Where Men Have Denied A Specific Pattern
First, for the past thirty years or so there have been those who deny that the scriptures reveal an exclusive pattern for the work of the church in the areas of evangelism, edification, and benevolence. Since they deny that there is a pattern for such work, they reason that the church is at liberty to use whatever methods she deems expedient. If their assumption were true, that is, if all we had was a general command to “teach,” for example, with no examples of how this teaching is to be done, then they would have an arguable position. There is however, a clear pattern for this work revealed in the New Testament. The local church may: (1) Support a local evangelist (1 Cor. 9:44; 2 Cor. 11:8) (2) Send out or support an evangelist (not another church) located in another area (Phil. 1:3-5; 2:25; 4:15-18). (3) Several churches may send to the same evangelist (but not to each other for evangelism, 2 Cor. 11:8,9). This clear, exclusive pattern requires that each congregation have its own work, its own treasury, and its own elders to oversee its own operations. To do the work in any other fashion is to violate the pattern.
Second, we find another example of nopatternism concerning instrumental music. Some have denied that an exclusive pattern exists for congregational singing. It is claimed that such passages as Ephesians 5:19 refer to only individual action. Thus, the logical conclusion would be that neither congregational singing nor instrumental music is authorized. This conclusion, however, they will not accept. Instead, it becomes obvious that men are willing to do many things in religion in the absence of authority. This, of course, as observed earlier is a clear violation of Colossians 3:17 and 2 John 9. Just a quick glance at Colossians 3:16 will demonstrate that a pattern for congregational singing is to be found in scripture: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” The pattern shows us four things: (1) Why are we to sing: To “teach” and “admonish.” (2) Who is to sing? “You,” or rather “each one of you.” It is clear that the singing is to be done when we are all together, for we are to teach and admonish “one another” and not just ourselves.
This is a most dangerous line of reasoning. To view the New Testament only as a general guideline and not an exclusive pattern would open the door to almost any and every innovation that comes along. If we deny an exclusive pattern for the worship of the church, we would be free to substitute cookies and soft drinks for unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. We could then eat the Lord’s supper only once a year, not only use instrumental music but hire heavy metal bands and punk rock groups for the worship services of our youth churches, set the church up in secular business to fund its programs, etc. All of these things would be acceptable (and much more) if we were to accept the view that the Bible is only a guideline of “general principles” and not a rule for faith and practice.
The truth of the matter is that the New Testament does contain general principles by which we are to make certain judgments, but it also contains explicit rules or laws that are undeniable and unalterable. Those in the Independent Christian Church that seek union with the more liberal Churches of Christ seek their so called “unity” on the basis of “no-patternism” saying that we are not “under law today.” The logic seems to be that if we are not under law then we are at liberty to use personal judgment on matters such as instrumental music and the missionary society, and since personal judgments should never cause division (Rom. 14), then we can “all be one.” Their basic premise, however, that we are not “under law” is false. Paul said, “Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15). The “no law” or “no pattern” concept, then, implies that Christians cannot sin and be eternally lost. The truth is that we do have a pattern; we are under law (Jas. 1:25; Rom. 8:2).
