The Purpose of Organization of the Local Congregation

The Purpose of Organization of the Local Congregation THE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION OF
THE LOCAL CONGREGATION
By Basil D. Shilling

Introduction
I am grateful for the fine fellowship that Abilene Christian College makes possible by conducting, from year to year, a lectureship program. I am persuaded that we all owe a debt of gratitude to Brother Cox and all others who are laboring so faithfully to maintain colleges such as this, in which our children can be educated and prepared to enter into some gainful and useful vocation in life without being taught infidelity and spekticisms—where while being taught other things they will be taught the word of the living God. The brethren who have preceded me on the program today have set before you the facts concrning the propositions, “What constitutes a local congregation,” and “The need for organization of the local congrega-tion.” I have been asked to discuss the subject, “The Purpose of Organization of the Local Congregation.”

Discussion

I. The meaning of Organization.
At the outset of the discussion of this subject it is in order, I-think, that we try to determine just what is meant by the expression, “the organization of the local congregation,” to the end that we may all be thinking along the same lines. Brother Moser has defined for us, in the light of the New Testament what constitutes the local congregation. I need only to define the word organize. The word organize means to systematize; to set in working order. It also means to arrange, connect and relate the parts in and for a whole in such a manner as will permit and promote an efficient, effective and harmonious functioning of the thing 6r- ganized. Hence, the organization of the local congregation is the systematic and orderly arranging, connecting and relating of its parts into such a unified whole that it will function efficiently, effectively and harmoniously in all the ways whereunto God has appointed it. But as to how, and to what extent, the local con-gregation is or should be organized is not for me to discuss. These points will be discussed by Brother Overby, who is to follow me in the program of the afternoon. It is my assignment to speak, rather, of the purpose of organization of the local congregation.

II. The Goal of the Church Considered.
I believe that it can be correctly said that the organization of the church is merely a means to an end—not an end within itself. Hence, it seems to me that we need to take into our consideration first of all the end or the goal to be attained by the church. What then is the goal of the church? What is the objective toward which it strives and for the accomplishment of which it spends its energies, efforts and talents? Of course, we understand that the church, as the bride Of Christ, is to be received, some day, into the place which Jesus has gone to prepare, to rejoice for-ever in the grandeur and glory of that holy and eternal city. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto my-self; that where I am, there ye may be also,” said Jesus unto the disciples (John 14:2-3). But this is the ultimate or final goal of the church. What about its goal while here in the earth its members are? While here it waits and seeks to make itself ready for that glorious event and day? I find there are many passages of Scripture which speak of this point. Remembering, of course, that individual Christians constitute the membership of the church, we are told that the church has been created in Christ Jesus unto good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Hence, it might be said that the objective of the church is the performance of good works. Again, we are told that the church was built for an habitation of God through the Spirit. “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). So it can be said that the end of the church is to serve as an habitation of God. Then, the church is said to be the medium through which the wisdom of God is to be made known. “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians 3:10). Therefore, it can be said that the goal of the church is to make known the wisdom of God. But what seems to me to be about the most complete statement of the goal of the church while here on earth its members are—the one thing it shall seek to attain—is found in verse 13 of the fourth chapter of Ephesians. Here, after having enumerated some provisions which Christ had made for the church, the apostle Paul said that they were provided in order that the church may attain unto a full grown man—may attain unto the measure of the stature of the fulness in Christ. Allow me to read his statement: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” The Revised Version says, “ . . . Unto a full grown man.” Hence, the objective or goal of the church—that for which it shall exercise itself to attain—is to come unto a perfect man or' a full grown man; to attain unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; to attain unto spiritual maturity. This means that the church must seek to bring each and every member unto a full grown man —unto spiritual maturity, instead of being content with their remaining babes in Christ and spiritually immature. But for the church to attain this goal will require not a little at the hands of all those who compose it. First, it will certainly require unity. This very fact is plainly set forth in the same verse in which Paul declared that spiritual maturity of its members is the goal of the church. Let us hear again his statement. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith . . . unto a perfect man ...” My brethren, may we become more keenly conscious of this fact! Let us remember that a divided church is a very, very immature church; that it is, yea, a carnal church. Of this we are confident by reason of Paul’s statement to the church at Corinth, wherein he said:

