A Holy History

Before we get into the facts and information of our Baptist history, we must lay day a foundational principle for study. Our historical study will be different than a world's philosophy of historical study. Ours is different in that our starting point of origin is the Bible! The Bible is the foundation upon which our history is built! We dare not look to the Bible to prove historical facts (which of course could be done), but we look to history to prove the facts of God's Word. It may not sound like a big deal, but in reality it makes all the difference in the world.
We start with God's Word and interpret the facts of history in light of God's Word. God's Word is Truth! "Facts" of history and science have changed over the years due to discoveries and inventions, but God's Word will always be the same,and consequently has always been right! So we must begin our study understanding that God's Word is the foundation upon which we build.
We then quickly discover that our Lord promised Perpetuity to His churches (Matt. 16:17-18). What is perpetuity? A dictionary will tell you that perpetuity is the state of being perpetual, endless; indefinite duration.Our Lord promised this throughout Scripture.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18 If the 'gates of hell' ever prevailed, God's Word is in error.

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matt. 18:17 If there were to be a time of no church, this command is impossible

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. 11:26 The observance of the Lord's Supper was to be done by the church "until He come" therefore ensuring there will be churches until that time.

So one can see through these verses and others not yet mentioned, that the Lord did promise perpetuity. So what is Biblically meant by perpetuity? In studying the Bible and interpreting the facts of history in light of God's Word, one will come to the conclusion that a Biblical perpetuity as promised to His churches is that there has never been a day since the organization of the first New Testament church by the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles in which there was not genuine New Testament church existing on earth." (A Manual of Church Historyby J. Griffith pg. 33). By perpetuity, we do not point to an 'identifiable unbroken chain of churches,' as we have already discussed the persecution, burning, and hiding of those churches which held to the doctrine of God's Word through ages. We do not mean the name "Baptist" was promised perpetuity. Throughout ages those which held to Truth were called by many names and titles. We definitely do not mean by perpetuity an 'apostolic succession.' The Lord's churches, since He began it with His disciples, have always been in existence on this earth.
I believe a study of Revelation 2 & 3 does not teach different 'dispensations,' but rather different types of the Lord's churches that have always been in existence. Pray and study accordingly. The Lord has promised to preserve Word (Ps. 12:6-7; 1 Peter 1:23-25); all His Children (Ps. 37:28; 1 Thess. 5:23; 1 Peter 1:5); the nation of Israel (Gen. 13:15; Rom. 11:1-26; Is. 49:5-8); this world (Gen. 9:16; 2 Pt. 3:7); and His churches (Matt. 16:18; Matt. 18:17; etc). What God promises to keep, He will keep. As much as I know I cannNOT lose my salvation, I am preserved by God, I also know that there has always been true churches based upon the promise of God.
Even other historians and historical figures concede:

We have now seen that the Baptists, who were formerly called Anabaptists...were the original Waldenses, and who have long in history received the honor of that origin. Baptists may be considered as the only Christian community which has stood since the days of the apostles...which has preserved pure the doctrine of the Gospel through all ages." A. Ypeij-Dutch Reformed historian

From the apostolic age to the present time, the sentiments of Baptists have had a continued chain of advocates, and public documents of their existence in every century can be produced.Alexander Campbell (Campbellite leader

...the rise of the Anabaptist took place prior to the reformation...and there are also reasons for believing that on the continent of Europe small hidden Christian societies, who have held many of the opinions of the Anabaptists have existed from the time of the Apostles.Robert Barclay a Quaker historian

I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist church as far back as 100AD, though without doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians were then Baptists. John Clark Ridpath

Were it not for the fact that the Anabaptists have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past 1200 years, they would swarm greater than all the Reformers.Cardinal Hosius mid 1500's

With the basis being God's Word that He promised perpetuity to His churches, and in light of history and the facts known, we shall begin a study, century by century of those who stood for the faith, passed on from generation to generation an unspotted, pure faith, and those to whom we ought give honor to.

