Churches of the New Testament: The New Testament Church I. Introduction A. Ephesians 5:25-27 B. We have spent much time considering the churches of the New Testament 1. Jerusalem: extraordinary beginning, tragic end 2. Antioch: multi-ethnic, evangelistically minded 3. Galatia: strong start, seduced later by false teaching 4. Philippi and Thessalonica: started hard, little apostolic foundation, matured quickly 5. Corinth and Ephesus: blessed with long time with Paul yet full of internal difficulty 6. Rome and Colossae: without apostolic origin; Rome grew strong, Colossae suffered internal sectarianism 7. Churches of Revelation: different bodies, different strengths and weaknesses, often persecuted, suffering internal problems C. We have also brought everything together to see what God approves and condemns in the New Testament church D. It remains to return to the questions posed at the beginning of the study 1. Can we discern the "New Testament church"? 2. Can we even speak of such a thing? 3. Is it a monolithic structure, or manifest in different groups? 4. Can we speak of a "New Testament church" or New Testament churches"? 5. Is the picture of the NT church coherent or paradigmatic? E. Let us conclude our study by considering these matters II. The New Testament Church: An Ideal A. Clear theme in the NT churches: variety 1. All the churches rather different-- no two are the same! 2. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures 3. How can we find coherence? B. Church, in NT, spoken of often in ideal terms 1. In ideal, local church as local manifestation of living members of universal church 2. In ideal, Christians function harmoniously as a body 3. In ideal, Christians always follow conduct established in NT C. NT church similarly an ideal 1. 1 Corinthians 4:17 2. The same message presented in every church 3. The Gospel! 4. To preach different Gospels is anathema (Galatians 1:6-9) 5. Emphases, situations different 6. ...but the message is always the same! D. As there is an ideal in conduct, an ideal in the church 1. Majority of variants not based in what is approved, but what is condemned 2. Galatians accepting false teachings not tolerable 3. Corinth needed to change 4. Many Revelation churches strongly encouraged to repent 5. Nevertheless, love of brethren, elders and deacons, proper conduct, etc., enjoined upon every church E. Ideal, unfortunately, never realized 1. As humans, we always fall short of God's glory, sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) 2. Church, as constituted by such individuals, suffers likewise 3. Even the strongest churches still could grow, develop (1 Thessalonians 4:1, 9) 4. More sin can always be avoided, more love and goodwill developed F. Legitimate, therefore, to speak of the "New Testament church" 1. Ideal that God has established for the church 2. Embodying all the positives, none of negatives, of churches in NT 3. Goal to which we should aspire III. Churches or Denominations? A. How does this ideal work in practical terms? B. A question even more important today 1. Growth of ecumenical movement 2. Belief that different "Christian" denominations collectively represent "Christian church" or "Church of Christ" 3. View different local churches in NT as different denominations, all part of universal church C. It is critical, therefore, to accurately portray the NT churches 1. Denomination-like structures? 2. Localized groups of people accepting the same teachings and practices, imperfectly striving to represent the ideal? D. Variety of belief and practice 1. Does this indicate God's intention? 2. Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5: expectation of elders in every church, no other structure intended 3. 1 Corinthians 4:17, Galatians 1:6-9: same message E. Disagreements as matters of liberty 1. Are groups really united on "essentials", disagree only on liberties (Romans 14)? 2. In Romans 14, no expectation of different groups to result-- all were to remain a coherent whole, working with each other 3. Issues of free will, means of salvation, etc., as "food and drink" (Romans 14:17)? 4. Consider Paul's chastisement regarding Galatians and circumcision, Colossians and Jewish and Hellenistic intrusions! 5. Unity expected in mind and judgment among all Christians: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:2 F. It is clear, therefore, that this hypothesis does not derive from NT, but is imposed on it 1. NT churches do not intentionally have different forms of organization 2. No "unity in diversity" as is often touted 3. No representation of different denominational groups G. What we do see 1. Apostles and others went about preaching Gospel, local churches established where it bore fruit 2. Same message preached in every place 3. Same message should be being promoted in every place 4. Persons not perfect, some issues where disagreement was tolerable H. Imperfect groups striving to manifest an ideal, not complacent, fixed denominational groups IV. A Coherent Church or Paradigmatic Churches? A. As we began, we asked whether the NT would reveal a coherent NT church or paradigmatic NT churches; let us return to the matter B. As we have seen, there is a coherent NT church 1. The ideal: fully following God in all things 2. Ideal not represented in NT or afterward 3. With imperfect humans, it cannot! 4. Nevertheless, it is a goal to aspire C. Goal not to have "cookie cutter" churches 1. Each individual church made up of different persons, different abilities 2. Not only expected in NT, but encouraged (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12) 3. Expectation, however, that all have same mind, judgment 4. People can agree and be different! D. Value in NT churches as paradigms 1. With sober judgment (2 Corinthians 13:5), members of local churches can discern how they are alike or dislike their NT church cousins 2. Exact equivalence rare 3. Nonetheless, valuable insight can be gained from comparing one's church to those churches, establish how to go forward 4. "Philippi" or "Thessalonica" can persevere in how they act; "Corinth" or "Ephesus" would need to make many changes 5. How many cannot see "Sardis" among themselves? 6. How great the danger for a "Laodicea"! E. We should not have tunnel vision and focus on only one NT church, but much can be gained from seeing how God specifically charged different churches F. In the end, NT provides evidence of the value of both 1. A coherent whole, the ideal NT church 2. Each individual NT church with its own strengths and weaknesses G. Let us all strive to manifest the ideal NT church, being found obedient servants of God, part of His church for eternity! H. Invitation/songbook