Assignment 34
Provide detailed notes for an address entitled 'The Pattern Church', showing (including texts) that the New Testament teaches a precise pattern for individual church structure and government. You should also explain how non-pattern systems such as Episcopalianism and Presbyterianism fall short.
[For submission by Saturday 26th March.]
The Pattern for the Church. The sufficiency of Scripture means that the Word of God provides what is needed to be saved, to be sanctified, to worship, and to organise and operate the church of God (2 Timothy 3.16-17). Historically, Baptists, Independents, and Brethren followed the last part of this definition. The pattern church of the New Testament is not popular with denominations [e.g. Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodist) who derive their clerical and liturgical systems from the Church of Rome. Evangelical Anglicans & Lutherans still adopt adiaphora following the normative instead of the regulative principle. The regulative principle flows from a completed revelation and is not compromised by the recognition of the synagogue, feast of dedication etc. during the period where revelation continued. It remains applicable despite lack of agreement over how to apply it. That is common to all principles when operated by fallen people.
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith follows New Testament directions about worship, evangelism, the centrality of preaching, membership, officers, church discipline, church structure, the Sabbath and the ordinances. This Confession complements these by (2.6) – ‘We recognize that some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the church, are common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word…’. The frequency of communion is a matter which is covered by this general statement. Most evangelicals in the gathered churches believed they should follow the biblical pattern for the church until the 1960’s watershed. Since then many have innovated to fit in with the world.
Directions for the Pattern Church: –
The First Text: -‘Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers [imitators] of me’ (1 Corinthians 4.16).The apostle requires imitation of his godly behaviour personally and in the Church (verse 17): ‘For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.’
Paul’s example in Acts, and the directives in his epistles, sets our methods, our worship, manner of government, appointment of office bearers, and all else of significance. Our English word ‘mimic’ comes straight from the Greek translated ‘be ye followers of me’. Paul does not say this in just once but four times:-
The second text 1 Corinthians 11.1-2 the same word is used: – ‘Be ye followers [mimics, imitators] of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.’ The ‘ordinances’ means things handed down to us – traditions. This word refers to more than the two ordinances of Christ, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. There is a scriptural pattern that should direct our steps.
The third text is about Paul providing a pattern is Philippians 3.17:– ‘Brethren, be followers [co-¬imitators] together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.’ The word ensample refers to a die or stamp which embosses itself upon a mould from which an exact copy will be made. A sample taken from a liquid solution is not just an example of that solution but directly representative of it. Paul provides an accurate plan for God’s people in the present age.
The fourth text in Philippians 4.9, speaks again of the special authority of Paul’s acts. He writes: – ‘Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.’ These words follow the six ‘whatsoever things’ that should occupy the thoughts and objectives of believers in their lifestyle and service for the Lord. The Holy Spirit has preserved in the record of Scripture only those acts and prescriptions of the apostle that provide a perfect pattern for us. 2 Timothy 3.16-17 affirms the sufficiency of the Scriptures for the conduct of the church. ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.’ Although the words apply to all believers, they particularly apply to the elders and deacons, and refer to their running of the church. Timothy had previously been told (1 Timothy 3.15) how to conduct himself in the house of God. This referred to the organisation of the church because the passage is about the appointment of elders and deacons. Timothy is not to change the plan and nor should we.
Direct Commands for the Church: – are found particularly in the epistles.
1 Corinthians 16.1-2 is an example. ‘Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week…’ They worshipped particularly on the Lord’s Day, and gathered their offerings.
Another direct apostolic command is Titus 1.5.:– ‘For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.’ Church government by voluntary covenant is an example of the New Testament model being expressed by direct apostolic commands. This is shown in Acts.2:38-47.’ 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.etc.’
We do not enter the church as infants as in the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist Polity. Circumcision is incorrectly aligned with baptism in these. Circumcision was applied to males alone and the command to be baptised was given to Jews who had already been circumcised. Baptism was applied on confession of faith and infants cannot exercise faith with understanding. Communism in the early church pattern recognised private property and operated on the voluntary principle in response to local need in contrast to its historical reality.