Foundation of Church History

Many view church history as the history of all denominations. Seeing how that a 'church' is considered to be anything that one claims it to be or that 'the church' is all of Christendom, a proper study of church history is hard to come by. From our studies, we have seen that a true church is not what is described above, but those churches that have authority from the Lord, hold to New Testament Doctrine, and practice New Testament polity, and identify themselves as such. A true church is made up of saved, properly baptized, believers organized together to fulfill the commission. There will be a sought out purity, a Theocratic/congregational government, soul liberty, with the Word of God being the absolute Authority and the church the executive and authority in all church matters.
It is more of a challenge to study true church history due to the fact that for centuries true churches were hated, murdered, and persecuted as heretics. Their records burnt and destroyed, their churches forced into secrecy, and their writings condemned as heresy by both Catholic and Protestant. Most 'church history' books today are or are based upon Catholic and Protestant historians and view points.
It is therefore, without shame, that I confess that my study is a study of true church history, one can say, Baptist history. It is my desire to remind our generation and the one to come of the men and ladies who gave their lives, gave up their vocations, saw family and relatives put to death for the same faith we so freely enjoy today.
We owe them! We owe them more than to keep making heroes in our Christian Schools out of Calvin and Luther who put our fore-fathers to death for OUR FAITH. We owe them more than to keep praising the Anglicans and Puritans who beat Obadiah Homes for refusing a false baptism and church. We don't even know who men like Shubal Stearns, Isaac Backus, John Clarke, and Jenkin Jones are. We think the Waldensians are people that look for a poor sighted boy that wears red and white stripes! We must learn our history!

The legacy of failure to have taught these things in generations past is evident in the readiness with which members of Baptist churches change their affiliation to heretical churches. -J.W. GriffithA Manual of Church History

We must, as Baptists, study our church history. A proper study of true church history will remind us of the promises of God. We will see our Lord's hand in protecting His churches and ensuring that perpetuity promised to them. A proper study will also revive us in the pursuit of purity. When we understand what it cost those before us in the faith to preserve for us what we liberally enjoy today, it should make us "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:8. There is a generation following us, will they find faith?

Church's Past

Thus far we have spent a good deal of time studying and re-examing church practices, church pretenders, and now we will begin a study of the church's past. There are a myriad of books covering the subject of church history, and it is not my intent to exhaustivaly study the topic. I do desire to give honor to whom honor is due. I do desire to show gratitude to our Baptist fore-fathers, many of whom died a martyr's death so that we may have what we have today.
I believe it should be clear by now, but our church history starts with the church that our Lord Jesus began in His earthly ministry with that of His disciples. Our church history does not include the Catholic Church, protestant churches, or any man made denomination. Our church fore-fathers do not include men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, or Zwingli.
I believe it is imparative that we study and know our church's history. I believe most Baptist do not know their history, and the result has been a watered down doctrine and watered down separation. We have allowed our Abeka and Bob Jones curriculums to teach our children a false church history. We have glorified Luther, the Puritans, Anglicans, and Calvin and made them honorary Hebrews 11 inductees.
May we take a fresh look, allow the Lord to show us truth, and honor with a grateful heart those that took a stand for our faith.

The Mission of The Lord's Churches

I feel as if we should conclude our study of church pretenders. I desire to make one thing clear, that I love the brethren. I love all those in the family of God. 1 John 3:14 reads, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." This love should not be challenged by correction and truth, but rather confirmed by correcting and sharing truth.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Prov. 27:26
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Prov. 27:17
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Heb. 12:6
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph. 4:15

Do I believe that all people on earth are the children of God? No, you must have put your faith in Christ to become a child of God (Gal. 3:26). Do I believe only Baptist are going to Heaven? No, we can and will go to the Father through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Do I believe the Kingdom of God was supposed to be our Lord setting up a kingdom with the Jews when He first came? No, he told Nicodemus in John 3, "the Son of man must be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life...for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." He didn't come to conquer and set up a kingdom with the Jews the first time He came, He came to die so the world could be saved.
Do I believe in an universal, invisible church? No, the church found in the New Testament is a local, visible, organized body of baptized believers. There is no universal, invisible body preached in the New Testament.
Do I believe that only Baptist will be the bride of Christ in Glory? No, just because you are a 'Baptist' in name does not make you the bride of Christ. How you follow the doctrine in God's Word does matter!
The Lord's churches have been given a mission. That mission can be summarized two fold. First, the Lord's churches are to bring Eternal Glory to God. Ephesians 3:20-21 read,

