Question: I've been hurt in church. Can you help me with this? (pt. 1)
Question: You emphasize “the Church” a lot at The Haven, OPC. I’ve been hurt by the way church leaders have used their authority in other churches I’ve been in. Can you help me with this?
Pastor Bill responds (pt. 1):
Yes, we do put a lot of emphasis on “the Church”, because the Scriptures themselves do - and they are our final authority in faith and life. Jesus didn’t say that he will save God’s elect (although he does!), but I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Now, in his exalted state as he reigns with all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), he is head over all things to, i.e. for the sake of the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:22,23). All of human history is the scaffolding within which the Lord is building his Church. That makes the Church quite important - far more important than we usually make it.
Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, in his book THE HOLY SPIRIT, wisely writes:
“…the exhortations of the New Testament, while intended to be taken to heart individually, are generally expressed in the plural to the whole church. The Spirit does not isolate individuals, but creates a new community” (p. 192).
Keep in mind that most of the New Testament letters are sent to churches, eg. I Corinthians 1:2, II Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:1, etc.
Evangelical believers in our very individualistic American culture have tended to put their emphasis on “Jesus as my personal Savior.” He certainly is that to all who look to him in faith; but don’t stop there! He saves people in order that they might be part of the Church (and the local churches) that He is building. The Lord added to their number, i.e. the Christian church that began on the day of Pentecost, …those who were being saved. And baptism marks people out as being united both to Christ and to his body, the Church (I Corinthians 12:12,13).
Probably the best way to keep the biblical emphases is to speak like this:
- Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and by his grace he saved me! Praise the Lord!
- Christ Jesus came into the world to build His Church, and by His grace, I’m a part of it! Praise the Lord!
But you asked about “authority” in the church. Too often that authority is abused by church leaders, rather than rightly used by them. We’ll start looking at that very important subject next week....