Articles
Church Form - Local
Keeping in mind that the word church is a description of a relationship provides an anchor for understanding who we are and how we fit together. It describes people who are related to one another as the ones called out from the world into fellowship with God in Jesus.
Previously, we examined those “called out” people in their entirety – the universal church. Let’s narrow our focus this time to the “called out” who join together in a local church.
So what is the local church? It is those “called out” who live near each other, join together by agreement and act as a unit. With today’s automated transportation the area is larger, but in NT times it was pretty much limited by how far one was able to walk. The NT names many local churches by the city or town where each is located (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1), and each one is made up of those local saints (Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1).
Besides location, a local church is also narrowed down to those who have joined together by agreement. There are many who will say “You can’t join the church” or “If you’re a saint you’re already in the church.” That is true for the universal church, but not for the local church. In Acts 9 Paul tried to join the local church in Jerusalem, but was rejected until Barnabas explained his conversion (vs. 26-29). Since other passages teach local church discipline, including rejection of the disobedient (1 Cor. 5:1-8), and charge elders to watch over the flock (Acts 20:28-32; 1 Pet. 5:2) there must be some level of agreement.
Another key component is acting as a unit: a group regarded as a distinct entity. The local church is not just a collection of individual saints going about their lives and occasionally coming together in an assembly. It acts as one by hearing and speaking (Matt. 18:17), and having overseers (1 Thess. 5:12-13), servants (Rom. 16:1-2) and messengers (1 Cor. 16:3; 2 Cor. 8:19). It can have a treasury (Acts 2:44; 4:32-37; 1 Cor. 16:1-2) from which wages are paid (2 Cor. 11:8), benevolence is given (Acts 6:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-7) and support sent (Phil. 4:10-18). The local church is the only level of God-authorized collective functioning as a church.
While there is only one universal church which cannot assemble on earth, there are many local churches (Acts 15:41; Rom. 16:4) that do assemble (1 Cor. 14:23; Heb. 10:25) and function independently of each other. While Paul urged several churches to send funds to Jerusalem, the decision to give and send was autonomous to each group (1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9).
Since the local church is a relationship of saints with saints – a horizontal relationship – joined by agreement, it can have unfaithful members (1 John 2:19). If it loses its proper focus (God) then Satan can prevail (Rev. 2:5). Stay local and stay focused – on God.