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The most important mission of a church is to bring glory to the Name of God. This is accomplished by being obedient and carrying out God's purpose. It is the Lord's purpose that His church be without spot or wrinkle-holy and without blemish. We are living in a world of rapidly declining moral and spiritual standards. This decay is seriously affecting Christians and churches to a point that it is often difficult to tell Christians from non-Christians. The church out to be holy! The church ought to contrast the world! The church ought to contrast the world's philosophies, music, dress, and entertainment. The church ought to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15). To allow worldliness is to commit spiritual adultery (James 4:4). Paul said in 1 Cor. 5:6 that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." The church must cease allowing sin in her midst! I am not referring to a sinless perfection, but an accepted worldliness that seems to be the normal today. This is foreign to God!
God's Word teaches separation (2 Cor. 6:17)! Separation from the world (1 John 2:15-16), separation from marrying unbelievers to believers (2 Cor. 6:14), separation in matters of doctrine (2 John 9-10; Rom. 16:17), and separation from unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). It is time true churches-the Lord's churches stood up and took a stand again! The church is to bring glory to God!
It used to be that churches preached against movie houses, now they are producing movies to be shown in them. It used to be preached that rock music was evil, now it is embraced and used in 'worship.' It used to be preached that men and ladies dressed different, now it is taboo to speak of such things and even promoted to keep 'coming as you are'. It used to be preached immorality was sin, but now it is coddled and accepted as normal-sadly with both laymen and clergy. It used to be preached that alcohol was an abomination, but now it is served in the foyers. It used to be preached that saints of God did not tattoo their flesh, now they bear Scriptures as a testimony on their backs and arms. It used to be preached that you did not use corrupt communication, but now it is what brings people in.
Oh for the day that churches still preached against Hollywood instead of meeting there for fellowship. Oh for a day when churches were more concerned for their prayer meeting than for their cruise in car show. Things like this are an abomination: and should Jack Schaap be promoting it, shame on him! The ROC does not bring glory to God http://www.theroc.com/church2/ ! Satan deceived the masses when he caused churches to think they were to be patterned for the lost! The church was designed by God for the maturing of the believer. The lost are to be won out in the world, and the church is to be a refuge from it! It is time churches quit pretending to be what they are not...if you want to be an organization with a good message that still coddles sin, then be that; but quit calling yourself a church!
The second mission of the Lord's churches is to evangelize globally. Each church is to be a soul-winning church. This does not contrast my last few thoughts. We should be winning souls to Christ, but the Lord sent us out to go and evangelize. I am not against a lost soul getting saved at church, but I am against a church fashioning itself to make the lost feel comfortable. Churches need to be maturing saints to go and evangelize, to bring the lost to Jesus.
Christ is our example (Luke 19:10), the disciples evangelized (John 20:21), the early Christians evangelized, and we today should evangelize! There is an urgent need for evangelism. Obediently leading souls to Christ is a wonderful way to bring glory to God! We need to keep sending missionaries from their local church (for God gets the glory in the church) to fields where the Gospel is not preached. This is our mission! To bring glory to God and to win souls.
I don't find car shows, carnivals, festivals, bingo, or gym nights anywhere in Scripture as the church's mission.

