Chafer Bible Doctrines: the church organisation ordinances

The church: organisation

and ordinancesChafer: chapter 39

Monday 29 August 2011

You are establishing a new church plant. You have freedom to choose any leadership and governmental structure you like. The only restriction is that you should be able to justify it biblically.What do you choose?How would you practice church life, what meetings, ordinances, routines, traditions - what would you do, what would be essential for people to do in order to be part of the church?Discuss in groups of 4, and present your conclusions to the class


Pastor

Elder Elder ElderElder

DeaconSunday school

DeaconWomen

DeaconYouth

Deacon Deacon

Congregation

Christ


Leadership?Believers baptism

Confession of faith / born

againRepenting/

growingPastor

Elder Elder ElderElder

DeaconSunday school

DeaconWomen

DeaconYouth

Deacon Deacon

Congregation

Christ


A. Church government

The church, Body of Christ includes every Christ joined together, baptised in the Spirit.The head directs the body. The Body of Christ needs no organisation - it is spiritual and supernatural.The local church needs organisation and there have been 3 basic forms since apostolic times.1. Episcopalian - a bishop or similar has power to direct the local church - this has extensive organisation e.g Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism etc.


2. Representative form of government recognising appointed representatives of local churches usually on a geographical basis - Reformed or Presbyterian structure. Often the reps for a small local group (presbytery) come under the direction of a larger body or synod which in turn comes under the direction of a larger body or general assembly. Rules and extent of authority vary but the essential feature is of authority lying within a body of appointed representatives.


3. Congregational government where authority lies in the local congregation and important matters are decided by the congregation with no reference to of other churches or officials.E.g. Baptist churches.Local churches might be subject in some degree to higher bodies etc. But essentially the local church determines its own affairs, elects and ordains its own ministers, and directs use of the money.


All 3 types can be seen to some extent in the early church.Initially the Apostles had authority - this passed after the first generation of Christians.Acts 15 shows representative government - apostles/elders are authoritative on doctrinal questions raised by churches. (They were not elected in a modern sense).


Chafer, “As churches matured and no longer needed apostolic supervision the government of the local church seems to have passed to each local church itself.”E.g. The 7 churches in Rev 2-3 which are seen as subject not to human authority but to Christ.Chafer suggests modern church govt is more extensive and complicated than the Bible shows.


B. The order of the churchOrder refers to those having authority and leadership in the local church.In the NT we see people designated bishops and elders - leaders in the local church. Maybe the titles were different but the meaning the same?NT elder idea probably came from elders in Israel - Matt 16:21, 26:47, 57, Acts 4:5, 23 - a mature person worthy of holding a position of authority. A bishop was always an elder but not vice versa but usually they mean the same - Titus 1:5, 7


There were more than 1 bishops or elders though they might have had differing leadership roles.They had roles in leading the church - 1 Tim 3:4-5, 5:17Protected the church from moral or theological error - Titus 1:9Oversaw the church as a shepherd would a flock - Acts 20:28, Heb 13:17, 1Pet 5:2Initially appointed by apostles but it seems as churches matured they did this form themselves recognising spiritual qualities - Acts 14:23, 20:28, Titus 1:5, 1Pet 5:2


Deacons concerned themselves with the need for physical things though they could have spiritual gifts - Acts 6:1-6, 1 Tim 3:8-13.They were set aside for office by the apostles - Acts 6:6, 13:3 - or appointed by elders 1 Tim 4:14There is a distinction between the task they performed and the spiritual gift they had - Philip had the office of deacon but in spiritual gift was an evangelist - Acts 6:5, 21:8


Deacons concerned themselves with the need for physical things though they could have spiritual gifts - Acts 6:1-6, 1 Tim 3:8-13.They were set aside for office by the apostles - Acts 6:6, 13:3 - or appointed by elders 1 Tim 4:14There is a distinction between the task they performed and the spiritual gift they had - Philip had the office of deacon but in spiritual gift was an evangelist - Acts 6:5, 21:8

“in the church today, some churches tend to recognise a single pastor as the elder and other officials who assist him

in spiritual matters as deacons. This does not seem, however, to be based on biblical practice.”


C. The ordinances of the church

For most Protestant churches these are baptism and the lord’s Supper. (some others recognise footwashing.)Roman Catholics add others


1. Water baptism has been the subject of many controversies and has resulted in major divisions of the organised church.a. Is water baptism a ritual or does it confer some supernatural benefit on the recipient?b. Mode of baptism - immersion, sprinkling, pouring water?Many believe it is a ritual representing a spiritual truth but does not confer any supernatural grace on the recipient.Those believing it confers supernatural grace differ in what this is: baptismal regeneration where the believer is given new birth through baptism; others think of it giving an inclination to faith and obedience to the Gospel


Mode of baptism: in what sense is the word baptise used? To immerse or plunge into a liquid, (the Greek “to dip” is never used of baptism). Some argue that baptism is used in a secondary sense of initiation in which one passes from a former relationship into a new one.Christ spoke of his sufferings as a baptism - Matt 20:22-23 - Israel was declared to be baptised into the cloud and sea - 1 Cor 10:2 - so it is argued that physical immersion into water is not necessary for scriptural baptism.Baptism has been practiced by pouring water over - fulfilling the image of outpouring of the Spirit. This has been argued over - a lot!


Christ was immersed - the Philippian jailer was probably not as it was late night, so it is thought he was “sprinkled” - acts 16:33.Most people practicing ritual baptism immerse and so avoid the sprinkling argument - the question becomes is the person born again and baptised in the Spirit into the body of Christ?

Look up the arguments in a Bible dictionary.

Question: At what age can a person be baptised?


Infant baptism is practiced by some but not really found in the Bible.It is argued by some to be the equivalent of setting aside a baby to God like circumcision in Israel. Acts 16 - household baptised - did this include children? No clear case of infant baptism in the Bible - hence many churches offer a dedication service.Infant baptism is based on the hope that the child we get saved.Regardless of mode baptism shows that the believer is now united with Christ partaking of all that he has accomplished in death and resurrection.Baptism has been practiced throughout church history.


2. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ the night before his death as a symbol of the believers participation in the benefits of his death.It supersedes the Passover.1 Cor 11:23-29Bread = body of ChristCup = new covenant n his bloodAgain this has been the subject of many controversies with 3 main views.Roman Catholic - transubstantiation, the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of christ and so you literally take Christ’s body and blood though your senses might not realise this.


Lutheran view - consubstantiation (not a term used by Lutherans), the bread and wine remain the same but the presence of the body of Christ is in each and so you take the body of Christ in the Lord’s supper.Zwingli suggested the memorial view - here there is no supernatural change in the elements it is simply a memorial to the death of Christ - Calvin suggested that Christ was spiritually in the elements.Chafer suggests the Bible takes the 3rd line with the idea that we are using the elements to symbolise the missing presence of christ - hence we do this “‘till he comes”


1 Cor 11:27-29So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.This needs to be a serious consideration in taking the elements.The Lord’s Supper points us at one time both back and forwards.Chafer suggests that the first Christians probably practiced this once each week, on the first day. Certainly it should not be infrequent.



Spiritual

Chafer Bible Doctrines: the church organisation ordinances