She's Beautiful - Part 3

Those that are only concerned with the church as a whole - the universal body of believers that make up the Body of Christ - are missing a significant part of the New Testament. New Testament writers strongly emphasize the local church - the importance of a local assembly of believers who come together on a regular basis for fellowship, learning, edification, encouragement and worship.

Most of Paul's letters are either addressed to a specific local church or are instruction for a local church. The writer of Hebrews admonishes that we are not to "forsake the assembly" of believers - we are to be a part of an "assembly". The book of Acts depicts to the giving of the "right hand of fellowship" - the idea of cultivating a commitment to a particular group where there is accountability, fellowship and responsibility. The writer of Hebrews instructs a Pastor of a church that he will be responsible to give an account for those under his care in his church. Paul writes to Timothy and outlines roles within a local church - and how deacons and elders should qualify and function - in a local church. Through the first part of Revelation churches are praises or condemned because of how they function as a body of believers. Paul gives specific instruction to the Corinthian churches regarding how they are to function - and corrects them where they have gone astray.

Throughout the New Testament there is example after example of passages regarding the local church. The idea that a Christian would live, function and flourish outside of a local body of believers, outside of the oversight of Pastors and Elders, outside of the fellowship, accountability, structure, and function of a local church - this idea is completely foreign to the New Testament.

Christians are called to be a part of the Body - for their own edification, encouragement and accountability - but also to contribute to the Body - to fulfill their roles as a part of such body - to fulfill their responsibility within a specific body, according to the intention and structure designed by God and expressed in the New Testament.

We, as believers, are called to associate and serve with other believers within the realm of a local church - a church committed to teaching the word of God clearly and accurately.

Next Time: What constitutes a "Bible Teaching Church"?