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Scripture Reading: Acts 4:32-37

(Part 9)

God Has Spoken: A Study of Bible Authority

(Individual Action and Local Church Action, Part 1)

Intro.
1.  One extreme:  “Whatever the Christian may do, the local church may do.”

  a.  Ignores or misunderstands the functional distinction between the local church & the individual Christian.  (“Whatever the Christian does, the church is doing,” &/or, “the Christian is the church.”)

  b.  Leads to local church support of & involvement in:  Recreation & entertainment, secular education, business endeavors, general benevolent enterprises, political campaigns, etc.

2.  Another extreme:  “Whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not do (together).”

  a.  Limits individual Christians strictly to the collective action of the local church.

  b.  Leads to forbidding individuals the liberty to join together (pool their talents & resources) to do work given to individual Christians:

    1)  Recreation (camps for youth); Education (colleges to educate); Business (publish Bible material & sell services); Teaching gospel (periodicals, web sites); Benevolence (social services like hospitals, orphan homes, etc.); Government (political organizations, etc.).

    2)  This view says it is wrong for Christians to join together in any other capacity than the local church to serve God (teach the gospel, help the needy, etc.).

3.  What does the Scripture say?  (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 4:30)

I.  CHRISTIANITY EMBRACES EVERY AREA OF LIFE.

  A.  Social Relationships (community), Matt. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:12; Rom. 13:8.

  B.  Economic Relationships (business), 1 Ths. 4:11-12; Col. 3:22-4:1.

  C.  Family Relationships (the home), Col. 3:18-21 (Eph. 6:1-4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).

  D.  Civil Relationships (the government), Rom. 13:1-7.

  E.  Spiritual Relationships (the church), Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:20-21(4:1-16)

II.  INDIVIDUAL DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS EXIST THAT CANNOT BE CARRIED OUT BY THE LOCAL CHURCH (collective).

  A.  The Above Duties are Concurrent (coexisting). 

      -Personal responsibilities & works exist in each area, Gal. 6:5.

  B.  No Bible Authority to “Funnel” Personal Duties of Other Relationships through the Local Church.  For instance:

    1.  Civil:  Vote (1 Pet. 2:13).  No authority for LC (LC, local church) to become a polling station.

    2.  Family:  Educate (Eph. 6:4).  No authority for LC to organize, sponsor, fund schools to teach secular education.

    3.  Economic:  Provide living (1 Tim. 5:8).  No authority for LC to become a job search center; to enter business; buy & sell (Jas. 4:13).

    4.  Social:  Entertainment (1 Cor. 10:31).  No authority for LC to plan, promote or provide such for its members (1 Cor. 11:22, 34).

    5.  Spiritual:  Bear burdens (Gal. 6:2).  No authority for LC to bear some burdens (cf. 1 Tim. 5:16).

       -None should think that because the LC cannot scripturally practice these things that the individual Christian cannot.

       -There is a work for the individual & there is a work for the group (LC).

III.   CLEAR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL (his Duty & Action) & LOCAL CHURCH (its Duty & Action).

  A.  How we Deal with Personal Sin Shows the Distinction, Matt. 18:15-17.

    1.  One brother acting is not church action (18:15); Two or three brethren acting is not church action (18:16); Local church action (18:17).

    2.  Cannot say:  “Whatever the individual can do, the local church can do.”

  B.  Separate Treasuries Show the Distinction, Acts 4:34-5:4.

    1.  Personal fund for personal use with personal control, 4:34-37; 5:4.

    2.  Congregational fund for LC’s use under LC’s oversight, 4:35.

    3.  Peter had no personal funds, yet the LC funds were at his feet, Acts 3:1-6.

      a.  LC treasury is not at the individual’s disposal…it is no longer his!

      b.  Cannot say:  “Whatever the individual can do, the local church can do.”

  C.  Separate Reasons & Places to Eat Shows the Distinction, 1 Cor. 11:20-22, 34.

    1.  LC: Come together in one place to eat Lord’s supper, 11:18, 20, 33.

    2.  Individuals:  Houses to eat in; Eat at home, 11:22, 34.

    3.  Cannot say:  “Whatever the individual can do, the local church can do.”

  D.  Helping Needy Christian Widows Shows the Distinction, 1 Tim. 5:16.

    1.  Any member of LC:  Relieve their own (family) widows; do not charge LC.

    2.  LC:  Enroll widows indeed (5:3, 9-10); Refuse younger widows, 5:11.

    3.  Cannot say:  “Whatever the individual can do, the local church can do.”

Conclusion

1.  We must determine through good Bible study skills (2 Tim. 2:15) whether  individual action or LC action is commanded / allowed.

  a.  Cf. General benevolence:  Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27 (individual context).

  b.  Otherwise, we will act without Bible authority (Col 3:17; 1 Cor 4:6; 2 Jno 9).

2.  Next:  Mutually assigned actions (Extreme:  “Individuals can’t do what the LC can’t do.”)