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Great Books in Christian Discipleship, Lesson 8

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Great Books in Christian Discipleship, Lesson 8 Great Books in Christian Discipleship, Lesson 8 James Bannerman, Church of Christ Chapter 1: The Church as Defined in Scripture 5 different meanings to the term “Church” 1) The whole body of the faithful in heaven or earth (Matt 16:18 “gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church”)…invisible church 2) The whole body throughout the world who profess faith (Parables)…visible church 3) The body of believers in any particular place, associated together in worship…local church 4) A number of congregations associated together under a common government (Acts 4-5 converts in Jerusalem, when we read “The church in Jerusalem” or “the church in Ephesus” we are to think of a plurality of churches)…multiple congregations in a region 5) The body of professing believers in any place, as represented by their rulers and office-bearers. Matthew 18 implying rulers and office bearers…representational church The Balance Between Invisible and Visible Church Church visible: whole number of the elect, who are vitally united to Christ the Head, and of none other. Church invisible: all those who profess the faith of Christ, together with their children…and may include hypocrites but also those not yet regenerate. The Roman Catholic Church wants to remove the idea of an invisible church. “That single admission with respect to the fundamental idea of the Christian society, prepares the way for making communion with an outward Church take the place of a spiritual reality, and substituting the external charm of priestly arts and sacramental grace for the living union of the soul to the Savior.” 16 Independents deny the idea of a visible church. “Now, concede to the Independents this position, and set aside the idea of a visible Church with its outward order and privileges, and you concede to them at the same time all that is necessary to determine in their favour the question regarding the character and qualifications of Church members, and establish their principles on the subject of ‘pure communion.’” 17 1 Chapter 2: The Church A Divine and Spiritual Institution “Our future discussions, therefore, will consist in an examination of the nature, powers, and ordinances of the Christian society as an outward and visible institute, standing in a certain external relation to Christ,--whether you regard it as universal or local, as an association made up of many congregations under one government, or an association represented by its office-bearers and rulers.”18 Q: Have descriptions like “outward” and “institution” become irretrievable concepts in our culture? Why? Why do we have a hard time with outward and ordinary expressions of spirituality? Union with Christ is Union with Other Believers (WCF 26.1) “It is the very nature, therefore, of the Gospel to be not a solitary religion, but a social one. When Christ, through the mighty operation of His Spirit, brings a sinner into reconciliation and communion with Himself, He ushers him also into the fellowship of reconciliation and communion with all other Christians.” 19 “A solitary Christian is worse than a contradiction, he is an anomaly, standing out against the express institution of God, which has appointed the fellowship of believers in one Church, and made provision in its outward ordinances for their union and edification.” 20-21 Changing the narrative requires we recover two key biblical concepts: 1) Christ’s intentional appointment; 2) It has real spiritual value 1. Origins not by man, but by Christ’s appointment Some consider the Church a human institution based on a voluntary agreement. There is enough in the system of truth and duty that would bring Christians together voluntarily. Yet, “Christ expressly laid down the main principles of order and government for the formation of His Church. He did not wait for the historical development of the Christian society, or leave His disciples to organize for themselves its system of government and office-bearers and laws.” 22 He commanded them to confess together, gave public ordinances such as Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, warned them not to forsake assembling, appointed one day in seven to meet, and he commissioned office-bearers. 2. It is a spiritual institution, primarily for working out the spiritual good of man “The written word is no doubt an outward sign, speaking, in the first instance, to the eye; but it is the truth in the letter, and not the letter itself—that is, the spiritual instrument—that operates upon the soul. The external ordinance of Baptism or the Lord’s Supper is no doubt an outward provision, ministering, in the first instance, to the senses; but it is not the sensible signs themselves, but the thing signified, that becomes, in the hand of the Spirit, the spiritual seal upon the soul.” 25 2 Chapter 3: The Church in its Twofold Character as Visible and Invisible Benefits of being in the Visible Church: “…involving no more than the promise and enjoyment of outward privileges”: “There is an outward government established for the order and regulation of the society of the elect; there are the outward ordinances adapted and blessed for their improvement; there is an outward discipline designed and fitted for their purification and protection.” 30 “The case is altogether different with the visible Church. it stands not in an inward and saving relationship to Christ, but in an outward relationship only, involving no more than the promise and enjoyment of outward privileges.” 30 “It is to be distinguished from the condition of the world at large; for the members of the visible Church have received and obeyed, at least outwardly, the call of Christ, and have made a profession of their faith in Him, and in consequence have entered into the possession and enjoyment of certain privileges and ordinances that belong to a Church state.” 31 What are the dangers of a Visible Church? Most problems boil down to the problem of not having a “pure church.” The church will always have a mingling of true and false professing believers. “To demand more than this, is to demand more than Scripture warrants or requires.” 35 “…positive proof of regeneration—which no man can give to or receive from another,-- but the evidence of a credible profession of faith in Christ, and a corresponding conduct.” 36 Chapter 4: The Church in its twofold character as catholic and local What are the dangers of the Invisible Church? The value of division “It was not the intention of our Lord that this local and visible unity of His followers should continue [after the Last Supper], because its continuance would have been inconsistent with the progress of His Gospel in the world.” 41 “Separation in race or tongue is no separation to be accounted of among the followers of Christ, who are joined together in that one Spirit. Distance on earth is no distance to be regarded between those who are partakers together of the same Holy Ghost. Local Churches or societies, divided in place and outward worship, become merged in the oneness of a higher fellowship. Separated in the outward act of worship, they are joined in the communion of the same Spirit. The assemblies of Christians in every quarter of the globe, who worship God in sincerity ad truth, are one in such a sense as their distance from one another admits of; and they must all be regarded as branches 3 of the universal Church of Christ throughout the world,--the great community of believers, separated by distance and kindred and tongue, who cannot meet together in the body, but who really meet together in the Spirit. The invisible Church of Christ on earth is local, but it is also catholic.” 43-44 “Difference of doctrine or administration or worship may indeed hinder their fellowship,--and not without sin on one side or other; but it ought never to be forgotten, that both members and office-bearers, however separated, if they belong to the Christian society at all, belong not to many Churches, properly speaking, but to one; that they are in communion, not so much with various local societies, as with one catholic Church of the Redeemer.” 47 Schism may not always be the fault of the party breaking away “It were impossible, indeed, to deny that there may be real and sufficient ground for separation from some particular local Church. That a particular Church may itself apostatize from the faith, or be guilty of imposing upon its members terms of communion, to comply with which would be sin, there cannot be a doubt…But in separating in such circumstances from the Church, the schism lies not with the parties who separate, but with the Church that compels and causes the separation.” 48 The invisible unit is a higher unity than the visible. “The Church of Rome has not failed to profit by this difficulty, and has been accustomed to confound, as if they were interchangeable, the statements of Scripture in regard to the unity of the invisible, with statements of Scripture in regard to the unity of the visible, Church.” 50 4 .
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