WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LOCAL CHURCH?

Richard Hammock, Eddie R. Littrell, Bob Myhan & W. Bruce Tooley

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hat is the collective work of the local church? How is this work to be distinguished from the responsibilities of the individual Christian?

EDIFICATION

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he primary responsibility of the local church is self-edification. Jesus “gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…from whom the whole body…according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:11-16).

BENEVOLENCE

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n the first Century, churches of Christ relieved the personal, physical necessities of destitute saints (Acts 4:32-35).

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n every recorded instance of congregational benevolence [that is, the relief of personal, physical necessities with money from the local church treasury], the recipients were saints (see Acts 6:1-6; Romans 15:25-31; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:1-4; 9:1,6-12).

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he apostle Paul made a definite distinction between the benevolent responsibility of the individual Christian and that of the local congregation when he told Timothy, “If any man or woman that believeth have widows let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed” (1 Tim. 5:16).

EVANGELISM

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he world today is lost in sin. The gospel of Jesus Christ is God's only saving power (Romans 1:16).

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od wants men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). The only means by which to save the lost is through preaching the gospel "It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). He wants all men everywhere to have the opportunity to hear the gospel message.

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ur Lord has no other plan to save man be­sides the proclamation of the word by good and honest men. In the book of Acts no one was ever saved by a miracle, but by the preaching of the word of God. The early church was dedicated to preaching the word. &

HOW IS THE LOCAL CHURCH TO FULFILL ITS RESPONSIBILITIES?

Eddie R. Littrell, Bob Myhan & W. Bruce Tooley

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ow is the work of the local church to be accomplished or carried out? Many apparently sincere brethren have confused "how to do the work" with "who is to do the work." For example, they try to justify church contributions to human institutions on the basis that the New Testament does not say how the local church is to do its work. But there is a difference between how the work is to be done and who is to do the work.

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nly three things are necessary for any work to be done: supervision, administration and supplies. The elders of the local church provide the first, the deacons provide the second and the church treasury provides the third.

EDIFICATION

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s already mentioned, Jesus designed the local church to be self-edifying. That is, He so organized it that it does not need to turn elsewhere (to a human organization, for example) to be edified.

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he apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers prepare the saints to do “the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

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he evangelists, pastors and teachers follow the instructions of the apostles and prophets, providing opportunities for the mutual and reciprocal edification of saints by appointing times and places for edification to take place, via singing, studying God’s word, eating the Lord’s Supper, praying and laying by in store.

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ach individual member of the local church can and should be involved in the edification process (Eph. 4:16). He does so by attending every service he can, and being active in every aspect of the work. He does so by singing heartily, allowing himself to be admonished by the words of the songs. He does so by praying fervently for the success of every effort and every work of the local body. And, he can give generously so the church can fulfill the work God has given to it (2 Cor. 8:7-12). He thus promotes constancy, diligence, endurance, and an interest in and by others.

BENEVOLENCE

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he church is authorized to act in the area of benevolence, but it is not authorized to finance the benevolent work of human institutions. Human benevolent institutions are not "how;" they are "who."

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he local church may provide adequate facilities for any aspect of its work. The church may utilize facilities in the area of benevolence, as well. If someone for whom the church is responsible is in need of shelter, the church may provide the shelter.

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t is conceivable that a local church might, from time to time, require the services of a benevolent institution; and if so, it could purchase those services just as it can purchase the services of a hospital. But this does not justify making contributions to a benevolent institution or a hospital any more than purchasing electricity for the building would justify making a contribution to Georgia Power.

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ow the church does its benevolent work is largely a matter of judgment. But it cannot scripturally delegate its benevolent work to a human benevolent institution.

EVANGELISM

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nasmuch as the gospel “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16), gospel preaching is the only means of evangelism. But all are to be evangelists (Acts 8:1-4).

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here are those, however, who have dedicated their lives to the preaching of the gospel, men like Timothy, Titus and James, the Lord’s brother. Do these men “have no right to refrain from working” (1 Cor. 9:6) and to be supported by the churches?

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aul asked, “Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.’ Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap you material things?” “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:7-10,14). Paul himself “robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister” to the brethren at Corinth (2 Cor. 11:8,9). One church, in particular, which supported Paul, was Philippi (Phil. 4:15,16).

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hen the Christian lays by in store he enables the local church to do its collective work in edification, benevolence and evangelism. Of course, saints have individual obligations in these three areas as well which cannot be executed by proxy but must be done personally. &