According to the Pattern
Many religious groups believe that it makes little difference what one does as long as God is the object of our worship. Accordingly, if a majority of members approve of some innovation, it matters not whether they can find the practice in the New Testament. True Christians are different! The fundamental reason why this is true can be stated quite simply: Christians believe that the New Testament is a divine blueprint for what the church ought to be in every age, and it is our responsibility to build according to this pattern.
God has always had a pattern for His great establishments. For example, when God gave Moses instructions for the building of the tabernacle, He said, “According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it” (Ex. 25:9). Years later, when God selected Solomon to build the temple, “David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of the houses thereof and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit” (I Chron. 28:11, 12). In addition, David told Solomon, “All this have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern” (v. 19).
If God was so concerned about the temple and tabernacle (physical buildings) that He gave His people a pattern and demanded that they build according to the pattern, could He be so unconcerned about the church (a spiritual house) that He had no blueprint for it? According to Hebrews 8:5, the tabernacle is a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: .."for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount” (Heb. 8:5). The tabernacle was a shadow; the church is the reality! Since the shadow had a pattern, the reality must also have one.
Some may object to the Bible being a pattern by asserting that the Bible never makes the claim for itself. A pattern is: “An original or model proposed for or worthy of imitation...anything shaped or designed to serve as a model or guide” (Funk and Wagnals Standard Dictionary, Volume 2). This is exactly what the Bible claims to be? (Rom. 6:17; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:2; Tit. 2:7). Consider 2 John 9:11, “Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed: For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 Jn. 9:11). The body of truth, the faith that has been once for all time delivered to the saints (Jude 3) is the gospel of Christ, the doctrine of Christ. In order for you and I to have fellowship with God and Christ, we must abide in that body of truth.
What we practice in religion is not left up to our discretion or the opinion of the majority. Paul also wrote, “ And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:16,17). Jesus speaks of those who will come to him on the Judgment Day, claiming to have done things in his name. He will say, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity; I never knew you” (Matt. 7:21). The word-translated iniquity is anomos, meaning, “without law.” To do something in the name of Christ is to have the authority, permission, right, or power from Christ to do it. If Christ authorizes a thing, then that which he authorizes becomes the pattern for all generations to follow. The very fact that we are required to do all in his name, which in Matthew 7:21 equates to doing a thing with permission, suggest that the Lord recognizes this pattern. Listen to John in Revelation 22:18,19, “For if I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book”.
Finally, Paul wrote, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but here be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you that he have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man” (Gal. 1:6-11). What Paul preached became a pattern for all to follow and to follow another doctrine is to leave the pattern established by Paul and the rest of the apostles.
The major objection to the Bible being a pattern seems to be that “We are not under law today.” Some say that the Old Testament is a book of Law and the New Testament is a book of grace. The New Testament, then, is viewed by some as being merely a set of principles of general guidelines that should positively affect our judgment to teach and practice the “right things,” but not an exclusive pattern.
When are we to sing? Since each one of us is admonishing the “other,” it must be done when we are gathered together. What we are to sing? “Songs, hymns, and spiritual songs.” There is clearly an exclusive pattern for congregational singing.
Today, we have a responsibility to see to it that all things are built according to the pattern. Every item of worship and practice must be judged by God’s pattern. It may seem silly and even ridiculous to demand that we follow the pattern left for us in the Word of God, but we have no other option!
Of course, many members of churches of Christ make the claim that the church is the body of Christ with a spiritual mission, but most of their time is spent in a social mission. Their religion has to do with this world rather than involving itself with actions that pertain to the world to come. We hear of brethren building gymnasiums. When questioned, we are told that the objectives for the building will be Bible instruction and community service through fellowship and recreation. Churches are now in the business of providing supervised recreation for youth, adults and senior adults.” How many churches would either object to this action or give instructions from the divine pattern to authorize the same?
The New Testament is the pattern for New Testament churches. Every church must build according to this pattern. If we do not build according to this blueprint, then by what shall churches be built? Do not be afraid to ask for divine instructions for the things the church is doing where you worship. Your soul is involved and you will most assuredly give answer to God for whatever you have engaged in as spiritual service offered unto him. Make sure of what you do!