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8

The Kingdom and The Church

These past few months, we have taken a closer look at the church, our Lord's churches, and distinguished between them and 'church pretenders.' We have seen how that the Lord's churches will distinguish themselves from false churches in that they will be upholding the doctrines of the New Testament, observing the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, will be practicing Biblical Church discipline, will be made up of members that are saved and properly baptized, will be autonomous from any other authority apart from the Word of God leading the church body through the Spirit, and will have the proper church officers fulfilling the role God has established for them.
Recently the stand taken by myself and our church has been under attack. Unfortunately, they have not come and spoken to me about the issue, but rather other pastors, friends, and family-even the college I attended. True friends have called me to let me know of their tactics, and I have spent time studying and praying about the stand and beliefs we uphold.
One area greatly under attack is in the area of the Kingdom of God and the church. From my studies, those in disagreement must have a strong Ruckmanite background (follower of Peter Ruckman). It has been stated and printed by others that the Gospel which the Lord and the disciples preached was different than that Gospel preached by Paul. It was stated and printed that the Kingdom of God, had the Jews accepted Jesus, would have been established when His ministry took place or that upon the preaching of Stephen, the Lord stood in anticipation of coming and setting up His kingdom had they accepted his preaching. Unfortunately, there is no Scripture supporting such statements. All this is said to contradict the teaching that our Lord gave to the local church His authority and commission to evangelize, baptize, and disciple; and to contradict the Biblical teaching that this is done through the local churches-visible, organized, local assemblies of baptized believers. This is to contradict the stand that not all believers are part of true churches. These beliefs lead to ecumenicalism, which is a Satanic end-time plan of the Devil.
The Bible teaches that their is the family of God (Eph. 3:14-16). The family of God is seen to be made up in this passage of all saved both in Heaven and on Earth. All those born again are part of the family of God. We are adopted (Rom. 8:15, Eph. 1:5), been made sons of God (John 1:12). We can address no one by any greater name than that of 'brother' and 'sister' in Christ.
The Bible teaches the local church, which we have studied in detail. The church is a local, visible body of baptized believers sent forth to evangelize, baptize, and disciple. The church was begun in the ministry of Jesus Christ. He started the church (not John the Baptist who made ready the material to start the church). He promised the perpetuity of the church in Matt. 16:18-19. He gave instructions for discipline in the church in Matthew 18. The word church means called out assembly. In the New Testament it is primarily found used in connection with a local church. If there was one invisible body or church made up of all believers, then how do we not 'forsake the assembling of ourselves together?' The Lord's churches are those local, visible, organized bodies fulfilling the commission under His Authority.
The Bible then teaches the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God. I have been told that the Kingdom of God is the Lord ruling on this earth. It is what the Lord wanted when He first walked in Israel with His disciples, what He would have set up had the Jews not rejected Stephen. I have been told it was the 'Gospel' that Jesus and the disciples preached-different than our Gospel. (one point of thought...then why baptism? Doesn't baptism represent the death, burial, and resurrection?). The Kingdom would, by other's definition, a physical ruling and reigning of Christ.
This is a novel idea, but one I try to practice...Let us examine God's Word-not Peter Ruckman's, not Dr. Ken Blue's, not Travis Burke's....God's Word.
When one is born again he is regenerated (given a new nature). He is Justified (given a new standing). He is sanctified (given a new character). He is adopted (given a new family). He is Translated (given a new King)!
Colossians 1:12-14 reads:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

You see, before anyone was saved, they were under the 'power of darkness'. They served their father-the Devil. They were under the authority of Satan, living in darkness, blinded to their spiritual state. Praise the Lord, after salvation, we now are 'partakers of the inheritance of the saints of light.' (see 1 John). We have been 'translated into the kingdom of his dear Son." God has now put us under the authority of His Son, no longer the Devil...Praise God!
So is this kingdom one of Christ ruling and reigning physically here on this earth? Well, let us look at God's Word. Romans 14:17 reads:

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Is it me, or did our Lord just define in His Word "the Kingdom of God?" It is not the physical, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost! Now do not get me wrong, the Bible does prophecy that one day there will be the Lord ruling and reigning here on this earth during the Millennium-1,000 years-following the seven years of tribulation (Rev. 20); but most New Testament references of the Kingdom do not refer to this future Kingdom, but to a present kingdom. How is this possible?
Let us review? The Bible teaches that the Kingdom is not a physical kingdom now, but righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost. The Bible teaches that we, upon salvation, are translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Let us examine this further, how one gets into the kingdom. Jesus addressed it in John 3. In verses 1 & 2 a ruler named Nicodemus was 'buttering up' Jesus calling Him a good master. Jesus' response to him in verse 3 is:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

