THE LOCAL CHURCH?
But, someone protests, "What about 'the Local Church,' there's a basic Bible truth that you've forgotten!"
Is it really? We definitely hear a lot about it. The phrase is a standard part of the "Christian" vocabulary. But is it a Bible phrase, or concept? Where did the "the local church" concept come from?
Let's step back for a moment. We know that the Lord only has one body (Ephesians 4:4) today. And we also know that this one body is the church (Ephesians 1:22, 23). We know that Paul addressed the saints at Corinth as "the church . . . which is at Corinth . . ." The Corinthian believers were not the church, in and of themselves. They were but a part of the church. But they were the church, nonetheless. They were "the church of God" – that
was at Corinth.
Now, Corinth was a locality, a local place. And there were believers there, members of the church. In other words, the church of God was in a locality, in fact, it was (and is) in many localities. So, the idea of the church in a locality is not foreign to the Scriptures. There was not "a" church at Corinth, but "the" church was there – one church, the church the body of Christ. Now, there is a basic Bible truth – the church, the body of Christ!
The church which was at Corinth was made up of every believer in that locality. No believer was left out, nor was any non-believer included. This church was not a building, a meeting, a doctrinal system, or an organization. It was just Christ's body – His body that happened to be at Corinth.
Before Paul come to Corinth, the church was not there. In fact, that's why he came. He brought the church with him. He was the church – a least a member of it. He preached the gospel, and those that responded by faith were joined to the church by the Holy Spirit's one baptism. So, that when Paul left Corinth, he took the church with him, but he also left it there.
What was true of Corinth, was and is true of any locality. Let me use myself as an example. When we moved to Amherst County, Virginia the church was already here. It was here long before I ever arrived. The church here is made up of every saved person. Now, granted, not every believer may know that they are a member, nor walk in the truth of it, but we are all the church nonetheless. There is nothing to start, nothing to found, nothing to plant, only something to live. We are to live, to stand, and to walk in the truth of the one body, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and seeking to enjoy fellowship and mutual ministry with Christ's body, the church.
Now, there's something that greatly hinders and opposes the life of the Head, living through His body in a locality. It is the "local church." That which is represented by the phrase, "local church" has no biblical basis. There is a great difference between the church in a locality, and a "local church." A local church is a man-made denominational, sectarian, organization that has litmus instead of life. These "local churches," with their human "heads," divide the church into manifold schisms.
Any given locality may have many such "local churches" in it. One's personal sectarian preference will usually determine which of them is viewed as "the local church." If one is a Baptist, then when he speaks of "the local church" he means an organization which is in harmony with his denominational doctrine. Litmus, not life. If one is a "Grace Believer," then the story is often the same. He too will define "the local church" in light of his flavor of denominationalism.
And even the word "local" in "local church" is a misnomer of sorts. It is quite common on Sunday mornings for believers to pass many "local churches" to get to their "local church." In fact, one may well travel by automobile for thirty or forty-five minutes, maybe even an hour or more to get to their "the local church." Does that sound "local" to you? Wouldn't the closest "local church" be their "local church"?
Does this "local church" system make sense? If it doesn't it is because it is all man-made.
This humanly devised "local church" is the meaning of the word "church" in all the following statements:
"Attend to the church of your choice."
"How many members do you have in your church?"
"What does your church believe?"
"Our church is on Main and Broadway."
"Where are you going to church now?"
"We joined their church yesterday."
"It seems that we are always late for church."
Let's think about these statements:
"Attend to the church of your choice." – This is a common statement that "fundamentalists," "grace believers," and other independent sects often make fun of. But in reality it is exactly what they do! They choose which variety of "church" they want to attend. They choose one that suits their own fancy. And if there are two or more "local churches" that are of their same brand of doctrine, they'll pick the one they like best. Then after a while, when things do not go to their liking, they choose another one. Or, if they are enterprising enough, they'll plant their very own "local church." This assures that it'll be to there own liking! And this is all done in the name of "serving the Lord!" But in reality, it is self-serving and creates further division in the one body. We end up splintering the splinters! When will we ever wake up and see who and what God has made us? When will we ever stop "attending church," and stop playing "church," and simply be the church?
"How many members do you have in your church?" – I don't have any idea! But God does! ". . . The Lord knoweth them that are His. . . ." (II Timothy 2:19). The only thing that I can tell you is that there are a lot of us! There are "many members" from Paul's day until now.
"What does your church believe?" – Now, that's a hard one. Sadly, I must report, that we believe just about anything and everything. Just look at all those creeds, confessions, articles of faith and doctrinal statements. But I can tell you what we should believe – Paul's epistles! Because Paul had the message for the church, the body of Christ (Romans 11:13).
"Our church is on Main and Broadway." – Then, that one's not God's! His church is not brick and mortar (Acts 17:24) – it is not stationary. It's mobile! It's everywhere! It's at Winn-Dixie and Kroger. It's at Exxon and Shell. It's at home, it's at work, it's at the hospital. It's wherever you and I happen to be!
"Where are you going to church now?" – Well, we don't "go to church." We are the church! It's who and what we are. It's our identity. And we shouldn't let anyone steal it away from us.
We joined their church yesterday." – We have all the membership we need in Christ! Forget the other man-made number games. Be satisfied with who and what God has made us!
"It seems that we are always late for church." – We couldn't possibly be late for church! We are the church!
ALL the "churches" in the above statements are "local churches," and they are all the WRONG churches! Not a one in the bunch is God's! Do these things trouble you? If they do, what are we going to do about it? Why not follow God's command through Paul to "come out" (II Corinthians 6:17). That's who we are – God's "called OUT people!"
"Come out" and enjoy being all that God has made you in Christ!
Can you see how man-made and sectarian the "local church" system is? God's church can be found in localities all across the globe! But, there is no such thing as a "local church" anywhere in the Scriptures!
Think on these things.
Clyde Pilkington
Gladstone, VA
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