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Articles
Church & Individual
The LOCAL CHURCH
and the
INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN
Denominations and some brethren confuse the difference between the work of the individual Christian and the collective work of the local church. Their views and arguments:
1) Anything the individual Christian can do, the local church can do;
2) They are individual responsibilities collectively fulfilled;
3) Anything the individual Christian must do, the church may do;
4) Whatever the individual may do, the church may do;
5) When a Christian does a good deed, it is really the Lord’s Church that does it;
6) Whatever the individual Christian is to do because he is a Christian, the church may do.
The positions stated above make no distinction between the work of a Christian and work of a local church. These arguments are wrong! One passage shows the falsehood of all these arguments – 1 Timothy 5:16 – "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." When an individual takes care of his own, this does not constitute church action. The collective work of the local congregation is distinct from the individual activities of the members. 1 Tim. 5:16; Matthew 18:15-17.
The local churches who are exercising these false views seem working that they have zeal of God. But their zeal is not according to knowledge. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:1-3. They are doing out of a pattern and speaking not as the oracles of God. "If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." 1 Peter 4:11. They are doing unauthorized acts (Colossians 3:17) and out of the law of Christ. When Jesus Christ returns, he will surely say "Depart from me, those working lawlessness!" Matthew 7:23.
Actually, the inspired books teach that here is a distinction between the work of an individual Christian and a local church. This requires that the local church be addressed in the context of a passage before assuming church responsibility. Therefore, if a scripture addresses only the individual Christian this would not be enough to assume church actions.
MEANING OF THE TERM "CHURCH"
To clarify the issue let us discuss briefly the term CHURCH. In the New Testament the word CHURCH used or described in two senses: UNIVERSAL CHURCH and the LOCAL CHURCH.
UNIVERSAL CHURCH – it can be viewed as a relationship to Christ, sometimes distinguished in our language as "the universal church". There is only ONE CHURCH when used in this sense. Matthew 16:18; Ephesian 4:4; 1:22-23. Every faithful Christian is a member of this church. They are saved individual who added into the ONE CHURCH. Acts 2:47. This church is not a functional body, which is it does not have an earthly organization or earthly headquarters by which it functions. The head of this church is Christ who is quartered or resides in heaven. In the universal church there is no distinction between the individual and the church because the individual is the only functional part.
LOCAL CHURCH – Referring to those "called out" into God’s service in any definite locality. It can be viewed as a functional body at a given location. 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Galatians 1:2; Romans 16:16. In contrast with the universal church there are several local churches. This does not contradict Ephesians 4:4 when it speaks of ONE CHURCH. There is only one church (relationship to Christ) but many local congregations. "…the churches of Christ salute you"…Romans 16:16.
Three Things Necessary to Establish a Local Church
There are three things necessary to establish or to have a local church.
There is an agreement to work and worship together as a church. Acts 9:26.
There is a common oversight. Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-2.
There is a pooling of resources. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
Some say any coming together of Christians constitutes a local church. For example some Christians may get together and pool their money to buy cola and bread. This is not a local church at work!!!
Distinction Between the Work of an Individual and a Local Church
There are scriptural passages that make a distinction between the Church and the Individual Christian.
Notice the responsibilities given by Jesus in each step in Matthew 18:15-17. In verse 15 the individual is to act, no church action yet. In verse 16 two or three individuals act, still no church action. In verse 17 the church now acts! When one individual acts or even a group acts this does not constitute church action in this passage.
In 1 Timothy 5:16 – "if any believing man or believing woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be charged". When an individual takes care of his own, this does not constitute church action.
Consider of what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-4. "…while it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?...(verse 4). The money that an individual has in his possession is under his control and oversight until he gives it. When it is given then it is under the control and oversight of the local church.
From the given books, chapters and verses mentioned and elaborated above we would conclude that it is scriptural that there is a distinction between the individual Christian and the Local Church.
Responsibilities of an Individual Christian and the Local Church
There is a great difference between the responsibilities of an individual Christian and the local church. There are various God given relationships the Christian sustains. Colossians 3:17. Let us see them and find what each involves.
Family Responsibilities of a Christian – A Christian is under obligation to make a living for his family and bring his children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4. These involve discipline, recreation, education and etc. He cannot avoid or shun this obligation and put it in the church. In 1 Timothy 5:8, "…but if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel…"
Community Responsibilities (Social Relationship) – Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 2:12. The christian individual has obligations to his community. A Christian must be a good influence in the neighborhood. These involve benevolence, hospitality, community groups such as FPTA, Civic Groups and etc. No part of the work of the Lord’s Church in any sense!
Governmental Responsibilities (Civil Relationship) – Romans 13:1-8; 1 Peter 2:13-17. A Christian must be submissive to government and a law abiding citizen. These involve paying taxes and any positive influence towards righteousness such as campaigning, running for office or making a contribution to a candidate. But the church is not a political medium and has no relation to the civil government.
Economic Responsibilities (Economic Relationships) – Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12. There are economic responsibilities of the Christian. These involve any honest means of earning money such as working for an employer or operating your own business such as a mango grower, rice cake store, a college, a printing company, and etc., to provide for himself and for his family of course, and in order to be able to give to others who are needy – Christian or non-christian. But the church cannot engage in business or economic enterprises or giving the money of the church to non-christians as individual Christians may do!
The life in Christ involves far more than membership in a local congregation. The collective work of the local congregation is distinct from the individual activities of the members. Individual Christians may do things in secular relationships that the local church is not authorized to do. This eliminates unauthorized ways in which many churches spend their money today, such as recreational activities, social meals, general benevolence, secular education, and political activities. We must not confuse our individual obligations in other relationships with the work of the church. The Church is a spiritual institution with spiritual obligations. John 18:36; Romans 14:17; Ephesians 1:3, 22-23. Individual Christians must recognize and fulfill individual responsibilities and not put their personal responsibilities off on the church.
SOME SUMMARIZATIONS: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOCAL CHURCH AND THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN
TWO TREASURIES
Individual Local Church
METHOD OF RAISING
By Honest Labor (Eph4:28) By Voluntary Offering (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
OVERSIGHT
The Individual (Acts 5:4) Local Elders (Acts 11:30; 1 Pet. 5:1-3)
USE
A. Contribution (1 Cor. 16:1-2) A. Preaching the Gospel (2 Cor. 11:8)
B. Pay Taxes (Rom. 13:1-7) B. Relieving Saints (Needy)
C. Provide for Family (1Tim.5:8,16; Eph. 6:4) (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35)
D. Benevolence to all People (Gal. 6:10) C. Edify Saints (Eph. 4:15-16)
The position that makes "no distinction between the work of an individual Christian and the work of a local church or whatever the individual Christian may do the church may do" is explicitly WRONG!!! We can do this view and position but it is unscriptural and lawlessness. Rom. 10:1-3; Matt. 7:23; 2 John 9.
The truth is "there is a distinction between the work of an individual Christian and the local church". What God has given the church to do must be done through the church and what God has given the individual Christian to do, as an individual he must do as such and cannot avoid his "personal duty" by trying to let the church perform it in his stead. We are responsible before God as an individual. Philippians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Are you ready to stand before Christ as your individual Judge?
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
2 Corinthians 5:10
Jhun Bautista preaches in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The meeting house new address is 128 Briones Village, Purok 3 Brgy. San Isidro, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