That word 'see' means to 'understand.' Example, I was teaching math today in school and one of my students who was struggling finally said, "Oh, I see it now." Jesus told Nicodemus, who had just told Jesus what a good master He was, 'You can't understand the Kingdom unless you are born again!" He went on to teach what being born again was, being born of water and Spirit. Some attempt to use this verse to say, "Baptism and Spirit Baptism." This is not the case, for the Lord explained what He meant in the next verse with "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." It is being born of water (natural birth when water sack breaks) and the Spirit (salvation). But in verse 5 Jesus says something interesting,

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

So, we see a difference in verse 3 and 5. You can't understand the Kingdom unless you are saved and you can't enter into unless you are born again!
I have met many people who can't understand why I go to church every week, why I like for men to yell the Bible at me, why I look forward to praying so much, why I read my Bible every day, why I don't do certain things they do...it is foolishness to them, they can't understand because they do not understand that the Lord is the King of my life! They will never understand this until they make Him the King of their life-then, it all comes together doesn't it?
In Mark 10:13-15 we see children brought to Christ and the Lord saying "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." The attributes of a child is what makes up the Kingdom? Yes, an obedient, believing faith!
In Luke 16 Jesus is preaching on some money issues and the Pharisees didn't like it and they (vs. 14) 'derided him.' They began attacking Jesus in words. Jesus' response to them in verse 15-16 is:

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail

We see here that the Lord rebukes the Pharisees for trying to justify themselves and their attempt to rationalize their self-righteousness. God knew their heart. The Lord knew that they had themselves upon the throne and not the Lord God.
You see, yes some day the Lord will set up a kingdom for 1,000 years on this earth and that prophecy will be in fulfillment, but the kingdom of God now is a partial fulfillment. We see from Scripture that the Kingdom begins upon being born again, understood after being born again when we are translated out of the power of darkness and into light. That the kingdom is not meat and drink (physical) but righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
Simply stated, we, individual believers, living on this earth have choices every day to do right or wrong. We are a testimony of the Kingdom of God when we have Jesus upon our heart's throne, when our life is one of righteousness, joy, and peace, we are partial fulfillments of what is to come. We are the Kingdom of God living on this earth! Only those who are born again can 'see' the Kingdom of God. Jesus told the pharisees that the Kingdom of God had been preached since John the Baptist (Luke 16). Before that time was the law and the prophets (sorry Dr. Ruckman, John was a New Testament prophet!). Since John, the Kingdom has been preached-allowing God to rule in man's heart!
When we leave this life, we enter Heaven and have no more 'choice' to do wrong. Thus we conclude that the family of God is all believers in heaven and earth; the kingdom of God is all those saved on this earth who has made Him the King of their lives-living a testimony of the day when Jesus will rule and reign upon this earth; and what of the churches of God?
Matthew 16:15-19 reads,

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Our Lord started the church during His earthly ministry here on earth with His disciples. Here our Lord promises the perpetuity of the church and then promises to 'give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven..." The keys speak of authority and the responsibility given to the church. The church has the responsibility to show men how to be born again (enter the kingdom) and then to disciple them to observe all things (allow Him to rule their hearts); thus the church has been given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven-which we have established is not a physical, but instead 'righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost.'
I'm glad I am part of the family of God; I'm glad I 'see' the Kingdom of God; and I must serve through the church to tell others how they can do the same!

The Ignored Doctrine of Discipline

There are many traditions in churches today, many of which are not Biblically founded, yet they are not harmful and can be beneficial (ie "must have" Sunday School). There are other traditions in our churches that once studied from a Biblical perspective, are found to be wrong and unBiblical (ie the world's method of 'dating around' to find a spouse). Then there are other areas and practices that have gotten so far off course, that a fresh study would be of great benefit to correct our methods of practice. One can tell they are getting off course when they 'believe they are doing right" in the matter, but there is not the fruit that God promised there would be. Once such area is this of church discipline-an ignored doctrine in today's churches.
The fruit promised from God's Word is two fold. Either, the transgressor will be convicted and repent and then restored, or the transgressor will be chastened by the Lord even to death so that the spirit may be saved in day of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 5:5). The only other option is that the transgressor was never a child of God and thus was living in and by his flesh all along (which is probably the majority, truth be known). Yet, there are not enough "success" stories when it comes to discipline.

A church cannot be a Biblical church without practicing Biblical Church discipline.

