SATAN’S ASSAULT ON THE CHURCH (Part One)

By Bob Myhan

n previous articles we have dealt with Satan's assault on the individual, the family, and civil government fronts. We now come to his attack on the fourth front—the local church, the third divine institution. As with the family front and the civil government front, the more we understand about the local church [as it was designed by God], and our relationship and responsi­bility thereto, the better able we can recognize both how and when Satan is attempting to devour us on that front.

he word "church" is used in at least two senses in the New Testament—universal and local. The universal church is simply all Christians "taken...together" (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). The universal church acts only as its individual members act, and it can be acted upon only by acting upon its individual members.

 local church, however, not only acts distributively—as its individual members act—but also acts collectively. A local church of Christ is a plurality of Christians who meet, worship and work together as a collective unit ideally under the oversight of elders (Phil. 1:1). By “collective” is meant, “of or characteristic of a group of individuals taken together" (Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, 1996 edition).

his can be illustrated with the words, “link,” “links” and “chain.” A chain is neither a link nor a mere plurality of links; it is a collective unit composed of links. We understand that a plurality of links must be “linked together” to constitute a chain. Likewise, there is a difference between “a Christian,” “Christians” and “a church.” Jesus made a clear distinction between the action of one Christian, the action of a plurality of Christians and the action of a local church (Matt. 18:15-17). Thus, a local church is not a mere plurality but a collectivity of Christians.

urther, a local church of Christ is a collectivity of Christians having a common treasury. This treasury is composed of the shared funds of the individual members (1 Cor. 16:2). The members also combine their knowledge and understanding of the gospel and any abilities that will expedite the work of the church (Eph. 4:12-16). The church acts collectively as these things are utilized.

till further, a church of Christ is a collectivity of Christians having a common treasury and carrying out a collective work. Its collective work is threefold: providing for the mutual edification of its members (Eph. 4:7-16; I Cor. 14:1-5, 26), providing for needy saints (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32, 34-35; 6:1-6; Rom. 15:25-26) and supporting the preaching of the gospel (Acts 13:1-5; 2 Cor. 11:8-9; Phil. 4:13-16).

elf-edification is the prime responsibility of the local church. 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).

he elders in each local church provide 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.

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 taught and 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 does so by giving generously so the church can finance its divinely appointed work (2 Cor. 8:7-12). He thus promotes constancy, diligence, endurance, and an interest in and by others.

he church is also authorized to provide relief for the personal, physical necessities of the saints. It may provide and utilize adequate facilities for any aspect of its work, including benevolence. If someone for whom the church is responsible is in need of shelter, for example, the church may provide the shelter.

 local church may purchase any and all legitimate services in carrying out its work, such as the services of a hospital. But this does not justify making contributions to a hospital any more than purchasing electricity for the building would justify making a contribution to Georgia Power.

he church is also authorized to support the preaching of the gospel. Inasmuch 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 possible means of converting the lost..

ll Christians are to engage in personal evangelism (Acts 8:1-4), though not all, of course, have the ability to be full-time evangelists. But “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11). In other words, each individual is to serve in whatever capacity the Lord has given him the ability to serve.

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?

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).

ow the church does its work in any of these three areas is largely a matter of judgment. But it cannot scripturally delegate any part thereof to a human institution. Neither is it authorized to finance the assumed work of any human institution. Human institutions are not a "how" but a "who." Nor may a plurality of local congregations operate under a common oversight, as this would result in a more extensive organization than is authorized in God’s word (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2). &