Principles to be Applied: – there are the Lord’s words in John 4.23, ‘true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth,’ meaning that in the new church age there can be no will worship either self or externally imposed (Col.2:20-23). There is to be no symbolism in worship apart from the Lord’s owns ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Worship is not sensual or ecstatic but engaging the understanding first .There should be no icons & other images(2nd commandment); arbitrary or ceremonial actions to be avoided (i.e. those uncommanded and confusing. 1 Cor14: whole chapter; Bowing to the altar; Sign of the Cross; slaying in the Spirit; Hand waving etc. all of which regularly & readily bypass the understanding and will not withstand examination by it); no music ministers or directors of music but simple accompaniment of the enjoined singing (Col.3:16;Eph.5:18-19). Spiritual words are to be said or sung with understanding from the heart. No uninterpreted language is to be used including Latin. Tongues were a sign to the Jews that the Lord was working among the gentiles as he had previously promised (I Cor 14:21-22; Isaiah 28:11-12) and were a rebuke to their ancestral pride and a fulfilment of Deut. chs.28-32. Another principle is the Saviour’s washing of feet at the Lord’s Supper not literally copied by the apostles but followed in spirit. Elders are servants, not splendidly robed, honoured lords heading processions and filling superior seats in the house of God (1 Peter ch. 5). Shepherds should not fleece their flocks in order to prosper like charismatic mega-church pastors and prosperity teachers. No Monarchs, Popes, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Deans, Diocesan bishops (Episcopalian), Moderators (Presbyterian), Apostles, Prophets (Pentecostal, Charismatic) and so on should rule the Church. The Lord is Head of the Church and the Great Shepherd with each Under Shepherd subject directly to Him. Christ said ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ The Apostles and Prophets, the source under the Holy Spirit of the completion of Revelation, were given in the foundation of the Church and you do not build a foundation twice (Eph.2:20 and 4:11-13). The Church is to exercise discipline in accord with principles included in Matt 18:15-20 and 1 Cor.5:1-13. The Church is a body of called out ones leaving the broad road for the narrow way through the straight gate (Matt.6:13-14).
The Bible gives Examples and Precedents to Follow:-These are binding unless the Bible shows they are temporary (prophecy, words of knowledge &tongues shall cease.1 Cor.13:8-13.superseded by the completed Word of God), or may equally well be carried out in an equivalent more culturally appropriate way (following 1689 Confession as quoted above), such as a warm handshake in place of a holy kiss.
Episcopalianism defined: – Episcopes means oversight which in this system is assigned to Diocesan Bishops. Infants are baptised; women and homosexuals have been ordained under this polity (N.B. in principle all LBTG and polygamous persons will be). A single church is recognised within the borders of a single state when the government has church authority forming a State Church. Roman Catholic Polity asserts Church authority over the State with ultimate Papal authority. The Authority of at least the first seven of the Ecumenical Councils and the seven sacraments are recognised. There is an extensive hierarchy with Archbishops, Bishops, Deans and Vicars. In the Anglican Communion Parliament, General Synod, the Archbishops Council, the House of Bishops and Diocesan Councils have some authority over the Local Church. The idolatrous Real Bodily Presence of The Lord in the Eucharist and Prayers for the Dead are generally recognised under episcopalianism. Prayers for the dead imply that Hebrews 9:28 is false with implicit recognition of Purgatory (i.e. a Gospel Issue).
Presbyterianism defined: – "Presbyterian" is derived from the Greek word "presbuteros" which means "elder". Presbyterians say truly that this word and "episcopes" refer to the same role, and so they do not ordain bishops. Instead, they appoint deacons and two forms of elders, ruling and teaching, which are the clergy of the denomination. Presbyterians elect their members to represent them to the denomination on an increasing scale. A group of churches in an area will convene a Presbytery, who send members to a Synod and then to the top level, a General Assembly. They baptize infants but they only recognize two sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist. They also recognize the Bible, Old and New Testaments, as the doctrinal standard, and the Westminster Confession of Faith Larger and Shorter Catechisms as their statement of faith.They will form a State Church and sign National Covenants (e.g.Scotland).
Denials of the Pattern Church Today: – The emerging, missional and seeker sensitive churches set aside the pattern of the New Testament. These churches adapt to the needs of rebellious modern culture. No doubt previous times have shown some similar adaptation (Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, charismatic etc.) but perhaps not so consciously. State Churches generally follow changes within the State leading to deadly compromise.
The New Testament recognises no hierarchical authority between God and the Local church. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) occurred before the completion of Revelation. After this completion resolution of all disputes is by reference to Scripture alone as the deposit of the Apostles and Prophets. The five Solas are a useful shorthand of this principle (2 Timothy 3:16-17 again).Voluntary association recognising the Authority of the Word of God leads to fellowship among like minded (i.e. Christ-minded) churches. The Church has a prophetic and servant role within the State. The State is answerable directly to the Lord now and finally on His Return. People are to be baptised as they come to personal faith in and repentance toward the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord and the Church are pictured by biblical marriage between male and female (Eph.5:22-33). Women should not be placed in leadership and Infants should not be baptised. The Biblical Pattern for the Church has final authority throughout the gospel age.
The Great Commission of Matt.28:18-20 gives the mission statement of the Church. We are to teach whatsoever things He has commanded us and these are contained within the completed Scriptures. We are promised His presence by His Holy Spirit until His return.