The word discipline means training, cultivation, improvement, according to prescribed rules; subordination to law; administration of government and submission to lawfully constituted authority. It comes from the word disco which means 'I learn.' Discipline is the means God gave the church to assure the smooth operation of the organization and the maintenance of proper standards for membership. Its purpose is to prevent, restrain, or remove the evil that may exist, to encourage and protect the right, and to cherish the good; not to satisfy any personal prejudice, but to reclaim the wandering and guide the wayward. (From 50 Lessons on the Church by Normal Wells).
It is to the church that our Lord gave the authority to discipline (Mt. 18:17, 2 Thess. 3:6; Titus 3:10; 1 Cor. 5)
The typical practice of church discipline goes something like this: Larry gets into a vile sin and somebody finds out. They then go and tell the Pastor about Larry and his sin. The pastor will tell the other pastors and deacons about Larry and his sin and start a process from Matt. 18 where he will go and speak to Larry. Take another pastor/deacon and talk to Larry. Should Larry ignore all these, he will then tell the church about Larry's sin and they will 'vote him out'. Is this what is found in Scripture? Repeatedly, we read the goal of discipline is reconciliation! When practiced Biblically, it will be successful.

The greatest blessing that has come to our church over the years has been the result of practicing Biblical church discipline.

The Scriptures give to the church, the authority to discipline. Many call it unloving, yet the opposite is true. (Prov. 13:24; Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19)-to discipline is to love! Failure to discipline is failure to love, it is neglect, it is disobedience!
The Great Commission is to Evangelize (reach those on the outside with the Gospel) and to Disciple (train those on the inside). To disciple is to discipline! To teach, train, improve, correct. A church cannot fulfill the great commission without practicing church discipline!
At times discipline is preventative, other times confrontational, but should always be corrective. Discipline is based upon the holiness of God (1 Peter 1:15-16). Discipline helps a church to be holy (Heb. 12:11), to clean out the leaven (1 Cor. 5), and to embrace the holiness of God. Discipline is based upon the commands of God's Word (Matt. 18; 1 Cor. 5; Luke 17). One should discipline because it brings glory to God (Eph 3:21), restores sinning believers (Matt 18:15, Gal 6:1), produces a healthy faith (Titus 1:13), win a soul who is falsely professing (2 Tim. 2:24-26), sets an example for the rest of the Church (1 Tim. 5:20), and protects the church's purity and power (1 Cor. 5:6-7).
Who should be disciplines?Should a church discipline over every sin? Prov. 10:12 says that "love covereth all sins." Ps. 32:1 reads, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." It is when there is a transgression that is unrepented of, blatantly participated in, and has caused a separation of fellowship and adherence to God's Word, that a sin must be dealt with. There are some sins so serious that the Bible forbids us from overlooking:
1. Fornication (1 Cor. 5:11)
2. Covetous (1 Cor. 5:11)
3. Idolatry (1 Cor. 5:11)
4. Railer (1 Cor. 5:11)
5. Drunkard (1 Cor. 5:11)
6. Extortioner (1 Cor. 5:11)
7. Heresy (Titus 3:10)
8. Disorderly conduct (2 Thess. 3:6)
9. Laziness-not working when they can (2 Thess. 3:9-13).
10. Those that cause divisions in the church (Rom. 16:17-18).
These are sins that our Lord commands a church to administer discipline over.
So how is the church to practice such discipline Biblically? In Luke 17 we can see another model of discipline. Please note the following from this text:
I. Sin is Present (vs. 1). Offences will come, and they will need handled. Most churches need to quit ignoring sin issues and a constant disregarding of holiness and realize our Lord told us they would be there-Handle them!
II. Simple are Perceiving (vs. 2). The world and a younger generation are watching and learning from how we handle sin. Perhaps this is why we have reared such a generation that doesn't fear God, doesn't hate sin, and is ignorant in church discipline; they never saw the generation before them deal with it! It must be taught that our Lord hates sin and there is a penalty for sin.
