An Appeal to Acknowledge the Essential “Oneness” (i.e. unity) of the Church Universal, Consisting of Many Congregations Under One Head, the Lord Jesus Christ

 

By David C. Brand

 

I. Baptism is most essentially a sovereign, supernatural, sacred seal, outpouring, or spiritual cleansing transcending male-female gender, age, and racial distinctions–a work of the Holy Spirit which the church simply acknowledges and signifies via the application of water, quite biblically by sprinkling or pouring. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 17-19; Isaiah 52:15; Acts 8:30-38 [cf. John 1:24-25])

 

II. The church universal consists of local, geographically-distinct, gatherings of confessing believers spiritually competent to select their own leaders. (Romans 16:1-16; 1 Corinthians 16:19-20; Colossians 4:12-16)

 

III. According to Holy Scripture, elder-overseers of local churches are to be husband of one wife [i.e., not polygamists], are to bear the marks of spiritual leadership set forth by the apostles in the New Testament, and are to be elected by the congregation which they serve (See 1 Timothy 3:2- 7; Acts 20:27-28).

 

IV. God is sovereign over the church universal, as well as each local congregation (Matthew 16:18). In response to the prayers of His people who seek his wisdom through the writings of the Old and New Testaments, He will give wisdom.

 

V. Elder rule is not to be dictatorial or domineering but rather responsive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, subject to the testimony of the prophets and apostles, and cognizant and encouraging of various gifts which God bestows upon His people. The terms elder, bishop (overseer), and pastor (shepherd) refer to the same office. Note Paul’s application of all three concepts in his farewell address to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 18:17-35.

 

VI. Church discipline is the responsibility of the entire congregation under the leadership of the elders elected by the people.

 

VII. An elder’s authority does not extend beyond the local congregation which elected him (Matthew 18:17).

 

VII. Gatherings of representatives of several congregations (or of the congregations themselves) may occur for purposes of mutual edification or counsel, or in order to resolve difficult issues, but not for purposes of imposing authority over geographically identifiable local churches without their consent.

David C. Brand, a graduate of the College of Wooster, Fuller Seminary, and Westminster Seminary of Philadelphia, is a contributing editor of the Christian Observer. Dave’s Westminster thesis was published by the American Academy of Religion in 1991 under the title: Profile of the Last Puritan: Jonathan Edwards, Self-Love, and the Dawn of the Beatific and is currently available through Oxford University Press. Dave and his wife Marilyn currently reside in Wooster, Ohio. They have four grown children and eight grandchildren.