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto* babe& in Christ. I have fed you with milk (the diet of the immature) and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-5). This settles the fact, then, that when and if a local congregation is torn by division, strife and envy it has not reached spiritual maturity and will not as long as these things prevail in it. Second, to reach spiritual maturity, it will be necessary for the church to have knowledge of the word of the Lord. This fact was also stated by Paul in the same sentence in which he declared spiritual maturity to be the goal of the church. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man . . .” Without doubt, the church that is not full of the knowledge of the word is an immature church. Of this fact the writer of the book of Hebrews spoke by saying: “For when by the time ye ought to be teachers; ye have need that one teach again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk (the diet of the immature) and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14). Moreover, if the church does not have a knowledge of the word it will be tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine. Third, in order for the church to reach its goal of spiritual maturity it must be characterized by love. The absolute necessity of love, and the utter failure and emptiness of the church or the individual that does- not possess it, was proclaimed by Paul when he said:

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not lave, I am become as sounding brass or a clanging symbol. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all rny goods to -feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it prohteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Undoubtedly, the church void of love is a very, very immature church. And lacking love, all else that it may do or attain will count for nothing.

III. The Church Attains Its Goal By and Through Organization.
Now if someone asks, what does all this have to do with the. purpose of organization of the local congregation, I am ready to tell you that the purpose of the organization cf the local1 congregation is to enable it to reach its divine appointed goal—to come. to a full grown man in Christ.' in order to show’ that this is true,' I want to call attention to verses 11 to 15 inclusive of Ephesians “And, he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and. some, pastors and teachers ; 'For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till'tve all come in the unity of'the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, ilnto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ': That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to 'hnd fro,* and carried -about with’ every • wind*'of!'doctrine, by the-sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby*’ they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Now let it be noted that here it is said that Christ provided in and for the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These words indicate an office to be filled in the church: a service to be rendered: a work to be performed. Undoubtedly, the setting of these in the church is a part of organizing the church. I think this will not be questioned. But, why did Christ thus provide for the church? For what purpose did he provide these ministries in and for the church? In the answer to this, we will have also the answer to the question, What is the purpose of the organization of the local congregation? These ministries the Lord provided in and for the church as a means to an end. And what that end is, is stated in plain, simple language, namely. “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” But why perfect the saints? Why should the work of the ministry be carried on? Why edify the body of Christ—the church? To the end that “we may all come ... to a perfect man”; to the end that “we henceforth be no more children”; to the end that we “may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” In brief, it was to the end and for the purpose that the church may attain spiritual maturity. What, then, is the purpose of organization in, and of, the local congregation? It is for the purpose and to the end that the church may attain unto its divine appointed goal—the attainment of spiritual maturity.

Let us consider a New Testament example.
According to Acts 6, there arose in the church at Jerusalem a murmuring: of the Grecians against the He-brews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the apostles directed that seven men, who were of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom, should be selected whom they might appoint to have charge of the matter. In giving instruction for the matter to be thus handled, the apostles explained that it was not reason or appropriate that they should leave off their work of teaching the word in order to look after the matter themselves. They knew that the word of God must be taught to the end that the church might be edified and brought to spiritual maturity. Therefore, in order that they might continue to do so to the best advantage, and at the same time the matter be properly cared for that was causing the complaint, they directed that seven men be selected to be appointed by them, and unto whom they would give the responsibility for the matter. Here we have an example of organization in the congregation at Jerusalem. But what was the purpose of this sort of organization? Undoubtedly it was for the purpose of so arranging the affairs of the church that it might have supplied unto it, by the apostles, the spiritual instruction and guidance necessary for it to reach spiritual maturity —to “come unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”