III. See it Personal (vs. 3). "If thy brother trespass against THEE." As a church, we are a body, one body, and if part of a body is wrong, it defiles the whole body. As a church, we most take care of our own members.
IV. Steps are Planned (vs. 3-4) If someone is wrong and is in sin such as we have discussed, there are clear Biblical steps to be followed. (Matt. 18)
A. You are to go to the person. Tell him alone, no one else. In that first church, the Lord was the 'Pastor' and the disciples the members. He told THEM to go to the transgressor. In Luke 17 it was the disciples that were to rebuke the transgressor. 2 Thess. 3:6 it is the 'brethren' at the church at Thessalonica that were to rebuke the transgressors. In Romans 16:17 it was the brethren that were to rebuke the transgressor. Each member, as they see the sin, should go to the transgressor discreetly in a spirit of meekness (Gal. 6:1) and confront the sin and call the sinner to repentance. Usually there will be more than one member who sees the transgression taking place and if each member does such privately, the transgressor is being overwhelmed with an outpouring of love and concern for the sinner-it's not just the pastor 'getting on to him.' The normal attitude in response is "well, who am I to judge?" Exactly! This DEMANDS PERSONAL DISCIPLINE AND WILL RESULT IN A PURER CHURCH-exactly why and how our Lord established it.
B. Take another with you to confront the transgressor (vs. 16). If the transgressor will not hear the individuals privately, the member is to take another member with him. This will no doubt enlighten others in the church as to the transgression, will confirm to others the transgression, but will undoubtedly show the transgressor that his church is concerned for him. It is established by the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses (Deut. 19:15; 1 Tim. 5:19). Now the transgressor is seeing the seriousness of his sin, feels the love from his church, and should be convicted if he is a believer of his sin. Again, it's not the pastor and deacon threatening him, but his church loving him. (I will add here, that a pastor is a member of the church and too should participate in such).
C. Tell it to the Church (vs. 17a). If the transgressor will not hear the individual brethren, nor the 2 or 3 brethren that all have come to him, then it is the responsibility of the members to bring it before the church. By this time, having done all things Biblically, this comes as no 'shock and surprise' to the church, but rather a time of mourning and prayer as a church. The church all has one mind and has seen and attempted to reach the transgressor. Much, much, prayer has been put into the matter. There have not been just two visits by the pastor and deacon, but 50-60 members who all have gone to the transgressor in love. It is now that the entire church is made aware of the transgression and the entire church now has a responsibility to reach the sinner. It is not at this time a vote it taken to remove the sinner. For Scripture teaches then...
D. "If he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen..." (vs. 17). The entire church has now gone to the transgressor. I know I have never seen this done, sadly. One can only imagine the overwhelming of love and concern and conviction this would place upon the transgressor. Unfortunately even then, some will not 'hear the church.' It is then...
E. Regard as a heathen (vs. 17). It is then the transgressor is to be excluded from membership. It is then the church would vote to remove them from the church in hopes that they will be restored as a result of the chastening of God. (1 Cor. 5:13, 11). The transgressor during this time should be treated as a lost person. Would we allow a lost person to come to church? Yes! Would we invite a lost person to the Lord? Yes! Would we fellowship, pray with, observe the ordinances with a lost person? NO! We would be burdened and pray for them in hopes that they get right with the Lord! There is an unBiblical spirit of 'Kick them out' in some churches, when it ought to be a spirit of mourning and calling and praying for reconciliation! Oh that we would reconsider our practicing of church discipline in accordance to God's Word.
V. Summons for Perfection (vs. 5) A proper practicing of church discipline would result in a maturing, increased in the faith, more holy church where sin is acknowledged, abhorred, and abandoned!
May we no longer ignore this doctrine of discipline; but rather practice and truly be a Biblical church!

