the spiritual gifts, "first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers," and evangelists, pastors, governments (the gift of administration and direction), and others. 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:11-16. And the spirit given to all believers by the new birth from above was the same spirit of love for order and organization that reigns above.

The New Testament shows the Lord at times giving direct instruction by the spirit of prophecy as to the development of organization according to the needs and conditions. Again we see the Spirit filled body of believers counseling together in general conference to secure concert of action. We see apostles, upon whom was laid the responsibilities of general oversight, and field laborers and believers praying together for wisdom better to organize their work, all recognizing as a gift from heaven any plan agreed upon that brought increased efficiency and closer union. The spirit that the New Testament church received was, in short, the spirit of "power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1: 7.

Two things we find were ever before that church,— the maintenance of purity and unity in the faith, and the carrying of the witness to the world. And in all the New Testament story we see that while the loyal believers were seeking these ends, disloyal or disorderly elements were seeking to introduce error or to bring about divisions and separations.

The first step in organizing the church of the New Testament was taken when Christ set in the body of believers the office of apostles. Out of the number of disciples he chose twelve —"whom also he named apostles"— and ordained them to the ministry and apostleship. Mark 3 and Luke 6. The spirit of prophecy says of this: —

The first step was now to be taken in the organization of the church that after Christ's departure was to be his representative on earth. ... As in the Old Testament the twelve patriarchs stand as representatives of Israel, so the twelve apostles were to stand as representatives of the gospel church.—"Desire of Ages," page 291.

Thus their office was not local but general, for the whole church. They were ordained to give themselves to the ministry of the Word and to the general oversight of the work of the church. As the work enlarged, others were called to the office and work of apostles. Their office unified the work of the churches as the gospel was carried far and wide.

After the ascension of Christ, the eleven apostles, in council with the believers, and with earnest prayer for guidance, appointed and ordained one of their number to the office of apostle in place of Judas. Then came the blessings of pentecost, and about ten thousand believers were gathered in Jerusalem. In the emergency there was need of means. Then those who had money brought it in and laid it at the feet of the apostles who were charged with the responsibility of guiding the work. Acts 4: 34-37. A common treasury, from which orderly and systematic distribution might be made through regular channels, was recognized as the right plan of carrying forward the work of looking after the needs of the thousands gathered there. And the point should be noted that the Spirit-filled church was ever seeking to do its work in the most systematic manner, recognizing divine authority in the gifts and offices placed in the church for the administration of its affairs.

W. A. Spicer

(Review and Herald, April 15, 1909)