Questions On Local Church And Individual Responsibilities

Answer This is an excellent question and there is much confusion about it. In order to answer it clearly, we must make several points.

First, most of the time when this question is asked, we usually mean, "Does the Bible teach that we should join a denomination (organized religious group)? Quite logically, the question would come because there are hundreds, maybe now even thousands, of different "churches" that go by different names and teach widely differing views on salvation, worship and so forth.

If you meant something along this line, the New Testament definitely teaches that we should not be involved in some man-made religious organization, no matter how old or how prominent it may be. Jesus, while on earth, condemned those Jews who followed the traditions of their peers rather than the Law of God. Matt. 15:1-20. He encouraged all to follow after the word of God and not the ideas of men. John 8:31-32. In this way, His followers would be unified. John 17:14-23.

Secondly, the question you ask should be answered in this way, if we want to follow the Bible. The New Testament does teach us that when we obey the Lord (believe in Him, repent of sins, confess His name and are baptized (immersed) in water for the forgiveness of our sins), we become part of His saved body of people, His church (called out ones). Acts 2:36-47, Eph. 5:22-25, 1 Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:20-23. That is, all Christians are automatically members of Jesus' church when we obey the gospel. The church, rather than being a worldwide organization or a grouping of varying worldwide organizations, is the sum total of all who are saved. We are related directly to Christ and there is no institution or any human being between us and Jesus.

As members of His body, His church, Jesus, as Head, has commanded us to work and worship together with other Christians in whatever local area we may happen to live. 1 Cor. 1:1-2, 1 Thes. 1:1, Rom. 16:16.

Each local church is responsible for its decisions (guided by the word of God and qualified elders) and there is no person or organization to determine their actions. Acts 14:23, 20:28-32, 1 Tim. 3, 1 Pet. 5:1-4. Each group is to work and worship together as Jesus has directed through His apostles. 1 Cor. 16:1-2, 11:19-34, Matt. 26:26-29, Eph. 5:19, 2 Cor. 11:8-9, Acts 20:7, Acts 2:42, 1 Cor. 5.

Like Paul did when He came to Jerusalem, we must seek out faithful Christians in the area where we are and carry out the obligations we have toward God and one another. Acts 9:23-31, Heb. 10:19-31.

Therefore, the answer to your question is, no, we should not join ourselves to a man-made religious organization, but we, after having been joined to Christ in the way the Bible teaches, should join ourselves to a local group of faithful Christians.

How do we know if a local church is following God? We must honestly and diligently evaluate all things that are done there by the standard of the New Testament. If they follow what is written, then we can gladly join with them. If they follow what is wrong, then we should try to teach them and if they will not turn, then we must not have anything to do with teachings and actions that oppose the gospel of Christ. Acts 17:10-12, Gal. 1:6-9, 2 John 9-11.

If you, or anyone, would like to locate a local church in your area, please click here and you will be taken to a page where you can link to a site where you can search for such a group of people. If you have trouble locating a group, please let me know. Contact Gary

Question 2. How does one balance charity between family and non-family? Everything equal, does the Bible suggest that family comes before non-family?

Answer By charity, I assume you mean contributing to the needs of others. Rather than being selfish, Christians are supposed to engage in work for the purpose of providing for the need of others. Eph. 4:28. As far as priorities are concerned, we are to help our families above all. If we do not do this, Paul says we are worse than unbelievers. Even, they recognize that one should provide for the needs of his own family first. 1 Tim. 5:8.

However, after meeting the needs of our families, we should be ready and willing to provide for the needs of others. Matt. 7:12, Luke 10:25-37. However, again, we are to set priorities and seek to help those who are Christians first and then even those who are not, as we have opportunity to do so. Gal. 6:10, James 1:27.

As to method of providing for others, we can act individually as Paul did (Acts 20:33-35) or we act as local congregations (contributing money on every Sunday for the purpose of helping other Christians). 1 Cor. 16:1-4, 2 Cor. 8-9. These contributions should be given from the heart as we have been prospered. No one should be compelled to give any specific amount of money. 2 Cor. 9:6-7.

However, there is no evidence that local churches collected money together to aid those who were not Christians. Also, there is no evidence that local churches collected money for the social, recreational and other nonessential needs of Christians. The individual was to provide for these things as well as the basic necessities of his family. It is when he could not do this that a local church or churches was to get involved in providing money for others" needs. 1 Tim. 5:1-16, especially verse 16.

Finally, although we are to generously give to others, especially Christians, we are not to place ourselves in a position where we are not able to provide for our own families. They are to be our first priority. 2 Cor. 8:12-16. Contact Gary

Question 3. The leaders in this congregation is unsure about allowing non-Christians to partake of the Lord's supper. At the moment the men in this congregation feels it is unscriptural and this has offended a few ladies in the congregation who has threatened to leave the church because of this. This church has always allowed non-Christians to partake at the Lord's table and it is only recently that the men felt it was wrong.

Answer I'm sorry you are having this problem. However, after studying the scriptures relating to the Lord's Supper, I see no justification for stopping anyone who wants to from partaking. In 1 Corinthian's 11, Paul clearly states it is up to the individual to decide if he or she is worthy to partake of the Lord's memorial:

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks [this] cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Certainly it doesn't do a non-Christian any good to partake of the Lord's Supper. However, no where does the Bible instruct members of the church to prohibit non-Christians from partaking. In fact, the only instructions concerning the partaking of the Lord's memorial (1 Cor. 11:27-29, quoted above) tell us that every person who wishes to partake must decide whether he or she is worthy to do so.

Based on this passage, Paul tells us that we are all individually responsible only for ourselves. He does not say to prevent anyone from partaking, only that those who do so in an unworthy manner, such as a non-Christian would be doing, are "guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."

When a church comes together on the 1st day of the week, we try to do just what the New Testament church did. According to Acts 20:8, they broke bread. There is no mention of who partook and who didn't, only that they did it.

The church today offers the Lord's Supper even as they did. Then, according to 1 Corinthians 11, each of us must decide if we are worthy to partake. If we are unworthy, whether a Christian or not, God judges us. No where does the Bible instruct us to try to judge anyone else's heart. Contact Michael

Question 4. In 1 Corin. 5: 1-12 & 2 Corin. 2: 5-11. What is the sin? What is the punishment? What is the purpose of the punishment?

Answer As to 1 Cor. 5, the sin under consideration is a man having sexual relations with his father's wife. The sin is so blatant and unacceptable that Paul points out that even among unbelievers, it would not be accepted.

The punishment that is prescribed is that the Corinthians formally make it know that this bort her has committed sin and is to be treated in such a way by the congregation that all recognize his sin and his need for repentance. The withdrawing from him is expressed by not socially engaging with him by eating meals with him as well as other social situations. Further, instead of boasting about his sins, the Corinthians were to mourn over his sins so that he might be brought to shame in order to turn from this sin.

In 2 Cor. 2, Paul recognizes that they followed his instructions and now, after the brother had repented, they should reaffirm their love to him and not continue to withdraw from him. This shows the purpose of this withdrawing to be for the good of the one who sinned as well as the local church. They needed to do this so that they would prevent these sins from spreading throughout the church. Although many churches today do not practice any of this and seem to accept all people, no matter what sins they may still be committing, including open homosexuality, to the true Christian who wants to follow the apostles' teaching, these instructions are just as valid today as they were then. And, with God's help, those who have fallen into sin, might be persuaded to turn back again to a loving, patient Jesus. Contact Gary

Question 5. What is the relationship between the bible & the church? What if the bible is being neglected? Is the bible necessary for the church? I thought the Sunday service (worship) is enough without the bible?