Biblical Church Officers

Having demonstrated that the church is a Theocracy in essence and a democracy in viewing, who then are the officers of a church and what are their responsibilities? We study this as we are proving what is a Biblical church and which are church pretenders. A true church will have (or be seeking when needed) Biblical officers.
Before we begin our study, let us be reminded that Jesus Christ is the head of each church (Col 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23). Each church is to recognize as it's Authority the Lord Jesus Christ-no man, no king, no ruler, but Him. Our Lord Jesus is the Head, our Advocate (1 Jn. 2:1), our Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5), our High Priest (Heb. 7:25), our Foundation of our church (1 Cor. 3:11). The Holy Spirit is the Administrator/Manager of each true church. Each church settles all matters under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that directs (Rom. 8:14), calls to special service (Acts 813:2-4), guides and equips in service (Acts 8:27-29; 1 Cor. 2:12-14; Jn. 16:13-14; 1 Thess. 1:5). The Word of God is the Sole Authority and rule of faith in a true church.
Having established such, it is Biblical that a church have officers from within. First, there is the pastor. The Lord gave apostles and prophets (1 Cor. 12:28) first to the church as gifts whose work was to work miracles, give the Scriptures through the Spirit, and help establish the church Christ started. These 'gifts' were done away with when this work was accomplished (1 Cor. 13:10).
The work of the pastor goes on. A pastor in God's Word is called an "elder," "bishop", "shepherd", "preacher", and "teacher." Each name refers to a duty a pastor has from the Lord. The pastor must meet high qualifications in order to be qualified for the position of pastor. These have been discussed before, but can be found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Tutus 1:5-8. A pastor is to preach the Gospel, win souls to Christ, teach the church, lead by example, visit his members, lead in church meetings, and have the oversight as under-shepherd of all matters of interest to the church. A pastor should be supported by the church (1 Cor. 9, 1 Tim. 5:18), respected by the church (1 Tim. 5:19), and loved and prayed for by the church. A pastor is not an hireling and should not be greedy of filthy lucre. Every church needs a pastor, for without one, a church soon strays; but that pastor must be a Spirit led, Biblically secure man of God.
The ONLY OTHER BIBLICAL office is that of deacon. The first deacons were chosen in Acts 6:1-7. At this time, that church was approximately the size of 6-8,000 members. The pastors were not able to meet the needs in visitation and widows were being "neglected." The pastors gathered the church and said, "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." Deacons were needed to be chosen so that the pastors would not neglect their main duty to "give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Thus seven men were chosen to be the first deacons.
It is important to note that deacons were not Demanded in order to have a church, but a necessity as the church grew larger. The ratio of deacons to members here was about 1 per 900-1,000 members. Because of a protestant influence, deacons today are seen as a "counseling board" or "board of authority" or a "representative of the members to the pastor." This is not Biblical! Deacons are for service to the church. They were/are appointed over the task of administering relief, to be a
'pastor-helper.' Because of a misconstrued view of the office of deacons, many churches feel they need many deacons no matter their size. I know of a church that ran 22 each week and seven were deacons. This is not wise. Our church averages nearly 200 each Sunday and we have one deacon. I was recently asked when we would be ordaining more deacons, to which I responded, "When we average 1,400 we will consider this." In the Bible they were "men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom."
These deacons had to meet qualifications as a pastor does. These can be found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. I would point out that his qualifications were "like" that of a pastor. There are a few differences to consider:
"not given to much wine" does not refer to drinking alcohol, but grape juice. I could explain this in detail, but it would take too much time, I would refer you to sermon audio.com and my sermon on "alcohol and the Bible."
"not greedy of filthy lucre" refers to the same as a pastor. I believe Scripturally speaking, there was such a demand for the office of a deacon, that they too had to be supported by the church as a 'full time position.' Thus they too could not be guilty of filthy lucre.
"Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things." For a man to be a deacon, his wife must meet a qualification not found in reference to a pastor. Why is this? Perhaps because of the role of a deacon to care for the widows. A deacon had better have a thus qualified wife if he is to spend so much time with these widow ladies. I do not seek to be crude, but this is a fact to ponder.
THAT'S ALL FOLKS! Those are the only two offices found in the Bible for the local church. Today you will find trustees, treasurers (one could argue that the first church had one, but not many people would like to mimic him), clerks, Sunday School Superintendents-but these are all man made positions. These are not Biblical nor mandatory in God's Word. Is there anything wrong in having these positions? None at all as long as they understand their position is one of service not mandated in Scripture. Many of those from a legal perspective are mandatory in today's world.
In any case, there are only two Biblical offices found in God's Word, Pastor and Deacon; and one of those (deacon) is not mandatory, but entered into upon necessity as the church grows.