Individually and Collectively Glorifying God

Mark Dunagan
12/07/14 - Sunday Evening

Individually and Collectively Glorifying God

The Bible speaks very highly of the relationship known as the church:

• Jesus said that He would build it: Matthew 16:18
• It was purchased with the blood of Jesus: Acts 20:28
• It is spoken of as the bride of Christ: Ephesians 5:23
• It is part of God’s eternal purpose: Ephesians 3:10-11
• It is spoken of as God’s household: 1 Timothy 3:15

Such a vital, important and well-planned relationship must have a definite and important God-given mission:

To Evangelize

The church is referred to as the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), and congregations are commended for spreading the gospel in their communities (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Local congregations both sent out preachers (Acts 13:1) and supported them (Philippians 4:16). So spreading the gospel to the world and faithfully conveying God’s truth is a work of the church.

To Edify Its Members

In the Bible we find commands for Christians to gather (Hebrews 10:24-25), to perform specific acts of worship together (1 Corinthians 11:23), to encourage each other, and to be taught God’s word (Acts 2:42). Jesus specifically created various offices in the church to instruct members so that the body of Christ can grow (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Benevolence

All of the examples of the early church using funds to help those in need are very specific. The early church only assisted Christians who were in need. This is the case in the following examples:

• Acts 2:44-45: “all those who had believed”.
• Acts 4:34: “There was not a needy person among them”.
• Acts 4:35: The text says that the money was laid at the apostles feet, yet in the previous chapter, when Peter and John encountered a non-Christian in need, the apostles said they had no money to give the man (3:6).
• Acts 6:1-2: The widows being helped were Christians.
• Acts 11:28-30: Here is a collection for poor brethren living in Judea.
• 1 Corinthians 16:1-3: This is a collection for the poor Christians living in Jerusalem.

There are passages that encourage individual members to be mindful of the needs of non-Christians, but these passages are very individual in nature. For example, the person who is to visit the widows and orphans in James 1:26 is the same person who is to keep themselves unspotted by the world. The same is true in Galatians 6:10. The individual nature of the context is clearly seen in 6:1 “if a man”, 6:3 “if anyone”, 6:4 “let each one”, 6:5 “for each one”. In addition, the very fact that we have absolutely no examples of church funds being used to help non-Christians, but frequently used to help believers, is one more proof that passages such as James 1:27 or Galatians 6:10 were viewed by the early church and the apostles to apply only to the individual and not the congregation. If the church was given the task to provide for the financial and physical needs of non-Christians it seems very strange that we never find an example of the early church doing such a work. 

The Individual and the Congregation

Since the congregation is composed of individual Christians, some have argued that whatever the individual does as a Christian, the church is also doing. Yet the Scriptures argue otherwise and make it clear that there is a distinction between what the Christian does as an individual and what Christians do when they work together as a congregation. In other words, there is a difference between the individual's God-given actions and the acts God has given us as a collective body.

For example in Matthew 18:15-17, the individual gets involved long before the congregation is informed. 

• Acts 5:4: In this passage the property or money belonging to an individual Christian as his own and was not automatically also the congregation’s money.
• 1 Timothy 5:16: In this passage family members are to take care of widows in their family, so that congregation can help what it calls "widows indeed" (those with no family support). This text ends with the phrase, “and let not the church be burdened”, clearly indicating that when we place upon the congregation obligations that God never intended, we are only hindering the God-given work of the church — we are not helping, no matter how sincere may be our intentions.

The Work of the Individual

More evidence that there are differences between the responsibilities and privileges of individual Christians is found in Scriptures where we find that only individual Christians can operate in the following areas:

• The World of Business: 1 Timothy 5:8

The individual is commanded to work and support their family. Therefore one can obviously own a business and engage in profit-making enterprises. Yet the verses that govern how a local congregation raises funds are far different. The local congregation is supported by the freewill offerings of members (1 Corinthians 16:1-3). Clearly there is no authority for it to raise funds via rummage sales, bake sales, various fund-raising techniques, owning a business, selling merchandise, charging for various materials, or renting out the facilities. How wise of God to keep our focus on spiritual ambitions rather than the busywork of ceaseless fundraising.

• Recreation/Entertainment: 1 Corinthians 10:27

The individual has the right to socialize, recreate, have people over for dinner, and entertain. Unfortunately in many religious groups, providing social events for the members is often viewed as a work of the church — and a very important work at that. That's why churches often build kitchens, gyms, family life centers and so on. Yet in the New Testament there is a clear distinction between the social activities of members, and the purpose of coming together as a congregation (1 Corinthians 11:34 “If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home”). Again, if this is such a crucial work of the church, then it is strange indeed that there are no examples of the early church sponsoring such activities. The church is about so much more than eating, drinking (Romans 14:17) and playing.

• The Civic Realm: Romans 16:23

The individual Christian can and should vote, support a candidate and in some cases run for and hold a political office. Yet, outside of praying collectively for our leaders, there are no examples or commands for the local congregation to be involved in the political process.

• The Family Realm: Ephesians 6:1-4

The individual has the primarily obligation of raising his or her children. Certainly no one would say that the church's responsibility in the raising of one's children is equal to that of the parents who brought the souls of their own children into this world.

• Secular Education

Part of the responsibility of raising my children is to see that they learn how to read and write and are educated. Yet nowhere is the local congregation given the task of providing a school or daycare. What the local congregation teaches is spiritual, and not secular.

• A Spiritual Realm

In the spiritual realm, the individual Christian both has the obligation to meet together with other Christians and encourage them, grow spirituality, learn, and worship (Acts 2:42). In addition, the individual also has an obligation to grow in knowledge, wisdom and their love for God through praying and reading the Bible on their own(James 5:13). God has given us meaningful and fulfilling works of service to do both as individuals and other works as a group. Let's throw ourselves whole-heartedly into everything He wants for us and reap the blessings therein.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net